4 Newcomers On HoF Ballot,
But 2 Labelled 'Steroid Stars'
COOPERSTOWN – The Red Sox’ Manny Ramirez is among four new contenders among 19 candidates on the 2017 Hall of Fame ballot that is being mailed this week to more than 400 voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Outfielder Ramirez is joined by catcher Iván Rodríguez, outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and shortstop Edgar Rentería on the newcomers’ list, joining 15 holdovers from the 2016 balloting in which center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. and catcher Mike Piazza were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
How successful they are remains to be seen, with the Chicago Tribune immediately labeling Ramirez and Rodriguez “steroids-tainted stars.” The BWWAA has so far been reluctant to vote in anyone touched by PED scandals.
