J.J. Cooper's 2026 Hall of Fame Ballot: A Medium Hall Perspective
For most of my life, I considered myself a 'Small Hall' enthusiast. The idea of a special club for baseball legends like Ted Williams and Cy Young captivated my imagination. But as I grew older and delved deeper into the sport, my perspective shifted. I realized that the Hall of Fame, far from being small, has been influenced by various factors, including friendships and team dynamics, sometimes at the expense of more deserving players.
The veterans committees, in particular, have played a role in this. It's taken decades to address the imbalance in honoring Negro League stars, and I've come to appreciate the significance of recognizing living players and coaches versus honoring them posthumously. The experience of seeing Dick Allen finally inducted was heartening, but I can't help but wonder how much more impactful it would have been if he had been honored while still alive.
This realization led me to embrace a 'Medium Hall' mindset. I believe the Hall of Fame should not be reserved for automatic first-ballot inductees and the absolute elite. The criteria have become too narrow, and it's unfair to hold this generation to a standard that no previous generation has met. While I'm not advocating for every fringe candidate, I'm now more inclined to support borderline cases in my voting.
This approach aligns with my strategic voting philosophy, as outlined in my first HOF ballot last year. Being more permissive in my voting is a natural progression. With the Hall of Fame's voting standards (a 75% threshold for admission and a 5% threshold to remain on the ballot), my mixed group of 'Small Hall' and 'Medium/Big Hall' voters can significantly impact the outcome.
A ballot with zero or a few selections carries the equivalent power of multiple ballots with 10 selections. For instance, if I and another 10-player voter support a player, while a one-player voter does not, that player falls just short at 66%. It takes three additional voters to lift a player over the threshold for each zero-ballot voter.
I understand that some players may not make the Hall of Fame this year, but I'm willing to vote for borderline candidates like Kenny Lofton, who deserves multiple years on the ballot rather than being dropped after one attempt. Brian McCann is another example, as I believe he should have been considered for a second year.
Here's my 2026 ballot, with votes carried over from last year for players who remained on the ballot. You can find further insights into my selections in my previous HOF story.
- Andruw Jones
- Carlos Beltran
- Chase Utley
- Felix Hernandez
- Andy Pettitte
- Jimmy Rollins
- Bobby Abreu (new addition)
- Cole Hamels (new addition)
- Dustin Pedroia (new addition)
- David Wright (new addition)
I had enough spots for 12 or 13 players, particularly considering the Hamels vs. Mark Buehrle debate. While Buehrle excels in longevity, Hamels, in my opinion, made a more significant impact at his peak. Both players have strong cases.
The discussion surrounding PED use is complex, and I've made my stance clear. I treat PED use post-codification differently from the pre-testing era. Both Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez were suspended during the testing era, and I approach their cases accordingly.
