Getting the Call

On Monday, former Cincinnati Reds player Barry Larkin received enough votes to be elected into baseball's hall of fame.  The ceremonies occur later this year, but no doubt this is a big day for Larkin.

Barry Larkin getting the call
photo from Yahoo! Sports

Larkin was the only player to be elected in 2012.  To get elected to the hall of fame, a player needs to be retired for 5 years, and has to receive over 75% of the vote.  If a player is not elected, they can remain on the hall of fame ballot for up to 15 years.  The player will fall off the ballot altogether if they receive less than 5% of the vote.

In this year's vote, Larkin received 495 of a possible 573 votes (86.4%).  Next up was pitcher Jack Morris, who received only 67% of the vote.  While Morris did not make it into the hall of fame this year, he will likely make it soon.  Even though his career is over, he is on the cusp of the hall, and will have momentum to make it in the next few years.  It isn't that their statistics have changed, but kind of how the voters (writers) will slowly elevate a player until they are in the hall.