With a tip of my hat to the great actor, art collector, and cigar aficionado Edward G. Robinson (Love you, Eddie G), it’s time to take a look at the “eclectic” cast of characters on Major League Baseball’s 2010 Hall of Fame ballot. Here’s how the game works: I’m going to break down every player on the ballot, and include their “Bullet” – the one career trait or stat that could make or break their bid for baseball immortality.

Ready? You’d better be. In the words of Little Caesar himself, “You’re gonna be in on this, and you’re gonna like it!”

Roberto Alomar

Now here’s a tale of two careers. Once a perennial Gold Glove second-sacker, Roberto Alomar saw his career fall into a steady decline following his move to the Mets in 2002. After batting .336 for Cleveland in 2001 (a career high), the Puerto Rico native would never again reach the .300 plateau. He retired following the 2004 season, notching career totals of 2,724 hits, 504 doubles, 210 home runs, and 1,134 RBI. His all-time batting average sits at an even .300.

Bullet: 12 straight All-Star selections.

Are you kidding me? That’s right. Alomar suited up in the Mid-Summer Classic each year from 1990-2001, proving himself to be one of the best second basemen of his era. That has to be worth something in the eyes of the voters.

Fred McGriff

The Crime Dog may be a tough sell with voters, falling just short of many of the career statistical marks which result in automatic Hall qualification. His 493 home runs and 2,490 hits put him heart-breakingly close to both the 500 and 3,000 clubs, and his .284 average, while respectable, is not necessarily Cooperstown material. He also has only five All-Star selections to his credit after 19 seasons, not to mention a scant three Silver Slugger selections.

Bullet: 1,882 strikeouts

Ouch. That hurts, especially when you compare it to his career walks total of 1,305. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a difference of 577.

That’s all for now. Check back next week as we delve further into baseball’s 2010 HOF ballot.

- Taylor Maxwell

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Tags | Baseball, Fred McGriff, Hall of Fame, MLB, Roberto Alomar