The Hall's 2012 Golden Era ballot -- the results

Ron Santo has been elected to the Hall of Fame.

Ron Santo has been elected to the Hall of Fame!

Ron Santo has been elected to the Hall of Fame!

Well, that is a happy outcome, and an announcement long, long overdue.

Here's the numbers:

2012 Hall of Fame Golden Era ballot

16 ballots.
12 votes (75%) required for election.

--- elected ---
1. Ron Santo ........... 15 ... 93.8%
--- not elected ---
2. Jim Kaat ............ 10 ... 62.5%
3t. Gil Hodges .......... 9 ... 56.3%
3t. Minnie Minoso ....... 9 ... 56.3%
5. Tony Oliva ........... 8 ... 50.0%
6t. Buzzie Bavasi ....... <3 .. ≤12.5%
6t. Ken Boyer ........... <3 .. ≤12.5%
6t. Charlie O. Finley ... <3 .. ≤12.5%
6t. Allie Reynolds ...... <3 .. ≤12.5%
6t. Luis Tiant .......... <3 .. ≤12.5%

I am overjoyed that Santo has at last been accorded the eternal bronze plaque which he has been due since he first stepped off the diamond. And, yes, it is bittersweet that he is gone, died just over a year ago, and is not here to bask in official glory. But the Hall's mandate is to honor the greats of baseball for all time, not merely to confer honor upon those still living so they can enjoy it (and significantly boost their autograph fees). Being alive to appreciate the honor is a tremendous bonus, but not the point. Letting future fans know that this was a great player, among the very best, is.

I'm a bit curious about the 15 vote return -- which one elector withheld his vote? We'll probably never know and I'm merely piqued about it, but this does make Santo the only known honoree ever to fall only one vote short of being elected unanimously... which may be an outcome the Hall would prefer to avoid ever happening, albeit unofficially. The primary BBWAA electorate has over 500 votes -- it is simply inconceivable that that body will ever deliver a 100.0% return. But a small committee -- and the Golden Era committee had a headcount of only 16 -- could do it. Oh, this doesn't matter, I'm just musing upon a vague conspiracy theory -- Jane takes aside one trusted elector and makes it clear that no one, ever, gets unanimity, and then one ballot gets turned in blank -- and will gladly, gladly let it go in the wake of Santo's election.

Stand proud today, Chicago. One of your own has ascended Olympus.

So, what's next? The 2013 voting cycle will bring the Pre-Integration Era ballot, and we can only guess at what names will be on it. The Golden Era ballot, provided the Hall does not revamp this process yet again, won't be back until the 2015 cycle -- but barring any changes, the ballot will likely have several of the same names and a few others, familiar but didn't make the cut this time. Names like Hodges, Oliva, Kaat, Maris, probably some other Yankee -- after a few more times around, or even in the immediate aftermath of this very ballot, the defined era will have been thoroughly mined of worthy candidates and either will elect no one or will elect lesser candidates that have not been overlooked or underappreciated, but truly are wanting a bit when it comes to earning the honor of the Hall.

Seriously, who is left from the 1947-72 era whom would merit induction? I'm not a Hodges supporter, but recognize that he has a lot of fans who will not relent their drumbeat unless and until they get their happy ending, and I won't argue against their position. I'll stand fast with Minoso's candidacy. Joe Torre will get his due when he stands as a managerial candidate. Dick Allen will never get elected unless he gets to convene as an electoral committee of himself. Maris simply does not measure up. Flood, as a player, doesn't measure up either, and the Hall doesn't really have a pathway for honoring basic courage. With Santo off the ballot, the era is that much thinner in interesting candidates. We will see the same names, again and again, with much the same results. After another few cycles, I'm uncertain what purpose that might serve.

Most likely the Hall will revamp the process yet again. It's becoming something of a tradition.

It's been a heady few years for my Hall advocates. Blyleven got elected, now Santo... I have drums yet to beat (Raines, Edgar Martinez, Marvin Miller), but these successes have been delightful.

Congratulations to Ron Santo (in memoriam), the Santo family, the Chicago Cubs (and White Sox), Cub fandom, and baseball fans everywhere. No need for review; this call was made perfectly.