Baseball Hall of Fame’s 5 percent voting rule ruins quality players’ chances too quickly

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Lou Whitaker delivers the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game Four of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Lou Whitaker delivers the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game Four of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. MLB Photos via Getty Images

It’s nice voter opinions evolve, but it doesn’t look good when new Hall of Famer Andruw Jones goes from 7.3 percent in his first year to 78 percent.

The 5 percent rule makes no sense. Too many great players are knocked out much too quickly.

Dick Allen, Keith Hernandez and Lou Whitaker are among the many players eliminated due to our failure to give them 5 percent of the vote.

Sandy Alderson of the New York Mets speaks at a press conference.Keith Hernandez is one of the best defensive first basemen of all time. Getty Images

Bernie Williams, Jim Edmonds and Kenny Lofton are center fielders who deserved more than one look.

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