First Ballot Hall of Famer

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A First Ballot Hall of Famer is a player who is elected to the Hall of Fame on his first appearance on the BBWAA ballot. The term has become known as a way to symbolize certain Hall of Famers and active players as above the rest. As for voting patterns, the movement for first ballot Hall of Famers did not really begin until the late 1980s. From 1989 to 1995 and from 2014 to 2020 there was at least one first ballot Hall of Famer elected every year. Many of the highest voting percentages have come to first ballot players.

Just as noticeable are the players who are not on the list.Joe DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Cy Young, Tris Speaker, Nap Lajoie, Mel Ott, Eddie Mathews, Roy Campanella and Harmon Killebrew all had to wait until at least their second ballot to be elected.

Player Year PCT of Vote
Adrián Beltré 2024 95.1
Joe Mauer 2024 76.1
David Ortiz 2022 77.9
Derek Jeter 2020 99.7
Mariano Rivera 2019 100.0
Roy Halladay 2019 85.4
Chipper Jones 2018 97.2
Jim Thome 2018 89.8
Ivan Rodriguez 2017 76.0
Ken Griffey, Jr. 2016 99.3
Randy Johnson 2015 97.3
Pedro Martinez 2015 91.1
John Smoltz 2015 82.9
Greg Maddux 2014 97.2
Tom Glavine 2014 91.9
Frank Thomas 2014 83.7
Rickey Henderson 2009 94.8
Cal Ripken 2007 98.5
Tony Gwynn 2007 97.6
Wade Boggs 2005 91.9
Paul Molitor 2004 85.2
Dennis Eckersley 2004 83.2
Eddie Murray 2003 85.3
Ozzie Smith 2002 91.7
Dave Winfield 2001 84.5
Kirby Puckett 2001 82.1
Nolan Ryan 1999 98.8
George Brett 1999 98.2
Robin Yount 1999 77.5
Mike Schmidt 1995 96.5
Steve Carlton 1994 95.6
Reggie Jackson 1993 93.6
Tom Seaver 1992 98.8
Rod Carew 1991 90.5
Jim Palmer 1990 92.6
Joe Morgan 1990 81.8
Carl Yastrzemski 1989 94.6
Johnny Bench 1989 96.4
Willie Stargell 1988 82.4
Willie McCovey 1986 81.4
Lou Brock 1985 79.8
Brooks Robinson 1983 92
Hank Aaron 1982 97.8
Frank Robinson 1982 89.2
Bob Gibson 1981 84
Al Kaline 1980 88.3
Willie Mays 1979 94.7
Ernie Banks 1977 83.8
Mickey Mantle 1974 88.2
Warren Spahn 1973 83.2
Roberto Clemente* 1973 93.6  
Sandy Koufax 1972 86.9
Stan Musial 1969 93.2
Ted Williams 1966 93.4
Jackie Robinson 1962 77.5
Bob Feller 1962 93.8
Ty Cobb 1936 98.2
Babe Ruth 1936 95.1
Honus Wagner 1936 95.1
Christy Mathewson 1936 90.7
Walter Johnson 1936 83.6

* - Special election, but still first year eligible thanks to waiving of waiting period

Further Reading[edit]

  • David Adler: "Wait, what? 10 Hall of Famers not in on 1st ballot", mlb.com, January 22, 2020. [1]
  • Daniel Kramer, Chad Thornburg and Do-Hyoung Park: "Every first-ballot Hall of Famer in MLB history", mlb.com, November 19, 2018. [2]