Makes it official then: Maddux, Glavine, and Thomas get the call to the Hall

Congratulations to Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas, who were announced today as the newest inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

According to the organization’s press release, this marks just the second time that three players were elected in their first year of eligibility.

From a fan’s point of view, I think it’s very cool when teammates go in together (although I have no way of knowing how the players feel about it, if they are friends, etc.).

From the press release:

Maddux was the leading vote getter with 555 votes of the 571 ballots, including one blank, cast by senior members of the BBWAA, writers with 10 or more consecutive years of service. That represented 97.2 percent of the vote. Glavine received 525 votes (91.9 percent) and Thomas 478 (83.7). It marked the first time that three first-ballot nominees were elected since Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Robin Yount in 1999.

Craig Biggio missed the 75-percent cutoff point of 429 by two votes, tying Nellie Fox in 1985 and Pie Traynor in 1947 for the smallest margin in balloting history. It was Biggio’s second year on the ballot. Mike Piazza — alsao in his second try — received 355 votes. (62.2),

Pitcher Jack Morris received 351 votes (61.5) in his final year on the ballot and will be eligible for the Expansion Era Committee consideration in the fall of 2016.

Players receiving sufficient support to remain on the BBWAA ballot were first baseman Jeff Bagwell (54.3), outfielder Tim Raines (46.1), pitcher Roger Clemens (35.4), outfielder Barry Bonds (34.7), relief pitcher Lee Smith (29.9), pitcher Curt Schilling (29.2), designated hitter-third baseman Edgar Martinez (25.2), shortstop Alan Trammell (20.8), pitcher Mike Mussina (20.3), second baseman Jeff Kent (15.2), first baseman Fred McGriff (11.7), first baseman Mark McGwire (11.0), outfielder Larry Walker (10.2), first baseman Don Mattingly (8.2) and outfielder Sammy Sosa (7.2).

The vote:

Maddux 555 (97.2%), Glavine 525 (91.9), 478 (83.7).

Craig Biggio 427 (74.8), Mike Piazza 355 (62.2), Jack Morris 351 (61.5), Jeff Bagwell 310 (54.3), Tim Raines 263 (46.1), Roger Clemens 202 (35.4), Barry Bonds 198 (34.7), Lee Smith 171 (29.9), Curt Schilling 167 (29.2), Edgar Martinez 144 (25.2), Alan Trammell 119 (20.8), Mike Mussina 116 (20.3), Jeff Kent 87 (15.2), Fred McGriff 67 (11.7), Mark McGwire 63 (11.0), Larry Walker 58 (10.2), Don Mattingly 47 (8.2), Sammy Sosa 41 (7.2), Rafael Palmeiro 25 (4.4) [Bookshelf note: Since a player needs at least five percent of the vote to stay on the ballot, Palmeiro — who had more than 3,000 hits and 500 home runs — is done.], Moises Alou 6 (1.1), Hideo Nomo 6 (1.1), Luis Gonzalez 5 (0.9), Eric Gagne 2 (0.4), J.T. Snow 2 (0.4), Armando Benitez 1 (0.2), Jacque Jones 1 (0.2), Kenny Rogers 1 (0.2), Sean Casey 0, Ray Durham 0, Todd Jones 0, Paul Lo Duca 0, Richie Sexson 0, Mike Timlin 0.