Astros icon Jeff Bagwell would like nothing more than to be enshrined in Cooperstown, as the 2012 inductees to the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced Monday afternoon.
Bagwell, a four-time All-Star first baseman and the 1994 NL MVP, received 41.7 percent of the vote in what was his first year of eligibility in 2011 -- falling short of the necessary 75 percent for induction.
Barry Larkin, Jack Morris, Lee Smith and Bagwell represent the top returnees on this year's ballot, while Bernie Williams, Ruben Sierra and Vinny Castilla are some of the first-time candidates.
Traditionally, unless it's a ballplayer of Rickey Henderson's caliber, Hall of Fame voters remain reluctant to cast a ballot for first-timers.
It wasn't a surprise how Bagwell's results played out last year.
Overall, Bagwell possesses the credentials to get in due to hitting .297 with 449 home runs and 1,529 RBI while posting a .408 on-base percentage and .540 slugging percentage over his 15 career major league seasons (1991-2005) with Houston.
He's the franchise's all-time leader in home runs, RBI batting average and walks, and also ranks second in doubles, runs, hits, games, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
During Bagwell's tenure, the Astros had their most successful run in franchise history by reaching the postseason six times, including the World Series in 2005, and finishing at .500 or above 13 times.
He became just the third player in NL history to win the MVP Award by a unanimous vote after hitting .368 with 39 homers and 116 RBI while compiling a 1.201 OPS during the 1994 season.
Bagwell's three Silver Slugger Awards, Rawlings Gold Glove (1994), NL Rookie of the Year honors (1991) and being the only first baseman in league history to reach the 30-30 club in home runs and stolen bases in a season -- something he accomplished twice -- certainly strengthen his Hall of Fame case.
He even played the majority of his career home games at the pitcher-friendly Astrodome, yet still generated Hall of Fame-caliber stats.
His strong candidacy can be taken one step further, as the following represent how Bagwell compares from an all-time standpoint:
-.408 career OPS ranks 15th all-time among right-handed hitters and ninth all-time among first basemen (third among right-handed 1B).
-Only NL first baseman to reach 30-30 club in home runs and stolen bases, as well as the only MLB first baseman to attain this twice.
-One of just 12 players in Major League Baseball history to hit at least 400 home runs with a .408 on-base percentage or higher.
-One of just eight players in Major League Baseball history to win the Rookie of the Year Award (1991) and Most Valuable Player (1994).
-Only first baseman to reach 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases.
-He joins Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez as one of six players in history to record 30 homers, 100 RBI and 100 runs scored in six consecutive seasons (1996-2001).
Ultimately, it's easy to overlook Bagwell's career production and not realize that he somewhat quietly built a Hall of Fame résumé.
Still, is it enough to get into Cooperstown?
According to sources, Bagwell will likely exceed 50 percent of the voting this time around and may even finish third on the ballot.
Larkin and Morris are expected to finish first and second, and they aren't guaranteed to receive the required 75 percent of the vote.
It's possible nobody gets elected for 2012.
For Bagwell, MLB sources believe he'll be elected to the Hall of Fame one day.
However, with the ballot expected to grow more crowded in the near future, the Astros icon will likely have to be patient for now.
"I believe Jeff belongs in Cooperstown, and I've voted for him both years he's been on the ballot," an MLB source said. "I think his vote total improves this year. Bagwell could top 50 percent and leapfrog Lee Smith into third place, but it's still a long way to 75 percent. It doesn't help him that the ballot is about to get more crowded in coming years. I expect Jeff to make it to Cooperstown eventually. It's anybody's guess how long he'll have to wait.
"If I had to guess, Larkin squeaks in with a total in the 76-78 percent range. He'd be the only one to make it. I wouldn't be shocked if he falls just short, too. That wouldn't bode well for induction day."
Inductees for the 2012 Hall of Fame class will be announced Monday afternoon on MLB Network, which begins its telecast at 1:00 p.m. CT.
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