Who didn't vote for Rickey Henderson on their Hall of Fame ballot?

January 13, 1:09 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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Rickey Henderson, new member of the Hall of Fame

A red hot topic on sports-talk radio today is the election of Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice into Cooperstown. Part of the discussion relates to who refused to vote for Henderson.

We have learned that 28 people left Rickey Henderson's name off their ballot. Let that sink in for a moment. Who are these people?

We will never know. According to Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci, the members of the baseball writers' association vote anonymously.

We hear stories each year about the voters who seem to be making one point or another, but it seems more pronounced this year.

Henderson was as close to a consensus pick as one could have. He doesn't have numbers that straddle any fence. His records will be hard to break and his stolen base total might stand for generations.

Verducci made his displeasure known on Dan Patrick's syndicated radio program today. His point is not necessarily the merits of the case since that is the kind of argument one can never win. It's all opinion.

Instead he is calling for the voters to be held accountable. After the announcement that Mike Smith of the Falcons won NFL coach of the year it was revealed that Bill Belichick received one vote and it came from Bob Costas. He proudly stood up for that decision and it was enlightening to find out why.

Even if you think the writers are afraid to be confronted about their choices, how much of a wuss do you have to be to hide behind that argument? Let's consider for a moment that it is highly unlikely they will run into most of the guys who are eligible during the course of a normal day.

And even if that happens, these are the same writers who demand player accountability for every action taken and all words spoken whether or not it is about the game of baseball.

Verducci was disgusted enough to see if he could drum up support for his cause. What do you think? Vote below.