Links to all profiles, articles and essays indexed by the individual, some of whom are in the Hall of Fame, some of whom are candidates, and some of whom are still active in the game.
Players, managers, executives and broadcasters are all indexed alphabetically in the following categories: Hall of Famers, current Hall of Fame candidates, and potential future candidates (retired and still active).
The focus of “Cooperstown Cred” is primarily on the debates about the candidates who are not yet in the Hall of Fame so you’ll see a disproportionate amount of links to players currently outside the Hall.
Just click on the name of the individual and you’ll be taken to the piece about them or in which they are prominently featured.
Existing Hall of Famers (including Managers and Broadcasters):
- Aaron, Hank
- Bagwell, Jeff
- Baines, Harold
- Beltre, Adrian
- Bender, Chief
- Biggio, Craig
- Brock, Lou
- Brown, Mordecai
- Cepeda, Orlando
- Clemente, Roberto
- Costas, Bob
- Eckersley, Dennis
- Feller, Bob
- Fingers, Rollie
- Ford, Whitey
- Gibson, Bob
- Gossage, Goose
- Grimes, Burleigh
- Guerrero, Vladimir
- Halladay, Roy
- Helton, Todd
- Hodges, Gil
- Hoffman, Trevor
- Jeter, Derek
- Johnson, Randy
- Johnson, Walter
- Jones, Chipper
- Kaat, Jim
- Kaline, Al
- Lasorda, Tommy
- Leyland, Jim
- Martinez, Edgar
- Mauer, Joe
- Mays, Willie
- Mazeroski, Bill
- McCovey, Willie
- McGriff, Fred
- Miller, Marvin
- Minoso, Minnie
- Morgan, Joe
- Morris, Jack
- Mussina, Mike
- Niekro, Phil
- Oliva, Tony
- Ortiz, David
- O’Rourke, Jim
- Perry, Gaylord
- Rivera, Mariano
- Rizzuto, Phil
- Robinson, Brooks
- Robinson, Frank
- Robinson, Jackie
- Rolen, Scott
- Schoendienst, Red
- Schuerholz, John
- Scully, Vin
- Seaver, Tom
- Simmons, Ted
- Smith, Lee
- Sutter, Bruce
- Raines, Tim
- Rodriguez, Ivan
- Smoltz, John
- Sutter, Bruce
- Thome, Jim
- Trammell, Alan
- Walker, Larry
- Walsh, Ed
- Wilhelm, Hoyt
- Yastrzemski, Carl
2024 Hall of Fame Candidates (BBWAA)
- Abreu, Bobby
- Beltran, Carlos
- Buehrle, Mark
- Hernández, Félix
- Hunter, Torii
- Jones, Andruw
- Kinsler, Ian
- Pedroia, Dustin
- Pettitte, Andy
- Rodriguez, Alex
- Rodriguez, Francisco
- Rollins, Jimmy
- Ramirez, Manny
- Sabathia, CC
- Sheffield, Gary
- Suzuki, Ichiro
- Utley, Chase
- Vizquel, Omar
- Wagner, Billy
- Wright, David
Candidates for the 2025 Classic Baseball Ballot
Potential Candidates for the 2026 Contemporary Baseball Ballot
Primary contributions from 1980-2010
- Bonds, Barry
- Belle, Albert
- Carter, Joe
- Clark, Will
- Clemens, Roger
- Evans, Dwight
- Hernandez, Keith
- Hershiser, Orel
- Kent, Jeff
- Mattingly, Don
- Murphy, Dale
- Palmeiro, Rafael
- Schilling, Curt
- Sosa, Sammy
- Stieb, Dave
- Valenzuela, Fernando
- Whitaker, Lou
- Williams, Bernie
Possible Future Candidates (not eligible right now)
- Baker, Dusty
- Blue, Vida
- Bochy, Bruce
- Cabrera, Miguel (eligible for 2029)
- Greinke, Zack (eligible for 2029)
- Grich, Bobby
- Howard, Frank
- Johnson, Davey
- Manuel, Charlie (eligible for 2027)
- Markakis, Nick (eligible for 2026)
- Maris, Roger
- McCann, Brian (eligible for 2025)
- Molina, Yadier (eligible for 2028)
- Munson, Thurman
- Murtaugh, Danny
- Nettles, Graig
- Pierce, Billy
- Piniella, Lou
- Posey, Buster (eligible for 2027)
- Price, David (eligible for 2028)
- Pujols, Albert (eligible for 2028)
- Schang, Wall
- Steinbrenner, George
- Stottlemyre, Mel
- White, Bill
- Wills, Maury
Future Candidates (Active Players)
- Altuve, Jose
- Freeman, Freddie
- Harper, Bryce
- Kershaw, Clayton
- Kimbrel, Craig
- Machado, Manny
- Scherzer, Max
- Strasburg, Stephen
- Trout, Mike
- Verlander, Justin
Recent Hall of Fame Candidates Who Dropped off the Ballot
- Berkman, Lance (under 5% in 2019)
- Colon, Bartolo (under 5% in 2024)
- Damon, Johnny (under 5% in 2018)
- Giambi, Jason (under 5% in 2020)
- Hudson, Tim (under 5% in 2022)
- Nathan, Joe (under 5% in 2022)
- Posada, Jorge (under 5% in 2017)
- Santana, Johan (under 5% in 2018)
- Young, Michael (under 5% in 2019)