Trevor Hoffman Misses Baseball Hall of Fame Induction by 5 Votes
By NBC 7 Staff ••
San Diego sports fans received another punch to the gut Wednesday when Padres great Trevor Hoffman missed induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame by just five votes.
Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez were elected into the Hall as members of the class of 2017 by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
But in his second year of eligibility for the ballot, Hoffman received 327 votes (74 percent of the votes cast).
Nominees need at least 75 percent of the votes cast to gain entry.
Hoffman racked up 601 saves over 18 seasons with the Padres, Brewers and Marlins. The fact that he came paper-thin close to induction this year, makes him a virtual lock to become a Hall of Famer in 2018.
When a player gets extremely close like this, history says it’s a mere formality until that athlete eventually gains entrance into the Hall.
A recent example would be Houston Astros second baseman Craig Biggio, who finished two votes shy of induction in 2014, only to reach the 75 percent threshold the following year.
Another example came in 2010, when pitcher Bert Blyleven missed election into the Hall of Fame by the sixth slimmest margin, according to MLB HOF officials.
Just like Hoffman, Blyleven fell five votes shy of the Hall that year. Blyleven was inducted the next time around as a member of the class of 2011.
Hoffman tweeted out his thoughts shortly after hearing the news, saying he was "grateful for every vote" and "truly humbled to have come so close."
I hope to one day soon share a Hall of Fame celebration with my family, friends, teammates and all of San Diego.
The Padres organization also released a statement on Hoffman’s near miss.
“We would like to congratulate the Hall of Fame class of 2017 on being elected to the greatest honor in our game. We believe Trevor Hoffman’s name should have been called today, and we all share in the disappointment felt by Padres fans everywhere.
Few players have ever performed the task set in front of them as successfully and as consistently as Trevor did," the Padres statement continued. "On top of that, Trevor has the unanimous respect and love of former teammates, coaches and fans. He is a true Hall of Famer, and we look forward to the day very soon when we will see him enshrined in Cooperstown.”
Raines, fifth in career stolen bases, received 24.3 percent of the vote in his first ballot appearance in 2008. He jumped from 55 percent in 2015 to 69.8 percent last year and was on 88.8 percent of the vote-tracker's ballots this year, set to join Andre Dawson and Gary Carter as the only members of the Hall representing Montreal.
Raines spent 13 of 23 big league seasons with the Expos, who left Canada to become the Washington Nationals for the 2005 season.
Bagwell, on the ballot for the seventh time, had increased from 41.7 percent in 2011 to 71.6 percent last year, falling 15 votes short when Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were elected. Bagwell was tracking at 88 percent this year.
"I just want to get it over with," Bagwell said. "This is the first year I've kind of been keeping track of it and just kind of looking. So I'm excited about it."
Rodriguez was a longtime catcher, notably for the Texas Rangers.
In due time, it should be Trevor’s time.
David J. Phillip/AP
Washington Nationals' Yan Gomes and Daniel Hudson celebrate after Game 7 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in Houston. The Nationals won 6-2 to win the series.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Manager Dave Martinez #4 of the Washington Nationals hoists the Commissioners Trophy after defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on Oct. 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas.
Lee Jin-man/AP
Tiger Woods hits a shot out of a bunker on the 18th hole during the final round of the Zozo Championship PGA Tour at the Accordia Golf Narashino country club in Inzai, Japan, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. Woods won his 82nd career PGA Tour title, matching a 54-year-old record held by Sam Snead.
Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Allyson Felix competes in 4x400 metres mixed relay race final during the 17th World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar on Sept. 29, 2019.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
DOHA, QATAR - SEPTEMBER 29: Allyson Felix of the United States reacts after setting a new world record in the 4x400 Metres Mixed Relay during day three of 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Michael Steele/Getty Images
Wilbert London, Michael Cherry, Courtney Okolo and Allyson Felix of the United States pose after setting a new world record in the 4x400 Metres Mixed Relay during day three of 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium on Sept. 29, 2019, in Doha, Qatar.
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images
Rafael Nadal of Spain kisses the trophy after his win over Daniil Medvedev of Russia during the men's Singles Finals match at the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Sept. 8, 2019.
Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
Bianca Andreescu of Canada celebrates with the championship trophy alongside runner up Serena Williams of the United States during the trophy presentation ceremony after the Women's Singles final on day thirteen of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 7, 2019, in the Queens borough of New York City.
Adam Hunger/AP
Serena Williams returns a shot to Elina Svitolina, of Ukraine, during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sept. 5, 2019, in New York. Williams beat out Svitolina to advance to the finals - her fourth out of six past tournaments.
Adam Hunger/AP
Coco Gauff wipes away tears while talking to Naomi Osaka, of Japan, after Osaka defeated Gauff during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in New York.
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
Coco Gauff of the United States in action against Timea Babos of Hungary in the Women's Singles Round Two match on Louis Armstrong Stadium at the 2019 US Open Tennis Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29th, 2019 in Flushing, Queens, New York City.
Getty Images
Serena Williams hits a backhand against Maria Sharapova of Russia in the first round of the U.S. Open in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Aug. 26, 2019 in New York City. Williams played a 6-1, 6-1 game against Sharapova for their first match at the Open.
Getty Images
Serena Williams shakes hands with Maria Sharapova of Russia after beating her in the first round of the U.S. Open in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Aug. 26, 2019 in New York City. Williams played a 6-1, 6-1 game against Sharapova for their first match at the Open.
Getty Images
Roger Federer celebrates his victory over Sumit Nagal of India in the first round of the U.S. Open in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Aug. 26, 2019 in New York City.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
President Donald Trump presents the Medal of Freedom to retired Boston Celtic Bob Cousy in the Oval Office at the White House on Aug. 22, 2019 in Washington, DC. Mr. Cousy is credited helping the Boston Celtics win six National championships.
Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Aug. 9, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. The Olympic gold medalist snagged her sixth U.S. women's gymnastics title, cinching top points on the floor, vault and balance beam for a weekend total of 118.500 points before capping it off with a historic triple-double flip.
AP/Wilfredo Lee
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Jermaine Grace (53) runs after intercepting a pass thrown by Miami Dolphins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Clive Rose/Getty Images
Caeleb Dressel of the United States celebrates as he sets a new world record of 49.50 seconds after competing in the Men's 100m Butterfly Semifinal on day six of the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships at Nambu International Aquatics Centre on July 26, 2019 in Gwangju, South Korea.
Simone Biles performs her balance beam routine during the GK US Classic gymnastics meet in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday, July 20, 2019.
Richard Heathcote/R&A via Getty
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the sixth tee during the first round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 18, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom.
Ray Tang/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic of Serbia wins the men's singles final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland (not seen) at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2019 held on Day 13 held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2019 in London.
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
Simona Halep of Romania with the trophy after her victory against Serena Williams of the United States during the Ladies Singles Final on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 13, 2019 in London.
Carli Lloyd, center, and members of the U.S. women's national soccer team accept the award for best team at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Getty Images
Host Tracy Morgan speaks onstage during The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.
Getty Images
(L-R) Odell Beckham Jr. and Gabrielle Union speak onstage during The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.
Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images
General view of Progressive Field during the pregame ceremony prior to 90th MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox runs during the second inning of the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 9, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio.
AP
United States' Megan Rapinoe, center, holds the trophy as she celebrates with teammates after they defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the Women's World Cup final soccer match at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Amanda Nunes of Brazil knocks out Holly Holm of the United States during their UFC Womenu2019s Bantamweight Title bout at T-Mobile Arena on July 06, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Andy Murray of Great Britain and Serena Williams of The United States celebrate during their Mixed Doubles first round match against Andreas Mies of Germany and Alexa Guarachi of Chile during day six of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 6, 2019, in London.
The Padres organization also released a statement on Hoffman’s near miss.
“We would like to congratulate the Hall of Fame class of 2017 on being elected to the greatest honor in our game. We believe Trevor Hoffman’s name should have been called today, and we all share in the disappointment felt by Padres fans everywhere. Few players have ever performed the task set in front of them as successfully and as consistently as Trevor did. On top of that, Trevor has the unanimous respect and love of former teammates, coaches and fans. He is a true Hall of Famer, and we look forward to the day very soon when we will see him enshrined in Cooperstown.”
