Former Phillies Closer In Final HOF Stretch

One former Philadelphia Phillies star is tracking well for the Baseball Hall of Fame, while two others are likely to need at least another year to get in.

With 160 ballots cast and tracked on social media, former Phillies closer Billy Wagner is tracking well for induction in his ninth year on the ballot. Meanwhile, former second baseman Chase Utley, a player more associated with the Phillies, is tracking well below the 75% of the vote needed to get in. So is former shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

The Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be announced next Tuesday on the MLB Network.

Utley is in his first year on the ballot. After 160 ballots, which is approximately 41.7% of the votes cast by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Utley has appeared on 45.6%, or 73 votes.

It’s good news for keeping Utley on the ballot another year as he reached the first-year minimum. But in order for him to be elected next week he will need 215 more votes to make the cut.

It’s a tall order. Voting ended on Dec. 31. It’s up to BBWAA members to make their ballot public.

Utley was part of the Phillies’ 2008 World Series champions and spent 13 of his 16 years with the Phillies. He was a six-time All-Star, a four-time Silver Slugger and finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting three times. At the plate he slashed .275/.358/.465 with 1,885 hits, 411 doubles, 259 home runs, 1,025 RBI, 1,103 runs and 154 stolen bases.

Rollins has just 13.8% of the vote and, based on the number of ballots remaining, won’t reach the 75% needed for induction. He is in his third year on the ballot.

Rollins spent 15 years with the Phillies and, like Utley, was part of the 2008 world champions. The three-time All-Star was the 2007 National League MVP, won four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger. He slashed a lifetime .264/.324/.418/.743 with 231 home runs and 936 RBI.

Wagner is tracking above 75%, which would put him in line for induction. He had 79.4% of the vote, as his name appeared on 127 of them. Based on the 75% percent needed for induction, Wagner would need to appear on 161 more ballots. Candidates need an estimated 288 votes for induction.

Based on results after 160 ballots, Wagner would be in, along with Adrián Beltré (98.8%), Joe Mauer (83.3%), Todd Helton (83.1%) and Gary Sheffield (75%). Former manager Jim Leyland is already set for induction after he was elected by the Eras Committee in December.

Among left-handed relievers, Wagner’s 422 career saves is second-highest and he is sixth all-time among all closers. His career 2.31 ERA is the lowest among retired left-handed pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched. His 14.95 single-season-strikeout-per-nine innings was the highest among relievers at the time of his retirement.

With Philadelphia in 2004 and 2005, Wagner went 8-3 with 59 saves and a 1.86 ERA.

The induction ceremony is set for July 21 in Cooperstown, N.Y.