This afternoon, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York welcomed two new members -- Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven. Alomar was elected on his second try with 90% of the vote; for Blyleven, it was his 15th and final year of eligibility on the BBWAA's ballot. He received 79.7%.
↵↵Alomar had two stints with the White Sox at the end of his career. He was acquired from the Mets by the Sox on July 1, 2003 for three minor leaguers, none of whom had a significant major league career. The Sox contended for a while that year and wanted Alomar's experience to stabilize the infield. When they didn't make the playoffs, they let him leave via free agency, but reacquired him from the Diamondbacks on August 5, 2004 for a PTBNL, who turned out to be another minor leaguer who never made it.
↵↵It is, of course, for his great years in San Diego and Toronto for which Alomar is inducted into the Hall; he had 2724 hits, was a 12-time All-Star and won ten Gold Gloves.
↵↵Blyleven is fifth on the all-time strikeout list with 3701 and threw 60 shutouts; only Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan among pitchers of his generation had as many. He pitched for two World Championship teams, one in Pittsburgh and one in Minnesota.
↵↵Congratulations to the new Hall of Famers, who will be inducted in July.