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Detroit Tigers: Who will be the Tigers next Hall of Famer?

By Andy Patton

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 15: Torii Hunter #48 of the Detroit Tigers bats during the fifth inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on June 15, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Twins 4-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 15: Torii Hunter #48 of the Detroit Tigers bats during the fifth inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on June 15, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Twins 4-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – JULY 9: Victor Martinez #41 of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by Miguel Cabrera #24 after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 9, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – JULY 9: Victor Martinez #41 of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by Miguel Cabrera #24 after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 9, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

A pair of Detroit Tigers legends in Alan Trammell and Jack Morris just went into the Hall of Fame. Who will be next?

The Detroit Tigers finally saw two members of the World Series winning 1984 team get enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s an incredible accomplishment for two players who had to wait too long to hear their name called.

Tiger fans had to wait a long time to see a former player inducted into the Hall. How long will they have to wait for the next one?

The 2017 Hall of Fame Ballot is out and three former Tigers are eligible. However, early returns do not look promising for any of their hall hopes.

As of this writing, 140 ballots (34.0%) have been revealed. Gary Sheffield is named on 10.4% of the ballots, which would keep him on the ballot for another year. Johnny Damon has been named on one ballot, and Aubrey Huff has yet to receive a vote.

Neither Damon or Huff will likely earn the 5% minimum necessary to remain on the ballot. Sheffield seems unlikely to jump up to 75% before his time runs out.

So if not any of them, who will be the next former Tiger to make the Hall of Fame?

Next season, former Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco will be on the ballot. Polanco’s 41.3 bWAR and three Gold Gloves will garner some attention, but he seems very unlikely to make the Hall.

In 2020 former closer Jose Valverde will make the ballot. Considering other closers (John Franco, Troy Percival, etc.) haven’t received enough votes to even stay on the ballot, Valverde is not likely to get much consideration.

While it may be a few years, there are some former Tigers coming up who have a chance of making the Hall of Fame. Let’s take a look:

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