Detroit Tigers: Rapid reaction to the 2018 Hall of Fame Election

The Hall of Fame ballot featured three former Tigers and one former Tigers coach. Here is how they fared.

Gary Sheffield

Sheffield just completed his fourth year on the Hall of Fame ballot. The previous three years had resulted in 11.7%, 11.6% and 13.3% of the votes for Detroit’s designated hitter from 2007-2008. This year he only appeared on 11.1% percent of ballots. With six more years left, Sheffield and his 509 career home runs have a long road ahead of them to reach the 75% threshold necessary for Hall of Fame induction.

Johnny Damon

Damon, who spent the 2010 season with the Tigers, was named on 1.9% of the ballots. Players need to be on at least 5% of the ballots in order to remain on the ballot the following year, so Damon’s Hall of Fame candidacy is over.

Aubrey Huff

Huff spent a half season with the Tigers in 2009. Like a handful of players each season, he was placed on the ballot simply because his career lasted more than 10 seasons. He was never a serious Hall of Fame candidate and did not receive a single vote for enshrinement.

Omar Vizquel

While not technically a Tiger, Vizquel spent a few seasons coaching first base and instructing the infielders in Detroit. He was a dynamite defensive shortstop during his 24-year career, spent primarily with the Cleveland Indians. He finished with 37.0% of the vote in his first year on the ballot.