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3 former Phillies stars to appear on Hall of Fame ballot for first time in 2022

On Tuesday, it was announced that there would be no new inductees to the Hall of Fame this year. Former Phillie Shane Victorino was one of several players to fall off the ballot after garnering less than five percent of the vote.

Jimmy Rollins (left) and Ryan Howard (right) were two key cogs during the Phillies golden era of 2007 to 2011. (Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

But next years’s ballot will be stocked with three notable former Phillies in shortstop Jimmy Rollins, first baseman Ryan Howard and closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Of these three, Rollins likely has the greatest chance to eventually make it into the Hall of Fame. The three-time All-Star won the NL MVP in 2007, and played a key role during the Phillies five-year playoff run. His 2,306 hits rank first in franchise history.

Rollins’ case suffers in an era where counting stats matter less and advanced metrics are used to power fringe cases. While he is analytically one of the best defensive shortstops of his generation, he is not valued as much for his contributions at the plate and was only worth greater than 5.0 fWAR in one season.

Howard might have been on a Hall of Fame trajectory during the earlier seasons of his career, as he won the NL MVP in 2006 and became the fastest player to ever hit 200 home runs when he reached the mark after just 658 games.

But Howard’s decline was quickened by his Achilles tear at the end of the 2011 postseason, and he ultimately was unable to put up numbers consistent with a Hall of Fame player. He finished his career with 382 home runs, good for second in Phillies history, but well short of what a power-first
Hall of Fame candidate needs.

Papelbon spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Boston Red Sox before signing with the Phillies prior to the 2012 season. Although he was not part of any team success in Philadelphia, his 123 saves as a Phillie rank first in franchise history.

The closer finished his career with a career ERA of 2.44 and 368 saves, which ranks ninth all-time, but was not on the same level of recent ballot inductees Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera.

There are other notable players who will make their debuts on the ballot in 2022. Alex Rodriguez – who spent time as a shortstop and third baseman with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees – hit 696 home runs in his illustrious career. Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz, arguably the best designated hitter of all time, will also make his ballot debut. Both have been connected to performance-enhancing drugs to varying degrees.

In addition to the trio of longtime Phillies, Marlon Byrd, who spent four seasons over two stints as a Phillie, is eligible for the ballot. Michael Bourn, a member of the 2007 Phillies who was subsequently sent to the Houston Astros in the trade that netted Brad Lidge, is also eligible.