CMC Hall of Fame Candidates 2011

It's now been almost 21 years since the 1990 CMC set came out. Players made the majors or didn't, most of their careers have long since been over.

Now it's time to see if they make the Hall of Fame or don't.

Probably the best bet to make the Hall out of the set is Frank Thomas, a member of the 1990 Birmingham Barons. He last played in 2008 and won't be eligible for the first time until 2014.

Tomorrow, 33 former players will find out who will make the hall in 2011. Among them are four CMC set members, two of them from the same card. The Hall of Fame announcement comes Wednesday.

Edgar Martinez is the only returning member. He came well short, but with in long-term striking distance in 2010. He received just over 36 percent of the vote.

I covered Edgar Martinez in October, along with another of the Hall of Fame candidates Tino Martinez. The card was actually intended for Tino, as he was a member of the 1990 Calgary Cannons. Edgar didn't play at AAA in 1990.

I also covered Tino Martinez in October. Tino was seen early on as a quality player. He went on to play 16 seasons in the majors.
The other two new Hall candidates are Jeff Bagwell and Juan Gonzalez. I have yet to cover either. Gonzalez, a two-time MVP, was once thought of as a future Hall lock. But that talk faded with his health. Gonzalez appeared in the CMC set as a member of the AAA Oklahoma City 89ers.

Bagwell appears to have a better chance, though maybe down the road. Peter Gammons believes Bagwell should get in. Bagwell was in the CMC set, not yet with the Astros. He was at AA in 1990, with the New Britain Red Sox.

"Jeff Bagwell belongs in the Hall of Fame," Gammons began his Dec. 26 ESPN.com column with. "Not on the 10th time on the ballot - he belongs on the podium in Cooperstown this summer making his characteristically modest speech before Henry Aaron, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Frank Robinson, Joe Morgan, et al."