This article digs into veteran Philadelphia writer Marc Narducci’s latest Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. We’ll unpack why the longtime Inquirer voice went with an ultra-lean ticket, focusing on peak value, positional context, and integrity issues.
Let’s look at his stance on PED-linked stars. We’ll also get into his strong cases for Chase Utley and David Wright, why he skipped all first-time candidates, and a bit about what next year’s ballot might hold.
Marc Narducci’s Hall of Fame Voting Philosophy
After covering the game for over thirty years, Narducci has carved out a pretty clear Hall of Fame approach. At the core? Respect for the players and respect for the process.
He believes every name on the ballot represents a career worth admiring, even if he doesn’t check their box. He’s not in the business of tearing down other writers’ ballots and rarely debates why certain players get left off.
The exception? When candidates are linked to steroids or major scandals that, in his mind, compromise the game’s integrity.
Why He Won’t Criticize Other Ballots
Narducci figures different voters can weigh criteria their own way—peak versus longevity, old-school stats versus advanced metrics. There’s no one “right” answer.
That respectful posture shapes his whole explanation. He talks about his picks, not about what others get wrong.
Steroids, Scandals, and the “No” Column
He draws a hard line with players tied directly to PEDs or headline-making cheating scandals. Even as some voters have softened, Narducci sticks to his guns: on-field greatness isn’t enough if the playing field was distorted.
That standard led him to skip three of the most talented names on the ballot.
Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, and Carlos Beltran
Narducci left out:
Beltran’s case is tricky. He got 70.3% of the vote and seems headed for eventual election, but Narducci can’t get past Beltran’s role in a scheme many see as a direct attack on fair play.
A Small Ballot: Only Chase Utley and David Wright
This year, Narducci turned in a very short ballot. He checked just two holdover names: Chase Utley and David Wright.
For him, both players offered elite peaks and rare positional value, even if injuries robbed them of the usual milestone numbers. In a world where some writers fill all ten slots, Narducci likes a tighter standard—he wants to support the players who clearly stand out at their positions.
Chase Utley: Peak Greatness at Second Base
Utley’s case is built on six seasons of near-unmatched excellence. From 2005 to 2010, he was probably the best second baseman in baseball and one of the most complete players around.
Narducci points out:
Injuries cut his prime short, but Narducci values Utley’s dominance at a position where long, healthy careers are rare. Utley’s support is growing: he jumped from 28.8% to 39.8% in two years, so maybe more voters are seeing it the same way.
David Wright: A Hall-Worthy Peak at Third Base
Wright’s story? Pretty similar. He had a brilliant peak but health issues got in the way.
From 2005 to 2013, Narducci says Wright’s nine-year run stacks up well against recent Hall inductee Scott Rolen. Key things:
Chronic injuries after age 30 tanked his counting stats. Still, Narducci thinks the quality of Wright’s prime outweighs the lack of late-career numbers, and he wants to see Wright get more support even if the vote totals aren’t there yet.
No First-Time Players Get the Nod
On the 2025 ballot, Narducci didn’t vote for any first-year candidates. No love yet for Ryan Braun, Cole Hamels, Matt Kemp, or Edwin Encarnación, even though they all had memorable runs and flashes of stardom.
He’s not knocking what they accomplished. He just sets a high bar for first-ballot cases, and none of this year’s newcomers clear it for him right now.
Looking Ahead: Next Year’s Incoming Class
Narducci points forward to what’s coming. Next year’s ballot should include a fresh wave of notable names, like Buster Posey and Jon Lester.
These players helped shape recent championship eras. Posey’s résumé, especially, will probably spark heated debate about catcher value, longevity, and postseason impact.
Here is the source article for this story: Marc Narducci: My Hall Of Fame Ballot
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