Red Sox Legend Falls Off MLB Hall of Fame Ballot

This article digs into the end of Manny Ramirez’s Baseball Hall of Fame journey through the BBWAA voting process. It explores why his candidacy stalled, despite his historic production on the field, and what could happen next with the Era Committee.

Ramirez’s case sits in the middle of bigger debates about Hall of Fame voting standards and performance-enhancing drug controversies. Other stars like Alex Rodriguez are dealing with the same uphill battle.

The Hall of Fame Voting Process and Why It Matters

The Baseball Hall of Fame has always set a high bar for induction. Players need at least 75% of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) vote to get in.

Candidates can stay on the writers’ ballot for up to ten years, so keeping voter support matters a lot.

In 2026, the voting landscape felt especially harsh. Out of 425 ballots cast, a player had to get 319 votes to reach Cooperstown.

The idea is to keep the Hall’s prestige, but sometimes it shuts out even the game’s biggest names.

A Lean Election Year

The 2026 class really showed how tough things have gotten. Only Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones made it, which says a lot about how selective the process is now.

It’s even tougher for stars from baseball’s steroid-era shadow.

Manny Ramirez’s Final Year on the BBWAA Ballot

For Manny Ramirez, 2026 was the last shot with the BBWAA. He was a cornerstone of the Boston Red Sox dynasty and one of the most dangerous right-handed hitters anyone’s seen.

Ramirez entered his tenth and final year needing a massive jump in support. That jump just didn’t happen.

He got 165 votes, which is only 38.8%—not even close to what he needed. With that, he’s officially off the BBWAA ballot.

Historic Numbers, Lingering Doubts

Ramirez’s stats are hard to argue with. He ranks 15th all-time in home runs, a spot that usually means you’re a lock for Cooperstown.

But the numbers haven’t told the whole story. Of the 14 players with more home runs than Ramirez:

The PED Shadow and Voter Resistance

Ramirez’s biggest problem hasn’t been his bat—it’s his connection to performance-enhancing drugs. Even though his era didn’t have consistent punishment standards, today’s voters have taken a hard line against anyone linked to PEDs.

That resistance showed up in the 2026 voting. Even players with huge career numbers couldn’t gain much ground.

Comparing Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez sits fifth on the all-time home run list, but he only received five more votes than Ramirez. Like Manny, Rodriguez faces big Hall of Fame roadblocks because of PED scrutiny, even though his overall credentials might be stronger.

It raises the question: once PED allegations are in play, does statistical dominance even matter anymore?

What Comes Next: The Era Committee

Ramirez is done with BBWAA voting, but his Hall of Fame story isn’t totally over. Players who drop off the writers’ ballot can still get a shot with the Era Committee, which looks at post-1980 MLB candidates.

This committee is mostly made up of former players, executives, and insiders—people who lived through the same era as Ramirez. Maybe that changes things. Maybe not. We’ll see.

A Tougher Road Than It Sounds

Historically, the Era Committee has been even harsher on candidates connected to PED use. Peer understanding can sometimes soften judgment, but precedent suggests Ramirez faces an uphill climb.

Baseball history does evolve. As perspectives shift and time creates distance from controversy, maybe Manny Ramirez’s legacy gets revisited down the line—who really knows?

 
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