Highest Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Percentages

Ken Griffey Jr. was elected into the Hall of Fame on Wednesday and broke Tom Seaver's voting percentage record by receiving 99.32% of the vote. Here are the top 25 players in Baseball Hall of Fame voting percentage.

SI Staff | Jan 6, 2016

Highest Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Percentages /

Highest Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Percentages

Ken Griffey, Jr., Class of 2016 — 99.32%

A 13-time All Star and 1997 AL MVP, Ken Griffey Jr. was not only a lock to be elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016, he became the closest-to-unanimous vote-getter after receiving 437 of 440 votes. Despite injuries throughout his career, Griffey still managed to hit 630 home runs.

Tom Seaver, Class of 1992 — 98.84%

A rookie of the year, three-time Cy Young winner, 300-game winner and 12-time All-Star, Tom Terrific was named on 425 of 430 ballots in 1992. The percentage could have been even higher, but three writers submitted blank ballots in protest of Pete Rose's exclusion from the ballot.

Nolan Ryan, Class of 1999 — 98.79%

John G. Zimmerman for Sports Illustrated

The all-time leader in strikeouts (5,714), no-hitters (seven) and seasons (27), Ryan was a shoo-in when he became eligible in 1999. The flamethrower garnered 491 of 497 possible votes. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Texas Ranger.

Cal Ripken, Jr., Class of 2007 — 98.53%

A 19-time All-Star and two-time MVP, Cal Ripken, Jr. revolutionized the shortstop position and played in a record 2,632 consecutive games. A member of both the 3,000-hit and 400-home run clubs, Ripken was named on 537 of 545 ballots (98.53%) the most ever for a position player.

Ty Cobb, Class of 1936 — 98.23%

The leading vote-getter in the Hall's inaugural class, Cobb set nearly 100 records during his playing days, including most career runs, hits, stolen bases and games played. He still holds the record for highest career average (.367) and most career batting titles (12).

George Brett, Class of 1999 — 98.19%

Two of the top five vote-getters of all-time were inducted in 1999, when Brett went into the Hall with Nolan Ryan. A 13-time All-Star, the Royals great batted .305 for his career, collected 3,154 hits and hit 317 home runs.

Hank Aaron, Class of 1982 — 97.83%

The home run king for 33 years, Aaron set a number of hitting records during his 23-year career. He's the all-time leader in RBIs (2,297), extra base hits (1,477) and total bases (6,856). A 25-time All-Star, Aaron also ranks in the top-five in numerous other categories. He was selected on 406 of 415 ballots in 1982.

Tony Gwynn, Class of 2007 — 97.61%

Gwynn was one of the most consistent and pure hitters of all-time, never batting below .309 in a full major league season. He batted .338 for his career, collected 3,141 hits, was elected to 15 All-Star teams and earned five Gold Gloves. Along with Cal Ripken, Gwynn was elected to the Hall in 2007; he appeared on 532 of 545 ballots.

Randy Johnson, Class of 2015 — 97.27%

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

The 6’ 10” lefty dominated hitters for 22 years during stints with six teams. He made 10 All-Star teams and won five Cy Young Awards. The Big Unit posted a career 303-166 record, 3.29 ERA and struck out 4,875 batters. His 10.6 K/9 innings is most in baseball history.

Greg Maddux, Class of 2014 — 97.20%

"The Professor" was a four-time National League Cy Young winner for the Cubs and Braves, winning the award every year from 1992-95. The last three of those years came while he was with the Atlanta Braves.

Mike Schmidt, Class of 1995 — 96.52%

In addition to winning three MVP awards, Schmidt received more votes than any other third basemen when Major League Baseball announced its All-Century team in 1999. A 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, Schmidt hit 548 home runs. He received 444 of the 460 votes when he was elected to the Hall in 1995.

Johnny Bench, Class of 1989 — 96.42%

A key piece of the "Big Red Machine" teams of the 1970s, Bench was a 14-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner and two-time NL MVP. He hit 389 career home runs and received more Hall of Fame votes than any other catcher, appearing on 431 of 447 ballots in 1989.

Steve Carlton, Class of 1994 — 95.82%

One of the greatest left-handed pitchers of all-time, Carlton is fourth in career strikeouts (4,136) and 11th in wins (329). A four-time Cy Young winner, Carlton's best season may have been 1972, when he won 27 games for a Phillies team that won just 59.

Babe Ruth, Class of 1936 — 95.13%

Another member of the Hall's inaugural class, Ruth's accomplishments are the stuff of lore. A career .342 hitter (10th all-time), Ruth hit 714 home runs, led the league in homers 12 times and still holds the record for highest career slugging percentage (.690). Almost unfathomably, Ruth appeared on just 215 of 226 ballots.

Honus Wagner, Class of 1936 — 95.13%

National Baseball Hall of Fame Library/MLB Photos/Getty Images

Widely credited as the greatest player of the dead-ball era, Wagner is the third member of the Hall's 1936 class to garner more than 95 percent of the vote. A career .327 hitter, the "Flying Dutchman" retired with 3,415 hits and 1,732 RBIs.

Rickey Henderson, Class of 2009 — 94.81%

Baseball's all-time leader in stolen bases (1,406) and runs (2,295), Henderson helped usher in a new era of power-hitting leadoff hitters, slugging a record 81 leadoff home runs. A member of the 3,000-hit club, Henderson led the league in steals 12 times and stole a Major League record 130 bases in 1982.

Willie Mays, Class of 1979 — 94.68%

The "Say Hey Kid" appeared in 24 All-Star teams won 12 Gold Gloves and two MVP awards during his memorable career. After retiring with 660 home runs and 3,283 hits, Mays received just shy of 95 percent of the vote in 1979.

Carl Yastrzemski, Class of 1989 — 94.63%

Yaz played his entire 23-year career with the Red Sox and among his many accolades (18 All-Star appearances, seven Gold Gloves, one MVP), he is best remembered as the last player to win the triple crown, which he achieved in 1967 when he led the American League in batting average (.326), home runs (44) and RBIs (121).

Bob Feller, Class of 1962 — 93.75%

Known as one of the best pitchers of his era, Feller first appeared in a Indians uniform at the age of 19 and became the first pitcher to win at least 20 games in a season before the age of 21. Over his 18-year career, the Cleveland hurler won 266 games, threw three no-hitters and was named to eight All-Star teams.

Reggie Jackson, Class of 1993 — 93.62%

Jackson, who earned the nickname "Mr. October" for his clutch postseason play, led the Athletics to three World Series titles before leading the Yankees to two more. During his 21-year career, Jackson swatted 563 home runs, won the 1973 American League MVP and was named to 14 all-star teams.

Ted Williams, Class of 1966 — 93.38%

Widely considered the best natural hitter in baseball history, Williams played 21 seasons for the Red Sox, where he won two MVP awards, six batting titles and a Triple Crown. In addition to his exploits on the field, Williams served as a pilot during World War II and the Korean War.

Stan Musial, Class of 1969 — 93.24%

"Stan the Man" spent all 22 major league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and remains the franchise's all-time greatest player. He was named to the all-star team a record 24-times and compiled 3,630 hits and 475 home runs in leading the Cardinals to three World Series titles.

Roberto Clemente, Class of 1973 — 92.69%

Clemente, a native of Puerto Rico, spent all 18 of his MLB seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and won 12 Gold Gloves, four batting titles and was named to the All-Star team 15 times. He is the first Hispanic player to win a World Series as a starter (1960), win a league MVP award (1966) and win a World Series MVP award (1971).

Jim Palmer, Class of 1990 — 92.57%

A three-time AL Cy Young winner, six-time All-Star and eight-time 20-game winner, Jim Palmer pitched all of his 19 years in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles, winning three World Series.

Brooks Robinson, Class of 1983 — 91.98%

"The Human Vacuum Cleaner" is widely considered one of the gretest defensive third basemen in major league history. A 15-time All-Star and 16-time Gold Glove winner, Robinson played his entire 23-year career with the Baltimore Orioles.

Published Jan 6, 2016

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