Trevor Hoffman Standing at Threshold of Hall of Fame
Closer needs only five more votes than he received in 2016 for induction
By Bill Center
Will the third time be the charm for Padres closer Trevor Hoffman?
It certainly should be.
Hoffman’s name was prominent among the 33 candidates listed on the Hall of Fame ballots mailed to 425 eligible voters of the Baseball Writers’ of America this week for possible 2018 induction.
This is the third year that Hoffman’s name has appeared on the ballot.
In 2015, more than 67 percent of the voters supported Hoffman. Last year, Hoffman received 74 percent of the vote.
But a player must receive 75 percent of the vote to be inducted into baseball’s shrine in Cooperstown, N.Y. Hoffman missed by five votes in the voting last December.
There are two historic facts working on behalf of Hoffman, who was the first Major League pitcher to both 500 and 600 saves in a career.
No one who gained 67 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility has failed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. No one who received 74 percent of the vote at any time failed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
All factors point toward Hoffman getting inducted in 2018 when results of the December voting are announced next Jan. 24.
Certainly, Hoffman has all the credentials of a Hall of Famer — on and off the field.
Hoffman was the all-time Major League leader in saves from 2006 through 2011 before Mariano Rivera topped Hoffman’s record of 601. Hoffman’s 601 saves came in 677 opportunities — a conversion rate of 88.8 percent.
“One of the easiest decisions I had to make as the manager of the Padres was what to do with a lead entering the ninth inning,” said Bruce Bochy. “Trevor. We didn’t even need to call the bullpen. It was automatic. Trevor knew . . . everyone in the ballpark knew.”
The sound of Hoffman entering games at Petco Park and Qualcomm stadium to AC/DC’s Hell’s Bells became an anthem of victory for the Padres.
Hoffman, who turned 50 on Oct. 13, spent 15 ½ of his 18 Major League seasons with the Padres.
As a Padre, Hoffman appeared in a franchise-record 902 games with 552 saves. He had a 2.76 earned run average as a Padre with 1,029 strikeouts in 952 1/3 innings. Opponents hit only .211 against Hoffman during his Padres career while he averaged 9.72 strikeouts per nine innings.
In addition to appearances and saves, Hoffman is the all-time Padres leader in ERA, opponents’ batting average, saves in a single season (53) and strikeouts per nine innings. He ranks third in strikeouts.
Eight of Hoffman’s nine All-Star Game appearances came as a Padre.
Hoffman still holds the Major League record for strikeouts per nine innings by a relief pitcher (9.36). He holds the National League records for most career saves (601) and games pitched with a single team (902). He shares the Major League records for consecutive seasons with 40 or more saves (four) and total seasons with 40 or more saves (nine).
During his career, he held seven other save records.
But that is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to Hoffman’s awards and honors.
Hoffman finished second in the National League Cy Young Award voting and seventh in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1998 when he had a 1.48 ERA in 66 appearances and led the Major Leagues with 53 saves with only one blown save.
Hoffman again placed second in the Cy Young Award voting in 2006 when he was 10th in the MVP voting. Hoffman was also fifth in the 1996 Cy Young Award voting in 1996 and sixth in 1999.
Hoffman was the Sporting News Reliever of the Year three times (1996, 1998 and 2006) and The Sporting News National League Reliever of the Year in 1996 and 1998. The National League’s annual leader in saves is now presented the Trevor Hoffman Award.
Hoffman has also been honored with Major League Baseball’s Hutch Award (2004) and Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (2006). He was honored six times with the local Roberto Clemente Award for community involvement and won the National Teammates for Kids Award in 2006.
Named for Fred Hutchinson, the Hutch Award goes annually to the “Major League player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire by preserving through adversity.” Hoffman lost a kidney as a child.
The Gehrig Award goes annually goes annually to the Major League Player who best exhibits the character and integrity of Lou Gehrig both on and off the field.
Hoffman was inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 2014. His №51 has been retired by the Padres.
