Baseball Writers’ Association of America takes away Dan LeBatard’s vote because he made a mockery of the process
By Sometimes the jokes just write themselves:
Dan Le Batard won’t be voting in future elections for baseball’s Hall of Fame — either on his own, or as proxy for Deadspin readers.
Le Batard was stripped for life of his Hall of Fame voting privileges Thursday, one day after it was revealed he filled out his ballot based on the results of a poll of Deadspin readers on who they felt belonged in Cooperstown.
In addition to banning Le Batard from future voting, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose most tenured members vote on the Hall of Fame, also suspended him from the organization for one year.
“The BBWAA regards Hall of Fame voting as the ultimate privilege, and any abuse of that privilege is unacceptable,” the organization said in a statement.
The opinionated South Florida sports journalist received his membership through the Miami Herald but now works for ESPN. Only members of the BBWAA who have been with the organization for at least 10 years are allowed to vote.
“I feel like my vote has gotten pretty worthless in the avalanche of sanctimony that has swallowed it,” Le Batard wrote on Deadspin in explaining his reasoning.
Le Batard said he is bothered by “all the moralizing we do in sports in general,” especially as it pertains to the snubbing of baseball greats who were linked to steroids, such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.
Le Batard’s ballot did not make or break any Hall candidate’s election bid.
Not voting for somebody who used steroids, or might have used steroids, or played a time when some players used steroids — that’s fine. Also, not voting for overwhelmingly qualified candidates because your favorite marginal candidate hasn’t been chosen yet, or sending in a blank ballot every year for the sole purpose of annoying “sabermetic geeks,” (h/t Brien Jackson) is perfectly acceptable. But allowing ordinary baseball fans the tiniest voice in the process — that makes a mockery of the Hall of Fame vote.