Hall of Fame: 16.7% of eligible non pitchers since 1901 elected. Would be TWO per current team.

Prior to today's announcement, there were 145 former non pitchers since 1901 who are members of the Hall of Fame. To be eligible a player must play at least ten years. Figuring 500 plate appearances per year, 5,000 career PA would suggest that a player was eligible. The 5,000 PA threshold eliminates players like career backup catcher Charlie Silvera, who played ten years but had only 541 PA. In his first nine years (1948-1956), Silvera backed up Yogi Berra.

There are 926 such players, including those still active who are not eligible. 868 non active players are eligible: non pitchers who played substantial amounts of their careers starting in 1901.

So, 145/868=16.7%

Wow. Today on an active roster of 25, twelve are non pitchers. 16.7% of 12 = 2. Does every team have two non pitchers who are Hall of Famers? Fewer pitchers were carried years ago but still, among today's teams an average of two non pitchers will be elected.

So why does pretty much everybody running his/her mouth on MLB Network think that every voter should fill out the ballot each year with TEN names? OK, maybe half are pitchers, including relief pitchers like Mariano Rivera, who threw fewer than 1,300 innings, but at least five per voter will further inflate the Hall of Fame with marginal members.

Bill Mazeroski is in there with Joe Morgan. Mazeroski is the only non pitcher with an on base average under .300. What the heck?

Data based on "play index" in baseball-reference.com.