The Baseball Hall of Fame released its ballot for the Class of 2005 on Monday. 27 candidates—with 12 newcomers—are on this year’s ballot. Two of the first-time candidates are former Cardinals’ outfielder Willie McGee and former Royals’ reliever Jeff Montgomery. McGee won the National League batting title twice in his career. In 1985 he hit .353, which was the best mark ever for a switch hitter. McGee also won the N.L. Most Valuable award in 1985. In 1990, McGee won the batting title again, but some might argue that he shouldn’t have won it. He was hitting .335 when he was traded to the Oakland A’s. Since stats don’t transfer from league-to-league, his average was frozen at .335. After the 1990 season, McGee spent four seasons with the Giants and one with Boston before returning to St. Louis in 1996 and finishing his career there in 1999. McGee was a lifetime .296 hitter and made four All-Star teams. McGee won the Gold Glove three times. Jeff Montgomery played 12 of his 13 major league seasons in Kansas City, where he became the team’s all-time saves leader with 304. He also set franchise marks most games pitched (686) and most saves (304). He currently ranks 16th on major league baseball’s all-time save list. Montgomery was named the Sporting News A.L. Fireman award winner and the A.L. Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 1993 when he was tied for the league lead with 45 saves. Montgomery was named to three A.L. All-Star teams.
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