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Evaluating Yankees’ chances to make Baseball Hall of Fame after 2021 ballot reveal

By Adam Weinrib

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Andy Pettitte #46 of the New York Yankees reacts after the Yankees turned a double play to end the top of the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Andy Pettitte #46 of the New York Yankees reacts after the Yankees turned a double play to end the top of the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 17: Former Yankees player Nick Swisher (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

Yankees: Newcomer Baseball Hall of Fame Candidates

Nick Swisher, AJ Burnett: 0-to-5% Chance

No, we’re not going to seriously entertain the odds that Nick Swisher and AJ Burnett garner election into the Hall of Fame. But we are going to celebrate the fact that both men got the nod for the ballot, which did not have to happen. Not everyone who technically qualifies makes the ballot! Rafael Soriano didn’t! Remember him? Mr. Untuck!

Swisher and Burnett both became albatrosses (albatri?) by the end of their Yankees careers, but both were criminally fun at their peaks in 2009. That season, I’m convinced, does not happen without the infectious energy of both men.

Swisher, brought in to ride the pine in ’09, became an integral part of the roster when Xavier Nady suffered a season-ending injury. His joy was very well-advertised; select any ’09 regular season game at random, and you’d spot something that indicated Swisher was having a great time out there.

Burnett? He was far quieter about it, until the waning seconds of a walk-off win. Then, boom, there he was with a pie to the face.

Both men were very talented, and both men will probably ultimately be prouder of their World Series rings than this particular honor. But like Swish to the right-field Bleacher Creatures, we salute them.

LaTroy Hawkins: 0% Chance

Yeah, we’re not going to wax poetic in the same way about Hawkins. Nice man, solid reliever forever, barely a Yankee, glad he’s in the conversation!

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