As ideally happens in January when baseball Hall of Fame winners are named, there’s a bit of suspense, and a surplus of intrigue, bubbling ahead of Wednesday’s unveiling of the 2017 Cooperstown class.
Among eligible players responsible for this year’s buzz is one-time Tigers employee Pudge Rodriguez.
Just behind Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines, who look like sure winners, Rodriguez is among an unusually large wave (Vladimir Guerrero and Trevor Hoffman included) that has a shot at induction or rejection in something of an electoral jump-ball.
Cooperstown enshrinement requires a contestant to be check-marked on at least 75 percent of returned ballots.