OAKLAND, UNITED STATES: Oakland Athletics' Tim Hudson releases a pitch against the Seattle Mariners 17 April 2002 in Oakland, California. AFP PHOTO/John G. MABANGLO (Photo credit should read JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images)
It was touch and go with Tim Hudson and the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Players need to receive 5% of the vote to remain on for the following year, and Hudson was close. He had hovered around that threshold as ballots became public, making a second year an uncertainty.
As it turned out, only three first year players will remain on the ballot.