Schilling the one to watch in next Hall of Fame vote

DETROIT (AP) — Derek Jeter's election to the Hall of Fame marked the seventh straight year with at least one first-ballot honoree.

That streak is probably over in 2021.

Tim Hudson, Torii Hunter and Mark Buehrle are among the newcomers expected on the next ballot, and although those three accomplished plenty as major leaguers, they seem unlikely to sail straight into the Hall the way Jeter and Mariano Rivera did in the past couple votes. Instead, the focus will turn to a number of holdovers, at least one of whom is inching closer to induction.

Curt Schilling was selected on 70% of the ballots this year. Candidates need to reach 75% to be elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Other players whose positions improved significantly this time included Omar Vizquel (42.8% to 52.6%), Scott Rolen (17.2% to 35.3%), Billy Wagner (16.7% to 31.7%), Gary Sheffield (13.6% to 30.5%) and Todd Helton (16.5% to 29.2%).

Rivera was elected unanimously in 2019, when he was inducted along with Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez and Mike Mussina. Jeter and Larry Walker are going into the Hall this year. Jeter fell one vote shy of unanimity.

Don't expect that kind of consensus a year from now. Without much competition for ballot slots from the next group of newcomers, the holdovers could progress further, but only Schilling seems close enough to have a good chance of induction in 2021. If fewer than two people are elected by the BBWAA, it will be the first time that's happened since nobody reached the 75% mark in 2013.

Things to watch in the next Hall of Fame vote:

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Schilling figures to be the center of attention. He excelled in that spot as a pitcher — his postseason exploits with the Red Sox, Diamondbacks and Phillies have been well documented — but his...

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