I’m not sure about you, but when I hear the name, “Cooperstown,” I get the chills.

I’ve never been to the small town in the heart of New York State, but I sure hope to get there one day. To any admirer of baseball, the home of the sport’s Hall of Fame is most certainly special to his or her heart.

The Baseball Hall of Fame holds shrines to the game’s greatest players and contributors dating back to the sport’s inception. Guys like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, and Roberto Clemente all have plaques in Cooperstown.

So, how do these people get enshrined there? Just like any other Hall of Fame – by election.

The Baseball Writers Association of America issues ballots to sportswriters across the nation each year. If a person receives votes from more than 75 percent of the voters, they earn a spot in the coveted Hall of Fame.

In 2014, 571 ballots were cast. Former pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine along with first baseman/designated hitter Frank Thomas all earned enough for enshrinement.

But one of those ballots was tainted.

Dan Le Batard, host of an ESPN radio show and the ESPN2 show, “Highly Questionable,” gave his BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot to the news outlet, Deadspin, this year. This came after weeks of debate surrounding Deadspin garnering a HOF vote and losing it. Le Batard was right there to give up his without any question.

https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/421328981091450880

The Hall of Fame is a big deal. That’s evident in how difficult the process is to get into the Hall of Fame and by simply seeing the names of those that have made it to Cooperstown.

Voting should be a pretty big deal too then, right?

It is. Major League Baseball shows a great deal of trust in the writers of the BBWAA to select the names that make it to the sport’s highest peak. Seeing a writer betray that trust by giving up his vote to someone who has not done enough to deserve a say in the process is disappointing to a sport that has seen its lack of truthfulness and honesty in recent years.

In order to cast a ballot, BBWAA voters must have been members for 10 years. Deadspin hasn’t even been around for ten years.

Le Batard clearly abused his power as a voter by allowing a group that does not meet the official criteria of the BBWAA to vote for this year’s class. Deadspin allowed fans to cast their vote as to which players the organization would vote for, which isn’t a bad idea, but if MLB wanted the fans voting, it would restructure the voting process.

The BBWAA brought down the hammer on Le Batard the day after the voting results were announced, banning the Miami Herald writer from ever voting again.

https://twitter.com/fangsbites/status/421384541119332352

Something rightfully deserved for a person who tarnished the legacy of one of the greatest traditions in America’s pastime.