MOBILE, Ala. — Former South Alabama All-American Luis Gonzalez will not remain on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame after receiving less than 5 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility.
Gonzalez was named on five of the 571 ballots cast, or 0.9 percent, according to results the BBWAA announced this week. Players must receive at least 5 percent of the vote each year to remain on the ballot, and can stay on it for up to 15 years if they meet that threshold.
Pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine and slugger Frank Thomas were elected to the Hall of Fame, each appearing on at least 75 percent of the ballots.
All-American at South Alabama
Gonzalez was an All-American first baseman for the Jaguars in 1988. That season he drove in 80 runs, a South Alabama single-season record that still stands.
When he left USA after three seasons, Gonzalez held school career records for games played, runs, doubles and RBIs. Those career marks have since been surpassed.
The Houston Astros selected Gonzalez in the fourth round of the 1988 Major League Baseball draft. South Alabama has retired his jersey and named its baseball hitting facility the Luis Gonzalez Hitting Facility in his honor.
19-Year Major League Career
Gonzalez spent 19 seasons in the major leagues as an outfielder, playing for the Astros, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers and Florida Marlins. He is best known for his game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, which gave Arizona the championship over the New York Yankees.
In 2,591 career games, Gonzalez batted .283 with 1,412 runs, 596 doubles, 354 home runs, 1,439 RBIs and 1,155 walks, and posted a .479 slugging percentage.
He was a five-time All-Star and led the National League with 206 hits in 1999. Gonzalez scored at least 100 runs in each season from 1999 to 2001 and drove in at least 100 runs every year from 1999 through 2003. He hit a career-high 57 home runs in 2001.
