The fantasy industry has named its 2021 picks for the Rotisserie Hall of Fame: Ryan Braun and Hanley Ramirez.
Eligibility for the Roto Hall is based on lifetime and peak Rotisserie dollar earnings, and number of times ranked within the top 15 batters or pitchers during the player’s career. There is no subjectivity or “character clause.” The only criteria are whether a player helped fantasy teams win championships during his career.
Unlike the BBWAA, there is no waiting period for Roto Hall induction. If a player meets all the other criteria, he can be inducted as soon as he officially retires.
Complete details about the eligibility criteria appear here.
Complete list of Hall of Fame members here.
Here are descriptions of the Roto Hall’s two new members:
Ryan Braun
Inducted with: Milwaukee Brewers (4th inductee with this team)
No. years in Majors: 14
Career 5×5 earnings: $383
Average annual earnings, career: $27
Average annual earnings, peak: $32
No. years in top 15: 6
Braun hit the ground running in 2007, putting up six consecutive Top 15, $30-plus seasons. His peak year was 2011, when he batted .332, with 33 HR and 33 SB, good for $47 in earnings and the MVP award. He followed up with a $46 season the next year, thanks to 41 HR, 30 SB and a .319 BA.
Braun finished just one season shy of qualifying for the Rotisserie Gold Hall. He met all of the other Roto value benchmarks but needed 15 years in the majors.
Hanley Ramirez
Inducted with: Florida Marlins (2nd inductee with this team)
No. years in Majors: 14
Career 5×5 earnings: $319
Average annual earnings, career: $23
Average annual earnings, peak: $28
No. years in top 15: 5
Ramirez also accrued most of his career value right out of the gate, earning $30 or more in his first five seasons in the bigs. His peak year was 2007 in which he hit .332 with 29 HR and 52 stolen bases, earning $45.
Injuries marred his career after that initial run. He posted only two seasons of 600-plus plate appearances from 2011-2019, but he exhibited elite productivity whenever he was in the lineup.
Several recent retirees who missed induction:
As much as Buster Posey was well respected and had several excellent seasons, he fell short of the benchmarks necessary for Roto Hall induction. His average annual earnings were just $17, and only $19 during his peak seasons. His $208 in career earnings were not close to the $300 needed for consideration. Melky Cabrera ($15/$18,$220), Jay Bruce ($14/$18/$189), Kyle Seager ($16/$17/$176) and Jon Lester ($11/$17/$172) were also not nearly close enough to be in the conversation.
Here are some tidbits about current players on the path to probable Hall consideration. (See Statistics and Rankings page.)
Albert Pujols’ added $7 to his career earnings and is now at $579, firmly holding the No. 4 spot on the All-Time list. Miguel Cabrera is now at $519 and jumped to 6th overall, passing Ken Griffey, Jr. ($511) and Greg Maddux ($512) this year.
There are no other active players with even $400 in current earnings, and only three with even $350: Clayton Kershaw ($389), Robinson Cano ($387) and Mike Trout ($356).