By Tyler Kepner | The New York Times
Three ace pitchers and one durable doubles machine achieved baseball’s highest honor Tuesday. Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio were elected to the Hall of Fame, the first time in 60 years that the baseball writers elected four players in the same year.
Johnson, Martinez and Smoltz were among the most dominant pitchers of their time, collecting nine Cy Young Awards (five by Johnson) from 1995 to 2002. Biggio amassed 3,060 hits across 20 seasons with the Houston Astros and ranks fifth on the career list in doubles, with 668.
Johnson, Martinez and Smoltz were making their debut on the ballot, having played their final games in 2009. Biggio, who retired after the 2007 season, was elected on his third try, after falling two votes short last winter. The players will be honored in a ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 26.
