1985 Hall of Fame

 There's always a funny quirk or two you learn when you slog your way through every Hall of Fame vote ever...and this time it's an exception to the notion that failing to get 5% on a ballot is the automatic ejection we thought it was. In 1984, 10 names failed to achieve the 5% required for a return in 1985...yet three of them were back on the ballot anyway. Heck, Ron Fairly didn't get a single vote (he did get 3 in 1985 and was finally kicked off for good. At the rate of 3 additional votes a year, it would theoretically take him a century to finally get enough votes) so what gives? Well, the Hall put together a committee to review previously dropped candidates for reentry and ultimately came up with 11 names in all from the past several ballots to return to the ballot. Unsurprisingly, none of the renewed names would get the BBWAA approval for the Hall, though some did later gain entry via the Veterans Committee. As a result, certain first time eligible names were kept off the ballot, including Bobby Valentine, which I felt the need to share.