Former Cubs managers Joe Maddon, Dusty Baker named to Hall of Fame ballot

A trio of former Chicago Cubs managers, including Joe Maddon and Dusty Baker, have been named to the Contemporary Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. The 16-member panel will vote on eight finalists leading up to the December 6 announcement of next year’s class, and along with Lou Piniella, several Cubs skippers have a chance at immortality in Cooperstown. The announcement appropriately took place on November 2, the 10th anniversary of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship. Maddon, who led the team to their first title in 108 seasons, was named as one of the panel’s finalists in an announcement Monday. Maddon started his managerial career with the Tampa Bay Rays, leading that team to their first-ever World Series appearance in 2008, before signing with the Cubs before the 2015 season. He then led the Cubs to three straight NLCS appearances and a 2016 World Series title, earning 471 victories in his five seasons with the Cubs. He will be joined on the ballot by Baker, who r