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Weekly Blog Question!
Every week I’m posting a baseball history-related question and will encourage our readers to voice their opinion. We’d love to hear what you have to say!
This week’s question: Are you happy with the recent Hall of Fame selections? Also, who do you think should be in the Hall of Fame who isn’t in? Who do you think is in who should not be in? And why? Please leave your comments below!
In the classic photo above from 1936, we see top row, L-R: Honus Wagner, Pete Alexander, Tris Speaker, Larry Lajoie, George Sisler, and Walter Johnson. Front row, L-R: Eddie Collins, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, and Cy Young.
Below, we see a photo from Opening Day festivities at the Hall of Fame.
Sorry, Harold Baines is not HOF material. It is called Hall of Fame, not Hall of Pretty Good. Lee Smith is a better choice, but still not HOF.
Luis Tiant is my should be in candidate…
Thanks Paul, I think a lot of readers will agree with you. I’m partial to Lee Smith because I’m a Cub fan!
Tiant’s numbers are almost identical to Catfish Hunter.
I just looked st Tiant vs Catfish on Baseball Reference and :
Hunter. 226-166 3.26
Tiant. 229-170 3.30
So, my foggy memory was correct. Plus, if you subscribe to the new stat WAR, Tiant has a 66 to 41 edge.
Wow…How can Tiant be out and Hunter in? Makes no sense!
Hi Gary,
A slight voice in the wilderness here, still wondering how many guys are going to be enshrined before The Great Gil finally gets his due.
The writers gave Harold Baines virtually no scratches for umpteen years. Of all the players still on the outside looking in, I believe Gil Hodges garnered more votes from The BBWA than any other in history.
A just system? Joe Gordon’s family, Phil Rizzuto’s estate and Tony Perez surely think so — but I don’t.
There’s my vote, if only I had one.
Thank you,
Michael
Thanks Mike…I agree wholeheartedly! I did a recent post on that very topic. Here’s a link in case you’d like to check it out: https://wp.me/p7a04E-4qC (Update: Just looked at the post and saw that you did comment on it).
I’ve been pointing to the Catfish, Tiant numbers for years when discussion the Hall. The stats are uncannily similar right down the line. And both were big game pitchers. Catfish was a shoe-in and Tiant hardly a blip on the radar. Makes no sense and makes you wonder about the way the selections are made
Thanks Bill!
Pete Rose of course.
Agree…
Gary…for you to even ask the question means they’ve really turned this into a mess! Harold Baines??…who’s next Chet Lemon? This whole thing “stinks” of Reinsdorf…who btw has an ax to grind keeping Dick Allen out!…him and his lackey Dombrowski.
There has been a lot written the last couple days honoring Sandy Koufax’s birthday (83?). Compare his best 6 years to Johan Santana’s years with the Twins, or Guidry with the Yankees. Shouldn’t they be considered?
Unfortunately for Harold Baines his election has turned into the “Medoza Line” for HOF consideration.
The “odds” on that aren’t good…🐎…🤕😪
Yeah…I wonder if Pete would take those odds!!
Where’s Fernando Valenzuela ? and Rafael Palmeiro ( 3,000 Hits club, 500 HR club,
4x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove Award winner, 2x Silver Slugger Award ) ? and Luis Tiant ? and Dave Concepcion ( 9× All-Star, 2x World Series champ, 5x Gold Glove Award winner, 2x Silver Slugger Award ) ? and Tony Oliva ? and Edgar Martinez ? and Andres Galarraga ( 2x COMEBACK Player of the Year, 5x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove Award winner, 2x Silver Slugger Award, NL Batting Champ, NL Home Run leader, 2x NL RBI leader ? and Larry Walker ? and let’s not forget Roger Maris, too…
Isn’t it odd that SEVEN of those listed above are of Latino heritage ? ?
You make some great points Marco. I’d throw Jim Kaat into the mix as well.
Gary,
I think the Hall of Fame would be a much better place with the inclusion of both Jim Kaat as well as Tommy John. I cannot believe that these two deserving candidates have not received more support over the years. I also believe that Pete Rose’s banishment from the game should not have anything to do with his HOF eligibility.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Thanks Dale…I agree with all that! Happy New Year to you too!
You just had a great article on Ricky Colavito justifying his election. I agree. Replace him or Tony Oliva with Harold Baines please. I once heard a writer (cant recall who…)say he voted those in that put fear into the opposition for 10 years at least. Both of those fit. Not sure about Baines. Lee Smith-not many wanted to face him in the 8th or 9th for many years. Both Lee and Harold bring up the closer/DH issue. I think those positions should qualify but should be really scary good!
Hi Craig- Thanks for reminding me about my Colavito piece, I just reread it myself. You’re absolutely right…Rocky is a definite HOF’er! I just put him No. 1 on my list of guys who should be in. I’d seriously be interested in starting a campaign on his behalf. Pretty sure I can still contact his granddaughter, Gina Marie. You probably saw that I wrote two pieces on Rocky. Gina contacted me after I posted them and informed me Rocky read both and was very pleased. Thanks again for your great comment. -Gary
Gary,
Where can I find your Colavito article?
I think this is it, Dale.
I hired myself as Gary’s admin assistant. Don’t tell him. He doesn’t know.
https://www.baseballhistorycomesalive.com/tribute-to-rocky-colavito/
I guess I’ll have to increase your pay now. Oh wait…
To infinity…and beyond.
BTW-I love this site!
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/01/02/the-hall-fame-and-harold-baines-effect/skaTNhevsv0jNmv0O6RQdK/story.html
A Hall of Fame writer opines on the Hall of Fame voting in today’s Boston Globe.
I forgot to add that you should click on the comments section after the story for reaction from readers. Very good and passionate.
Thanks…interesting article. I’m all over the place on this topic. I think Pete Rose should be in, but I just can’t see letting a cheater like Sammy Sosa in. That would really bother me. Some interesting points were made in the comments. I like the one about a guy being qualified if no writers disagree about his selection. Of course that means about a third at least of the guys already in would not be in.