1872 Boston McVey and Barnes HOF Worthy ???

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Posted By: Preece1

I read the thread a little while ago about other worthy players that should be in the Hall of Fame, but I seldom see either Barnes or McVey listed. Why is that? Do either of them appear on cards?

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Posted By: barrysloate

Yes- they both appear on Warren CdV's They do have HOF credentials but there is nobody left to elect 19th century players.

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Posted By: Preece1

Hi Barry,

Please forgive my ignorance, but isn't there a group of historians at the Hall of Fame that review records and make recomendations? I obviously don't know how the process works. Can you help enlighten me here?

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Posted By: barrysloate

Pat- there was a committee at one point that reviewed the records of the game's early players. That is how Bid McPhee and Frank Selee got admitted (strange choices to say the least). However, for whatever reason that committee no longer exists, so no future 19th century players are eligible at this moment. Hopefully, one day they will come to their senses and realize there are players better than Bill Mazeroski, among others, who are worthy of induction.

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Posted By: Brian H (misunderestimated)

These are two of the best players from the short-lived predecessor to the National League, the National Association 1871-75. After that these two among others continued (albeit breifly) to star in the NL.
Unfortunately the NA is general not recognized as a major league so the feats of these players are largely ignored. Additionally these two had very short careers (at least in organized baseball) so that they fall short of the 10 year rule for the HOF.

As I recall, Barnes, the great fair-foul hitter before the rule was changed, was injured around 1877 and never returned to greatness. McVey meanwhile went west in the late 1870's where he played in the nascent western leagues. Both of these men starred on the great National Association Boston club and then briefly on the WHite Stockings with Spalding and Anson.

THe only players whose careers peaked in the 1870s that are in the HOF are basically recognized for their role as pioneers -- George Wright, Spalding and Candy Cummings, who supposedly invented the curve.

Along with these two Deacon White and Joe Start and maybe Tommy Bond really warrant HOF consideration if you accept the premise that the 1870's (and the National Association) should be fairly represented in the HOF. To me the most deserving is Deacon White, who continued to excel well into the 1880s but was in his prime in the 1870s.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/whitede01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcveyca01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcveyca01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/startjo01.shtml