[GaryPassamonte]

Barry- The problem is that Barnes is technically not eligible for HOF consideration. He only played 9 recognized Major League seasons, with 10 seasons being the minimum required to be considered as a player. This requirement excludes others such as Jim Creighton and Cal Mc Vey, and there are many others. The HOF makes no allowance for players who started their careers before 1871 and the formation of the National Association. The only 19th century player in the HOF, elected solely on the basis of his playing career, that played less than 10 Major League seasons is Candy Cummings and this election occurred in 1939. The pioneer category for players has been abandoned. We see a parade of executives, managers, and even umpires being inducted, yet players with less than 10 Major League seasons are not considered. Take Barnes for example. He played 5 years with the Rockford Forest Cities, from 1866-1870. This service is not considered, but if he had one at bat in one more Major League season, he would be eligible for consideration. This is absolutely ludricrous and punishes many 19th century players for having been born too early. The HOF needs to rethink the rules as they apply to the true pioneers of baseball and use the pioneer category for what it was intended to do, which is elect players. Did I say that Barnes is the only player to bat over .400 in 4 different seasons?