[Seven]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

I realize Christy Mathewson passed away before the Hall of Fame existed, but too many players are inducted posthumously. Players like Harry Heilmann, Arky Vaughan, Mordecai Brown, and influential people like Branch Rickey did not get the joy of induction, and the fans were deprived of seeing their speeches. Gil Hodges and Minnie Minoso are not clear cut candidates, but I wish they had gotten in during their lifetimes. And of course so many great Negro League players had passed before induction. It's a shame.

I would note that while Ty Cobb wasn't the most popular teammate, he did help Wahoo Sam Crawford get elected before he passed. For years, Cobb wrote letters pushing for his old teammate to be elected. Sam finally got in in 1957, and when he saw Cobb on the porch of the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown during his induction weekend, Wahoo Sam embraced his old teammate, and thanked him for his efforts.

I would agree, certainly a tragedy that many of the legends of the game did not get to see their induction. I separated Matty because of the fact that he was so young when he passed on. Just 45 years old. His weakened immune system from the war, led him to contracting tuberculosis.

On the subject of Cobb, I feel he was so misunderstood. The man battled many demons, including the fact that his Father was murdered by his Mother. I think Cobbs competitive fire was so great, and his attitude was so serious, that it drove many of his teammates away. It certainly didn't help that many things about him were sensationalized or lied about in that horrific biography by Al Stump.