Posted By:
Kenny ColeI tend to agree with Brian, at least to a point. I don't think a 19th Century ballplayer is going to be elected for quite some time. Actually, I have some doubt about 20th Century ballplayers being elected by the Veteran's Committee. The way they vote now just makes it too tough. After a few years of no one getting in, they'll revamp it though. No elections isn't good business for MLB or for the HOF. Consequently, they'll change the voting system after a few years of nothing.
As I understand it, the Negro League players are in a seperate category and another special committee has been appointed to study them. The players who had the most support in the last few years before the rule change were Mackey, Torriente, Lundy, Suttles and Raymond Brown. Willard Brown also had some support, and all of the others mentioned by Brian, etc. are worthy of consideration. Off the top of my head, I would add Pete Hill, Spottswood Poles, Jud Wilson and Jose Mendez to the list.
Mackey, Torriente, Lundy and both Browns have cards. Mackey is very tough to find because there is only one card of him (I know of maybe 5 copies), Ditto for Lundy. Torriente is tough but achievable (5 different cards, I believe, all fairly expensive but doable). Raymond Brown is relatively easy to pick up in the Cuban Caramelo Deportivo set, and Willard Brown has two tough to find Puerto Rican cards and a rare(and ugly) card from the Dominican Republic. Mendez is doable if you get one of his cards from the '20's (he also has a Punch - I know of 1 copy). Hill is impossible. He is reputed to have 2 cards, a Cabanas and a Punch. I know of only 1 Cabanas card of him, period, and have never seen or even heard of anyone who has a Punch of him. Maybe Ryan knows more. That's all I know.