Who is the one player who most deserves to be in the HOF?

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Posted By: Bob

You can only pick one:

Is it:
1) Jack Glasscock
2) Bill Dahlen
3) Ed Reulbach
4) Ron Santo
5) Jim Kaat
6) Milt Pappas
7) Pete Rose
8) Tony Oliva
9) Bill Buckner
10) Tommy John
11) Vada Pinson
12) Bert Blyleven
13) Curt Flood
14) Jack Morris
15) Carl Mays

I know Joe Jackson is going to be the favorite, but OTHER THAN Joe Jax, who would you pick?

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Will White. Hank O'Day.

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Posted By: Dave S

If based solely on the way he played the game, obviously I have to go with Pete..
But based on his character and exta-curriculars, I'll split my vote between Santo and Tony O.
How's that for getting around "One Only" Bob...

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Wish Glasscock and O'Day would be inducted. I have two Glasscock autographs and the only O'Day signed ball I've ever seen. My reasons are selfish and entirely financially-driven.

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Posted By: Danny Grimes

Blyleven

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Posted By: Tony

Pete Rose...... Dumb as a box of rocks but deserves to be in.

Tony

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

BILL DAHLEN

However, don't expect the current crop of dudes on the HOF selection committee to ever select
anyone on your list.

T-Rex TED

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Posted By: Phil Garry

Pete Rose is the obvious choice and then Lefty O'Doul, although neither one is presently eligible.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

This thread sounds far too similar to one we participated in a few months ago. Again, I'll agree with Phil that O'Doul really needs to be enshrined. It's a crime that the gates are presently locked to a man who did so much good for his sport.

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Posted By: Geno

No doubt about it - Ron Santo!

His numbers are as good as Brooks Robinson - it's a crime he's not in there next to Ernie, Billy, and Fergie...

Take Care,
Geno

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Posted By: Bob

Although I am partial to Tony O. and Blyleven, if I had just one vote it would be for Curt Flood. An All-Star centerfielder who at age 32 sacrificed everything for principle. He only had 35 bats for the rest of his career although he had HOF numbers before his decision.

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Posted By: David Vargha

Rose

DavidVargha@hotmail.com

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Posted By: george "bulldog" adams

write-in vote for luis tiant. bulldog

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Posted By: fkw

Frank "Lefty" O'Doul

Started off as Left Handed Pitcher for SF of the PCL. Stayed close to home and played many season in PCL which many considered the 3rd Major League.

Injured his arm, then came back and became a great hitter (similar to Joe Wood, Babe Ruth, Rick Ankiel).

Best season in MLB
1929 .398 ave, 254 hits, 32 HRs, 122 RBIs (considered one of the best seasons of all time)
1930 .383
1932 .368

MLB lifetime .349 ave

4 different MLB season with more Homeruns than Strikeouts (very very tough)

Retired to the PCL to become a successful manager of San Francisco from 1937-51 and is considered the most successful manager in PCL history.

O'Doul was also instrumental in spreading baseball's popularity in Japan, serving as the sport's goodwill ambassador before and after World War II. The Tokyo Giants, sometimes considered "Japan's Baseball Team," were named by him in 1935 in honor of his longtime association with the New York Giants.

Probably the most famous and well liked player from San Francisco. The drawbridge only 200 feet behind ATT Park in San Francisco is named the Lefty O'Doul Bridge. Owned the very popular Lefty O'Doul's Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge.

Elected into the Bay Area Hall of Fame in 1981, and the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Hear, hear. Wouldn't mind visiting his plauqe in Cooperstown sometime down the road. I have a single-signed ball which I wouldn't sell even if he was to be inducted!

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Posted By: Rhett Yeakley

No doubt...

Pitcher: Tony Mullane (why isn't this guy already in the Hall?)
Hitter: Stovey or O'Doul

Edited to add... 2nd pitcher choice Bob Caruthers (I have heard the argument in the past that he doesn't qualify as he only played 9 years--THIS IS UNTRUE-he pitched for 9 years and then played a 10th (only 14 games) as an outfielder in 1893, so with his hitting he played for 10 years and would thus be eligible)

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

However, he too doesn't stand a chance......As, I alluded to, in my earlier post on this thread......

"Don't expect the current crop of dudes on the HOF selection committee to ever select anyone on
this list."

Based on the past few years Veteran's (or lack of them, e.g....Gil Hodges) that have been inducted
into the HOF (e.g....Mazeroski, etc.). There is no rhyme or reason in their selection process.

T-Rex TED

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Yeah, let's not get started on Hodges and Martin. What a travesty. And I agree about The Apollo of the Box.

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Posted By: J. McMurry

What do the powers that be have against Billy Martin?

Bill James called him "the best manager not already in the HOF"

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Posted By: ali_lapoint

if you're going to argue lefty o'doul should be in then you can't ignore babe herman either.

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Posted By: Ken McMillan

Santo, based on character and how he played in his era. The total package.

Kmac

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Posted By: Steve Murray

4) Ron Santo

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Herman vs. O'Doul is not a fair argument. Perhaps from a statistical standpoint, but Lefty should be in for more than one reason. Herman's poor defensive skills are legendary.

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Posted By: Patrick McHugh

I like Jack Morris. Is there one player on the list that did more for his team than Jack? Pete Rose but not on ballot yet! I have always looked at hall of fame as pick player as your first choice and then build a team around him. Any way the stats are all there for Jack and just check out his postseason. In fact he was the winning pitcher in the best world series game ever played in the best world series ever played!

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Posted By: Paul

Bob Caruthers, followed by George Van Haltren and Carl Mays.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

If you take Santo, you have to take Rice no?

Obviously Rose.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

<<If you take Santo, you have to take Rice no?>>

No thanks, I'm on Atkins.

Sincerely,

Cooperstown

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Posted By: ali_lapoint

whats the other reason o'doul should be in besides almost batting 400? sure he pitched, but he wasn't a good pitcher. herman was just as good a hitter over the same short period of time as o'doul was.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Go to SABR's biograhical website and enjoy a fascinating read. You'll understand then.

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Posted By: T206Collector

Who is the one player who most deserves to be in the HOF?

Babe Ruth.

Wasn't that the question? And isn't that as interesting a question as what one player who is NOT in the HOF deserves to be in the HOF?



_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Visit http://www.t206collector.com to see signed pre-war card galleries, articles, my blog, my collection and more!

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Posted By: James Feagin

Well, at least O'Doul is in the Japanese HOF. If I was made emperor of baseball for a day and all things I said went. I would....

1.) Eliminate the unbalanced schedule
2.) Set a generous salary cap with an accompanying floor
3.) Would automatically induct Blyleven, O'Doul, O'Neil and Travis into the HOF
4.) Set up a Nineteenth Century HOF commision with recommendations to induct one per yer for the next five years.

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Posted By: ali_lapoint

i dont think he meets the HOF standard, but for a guy who didnt start his career until he was 30, ken williams put up some great numbers.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

I love idea #4. I like half of idea #3 (O'Neil and O'Doul--and you could twist my arm to agree with inducting the Dutchman). Could care less about #1. Baseball died fifty years ago. And I hate the usage of the word "generous" in #2! "Respectable" would be my choice of verbiage in that instance.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Lefty O'Doul.

Period. It's a shame he is not in the Hall.

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Posted By: Andrew Saboley

Pete Rose, unless he bet against his own team.

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Posted By: Jim Dale

I just hope that someone in the world sticks to the rules once. Once they make the acception for Pete then why note McGuire, why not Clemmens, and anyone else that ever cheated or gambled on the game.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Man, if they put McGuire in, it would surely be the Eve of Destruction.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Jodi, now THAT was a good one.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Glad a few of you have a good laugh once in a while!

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Posted By: boxingcardman

http://imageevent.com/exhibitman/frankleftyodoulcard

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: boxingcardman

I'd create a hall of shame where all the despicable, cheating, juicing, etc. players would be "enshrined" as a lesson for future players and kids. Some automatic induction criteria and some proposed names for the museum areas holding them:

1. Felony conviction (McLain's Cell)
2. Admitted cheater or bettor on baseball (The Rose Garden)
3. Admitted use of illegal or banned substances (Canseco's Power Alley)
4. Beat/assaulted spouse
5. DUI conviction (Girardi Way)
6. Positive test for banned substance (The Palmiero Wing)
7. Substance abuse (Parker Center)
8. Getting caught with an underaged girl (Clemens Playground)
9. Getting caught with a road apple/having a long term mistress (Boggs Boardroom)
10. Getting caught in a public sex act with a trannie (The Dave Stewart Wing).

And FWIW, I am one of those who would not allow Joe Jackson into the HOF. He took the money and conspired to throw the series (whether he was too proud or too stupid to go through with it is another matter). Yes, he was a rube and probably pretty dumb but that's no excuse. He deserves to be an example to the world of what should happen to cheaters.

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: Anonymous

If you overlook his fielding, Pete Browning.

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Posted By: Darren

pete rose

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Posted By: Rhys

People love Dummy Hoy because he was deaf, but they ridicule Browning for his poor fielding (which was not that bad and was not even below average) for the same reason. He suffered from a disability which left him deaf. He could not hear the crack of the bat and was left to only his sight for judging the ball. He should be cut a little slack on that end given his physical limitations.

Rhys

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Posted By: Rawn Hill

How about Carrigan as a manager? Lefty, should already be there.

Rawn

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

Bert Blyleven!



Steve

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Posted By: Chris Counts

He's not on your list, but my vote for the best player not in the HOF (and Bill James' choice, as well) is Minnie Minoso ...

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Posted By: Bill

Blyleven

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Posted By: paul

Sam Leever.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

Don Newcombe told me a great story about Minoso. While they were all in spring training in Fl the black players had to eat at segregated restaurants while off their teams' facilities. There wasn't a lot of choice so they usually ended up at the same place. Minoso liked the chicken there and the others would take turns distracting him and taking pieces off his plate. Finally, one day Minoso got his plate, spit on each piece and said in a mixture of Spanish and English, in essence, let's see you SOBs take my chicken now!

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc