Inaugural Pirates HOF Class - Opinions?

[clydepepper]

Who do you think they left out?


I wish Harvey Haddix was included, but he only pitched for the Bucos for 5 years. He was, however, the winning pitcher in two World Series games;
won two Gold Gloves with the Pirates; then there was THAT game...


Inaugural Pirates HOF Class

Jake Beckley
Steve Blass
Ray Brown
Max Carey
Roberto Clemente
Oscar Charleston
Fred Clarke
Josh Gibson
Ralph Kiner
Buck Leonard
Bill Mazeroski
Danny Murtaugh
Dave Parker
Willie Stargell
Pie Traynor
Arky Vaughan
Honus Wagner
Lloyd Waner
Paul Waner


WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG!!!

[D. Bergin]

If this is the inaugural class, I guess they need to save some for the future.

Future picks: Bobby Bo, Jim Leyland, Manny Sanguillen, Doug Drabek, Dock Ellis, Kent Tekulve, Bill Madlock……..


I’ll leave the rest for others.

BTW I’m a big Hall proponent rather then a small Hall guy…in case you couldn’t tell.

[G1911]

Seems like way too many people for this team. They will run out of reasonable inductees in 2-3 years. Usually Halls try to pace things a little bit to keep them going for longer. Blass really stands out on the list, he was below the league average overall for his ten years with them. Cool they’ve selected Pittsburgh negro leaguers as well.

[mrreality68]

I prefer a smaller HOF vs big because it should be those that are truly worthy of it but each organization can do as they choose.
To me the first “class”/group should have been smaller of the elite of that group and then in following years add others. For example this group all should have been entered over the course of say 5 years

[scotgreb]

All but three are inducted in Cooperstown -- would have been difficult to omit those. I also like that they included the Negro Leaguers. In addition to those, there several other big name Negro Leaguers with some attachment to Pittsburgh.

I believe the next three players, based on "Pirates" WAR are Babe Adams, Wilbur Cooper, and Bob Friend. All are deserving IMO

Scott

[rhettyeakley]

No Barry Bonds?

And Steve Blass over Vern Law?

[KCRfan1]

Blass has like 60 years or so with the Pirates organization as a player and broadcaster. Well deserved honor IMO.

As others have pointed out, they may run out of players to induct after this initial class. Making up for lost time I guess by inducting most of the big names associated with the Pirates.

I would have went with the big three, Clemente Stargell and Wagner.

Next year three more and so to draw this out.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

Blass has like 60 years or so with the Pirates organization as a player and broadcaster. Well deserved honor IMO.

Thank you for this, that helps add context. Makes more sense why he was included now, I was thinking of him solely as a player where he was average.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

Blass has like 60 years or so with the Pirates organization as a player and broadcaster. Well deserved honor IMO.

As others have pointed out, they may run out of players to induct after this initial class. Making up for lost time I guess by inducting most of the big names associated with the Pirates.

I would have went with the big three, Clemente Stargell and Wagner.

Next year three more and so to draw this out.

Lou I 100 agree with you Blass is deserving but/and I would have started with the Big 3 to make it super special for the most deserving (if you need to expand I am ok with 5 to start )

[D. Bergin]

Clemente got the MVP, but Blass also, almost single-handedly won the 71' Series for the Pirates.

Strange career, with some excellent seasons and performances mixed in.

[Chicosbailbonds]

John Candelaria had a nice career for those late 70's-early 80's Bucs.

[Mark17]

I want Manny Sanguillen in there for his smile.