Cooperstown 1909 - Were Gandil, Chase & Cicotte Crooked in '09?

[frankbmd]

Just a thought to share and ponder, but what if the Hall of Fame held an election including current players in 1909. Who would be in and who would be out? Nominate a player for the 1909 Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Consider only the player's career until that date and state your reason for your nomination. I'll try to keep a list in this post, if anyone wants to play this "what if" exercise. I am adding Posts primarily with a single player and a reason. Blanket statements, such as all 300 game winners in the 19th century, are not being included although individual players may certainly warrant inclusion a reason. Anyone added by me may also be voted "off the island", so to speak, if there is a ground swell of negative comments. Cap Anson may be considered on the bubble in this regard. Rhett, I have included Williamson, but will not add a list. Nothing personal in any of the above, just trying to define a structure that will work, sort of. Spalding was listed with credentials but the others were not. This does not mean they are out, but I am adding only those with a reason associated with them.
Anyone previous named but not listed is still a potential nominee.

1. Jesse Burkett - playing career ended in 1905. HOF statistics all are okay. Catchy last name.
2. Cy Young - Post #3
3. Cap Anson - Post #8
4. Ned Williamson - Post #5
5. Ross Barnes - Post #6
6. Willie Keeler - Post #9
7. Hoss Radbourn - Post #10
8. Dan Brouthers - Post #11
9. Christy Mathewson - Post #13
10. Buck Ewing - Post #22
11. King Kelley - Post #22
12. Henry Chadwick - Post #22
13. George Wright - Post #22
14. Harry Wright - Post #22
15. Al Spalding - Post #23
16. Roger Connor - Post #25
17. Jake Beckley - Post #25

[Peter_Spaeth]

Frank, you are at an advantage here in that you had the benefit of seeing these players in person.

[Eric72]

Cy Young - stats through 1909 included nearly 500 Wins...pretty sure that gets him in.

[usernamealreadytaken]

Adam Dunn. Oh wait . . . wrong thread.

Cy Young. Reason: pretty good pitcher (just shy of 500 wins at that time).

[Paul S]

Timing is everything. As other have stated, Denton T. However, by 1909 Ross Barnes had already burned through professional baseball. He exceeded rookie limits during 1871 season; Out of baseball after 1881; Only played nine seasons, missing two of them. Check out his stats. I have this strange feeling that almost thirty years after his career ended the 1909 editions of BBWA and SABR weren't interested

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Paul S

Timing is everything. As other have stated, Denton T. However, by 1909 Ross Barnes had already burned through professional baseball. He exceeded rookie limits during 1871 season; Out of baseball after 1871; Only played nine seasons, missing two of them. Check out his stats. I have this strange feeling that almost thirty years after his career ended the 1909 editions of BBWA and SABR weren't interested

Hi Paul,

Ah, Ross Barnes. Master of fair-foul hitting, a long extinct part of the game...even in 1909. Great batsman and 4-time hits leader. Also hit .400 or better four times.

He would get my vote, if I were alive back then and able to cast one.

Best regards,

Eric

[mattsey9]

Cap Anson would have to be in. In 1909, he had more hits than any other player in the history of the game. Further, he helped spread the game globally with his participation in a world tour of barnstormers.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Hi Paul,

Ah, Ross Barnes. Master of fair-foul hitting, a long extinct part of the game...even in 1909. Great batsman and 4-time hits leader. Also hit .400 or better four times.

He would get my vote, if I were alive back then and able to cast one.

Best regards,

Eric

Eric- If you had been around back then, you would have been WAY too young to vote.

[rhettyeakley]

I imagine some of the 19th Century guys that had to wait so long would have been enshrined earlier (obviously) and some that have never made the Hall would have already been in there by the time 1936 rolled around.

Some likely early enshrinees that are yet to be inducted may have included:
-Ned Williamson (The 1894 Reach Guide cited a 9 person poll, and James Hart, Jim O'Rourke, & Arthur Irwin called Ned Williamson the games greatest player.)
-Charlie Bennett
-Herman Long
-Dummy Hoy
-Tony Mullane
-Al Reach
-Bill Lange
-Harry Stovey
-Ross Barnes
-Levi Meyerle
-Bob Caruthers
-Jim McCormick
-Will White (Deacon's brother)
-Bobby Mathews
-etc.