Who's Who and Who's Not (HOF)

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Posted By: Brian H (misunderestimated)

Evers, Tinker, Chance --
Probably NOT worthy solely as players. But, when you figure in that Chance was also the Manager of the "Cubs dynasty" (just after the Ming dyansty historically) and the premier 1B in the NL for six or seven season he probabaly deserves to be in the HOF for his overall contribution. His managerial record is outstanding and may even warrant induction on its own.

McPhee, Mazeroski, Ozzie, Maranville and Brooks Robinson were all great infielders for quite a while I don't know if that's enough or not -- but that's their case. HOF Catcher Ray Schalk also probably belongs with this group as does HOF outfielder Harry Hooper.

Joss, Youngs, O'Neill and Caruthers (as well as Koufax, Puckett and Jennings) were all absolutely top notch but not for very long. Whether it was long enough is open to question and whether it matters exactly what caused their greatness to stop is also worth thinking about.

Mullane, McPhee, Browning, O'Neill, Caruthers and Stovey all did most of their damage in the inferior American Association. How much this should count against them is open to question. The AA was most comparable to the NL during the 1886-1889 period which certainly helps a few of them out.

Players who rely almost entirely on playing pretty well for a very long time but were never really among the best while they accumulated impressive career stats: Jake Beckley, Don Sutton, Mickey Welch, Pud Galvin, Bobby Wallace, Tony Mullane, Bert Blyleven, Bobby Mathews (include National Association numbers and he has 297 wins!), Jack Quinn and Early Wynn.


Players who benefitted (perhaps too much) from being on great teams: Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Welch, Catfish Hunter, Tony Lazzeri (notice all of the Yankees), Rollie Fingers, Evers-Tinker-Chance and Don Drysdale.
Players who absolutely have no business in the HOF no matter how how you look at it include: Tommy McCarthy, Lindstrom, Pennock, Highpockets Kelly, Rube Marquard, Pop Haines, Candy Cummings (at least as player), Stonewall Jackson and Dave "Beauty" Bancroft (notice all of the 1920's Giants pushed through by Frankie Frisch). Also I would include "one hit wonders" Jack Chesbro and Hack Wilson as pretty lame candidates.

Players who absolutely should be in the HOF no mattter how you look at it: Bill Dahlen, Ron Santo, Deacon White (including National Association career), and Negro League standouts Mule Suttles, Christbel Torrienti and Biz Mackey (all of whom are probably better than a few Negro Leaguers currently enshrined).

For the most part the only Managers in the HOF I would really question are "Uncle Wilbert" Robinson and AL Lopez (who deserves significnat credit for his playing anyway) -- eventually they'll need to add Cox, Torre (who may even cut it as a player) and probably LaRussa. Also Southworth is worth thinking aout. Hanlon belongs both because of the Old Orioles and because of his "managerial progeny": McGraw et al.



Just some thoughts.