No One Elected Again

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Posted By: Chris Counts

"Every year since 1985, I have been in Cooperstown on HOF weekend. In recent years there have been complaints by many up there that the crowds are diminishing every year. Well, it doesn't take a genius to figure out why....induct the right ballplayers and "the people will come ..."

You're right on Ted ... fans want to see their heroes in the Hall. And as long as there's guys sitting on the outside (Minoso, Santo, Oliva, etc.) who are significantly better than the guys on the inside (Mazeroski, Bancroft, Lindstrom, etc.), there will be fans like me who question the credibility of Cooperstown ... When Santo does go in (he will, mark my words), and if he's still alive when that day comes, you will see an ocean of blue cubs caps in front of the Cooperstown podium. You also won't see a dry eye in the house, and that will be a beautiful thing ... that's what the HOF should be about ...

"Just because some mistakes were made in the past does not mean they should be compounded and overall standards lowered ..."

Jim, the standards of the HOF have already been set by 70 years of voting. Mistakes have been made since as early as 1945 and as late a couple years ago when Mazeroski got in. The HOF voters are consistent in their inconsistency. Raising the bar now is simply selfishness and elitism on the part of the voters ...

"Unless I missed something, not one single player who played from 1887 until 1929 received a single vote ..."

Bob, I'd love to see the ballots ... I have this funny feeling the current HOFers are only voting for players they played against. So if Feller only votes for Travis, and Morgan only votes for Santo, neither gets in ... As for O'Doul and other pre-1930 players, they're out of luck since everybody who ever played against them is dead. Only a panel of historians would ever vote Reulbach in because they're the only ones who know his true impact on the game ...

Jason L ... I'll give you a Mazeroski and a Kell for your Santo ...