HOF releases pre-Integration ballot today.

[Peter_Spaeth]

OK Kenny I spent some time on baseball reference and it appears you may be thinking of Jim McCormick?

[Kenny Cole]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

OK Kenny I spent some time on baseball reference and it appears you may be thinking of Jim McCormick?

Peter,

You are correct.

Kenny

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

OK Kenny I spent some time on baseball reference and it appears you may be thinking of Jim McCormick?

Jim McCormick, a name that will live in infamy, is undoubtedly a name that is oft remembered in Cleveland. I wouldn't know.

In a league where nearly half the runs were unearned, the significance of ERA would seem less important than fielding average.

McCormick was essentially the only pitcher in Cleveland for much of his career. I guess that's why they didn't shut him down a la Strasburg. He must have had a sore arm the year he lost 40 games.

I'm all for the Hall of Fame, but continuing to add eighteenth century players on the basis of statistics seems a bit irrelevant.

I hear that the Fiddler's Hall of Fame is adding Nero to this year's ballot.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I'm all for the Hall of Fame, but continuing to add eighteenth century players on the basis of statistics seems a bit irrelevant.

I hear that the Fiddler's Hall of Fame is adding Nero to this year's ballot.

It does seem that the election commitee is swirling the keg to find "just one more mug". McCormick's stats do not scream "HOF". A case could be made for his inclusion but realistically, calling him a .500 pitcher is more truth than a lie. A couple of gaudy single season stat lines do not make him a hall of famer. It is impressive to make 70-plus starts in a season in a season. Losing 40 games in a season is not. They were different times. Less was know about the long term wear and tear on a pitcher's arm. There was no data pool to dive in. Medicine was 20 years past Civil War limb amputations. Pitcher's developed "tired" arms and were finshed. That was it. If you were to adjust his numbers to reflect a 4 man rotation (let alone a five man)., he wouldn't have had more than 2 20 win seasons. Mr McCormick was a journeyman.

I have heard some of Nero's bootlegs. He WAS a "hot" picker....

[glchen]

I'm surprised Lefty O'Doul didn't get nominated. There are usually some pretty strong calls for him to get more consideration.

[packs]

In today's world I think its absolutely necessary to continue to nominate 19th century and turn of the 20th century players. Everything about today is NOW NOW NOW. The reason the HOF has a veterans committee is to remember the players we didn't get to see. It's the same reason the HOF exists at all.