Question for the group regarding Hall of Fame eligibility....

[savedfrommyspokes]

If Puckett is in with 2 WS championships during a shortened career, why in the world is Munson with 2 WS championships, a ROY and MVP not in? Okay, so Munson only averaged 13 HR/80 RBI/.292 a season vs Puckett who averaged 19 HR/99 RBI/ .318 a season, but Munson was a catcher.

[nat]

Puckett was also a not-very-good choice. In general, there are enough weak hall of fame members that the "if x is in, y should be too" argument isn't a very good one. Not even his mom thinks that Jim Bottomley should be in the hall of fame, so the fact that Don Mattingly (for example) was better than Bottomley doesn't really help his case a whole lot.

The grievous oversights, IMHO (and ignoring guys who will get in eventually and guys who are kept out because of steroids) are Trammell, Whitaker, and I've come around on Grich. There are a few older guys who are qualified, Bill Dahlen comes to mind, but I have a hard time getting worked up over them. Being good at everything but great at nothing is a good way to get the HOF to ignore you, and that's what's going on with Whitaker and (to a lesser extent) Trammell. Their all-around-skill means that they ended up being just as valuable as more one-dimensional players who were more visible in producing their value (guys like Reggie Jackson). Grich had something of the same problem. Actually, another problem that all three of these guys have is that they're middle infielders, and the voters have always had a hard time adjusting for the fact that middle infielders simply don't hit like corner guys. With the rarest of exceptions, you just can't play a position like 2B or SS at the major league level, and still hit like a first baseman.

Raines is on the short-list for second-greatest lead off hitter ever. The common comparison is with Tony Gwynn. Compare 3931 times on base for Gwynn, 3935 for Raines. Gwynn got his through hits, Raines through walks. Hits are better, they can advance runners. But Raines makes up for it with an extra 500 stolen bases at a very good rate (13th all time on rate). Fortunately, it looks like Raines gets in this year. He'll probably share the stage with Jeff Bagwell and Trevor Hoffman (!?!).

As for the new guys on the ballot, I expect Vlad to get about 50% and go in pretty quickly. Maybe take him three ballots or something. Manny will get a steroids penalty and will clog up the ballot for a decade. Hard to say what will happen with Ivan Rodriguez.

[darkhorse9]

I've always hated the fact that Mickey Lolich's name is NEVER mentioned for the Hall of Fame. He had historic numbers, but was overshadowed by Bob Gibson and (worse) Denny McLain.

Consider:

In the 1965-74 decade, he struck out more (2,245) than any other major league pitcher. In the same decade, he had more wins (172), and more complete games (155) than any other AL pitcher.

His 2,679 strikeouts is the most in AL history by a left-hander. (Randy Johnson struck out 2,545 while pitching for AL teams, a number that includes strikeouts in inter-league play.)

His 2,832 career strikeouts in both leagues ranked in the top 10 in major league history when he retired in 1979.

He is the only left-hander with three complete World Series games in the same Series.

Lolich ranks among the Tigers' all-time leaders in many categories, including strikeouts (1st), shutouts (1st), and wins (3rd)

[Robs70sCards]

I never considered Minoso, so that was a nice little article. For whatever reason I had a couple older Mickey Lolich cards when I was a kid I used to oogle over his stats. Never even considered him so that's a nice tip of the hat.

I'll give you Trammell & Whitaker, I'll even agree on Steve Garvey, but no on the rest.

I was happy that Jim Rice mad it a few years ago. When I was a kid he was all over the place, regular cards, league leaders, loved that era of Boston. My first glove was a Fred Lynn glove so for awhile I was all about Fred Lynn and the Boston Red Sox, lol.

[the 'stache]

I have to disagree; Mickey Lolich is not a Hall of Famer. He was a pretty good pitcher for a while, but compared to his peers, he just doesn't measure up. And there's certainly nothing historic about his pitching performance. That's overstating it a bit.

His 7 year WAR peak is 38.6. There are 50 starters in the Hall, and they average a 50.3 7 year peak WAR. Lolich is ranked 112th all-time as a starter by JAWS. And, his career ERA + is 108. 100 is Major League average.

He finished second in the Cy Young once, and third once. And in those seasons, his ERA + was only 124 and 127. Hardly exemplary. He didn't receive any votes the other eight seasons where he was a full time starter, post 1967.

Wins in a decade isn't really a great way to evaluate a pitcher. A good pitcher can get a lot of wins on a great team, and the Tigers team he was on was very, very good. Multiple seasons of 90 + wins, including a 103 win season in 1968 when they won the World Series. Given his number of complete games, it doesn't surprise that he won a lot of games. But his pitching metrics, again, ERA +, WHIP and FIP, don't show he was anything spectacular.

Good pitcher, but not a Hall of Famer, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

I've always hated the fact that Mickey Lolich's name is NEVER mentioned for the Hall of Fame. He had historic numbers, but was overshadowed by Bob Gibson and (worse) Denny McLain.

Consider:

In the 1965-74 decade, he struck out more (2,245) than any other major league pitcher. In the same decade, he had more wins (172), and more complete games (155) than any other AL pitcher.

His 2,679 strikeouts is the most in AL history by a left-hander. (Randy Johnson struck out 2,545 while pitching for AL teams, a number that includes strikeouts in inter-league play.)

His 2,832 career strikeouts in both leagues ranked in the top 10 in major league history when he retired in 1979.

He is the only left-hander with three complete World Series games in the same Series.

Lolich ranks among the Tigers' all-time leaders in many categories, including strikeouts (1st), shutouts (1st), and wins (3rd)

[brian1961]

Thanks Irv, for posting the excellent, compelling, article on Minnie Minoso. I always thought he should have been elected based on his playing performance. It never really occurred to me of Mr. Minoso's major contribution to MLB as a pioneer for talented Latinos to finally be brought to the majors. That really should have been the final contributing catalyst to elect him in the lucid(???!!!***##%%) minds of the Veterans Committee.

Now it's too late for the man to enjoy and savor the honor. to

This was not the first time this has happened....... ---Brian Powell

[Beatles Guy]

Ted Simmons should be in. Bench overshadowed him for sure and the Cardinals weren't very good in the 70's. His numbers are right up there with Gary Carter. In fact, he has a higher OPS, more hits, more RBI's and a higher AVG than Carter. Granted he was not the defensive player that Carter was, but he was above average.

[midwaylandscaping]

Dale Murphy >>> Maris by 8 miles IMO when I was looking over some comments. This new procedure may help, heavy emphasis on may, Dwight Evans. Like some others Trammell and Whitaker are almost locks to get in , and Jack Morris is going to waltz in.

[darkhorse9]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

I have to disagree; Mickey Lolich is not a Hall of Famer. He was a pretty good pitcher for a while, but compared to his peers, he just doesn't measure up. And there's certainly nothing historic about his pitching performance. That's overstating it a bit.

His 7 year WAR peak is 38.6. There are 50 starters in the Hall, and they average a 50.3 7 year peak WAR. Lolich is ranked 112th all-time as a starter by JAWS. And, his career ERA + is 108. 100 is Major League average.

Lolich certainly deserves more consideration than Jack Morris.

[skil55voy]

A little humor: Terry Forster, highest batting average for anyone playing in over 500 games.

Games 620
AB 78
Runs 7
Hits 31
2B 4
3B 1
HR 0
RBI 7
BB 2
SO 9
Avg .397
OBP .413
SLG .467

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

Lolich certainly deserves more consideration than Jack Morris.

I agree, Lolich has Morris beaten in WAR (64.6-55.8) ERA (3.44- 3.90) and in pretty much every other pertinent stat.

Morris was a good pitcher, but not nearly HOF material (and the small sample size of a couple of good world series starts isn't enough to get him in)

Heck Lolich is 28th in fWAR since 1920 among all starters and considering his innings pitched is in good company for HOF consideration.


Minoso was a good player, but career length hurts him a fair bit. He only had 10 years of positive contribution (yet played for 4 more not counting his "decades" stunt.) I have a tough time supporting someone with less than 60 WAR unless injury or tragedy shortened their career.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

I have to disagree; Mickey Lolich is not a Hall of Famer. He was a pretty good pitcher for a while, but compared to his peers, he just doesn't measure up. And there's certainly nothing historic about his pitching performance. That's overstating it a bit.

His 7 year WAR peak is 38.6. There are 50 starters in the Hall, and they average a 50.3 7 year peak WAR. Lolich is ranked 112th all-time as a starter by JAWS. And, his career ERA + is 108. 100 is Major League average.

He finished second in the Cy Young once, and third once. And in those seasons, his ERA + was only 124 and 127. Hardly exemplary. He didn't receive any votes the other eight seasons where he was a full time starter, post 1967.

Wins in a decade isn't really a great way to evaluate a pitcher. A good pitcher can get a lot of wins on a great team, and the Tigers team he was on was very, very good. Multiple seasons of 90 + wins, including a 103 win season in 1968 when they won the World Series. Given his number of complete games, it doesn't surprise that he won a lot of games. But his pitching metrics, again, ERA +, WHIP and FIP, don't show he was anything spectacular.

Good pitcher, but not a Hall of Famer, in my opinion.

Bill- While I agree with you that Lolich is not a Hall of Famer, I have to point two instances of his pitching performances being historic:


1.) He won three games in the 1968 World Series culminating with breaking Bob Gibson's 7-game World Series winning-streak - oh, and clinching the championship for the Tigers.

2.) In 1971, he amassed 376 Innings Pitched which were the most by any pitcher since Grover Cleveland Alexander threw 388 in 1917.

Now, I'd call both of those pretty darn historic.

As for my opinion on who's out that should be in...I have to go back to the island again:

Minnie Minoso and Luis Tiant
Tiant's stats compare favorably to both Drysdale and Hunter, though I concede that those two are border-line at best.

But, Hey - Eppa Rixey is in there - so why not Lolich and Kaat and Tommy John!

[the 'stache]

Not Hall of Fame worthy. I made a typo last night when I said his career ERA + was 108. It's 104. For his career, he was 4% better than the average Hall of Fame pitcher. And he deserves induction into Cooperstown? Really?

Originally Posted by bravos4evr

Heck Lolich is 28th in fWAR since 1920 among all starters and considering his innings pitched is in good company for HOF consideration.
.

Jack Morris isn't Hall of Fame worthy, either.

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

Lolich certainly deserves more consideration than Jack Morris.

I wouldn't call either one of those things historic.

Historic is hitting in 56 games in a row, or batting .400 in the live ball era. Being the pitcher that ends another pitcher's World Series winning streak is a nice talking point, but you're really overselling that if you consider it an historic feat.

And pitching 388 innings, while impressive, is not what I'd call historic, either.

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Bill- While I agree with you that Lolich is not a Hall of Famer, I have to point two instances of his pitching performances being historic:

1.) He won three games in the 1968 World Series culminating with breaking Bob Gibson's 7-game World Series winning-streak - oh, and clinching the championship for the Tigers.

2.) In 1971, he amassed 376 Innings Pitched which were the most by any pitcher since Grover Cleveland Alexander threw 388 in 1917.

Now, I'd call both of those pretty darn historic.

[stargell1]

Dale Murphy
Dave Parker
Steve Garvey

All 3 were superstars and should be in.