Mariano

[Eric72]

I’m happy for Mariano. However, the fact that he was the very first player to be unanimously voted into the Hall is unreal. Never once, in all these years, has someone gotten 100% of the votes. Yet, somehow Mariano Rivera (a relief pitcher) accomplishes this astounding feat.

Absolutely stunning.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by Eric72

I’m happy for Mariano. However, the fact that he was the very first player to be unanimously voted into the Hall is unreal. Never once, in all these years, has someone gotten 100% of the votes. Yet, somehow Mariano Rivera (a relief pitcher) accomplishes this astounding feat.

Absolutely stunning.

So true but you have to understand that for virtually the longest time, there would always be a handful of baseball writer HOF voters that made it “their” rule NEVER to vote for first ballot candidates. For whatever stupid reason they made this stance, it made it impossible to be unanimously voted in. Additionally, my assumption is that some of the voting sportswriters possibly had a grievance with a particular player on the ballot (once again for whatever reason), leading to the voter omitting them from a respective vote. With Mariano being the consummate professional and portraying unparalled class throughout his magnificent career, he obviously did not piss off many sportswriters, if any at all. Also, it is highly likely that the handful of previous “pig-headed” non-first ballot voters have either been phased out or changed their stance. That said, I strongly believe that Derek Jeter will be the 2nd unanimous Cooperstown Inductee.

[wazoo]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

So true but you have to understand that for virtually the longest time, there would always be a handful of baseball writer HOF voters that made it “their” rule NEVER to vote for first ballot candidates. For whatever stupid reason they made this stance, it made it impossible to be unanimously voted in. Additionally, my assumption is that some of the voting sportswriters possibly had a grievance with a particular player on the ballot (once again for whatever reason), leading to the voter omitting them from a respective vote. With Mariano being the consummate professional and portraying unparalled class throughout his magnificent career, he obviously did not piss off msny sportswriters, if any at all. Also, it is highly likely that the handful of previous “pig-headed” non-first ballot voters have either been phased out or changed their stance. That said, I strongly believe that Derek Jeter will be the 2nd unanimous Cooperstown Inductee.

Could not have said it better...

[RCMcKenzie]

The beauty of the career WAR statistic is that the list reads like the greatest players of all time that you would expect to see--

1 Babe Ruth
2 Cy Young
3 Walter Johnson
8 Roger Clemens
#15 Pete Alexander
17 Kid Nichols
21 Tom Seaver
26 Greg Maddux

...down the line is Rivera, who is #227, which is very good. He is in the company of #220 Dave Stieb #225 Orel Hershiser #208 Chuck Finley, all very good pitchers. I thought Bruce Sutter was a better closer, but Rivera is right up there with Lee Smith or others you might name. I think he should be in the HOF, but I'd much rather have Tom Seaver in his prime.

[GregZakwin]

For anyone actually arguing Rivera is the greatest pitcher of all-time....

Rivera's dominance doesn't occur without starting pitchers (and other relievers) excelling ahead of him. Those starters can excel without relying on Rivera.

Not even getting into simple mathematics of a great starter vs. a great reliever from an innings standpoint.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Eric72

I’m happy for Mariano. However, the fact that he was the very first player to be unanimously voted into the Hall is unreal. Never once, in all these years, has someone gotten 100% of the votes. Yet, somehow Mariano Rivera (a relief pitcher) accomplishes this astounding feat.

Absolutely stunning.

The fact that so many others who were deserving of this honor first but did not receive it is the ridiculous part. I am surprised a voter or two didn't leave him off the ballot just because he was a relief pitcher. I agree he should have not been the first unanimous choice, but he definitely belongs in the HOF.

[MVSNYC]

This is pretty cool...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gaTm3nzraM

[barrysloate]

There is no question that Mariano deserves to be in the HOF, but it does surprise me a little that he was the first ever unanimous selection. Not Ruth, Cobb, Mays, or Aaron, but Riviera. Just saying.

[Frank A]

I find it assanine that a 1 inning pitcher get elected unanimous to the hall of fame. Not even close to the greatest pitcher of all time.

[keithsky]

So a guy pitches one inning a game comes in after sitting in the bullpen the whole game and pitches to opposing players that have being playing 9 innings in the 90 plus heat of coarse he's going to strike out players. He might good but by far not worthy of 100% vote. Just my opinion

[Ricky]

I have to agree. Rivera was arguably the best closer ever, but the first unanimous selection ever? Should not have been. Twenty writers left Willie Mays off their ballots. Nine left Hank Aaron off. Ridiculous. The other thing to take into account is, had Rivera been just as good, but had come up with the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres and spent his career there instead of a dominant team surrounding him like the Yankees, would he have recorded 652 saves? Would he have had the same number of opportunities? How would that have affected the way he's regarded?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Being unanimous is meaningless, they just decided finally to abandon the stupid tradition of having someone vote no on obvious choices, likely because Mariano is so universally liked.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Ricky

I have to agree. Rivera was arguably the best closer ever, but the first unanimous selection ever? Should not have been. Twenty writers left Willie Mays off their ballots. Nine left Hank Aaron off. Ridiculous. The other thing to take into account is, had Rivera been just as good, but had come up with the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres and spent his career there instead of a dominant team surrounding him like the Yankees, would he have recorded 652 saves? Would he have had the same number of opportunities? How would that have affected the way he's regarded?

If you watched Mariano's career and all you took away from it was a number of saves, I am sincerely sorry you missed out on so much more. The if and but argument over what other teams he might have played for misses out entirely on the fact that on the biggest stage in the game for the biggest team in the game he excelled to a degree that made him the greatest of all time. How can you discount something like that? Do you think it could have been just anyone out there?

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Ricky

I have to agree. Rivera was arguably the best closer ever, but the first unanimous selection ever? Should not have been. Twenty writers left Willie Mays off their ballots. Nine left Hank Aaron off. Ridiculous. The other thing to take into account is, had Rivera been just as good, but had come up with the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres and spent his career there instead of a dominant team surrounding him like the Yankees, would he have recorded 652 saves? Would he have had the same number of opportunities? How would that have affected the way he's regarded?

Rivera getting 100% has everything to do with it being 2019 and virtually nothing to do with how you feel he might compare to Willie Mays or Henry Aaron. The times are simply changing.