2024 Baseball Hall of Fame Tracker

[bigfanNY]

The Hall of What ??? I wear my yankee hat out and about and anytime in the past 2 weeks anybody mentioned Baseball I asked them if they knew who Joe Mauer was. I was 1 for 18 with 17 responding ...who? So they have gone from the Hall of Fame to the Hall of Who?....How did he get in? ...
Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose are banned and cannot be voted in. Everyone understands that. I understand that. I will never understand How Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Arod are not in a place called the Baseball Hall of Fame. And By the way all 18 knew who Barry Bonds , Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez are.
And Andy Pettite won 256 games 60% winning percentage won over 100 more games than lost. Was 19 and 11 in postseason pithing 276 innings. Andy has Five world Series Rings All 3 of 2024's Hall of Fame class have zero...rings combined. And Only 13.5% of Baseball writers voting listed Andy....Chase Utley got 28% of voters voting for him... lol I no longer vist the Hall of fame. I do not support the Hall of Fame in any way. Simply because the sign on the front door is a lie. It is not the Baseball hall of Fame.

[John1941]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

The Hall of What ??? I wear my yankee hat out and about and anytime in the past 2 weeks anybody mentioned Baseball I asked them if they knew who Joe Mauer was. I was 1 for 18 with 17 responding ...who? So they have gone from the Hall of Fame to the Hall of Who?....How did he get in? ...
Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose are banned and cannot be voted in. Everyone understands that. I understand that. I will never understand How Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Arod are not in a place called the Baseball Hall of Fame. And By the way all 18 knew who Barry Bonds , Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez are.
And Andy Pettite won 256 games 60% winning percentage won over 100 more games than lost. Was 19 and 11 in postseason pithing 276 innings. Andy has Five world Series Rings All 3 of 2024's Hall of Fame class have zero...rings combined. And Only 13.5% of Baseball writers voting listed Andy....Chase Utley got 28% of voters voting for him... lol I no longer vist the Hall of fame. I do not support the Hall of Fame in any way. Simply because the sign on the front door is a lie. It is not the Baseball hall of Fame.

Have you seen the players elected in the early days of the Hall of Fame? Fred Clarke, Tommy McCarthy, Ray Schalk, etc. If the Hall of Fame can be disqualified from its claim to its name by electing a few people who aren't really famous or great, it has been disqualified for about 80 years already.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

The Hall of What ??? I wear my yankee hat out and about and anytime in the past 2 weeks anybody mentioned Baseball I asked them if they knew who Joe Mauer was. I was 1 for 18 with 17 responding ...who? So they have gone from the Hall of Fame to the Hall of Who?....How did he get in? ...
Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose are banned and cannot be voted in. Everyone understands that. I understand that. I will never understand How Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Arod are not in a place called the Baseball Hall of Fame. And By the way all 18 knew who Barry Bonds , Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez are.
And Andy Pettite won 256 games 60% winning percentage won over 100 more games than lost. Was 19 and 11 in postseason pithing 276 innings. Andy has Five world Series Rings All 3 of 2024's Hall of Fame class have zero...rings combined. And Only 13.5% of Baseball writers voting listed Andy....Chase Utley got 28% of voters voting for him... lol I no longer vist the Hall of fame. I do not support the Hall of Fame in any way. Simply because the sign on the front door is a lie. It is not the Baseball hall of Fame.

Mauer has greater name recognition, as a recent star, then at least 50% of the HOF inductees. This is not logical.

[bigfanNY]

Originally Posted by G1911

Mauer has greater name recognition, as a recent star, then at least 50% of the HOF inductees. This is not logical.

I Did not compare Mauer to any other HoF inductees. I compared him To Barry Bonds Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez. None of whom are currently in the Hall of Fame. All of the 3 are by any measurement among the best to ever play the game. That is not Logical.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

I Did not compare Mauer to any other HoF inductees. I compared him To Barry Bonds Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez. None of whom are currently in the Hall of Fame. All of the 3 are by any measurement among the best to ever play the game. That is not Logical.

You chose to make the argument in #100 that his name recognition is 1/18 in your survey and thus he is not famous and thus should not be in the Hall of Fame, while the roster of steroid users should be. Mauer, obviously, is more recognizable a name to people today than most of the names in the Hall. This is not a good argument, or logical. I did not choose that argument, you made it. You then argued in favor of Pettite, who is not exactly a top tier HOF quality player like the 3 druggies you also mentioned, but a borderline candidate if you ignore the drugs.

I am quite confident you are able to understand why steroid players are not in, and that they are not excluded on grounds of name recognition or performance.

[bigfanNY]

Originally Posted by G1911

You chose to make the argument in #100 that his name recognition is 1/18 in your survey and thus he is not famous and thus should not be in the Hall of Fame, while the roster of steroid users should be. Mauer, obviously, is more recognizable a name to people today than most of the names in the Hall. This is not a good argument, or logical. I did not choose that argument, you made it. You then argued in favor of Pettite, who is not exactly a top tier HOF quality player like the 3 druggies you also mentioned, but a borderline candidate if you ignore the drugs.

I am quite confident you are able to understand why steroid players are not in, and that they are not excluded on grounds of name recognition or performance.

Nowhere in my original post fo I ever say that Joe Mauer doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. I say he has less name recognition than Bonds Clemens and Rodriguez because all 3 of them were significantly better Baseball players. All 3 of them are eligible according to the rules to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. And they are all 3 among best to ever play the game of Baseball. Because of that all 3 deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. That is the argument I make. If I wanted to argue that Joe Mauer doesn't belong in the HOF I could. But here today in this Thread I did not. We know that because no where in my post do I say Joe Mauer Doesn't belong in the Hall of fame.
Is Joe Mauer a more recognizable name than " Most of the Names in the Hall of Fame" I dont know difficult to prove either way it is a very broad statement. What demographic, so many variables. And because it is difficult to prove either way it is a weak argument. Supported by little logic. But you make that argument. We know that because you say that in your post. See how that works your words in your post equals Your Argument....not mine. And you make it in 2 seperate posts.
You conclude that you are confident that I should be able to understand why they " The Druggies" as you call them are not in the Hall of Fame. Again I wrote very clearly that I do not understand why despite the name recognition gained during three spectacular baseball careers they are not in the Baseball hall of Fame. So I dont share your confidence or find even a thread of logic in your conclusion.
The reason for that is because athletes are by nature competitive. They look for ways to improve all the time. All the Time. I dont know where the line is where competitive turns to cheating by unfair advantage. Baseball has rules and a commissioner and a union to balance and they did not preclude or bar in any way the path for these baseball greats to enter the Hall of Fame. So I believe their careers on the field of play should speak for them. Especially after Bud Selig and David Ortiz have already been enshrined. Just my Humble opinion.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

Nowhere in my original post fo I ever say that Joe Mauer doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. I say he has less name recognition than Bonds Clemens and Rodriguez because all 3 of them were significantly better Baseball players. All 3 of them are eligible according to the rules to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. And they are all 3 among best to ever play the game of Baseball. Because of that all 3 deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. That is the argument I make. If I wanted to argue that Joe Mauer doesn't belong in the HOF I could. But here today in this Thread I did not. We know that because no where in my post do I say Joe Mauer Doesn't belong in the Hall of fame.
Is Joe Mauer a more recognizable name than " Most of the Names in the Hall of Fame" I dont know difficult to prove either way it is a very broad statement. What demographic, so many variables. And because it is difficult to prove either way it is a weak argument. Supported by little logic. But you make that argument. We know that because you say that in your post. See how that works your words in your post equals Your Argument....not mine. And you make it in 2 seperate posts.
You conclude that you are confident that I should be able to understand why they " The Druggies" as you call them are not in the Hall of Fame. Again I wrote very clearly that I do not understand why despite the name recognition gained during three spectacular baseball careers they are not in the Baseball hall of Fame. So I dont share your confidence or find even a thread of logic in your conclusion.
The reason for that is because athletes are by nature competitive. They look for ways to improve all the time. All the Time. I dont know where the line is where competitive turns to cheating by unfair advantage. Baseball has rules and a commissioner and a union to balance and they did not preclude or bar in any way the path for these baseball greats to enter the Hall of Fame. So I believe their careers on the field of play should speak for them. Especially after Bud Selig and David Ortiz have already been enshrined. Just my Humble opinion.

Here's what you said:

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

The Hall of What ??? I wear my yankee hat out and about and anytime in the past 2 weeks anybody mentioned Baseball I asked them if they knew who Joe Mauer was. I was 1 for 18 with 17 responding ...who? So they have gone from the Hall of Fame to the Hall of Who?....How did he get in? ...
Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose are banned and cannot be voted in. Everyone understands that. I understand that. I will never understand How Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Arod are not in a place called the Baseball Hall of Fame. And By the way all 18 knew who Barry Bonds , Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez are.
And Andy Pettite won 256 games 60% winning percentage won over 100 more games than lost. Was 19 and 11 in postseason pithing 276 innings. Andy has Five world Series Rings All 3 of 2024's Hall of Fame class have zero...rings combined. And Only 13.5% of Baseball writers voting listed Andy....Chase Utley got 28% of voters voting for him... lol I no longer vist the Hall of fame. I do not support the Hall of Fame in any way. Simply because the sign on the front door is a lie. It is not the Baseball hall of Fame.

How is this not objecting to Mauer? Your entire thesis is that the Hall of Fame is not a Hall of Fame because it is not electing the cheaters but is electing guys like Mauer, whose candidacy you cared about so very much that you ran a totally real street survey in advance for 2 entire weeks!

If you are NOT objecting to Mauer, then your entire closing argument and first paragraph are senseless babble, and don't connect at all.

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

You conclude that you are confident that I should be able to understand why they " The Druggies" as you call them are not in the Hall of Fame. Again I wrote very clearly that I do not understand why despite the name recognition gained during three spectacular baseball careers they are not in the Baseball hall of Fame. So I dont share your confidence or find even a thread of logic in your conclusion.

You really want to argue that you cannot understand why they are not included because they used banned drugs? Really? You can't figure out? You don't know why they aren't in? You don't have to agree with it, I don't really agree with it, but it is astoundingly obvious and nobody here who follows baseball even a little bit can plausibly claim to be too stupid to know.

[bigfanNY]

Originally Posted by G1911

Here's what you said:



How is this not objecting to Mauer? Your entire thesis is that the Hall of Fame is not a Hall of Fame because it is not electing the cheaters but is electing guys like Mauer, whose candidacy you cared about so very much that you ran a totally real street survey in advance for 2 entire weeks!


If you are NOT objecting to Mauer, then your entire closing argument and first paragraph are senseless babble, and don't connect at all.

You really want to argue that you cannot understand why they are not included because they used banned drugs? Really? You can't figure out? You don't know why they aren't in? You don't have to agree with it, I don't really agree with it, but it is astoundingly obvious and nobody here who follows baseball even a little bit can plausibly
claim to be too stupid to know.

Sorry but no matter how many times you say it I never said Joe Mauer doesn't belong in the Hall of fame. You claim that You infer this. But it is just your inferance. I directly compare Mauer's name recognition to Barry Bonds Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez to make the point that all three are in fact Famous. They became Famous playing Baseball. I saw all 3 play both live and on TV. It was clear that they were Great. I close my first post saying that I do not support the Baseball Hall of Fame because they have denied admission to 3 of the Greatest to have ever played the game. Makes sense to me.

You use words like Druggies and cheaters to describe Barry Bonds Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez. I describe them as Great and among the Best to have ever played the game. When Bud Selig and David Ortiz were elected into the Hall of Fame any claim that these three do not belong in the Hall of Fame because of steroids lost any and all credibility. So again I state for the record I do not understand why these three remain outside the hall of Fame.
You seem stuck on the word understand and my use of it in this context. Here it does not mean I cannot comprehend or understand the arguments against them. Here it means I cannot agree with a group of folks like you who describe 3 of baseballs greatest as cheaters and Druggies undeserving of the Hall of Fame after voting in David Ortiz who tested positive for steroids during his playing career. And Bud Selig who oversaw baseball during the Steroid era.

[G1911]

First dupe post, do I get a sticker?

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

The Hall of What ??? I wear my yankee hat out and about and anytime in the past 2 weeks anybody mentioned Baseball I asked them if they knew who Joe Mauer was. I was 1 for 18 with 17 responding ...who? So they have gone from the Hall of Fame to the Hall of Who?....How did he get in? ...
Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose are banned and cannot be voted in. Everyone understands that. I understand that. I will never understand How Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Arod are not in a place called the Baseball Hall of Fame. And By the way all 18 knew who Barry Bonds , Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez are.
And Andy Pettite won 256 games 60% winning percentage won over 100 more games than lost. Was 19 and 11 in postseason pithing 276 innings. Andy has Five world Series Rings All 3 of 2024's Hall of Fame class have zero...rings combined. And Only 13.5% of Baseball writers voting listed Andy....Chase Utley got 28% of voters voting for him... lol I no longer vist the Hall of fame. I do not support the Hall of Fame in any way. Simply because the sign on the front door is a lie. It is not the Baseball hall of Fame.

Plenty of people are probably talking about football right now. See how many people you run into can name anyone who got into the NFL Hall of Fame last year or recognize the names if you tell them who was. I think the results will be similar to what you found with Mauer.

https://www.profootballhof.com/news/...class-of-2023/

[BioCRN]

Yanks fans should be more happy this Mauer vote opens up Jorge Posada for a HOF Vet bid.

If 7-8 year "peaks" matter so much for catchers now, 2000-2007 Posada should carry some weight.

[bigfanNY]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Plenty of people are probably talking about football right now. See how many people you run into can name anyone who got into the NFL Hall of Fame last year or recognize the names if you tell them who was. I think the results will be similar to what you found with Mauer.

https://www.profootballhof.com/news/...class-of-2023/

For most of the class of 2023 you are right not alot if name recognition. Ronde Barber's Brother Tiki is the Afternoon Host on WFAN so alot around here are going to know him...And Joe Klecko gonna be known by Almost anyone in Green and White north of the Raritan River. Sack Exchange Pictures still populate alot of sports bar Walls. ..
If Canton was keeping out 3 of the Top 30 to have ever played Football I would be complain about them as well. But their not.. Football seems to run a pretty solid HOF..

[Vintageclout]

If Joe Mauer is a Hall of Famer, than Don Mattingly should likewise be inducted into the HOF. His lifetime numbers best Mauer (Avg, OPS, HRs, RBIs, Hits, etc.), and along with Keith Hernandez, he was one of baseball’s greatest all-time defensive first baseman. Peak value, Mattingly was better than Mauer due to his superior power (Mauer only hit 20+ homers in one season, and never knocked in more than 100 runs in a single season). I don’t believe Mauer is a true Hall of Famer, BUT IF HE IS, Mattingly clearly deserves to be enshrined in Cooperstown. The HOF is slowly being “watered-down”, somewhat stealing the thunder from the players that unquestionably deserve a final resting place in this hallowed establishment.

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

If Joe Maurer is a Hall of Famer, than Don Mattingly should likewise be inducted into the HOF. His lifetime numbers best Maurer (Avg, OPS, HRs, RBIs, Hits, etc.), and along with Keith Hernandez, he was one of baseball’s greatest all-time defensive first baseman. Peak value, Mattingly was better than Maurer due to his superior power (Maurer only hit 20+ homers in one season), and Maurer never knocked in more than 100 runs in a single season! I don’t believe Maurer is a true Hall of Famer, BUT IF HE IS, Mattingly clearly deserves to be enshrined in Cooperstown because he was the better player.

One is known for being a catcher, the other for being a first baseman. Mauer compares more favorably to Hall of Fame catchers based on JAWS than Mattingly does among Hall of Fame first basemen.

I’d put Hernandez above Mattingly, actually.


Now, if Mauer spent his whole career at first base, it’d be hard to think he measures up, but different positions have different standards.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by Topps206

One is known for being a catcher, the other for being a first baseman. Mauer compares more favorably to Hall of Fame catchers based on JAWS than Mattingly does among Hall of Fame first basemen.

I’d put Hernandez above Mattingly, actually.


Now, if Mauer spent his whole career at first base, it’d be hard to think he measures up, but different positions have different standards.

True, excellent point with the catcher/1st base issue, BUT you are missing one major point - Mattingly was arguably considered baseball’s BEST player for a 4-5 year period. This certainly needs to be configured into the equation. Regarding Hernandez, he was great, but Mattingly was a far superior hitter during his peak years….not even close. Like Mauer, Hernandez falls way short on his power numbers versus Mattingly.

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

True, excellent point with the catcher/1st base issue, BUT you are missing one major point - Mattingly was arguably considered baseball’s BEST player for a 4-5 year period. This certainly needs to be configured into the equation. Regarding Hernandez, he was great, but Mattingly was a far superior hitter during his peak years….not even close. Like Mauer, Hernandez falls way short on his power numbers versus Mattingly.

The problem with Mattingly was how much he fell off after his injury, and his peak was great, but not so great that he won a bunch of MVPs or black ink before falling off.

Hernandez might not have had the power, but he won a record 11 Gold Gloves at the position, more than the nine Mattingly won.

Accolades, black ink, outstanding peak, great career all matter to me, as does how somebody compares to others at their position in Cooperstown.

All three have MVPs, Hernandez and Mattingly both runners-up, though Hernandez had three top 10 finishes after turning 30, and finished fourth in helping the Mets win that 1986 World Series. I don’t judge too much off of rings, but if postseason success matters, then Hernandez was a key contributor on championship teams for two different organizations.

If you count JAWS, Hernandez is 21st all time among first basemen.

60.3 career WAR | 41.2 7yr-peak WAR | 50.8 JAWS | 4.7 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 24):
65.0 career WAR | 41.8 7yr-peak WAR | 53.4 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162

Meanwhile, Mattingly is 39th all time among first basemen.

42.4 career WAR | 35.7 7yr-peak WAR | 39.1 JAWS | 3.8 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 24):
65.0 career WAR | 41.8 7yr-peak WAR | 53.4 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162

Mauer, meanwhile, may not have been a slugger, but three batting titles and an MVP as a catcher is impressive, as holding a record three batting titles at the position is greatness.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

If Joe Maurer is a Hall of Famer, than Don Mattingly should likewise be inducted into the HOF. His lifetime numbers best Maurer (Avg, OPS, HRs, RBIs, Hits, etc.), and along with Keith Hernandez, he was one of baseball’s greatest all-time defensive first baseman. Peak value, Mattingly was better than Maurer due to his superior power (Maurer only hit 20+ homers in one season), and Maurer never knocked in more than 100 runs in a single season! I don’t believe Maurer is a true Hall of Famer, BUT IF HE IS, Mattingly clearly deserves to be enshrined in Cooperstown because he was the better player.

Every election quickly becomes Yankees fans favorite players

Significantly greater production is expected from a 1B than a catcher. Mattingly is up .001 in batting, .003 in OPs, has 30 more hits. These are not good talking points. Mattingly's frame of comparison is first baseman, not catchers.

Also, his name is Mauer.

[gunboat82]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

The HOF is slowly being “watered-down”, somewhat stealing the thunder from the players that unquestionably deserve a final resting place in this hallowed establishment.

I'd just quibble with the part about the watering-down happening "slowly."

Freddie Lindstrom
Bill Mazeroski
Bruce Sutter
Waite Hoyt
Luis Aparicio
Ted Lyons
Lloyd Waner
Tommy McCarthy
Nellie Fox
Rabbit Maranville
Ray Schalk
Al Lopez
Joe Tinker
... and Evers
... and Chance

Whoof.

[molenick]

Originally Posted by gunboat82

I'd just quibble with the part about the watering-down happening "slowly."

Freddie Lindstrom
Bill Mazeroski
Bruce Sutter
Waite Hoyt
Luis Aparicio
Ted Lyons
Lloyd Waner
Tommy McCarthy
Nellie Fox
Rabbit Maranville
Ray Schalk
Al Lopez
Joe Tinker
... and Evers
... and Chance

Whoof.

One could argue that the Hall has been watered-down since the 1937 election of Morgan Bulkeley, who was president of the NL for one year (the first year).

It has been conjectured that because Ban Johnson (the first president of the AL) was elected that year that the NL needed to be represented by Bulkeley.

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

The Hall of What ??? I wear my yankee hat out and about and anytime in the past 2 weeks anybody mentioned Baseball I asked them if they knew who Joe Mauer was. I was 1 for 18 with 17 responding ...who? So they have gone from the Hall of Fame to the Hall of Who?....How did he get in? ...
Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose are banned and cannot be voted in. Everyone understands that. I understand that. I will never understand How Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Arod are not in a place called the Baseball Hall of Fame. And By the way all 18 knew who Barry Bonds , Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez are.
And Andy Pettite won 256 games 60% winning percentage won over 100 more games than lost. Was 19 and 11 in postseason pithing 276 innings. Andy has Five world Series Rings All 3 of 2024's Hall of Fame class have zero...rings combined. And Only 13.5% of Baseball writers voting listed Andy....Chase Utley got 28% of voters voting for him... lol I no longer vist the Hall of fame. I do not support the Hall of Fame in any way. Simply because the sign on the front door is a lie. It is not the Baseball hall of Fame.

If people don’t know who Joe Mauer is, that sounds like their problems.

I also wonder how much baseball they pay attention to, considering his greatness at the plate - MVP, rated a top 10 catcher all time by JAWS, a record three batting titles at his position and the first catcher to win a batting title since Ernie Lombardi.

People know who Bonds is, who Shoeless Joe, Pete Rose and A-Rod are, but name recognition or lack thereof is not a good qualification for a Hall of Fame in my book.

Wins and rings are team accomplishments, and the Hall of Fame is an individual honor. It’s one thing if you want to judge managers, executives, owners by this standard. I don’t think players should be judged as such.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

And Andy Pettite won 256 games 60% winning percentage won over 100 more games than lost. Was 19 and 11 in postseason pithing 276 innings.

Besides not being particularly great, with only two seasons under 3.00 ERA and no Cy Young awards, Pettite is also an admitted PED guy. Not really a mystery why he's not in.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Did Gaylord Perry “cheat”? I believe that he has admitted numerous times to doctoring the ball. He’s still in the HOF though, right? Mauer is really marginal, Helton hit in Colorado (I know, he was just playing the hand that he was dealt, not his choice to have been drafted by the Rockies but career road numbers pale in comparison and double those in place of the high altitude and I don’t think there is any chance that he’s a HOF’er). Those two making the Hall in modern times with the system the way it is as well as historically been, no excuse for Bonds, Clemens and A-Rod to be left out. I think the baseball writers have sent a clear message to us how they feel about the steroid era, now it’s time to move on and recognize the all-time greats alongside their contemporaries and historical counterparts.

[ullmandds]

mauers batting titles as a catcher are what got him in first ballot...imho.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

mauers batting titles as a catcher are what got him in first ballot...imho.

Catchers have won four batting titles in major league history, only three of them in the American League and they're all Joe Mauer.

[packs]

Things are looking pretty good for Buster Posey now.

I think with Helton's induction things are also looking pretty good for Joey Votto and Paul Goldschmidt when it's their time. Probably not first ballots either but both should get the call now.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by packs

Things are looking pretty good for Buster Posey now.

I think with Helton's induction things are also looking pretty good for Joey Votto and Paul Goldschmidt when it's their time. Probably not first ballots either but both should get the call now.

I'm a big Reds fan, but can't endorse Votto. I've racked my brain to think of a time Votto produced a clutch 2-out hit when the Reds really needed it, and can't come up with a single memory.

His hitting was very good in blowout games and he was adept at drawing lots of walks (but subsequently not scoring). And he was less than mediocre in the few playoff games the Reds managed to blow. I would take Goldschmidt over Votto any day of the week.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

Catchers have won four batting titles in major league history, only three of them in the American League and they're all Joe Mauer.

Actually, you're half right. Catchers have won 6 batting titles, 3 in each league, and Mauer has all of the A.L. crowns. The fourth St. Paul native to make it to Cooperstown, all in my adult lifetime, he's the best athlete I can recall from Minnesota since Dave Winfield, and probably a bit better. Congrats Joe!!!

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Actually, you're half right. Catchers have won 6 batting titles, 3 in each league, and Mauer has all of the A.L. crowns. The fourth St. Paul native to make it to Cooperstown, all in my adult lifetime, he's the best athlete I can recall from Minnesota since Dave Winfield, and probably a bit better. Congrats Joe!!!

From what I found online, there are 7 batting titles won by catchers. 3 in the AL (all won by Mauer) and 4 in the NL - Buster Posey (2012), Ernie Lombardi (1938, 1942) and Bubbles Hargrave (1926).

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by jayshum

From what I found online, there are 7 batting titles won by catchers. 3 in the AL (all won by Mauer) and 4 in the NL - Buster Posey (2012), Ernie Lombardi (1938, 1942) and Bubbles Hargrave (1926).

You're right, I forgot about Posey-- I stopped after Joe won his last.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by jayshum

From what I found online, there are 7 batting titles won by catchers. 3 in the AL (all won by Mauer) and 4 in the NL - Buster Posey (2012), Ernie Lombardi (1938, 1942) and Bubbles Hargrave (1926).

Thank you for the correction. I should have said since WWII, not in baseball history. Nice Bubbles Hargrave reference by the way.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Did Gaylord Perry “cheat”? I believe that he has admitted numerous times to doctoring the ball. He’s still in the HOF though, right? Mauer is really marginal, Helton hit in Colorado (I know, he was just playing the hand that he was dealt, not his choice to have been drafted by the Rockies but career road numbers pale in comparison and double those in place of the high altitude and I don’t think there is any chance that he’s a HOF’er). Those two making the Hall in modern times with the system the way it is as well as historically been, no excuse for Bonds, Clemens and A-Rod to be left out. I think the baseball writers have sent a clear message to us how they feel about the steroid era, now it’s time to move on and recognize the all-time greats alongside their contemporaries and historical counterparts.

can we elect them and not have to listen to them?