2024 Classic HOF election

[G1911]

There are several names I would vote for and think fit to induct, but they are guys I think are the "should be in" side of the line, but only barely. The big obvious holes in this era category are still ineligible to be inducted as I understand it. Jim Creighton, Doc Adams, Ross Barnes are the people who should obviously be in but are not. Cooperstown's endorsement of a blatantly false lie about the origins of the game sure didn't help genuine research into the early days and development. Adams belongs as a pioneer, Creighton for being the one who turned the game primarily into a contest between batter and pitcher instead of batter and fielders, and Barnes was the first professional superstar who is kept out because he played in only 9 seasons of what we today consider 'major league'. While the 10 year playing cutoff makes a lot of sense for modernity, it really doesn't to the initial development of the game and to the amateur era.

I would forgive the Baines corrupt farce if they put in one of these clearly deserving candidates that nobody seems to think do not belong, but just do not care about honoring the long dead who don't have a lobbying campaign.

[GaryPassamonte]

Originally Posted by G1911

There are several names I would vote for and think fit to induct, but they are guys I think are the "should be in" side of the line, but only barely. The big obvious holes in this era category are still ineligible to be inducted as I understand it. Jim Creighton, Doc Adams, Ross Barnes are the people who should obviously be in but are not. Cooperstown's endorsement of a blatantly false lie about the origins of the game sure didn't help genuine research into the early days and development. Adams belongs as a pioneer, Creighton for being the one who turned the game primarily into a contest between batter and pitcher instead of batter and fielders, and Barnes was the first professional superstar who is kept out because he played in only 9 seasons of what we today consider 'major league'. While the 10 year playing cutoff makes a lot of sense for modernity, it really doesn't to the initial development of the game and to the amateur era.

I would forgive the Baines corrupt farce if they put in one of these clearly deserving candidates that nobody seems to think do not belong, but just do not care about honoring the long dead who don't have a lobbying campaign.

+1

[etsmith]

Ross Barnes is exceedingly worthy of the Hall of Fame, he had almost 30 WAR and yet never played in a season with more than 78 games.

[ejharrington]

Originally Posted by etsmith

Ross Barnes is exceedingly worthy of the Hall of Fame, he had almost 30 WAR and yet never played in a season with more than 78 games.

He is the most obvious candidate who should already be in.

[packs]

Put Joe Wood in already. If Dizzy Dean can get in because he won 30 games, then Joe Wood can get in for winning 34, then going 3-1 in the World Series.

There are already at least three men in the HOF for having one incredible season: Hack Wilson, Dizzy Dean, and Jack Chesbro. Smoky Joe Wood's 1912 season was one for the books too.

[Exhibitman]

Frank "Lefty" O'Doul is the greatest eligible position player not in the Hall of Fame. Over 970 games (30 shy of the 1,000 used for official records) from 1919 to 1934, Lefty averaged .349, winning two batting championships and setting the NL record for most hits in a season, which still stands. Not in any way a "homer" like Chuck Klein (whose numbers were greatly aided by playing in a small park in Philly), Lefty hit .352 at home and .347 on the road, proving he belongs among the elite hitters in history. After his days in the majors ended, he returned to the Pacific Coast League, where he was the longtime manager of the San Francisco Seals and later the San Diego and Seattle teams. Lefty was instrumental in organizing Japanese pro baseball, whose premiere team, the Giants, was named in his honor. Lefty is one of only 3 Americans in the Japanese baseball hall of fame. He is also one of the few players to have played for the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants while all 3 were in New York City. Lefty died on December 7, 1969. His epitaph reads "He was here at a good time and had a good time while he was here."

My favorite Lefty piece, a 1949 Sommer & Kaufmann card signed by Lefty:



PSA pop on the card is "0", BTW.

In this postcard, produced by the Mainichi Sports newspaper, Joe DiMaggio and Lefty O'Doul are posed with Japan Baseball superstar and Hall of Famer, Kaoru Betto in a photo taken during the U.S. All Stars' Tour of Japan in 1951



Studio publicity photograph showing Lefty instructing Gary Cooper on how to swing a bat left-handed for the movie "Pride of the Yankees".



He said Cooper played like an old lady and ultimately they ended up shooting the action sequences with Cooper batting righty and running to third base.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by packs

Put Joe Wood in already. If Dizzy Dean can get in because he won 30 games, then Joe Wood can get in for winning 34, then going 3-1 in the World Series.

There are already at least three men in the HOF for having one incredible season: Hack Wilson, Dizzy Dean, and Jack Chesbro. Smoky Joe Wood's 1912 season was one for the books too.

Dizzy Dean had more than one good season. He was the 1934 NL MVP. He finished 2nd in MVP voting in 1935. He finished 2nd in MVP voting in 1936.

[packs]

Originally Posted by rats60

Dizzy Dean had more than one good season. He was the 1934 NL MVP. He finished 2nd in MVP voting in 1935. He finished 2nd in MVP voting in 1936.

He's in the HOF because he won 30 games.

[Yoda]

A small vote for Elston Howard. As a boy, I saw him play several games at the old Yankee Stadium; he hit for power and was graceful at the toughest position in baseball. And he was the first black player to integrate the Yankees.

[bigfanNY]

Bill White. Great Player 8x All Star 7x Gold Glove WS champ 64. Then 18 years as Broadcaster for the NY Yankees. Outstanding Broadcaster!! And First MLB Black television announcer. Then President of the National Leauge President 1989 - 1994 First Black league president. Not in Hall of Fame for calling out Baseball owners for installing One of their own as Commissioner. Just sad....

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

Bill White. Great Player 8x All Star 7x Gold Glove WS champ 64. Then 18 years as Broadcaster for the NY Yankees. Outstanding Broadcaster!! And First MLB Black television announcer. Then President of the National Leauge President 1989 - 1994 First Black league president. Not in Hall of Fame for calling out Baseball owners for installing One of their own as Commissioner. Just sad....

Didn't he just not make it last year?

[bigfanNY]

Peter

Bill White was on the Ballot last year but got only 10 of 16 votes Lou Pinella got 11and Leyland got 15 and got in. Last years committe was executives managers umpires etc. With impact after 1980. So even though it took until 1989 for MLB to appoint a Black leauge President ( Bill White was the only Black Leauge President ever) last years group did not find it significant enough. I am sure as they looked around the room at the owners meetings they felt no presure to recognize the achievement. Perhaps given that Black play by play announcers are still a rarity this current group might
recognize Bill Whites breakthrough as the First Black play by play announcer in baseball when he was hired in 1971. Or perhaps his 286 lifetime average 8 all star games and 7 Gold Gloves will do it. But given recent History probably not.

[Yoda]

Carl Furillo, who won the NL batting title one year and whose "rifle" arm terrified runners.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I thought we had contributors already. Isn't Buck O'Neil one?

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I thought we had contributors already. Isn't Buck O'Neil one?

Buck is actually in as a Negro League player.

[Snowman]

MLB HOF has to be the dumbest private club in all of sports. F* the HOF.

[mainemule]

730pm tonight.....

Anyone selected?

All terrific careers but no one jumps off the page for me.

Guess I wouldn't be surprised if Allen sneaks in given he's been 1 vote short twice.

It would be very bitter sweet if El Tiante somehow was elected given his recent passing.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Snowman

MLB HOF has to be the dumbest private club in all of sports. F* the HOF.

Could not agree more!

[BioCRN]

Dave Parker and Dick Allen.