2024 Classic HOF election

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by G1911

Announcers aren't inducted and his 1B statistics are not even close to HOF. What were Bill White's achievements as a league president that are HOF worthy?

I think it’s silly that they refuse to induct guys based on their overall influence on the game, and insist on putting them in a specific box. Bill White is certainly worthy for his many cumulative contributions to the game.

I’d also like to see guys like Don Zimmer get in. They put umps in and executives in, but not coaches?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Yes, we need sections for coaches and scouts.

As has often been brought up around here, a section for ambassadors/game changers would be nice so that Lefty O'Doul can get in. Curt Flood should be put in this category moreso than as a player, IMHO. If the HOF wanted to be really lazy, they could just expand upon their Pioneers category and lump all these guys in with Candy Cummings for all I care. They're all pioneers in their own way.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I think it’s silly that they refuse to induct guys based on their overall influence on the game, and insist on putting them in a specific box. Bill White is certainly worthy for his many cumulative contributions to the game.

I’d also like to see guys like Don Zimmer get in. They put umps in and executives in, but not coaches?

I don't entirely disagree on the philosophy (recognizing that this is not how it works right now), I just cannot really identify these achievements and contributions for White.

He's not even close as a player, using the old stats or the new. League President was a mostly powerless trophy job at that time and still is, which is why there aren't really any achievements to point to. An argument that he should be the first person inducted on the strength of his announcing would be a pretty big stretch. If being a pretty good players hanging around in the baseball world after their playing careers is enough then we need to induct another ~50 guys. Guys who are on the borderline sometimes get unofficial boosts from other things they did, but White is not even close on performance.


Curt Flood is a sensible choice to me on pioneer logic and impact on the game, as we can discern and define what his impact was.

[Rich Klein]

A "Contributor" entry. That way people such as Curt Flood, Bill White, Lefty O'Doul and others who just miss in one way have the correct way to be enshrined. Most of the other Hall of Fames have such a category and this would help. Nothing wrong with this either as all three of these names mentioned and there are others as well would have an entry pass. I can even include those famous coaches as well with people like Walt Hrniak (sic), Tom House, Johnny Sain. Frankie Crosetti, etc.

Regards
Rich

[packs]

I would love to see Flood and/or O'Doul get in:

[D. Bergin]

I'm a Yankee fan and I loved Phil Rizzuto, and I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame...but not as a player only, but as an overall contributor to the game.

A part of me thinks he's unofficially in as a "contributor".

Don't think there's a chance in hell he'd be in the Hall of Fame if he didn't also have a 40 year career as a beloved Yankee announcer, to go along with his just below the borderline career as a player.

I don't think there's anybody on either of his "Similar To" lists on Baseball Reference who are remotely considered candidates for the HOF. He did lose 3 prime years to Military Service, but that hasn't helped a lot of other guys get in who otherwise wouldn't have either.

Again, I love Phil...and I think he belongs in there either way, and don't care if the letter of the law wasn't followed to get him in there.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I'm a Yankee fan and I loved Phil Rizzuto, and I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame...but not as a player only, but as an overall contributor to the game.

A part of me thinks he's unofficially in as a "contributor".

Don't think there's a chance in hell he'd be in the Hall of Fame if he didn't also have a 40 year career as a beloved Yankee announcer, to go along with his just below the borderline career as a player.

I don't think there's anybody on either of his "Similar To" lists on Baseball Reference who are remotely considered candidates for the HOF. He did lose 3 prime years to Military Service, but that hasn't helped a lot of other guys get in who otherwise wouldn't have either.

Again, I love Phil...and I think he belongs in there either way, and don't care if the letter of the law wasn't followed to get him in there.

42.2 WAR. Not.
Although you could add 20 WAR for Paradise by the Dashboard Light.