Most Overrated Pre-War Player is...

[Peter_Spaeth]

Bill James rates Mazeroski as the 29th best 2nd baseman of all time. He rates Ozzie as the 7th best shortstop.

[oldjudge]

I never thought Ozzie Smith was a Hall of Famer, let alone a first ballot HOFer. However, since he is, Omar Vizquel should also be a first ballot HOFer. He is Ozzie's equal in the field and a better hitter.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Vizquel is going to end up pretty close to 3000 hits, although at age 43 I don't think he has enough gas in the tank to get 200 more. In the late 90s when the Indians had such great lineups, it seemed Vizquel was always the toughest out for the Red Sox.

[Touch'EmAll]

How about the guys who honestly had a few fabulous years that are not in the HOF ? They are surely the equal of many names you folks are throwing out.

Just hard to believe the HOF voters put TOO MUCH stock on longevity. I always thought, "if a player was great, the player was great."

For starters:
Pete Reiser (Reesor)
Roger Maris
Bo Jackson

These players would blow away many actual HOF inductees. They captures the hearts of our nation when they played. They could do things not many others could do. And they held big time records (Maris).

Hands down the finest defensive outfield throw of any man ever to play baseball - All Star game - Bo Jackson throws out Harold Reynolds at the plate - from the warning track - on the fly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely incredible defensive arm. Yet they let Ozzie Smith in for his defensive merits.

Pete Reiser made the all-star game in 1941, 1942 & 1946 - throw in the war years - he would have been an All-Star for 6 consecutive years. Way better than a lot of the names I have heard here.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Marty Marion had 1448 lifetime hits. I don't think so.

[tedzan]

Given that Maz and the "Wizard of Oz" are in the HOF due to their defensive performances, then why isn't Marty Marion in the HOF ?

A great defensive SS with great range, Marty was an important "cog" in those great St Louis Cardinals teams from 1940 thru 1950.

Marion, Maz, and Oz all Batted about .262....and, they all have approx. the same range of Fielding % (.95 to .98).

I saw Marion play in the late 1940's, he made some unbelievable plays at SS. He deserves to be in the HOF. And, if he was a HOFer,
he would now be the oldest living HOFer at age 93.


TED Z