Baseball Hall of Fame Vote

[howard38]

/

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by howard38

3)
It's not entirely true. During that period Rizzuto batted first, second and eighth. In his career he actually started more games in the 8 spot than he did leading off.

Howard

My recollection during those 5 hey-day years (1949-1953), Rizzuto batted either 1st or 2nd in the line-up. And, after the 1st inning, it's immaterial
what position in the line-up he was at. My contention is that when Rizzuto was the lead-off batter in any of the subsequent innings of a game, he
would do what it took to get on base....either by a hit, bunt, walk, or beating out an infield grounder.

There is a fundamental maxim in Baseball that says when the lead-off batter gets on base....70 % of the time he will eventually score a run in that
inning.


TED Z

[howard38]

.

[Kenny Cole]

Maybe I'm viewing this too simplistically, but IMO it is really simple -- Rizzuto is a HOFer because he has been elected to the HOF. You can argue about whether that was a good selection or a poor one, whether he should have been selected or not, whether Ted Williams' viewpoint should or should not have triumphed, but that is a different issue.

When all is said and done and you get down to the nut-cutting, he has been elected. He is in the HOF and is thus a HOFer. Period. He isn't going to get kicked out because some non-voters disagree with the selection, so get over it. There are a number of people on the outside looking in that I would personally have chosen before him, but I don't get to vote.

[Orioles1954]

Ted Williams' opinions mean absolutely nothing concerning the Hall of Fame and a player's qualifications in being inducted. The reason they mean nothing is because the Hall of Fame IS NOT some sacrosanct institution that belongs to baseball fans or players. The Hall of Fame IS a media award, and a media award only. Approaching it from that viewpoint only has changed my perspective on the idea of "watering it down" or who belongs or does not.

[Kenny Cole]

That statement is inaccurate. The HOF is first, an award/honor granted by certain voting members of the media. It is second, an award/honor granted by whatever the current composition of the Veteran's Committee is.

If Ted Williams' opinion, as a member of the Veteran's Committee, gets a player elected, it is simply silly to say that his opinion means nothing. It may mean nothing to you, but the player is still elected on the basis of that opinion. Therefore, by definition, it means a lot.