|
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
As others have asked/mentioned, I understand there is a 16 person committee to do the final voting, but who/how did they first decide who would go on this ballot? Simply taking the players who just dropped off the regular ballot after 10 years of not getting voted in, and immediately adding them to this ballot in the very next year, seems to run 100% counter to the purpose and intention of these "veteran" type committees. If their intent is to review the eligibility and worthiness of certain players who failed induction under the regular ballot procedures, by later on going back and re-assessing and re-evaluating their careers and achievements in light of changing views and context over time, I'm all for it. But immediately adding players who just dropped off the regular ballot is stupid and insulting to the BBWAA who just went through 10 years of not finding them worthy of induction. What time has passed to re-assess them? There is no "later" to allow for consideration of changing views or opinions of their careers, nor any time passing to really allow for any different views as to the context surrounding their possible induction. It is also then unfair to those kept off such a veteran committee ballot who have seen time pass since their opportunity for regular ballot induction was denied, and an actual change and re-evaluation of their HOF worthiness may be warranted and have taken place over that ensuing time they were not on any ballots. If any of the four players who just dropped off the regular ballot get immediately elected to the HOF by this Contemporary Era committee, I view that as an insult and slap in the face to the BBWAA voters, and almost as an indictment against using them for the HOF voting going forward. If anything, it would seem more appropriate if there were a reasonable waiting period following a player's unsuccessful 10 straight year failure to be elected to the HOF via the regular ballot voting, before then making them eligible for induction through such a veterans committee. To me, at least a five year additional waiting period would not be inappropriate, or onerous. By the way Mike, did enjoy the article and your writing. The differing values of some of those player's rookie cards was really interesting, and speaks to how at least one segment of the public views the HOF worthiness of certain players over others. What's the old saying, "Put your money where your mouth is!". Last edited by BobC; 11-09-2022 at 12:27 PM. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
On McGwire/Sosa...I didn't want to write a book, so I had to cut my list at a certain point...but these were likely the two next names I'd have mentioned. I kind of get the impression that Bonds/Clemens will be the first of the "steroid era" guys to get in, with others like McGwire/Sosa to follow. And of course, Bud Selig being in the Hall of Fame but keeping the steroid crowd out is silly...since he happily looked the other way and let it all happen. Of course, that raises the "Why is Palmeiro on the list?" question. Replacing him with a clean player from my list of snubs would have been better. I also don't love that several players are getting their third appearance on the ballot before some others get a first look. It's an imperfect system, for sure. And the whole mess with PEDs, legal issues, politics, etc. makes it so ugly. I miss the old days when just what a player did on the field was PLENTY for us to argue about. And yeah, based on rookie card value, pretty clear collectors don't think Albert Belle is a Hall of Famer.
__________________
Check out my articles at Cardlines.com! Last edited by Mike D.; 11-09-2022 at 12:42 PM. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
But if one of them gets elected on this first ever Contemporary Era committee ballot now, that really does negatively reflect on and impact the value and opinions of the BBWAA voters. Will be interesting to see how the hand-picked 16 members of this committee decide. And since as I now understand it, these committee members are being chosen by the Directors of the HOF, it essentially means the HOF Board of Directors is effectively deciding who gets in. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Check out my articles at Cardlines.com! |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
And you're probably right about the steroid issue as well. I know I wouldn't want to be stuck in their position either. Problem is, whatever happens and is decided, either way a large number of people will still be unhappy with them. They have no win-win outcome. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I wonder how the Committee's "contemporary" focus being from 1980 onward affected their chances of getting a vote. Evans' rookie year was '72 and while his best years were in the 1980s, they may not have considered "contemporary" enough. Hernandez' MVP year was '79, so the same goes for him. The "Classic" baseball Committee is supposed to consider players "whose greatest contributions to the game were realized prior to 1980", so they may get passed up again for being too contemporary. So it seems Evans and Hernandez could be stuck in no man's land. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Also got me thinking about another potential question. With a 1980 start/cut-off date, that means the Contemporary Committee era covers the last 42-43 years, a fairly long time over which we've seen major changes to how the game is played. So three years from now when the Contemporary Committee comes up again to vote, do they just keep the same 1980 start/cut-off date, or do they possibly move it to say 1983, so as to actually make the term "Contemporary" at last least somewhat accurate and relevant? At 42-43 years already, that's getting close to almost encompassing two entire generations. That doesn't exactly fit the definition of what I normally think of as "contemporary". But it is just part of the title for one of these veteran committees, and may never have been intended to have any true relevance after all. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
I assume the committee didn't choose every fringe player because they don't have questions about their candidacy. I think the questions around Hernandez and Dwight Evans have been talked about to death and there isn't anything left to debate.
People might have the same opinions about Mattingly and Dale Murphy, but the voters clearly saw something left to discuss. |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I am not sure what you mean by "the questions around Hernandez and Dwight Evans have been talked about to death and there isn't anything left to debate." Keith Hernandez has yet to be included on a Veterans Committee ballot, unlike Mattingly, Murphy and others who have already been considered by the Veterans Committees in the past. In the last couple of years, Hernandez was induced to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and had his number retired by the Mets. Lots of people think he has a stronger case than Mattingly. As far as Evans goes, Bill James wrote an open letter in 2012 calling for Evans’ enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. And Adam Darowski inducted Evans into his Hall of Stats, writing "It’s not that Dwight Evans was a unique hitter. His 352.7 (Baseball-Reference) WAR Batting Runs have been matched by 89 other players. His fielding skills weren’t very unique, either. 194 players have more WAR Fielding Runs than Evans’ 66.3. But only 18 players in the history of the game have surpassed him in both categories." Last edited by cgjackson222; 11-10-2022 at 10:09 AM. |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Fringe HOF-candidates. That letter from Bill James was a decade ago. Yes, I believe both of their cases have been talked about to death. Keith Hernandez is one of the first players people point to, along with Garvey, when they question standards. It's not a new discussion. I don't disagree that the same thing can be said of Mattingly. But the committee obviously feels differently. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Thanks all Jeff Kuhr https://www.flickr.com/photos/144250058@N05/ Looking for 1920 Heading Home Ruth Cards 1933 Uncle Jacks Candy Babe Ruth Card 1921 Frederick Foto Ruth Joe Jackson Cards 1916 Advertising Backs 1910 Old Mills Joe Jackson 1914 Boston Garter Joe Jackson 1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson 1911 Pinkerton Joe Jackson Shoeless Joe Jackson Autograph |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
2023 National Sports Collector Convention less than 365 days away | mrreality68 | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 24 | 07-04-2023 03:43 PM |
Its On! Mid-Atlantic Get Together + Pre-War Baseball Trade Event - February 18, 2023 | Rhotchkiss | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 115 | 02-20-2023 03:29 PM |
MLB 2023 rule changes...PeeWee league? | KCRfan1 | Watercooler Talk- ALL sports talk | 16 | 09-12-2022 02:59 PM |
2013 Thread of the Year Nominees | vintagetoppsguy | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 14 | 12-13-2013 09:41 AM |
Veterans' Committee Nominees | Archive | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 37 | 06-18-2006 07:53 AM |