Hall of Fame vote

[Jedi Master Carr]

The hall of fame votes in and Moliter and Eck made it and nobody else

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1701698

Ryne Sandberg came close 61%, still he should be in, he was one of the best 2nd basemans to ever had played and how could he not be in the Hall of Fame??? He got more votes than last time where he only got 49%. I think people are comparing his numbers with numbers from today like Kent who hits 35-40 HR where Sandberg usually hit 25-30 (he hit 40 twice though). Still the guy leads all 2nd basemans in homeruns with 460 something he should be in. I think he will get in next year because only Wade Boggs is up for it and he is no guarentee or at least he is less a guarentee than Moliter.

[Ishan Shade]

When I first saw this topic I thought it was a Pete Rose thread...

[Figrin D'an]

I've always been a big fan of Ryne Sandberg. He absolutely deserves to be in the Hall. There was a 10 year stretch from about 1984-94 that he was THE dominant second baseman in the league. The momentum is building in his favor though... 49% last year, 61% this year... next year he'll get it, along with Boggs.

Molitor was a great player. Being from Milwaukee, I got to watch him play for much of his career. I seriously believe if he hadn't been bitten by the injury bug a few times, he would have topped 4,000 hits and maybe challenged Pete Rose's record. He was THAT good a hitter.

Eckersley was dominant as a closer... he was Mariano Rivera before Mariano Rivera was around. On top of that, he had a great career as a starter before becoming a closer. Definately deserving.


There's a few others on the ballot that I'd like to see get in... like Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, Andre Dawson... but they'll probably have to get in via the Veteran's Committee.

Then, of course, the huge wild card in all of this is Selig potentially reinstating Pete Rose and him getting on the writer's ballot before the 15-year timeframe is up.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah we don't know if that will happen or not. I agree with you Sandberg will get in next year. I still think he should have been first ballot but we are talking about sports writers here. I wish Bruce Sutter get in too, but I think he will get in via veterens committe. I also would like to see Jim Rice get in but that is bias on my part being that I am a Red Sox fan. I also agree with you about Eck and Moliter both deserved to get in first ballot they both were great players.

[JMK]

I'm disappointed that Jim Rice and Bert Blyleven didn't get more of the vote. What do these 2 guys have to do to get in? I know that Rice wasn't exactly embraced by the Boston media, but he's deserving to be in there. Even more puzzling is Blyleven. Ranks 5th all-time in strikeouts, 8th in starts, 9th in shutouts, and 24th in wins with 287, only 13 short of the 300 mark, which is usually a lock, 3700 strikeouts...what else does he need to get in? Ok he wasn't a Nolan Ryan and didn't have much flash to him, but over the years he piled up some serious stats and did that on a lot of bad teams.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Rice could still get in by the veterens commitee one day the same with Blyleven I think Sutter and Gossage will both one day get into. I am not sure about Dawson. Him not hiting 500 might keep him out.

[Figrin D'an]

Blyleven was one I nearly forgot... he deserves to get in, too.


You're Nolan Ryan remark reminds me of just how enamoured some sportswriters were with his gaudy numbers. Ryan was an excellent pitcher, and certainly a Hall of Famer, but I think a lot of people forget that he played for 27 years to pile up those numbers. His longevity was impressive, but there are other pitchers that have matched his level of greatness over the years. Blyleven was one of those guys... it's a shame that some just don't see it because they look at only the raw totals.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I know sportswriters aren't too smart unfortunely :p

[Figrin D'an]

Originally posted by Jedi Master Carr
Him not hiting 500 might keep him out.


That would totally suck, considering that he, Barry Bonds and Willie Mays are the only players in league history to hit 400 HRs and steal 300 bases, plus Dawson has more RBI's than guys like Hornsby, Mantle, Stargell and DiMaggio.

But again... some voters only look at things like 500+ HR's, 3000 hits, # of All-Star games, .300+ BA, etc.

[JMK]

As much as I liked Andre Dawson, I can't help but feel that because he played in 'obscure' Montreal for so long that also detracts from his chances. I guess I don't see his career as great or typical of HOF'ers but like Figrin said, some his numbers overshadown some of the all time greats.

[Jedi Master Carr]

His only chance is the veterns committe really. He is the same boat as Rice. They both put up similar numbers but they didn't reach the milestones that certain sportswriters like. I think they only reason Rice is getting more than 50% is from the New England media pushing for him.

[Jedieb]

I think Goose Gossage is getting a raw deal. Eck was a great reliver, but Gossage was a dominant reliever for almost twice as long as Eck. Kck had the benefit of having been a starter before moving to the pen and compiling over 150 wins. Voters are still hesitant to give specialist their due. Eventually, I think Gossage will get in.

[JMK]

Agreed, Gossage will get in.
But as the years go on does it occur to anyone else that the Hall of Fame is becoming more like the Hall of the Very Good?