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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 9, 2013 16:31:52 GMT -5
Wanted to start a thread to commemorate the 2013 election. The one where no one was voted in.
So we're all clear: the all-time hits leader, the all-time home run leader, the (arguably) best pitcher of the modern era, the game’s all-time best hitting catcher, two players with over 580 home runs, one of whom had three 60 home run seasons, a player with over 3,000 hits (and 668 doubles), and one of only three players in history with 3,000+ hits and 500+ HRs are all NOT in the Hall of Fame.
There's also Morris, Schilling, Raines, Bagwell, and Murphy ridiculously left standing outside.
Makes sense to me.
It's a good thing there's that character and integrity clause, so we can keep the riff-raff out and protect the untarnished legacies of guys like Ty Cobb, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, and Gaylord Perry.
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Post by Crowfan on Jan 9, 2013 18:20:17 GMT -5
For what it's worth, I think Bonds and Clemens will eventually get in. Most of the voters are older members and once they give way to the younger generation, I think you'll see guys getting in. Ridiculous that guys like Jack Morris and Dale Murphy can't get in, though.
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Post by GarrettCRW on Jan 9, 2013 21:54:50 GMT -5
And it was Dale Murphy's last chance.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 9, 2013 22:13:53 GMT -5
Next year will bring in obvious choices like Maddux, Glavine, Mussina, and Frank Thomas. Unless Thomas is hit with the "steroid suspicion" bug, too. In 2015, we'll get Randy Johnson, Pedro, Smoltz, and Sheffield. So it's not like the list is getting shorter or easier. Don't get me wrong, I can't stand Bonds or Clemens-- I was cheering for both of them to be convicted. And with the inflated numbers of this era, the hallowed benchmarks of 3,000 hits or 500 HRs aren't so automatic anymore. But the game is what it is, and these guys were exceptional when compared with their competitors (many who were also cheating), and for a long time. Show me an era of baseball where there wasn't cheating and I'll show you my pictures of Bigfoot. I'm a big fan of SABRmetrics, and I enjoy studying all of the numbers proving why these guys should be in. But here's a totally subjective, "eye-test" vote: I was given Cubs season tickets in 1998. I watched Sosa & McGwire battle for Maris's record all summer long. I was there when Sammy hit numbers 61 and 62. Every plate appearance was exciting; every pitcher who faced him trembled; every hanging curve ball found its way to Waveland Avenue. It's never been proven, but it's obvious now that he was juicing; and honestly, we knew then. But it didn't matter. It was pure, unbridled, baseball joy. It's still the best summer of baseball I've ever experienced. He hit 609 home runs, something only 4 players before him had ever done. He got 12.5% of the votes. That means 7 out of every 8 voters don't think he's a hall of famer. I find that despicable. I'm sorry, but am I supposed to believe that that summer just didn't count?
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Jan 10, 2013 0:35:54 GMT -5
Just because I don't know: what are the requirements to get a vote? What counts as a sports writer? What about radio talk show hosts, TV heads on ESPN, etc.? What are the criteria/qualifications?
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 10, 2013 11:47:24 GMT -5
I'm not exactly sure who gets a vote and why, except that they are members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Some are long-time beat writers for a specific team, bloggers, ESPN pundits, newspaper men, and some are just lonely losers with a union card. Looking at the math, there were 569 voters this year, and players need 75% to get in. There is a voting manifesto that Cooperstown provides which is supposed to give the voters guidelines, but every voter seems to have his own soapbox and viewpoints. Like me.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jan 10, 2013 11:58:22 GMT -5
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