new HOF "impact/era" ballot

[Peter_Spaeth]

There can be no serious question Bonds used at least after 1998 and that it significantly improved his power numbers.

There is also no serious question he was an elite player prior to that.

How one assesses that in terms of HOF, it's a matter of personal belief. I would put him in, and what's more, I still have a hard time putting roids in one box and speed in another although I understand roids have more of a demonstrable effect on performance.

Nick didn't Ted Williams have something close to a second peak very late? From memory I thought he had dropped off a bit post-Korean War but came back to have a couple of phenomenal seasons including a .388 right at the end? Or was it too short to qualify, or not deep enough beyond the BA?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

There can be no serious question Bonds used at least after 1998 and that it significantly improved his power numbers.

There is also no serious question he was an elite player prior to that.

How one assesses that in terms of HOF, it's a matter of personal belief. I would put him in, and what's more, I still have a hard time putting roids in one box and speed in another although I understand roids have more of a demonstrable effect on performance.

Nick didn't Ted Williams have something close to a second peak very late? From memory I thought he had dropped off a bit post-Korean War but came back to have a couple of phenomenal seasons including a .388 right at the end? Or was it too short to qualify, or not deep enough beyond the BA?

Ted hit .388 in 1957 and was the second time he should have won the MVP and they gave it to a Yankee instead.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Actually looking at it now Ted had great seasons right after the Korean War. It was his seasons right before the war that were a little subpar, for him. It's incredible he missed close to FIVE seasons, not to mention almost another full one due to injury, yet amassed the totals he did.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Actually looking at it now Ted had great seasons right after the Korean War. It was his seasons right before the war that were a little subpar, for him. It's incredible he missed close to FIVE seasons, not to mention almost another full one due to injury, yet amassed the totals he did.

You couldn't expect anything less form the greatest offensive player in the history of the game. He was Babe Ruth and John Wayne rolled into one amazing human.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Actually looking at it now Ted had great seasons right after the Korean War. It was his seasons right before the war that were a little subpar, for him. It's incredible he missed close to FIVE seasons, not to mention almost another full one due to injury, yet amassed the totals he did.

I always figured that his service in the Korean War gave his shattered elbow sustained by running into the wall after a drive hit by Ralph Kiner in the All-Star game (1950?) a real chance to heal--IMHO, based objectively on runs created versus league average runs created per 27 outs, the best ever (the Babe, while a close second in this category, has to be accorded the title of the best player ever when given credit for his ample pitching achievements).

Best wishes always,

Larry

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

There can be no serious question Bonds used at least after 1998 and that it significantly improved his power numbers.

There is also no serious question he was an elite player prior to that.

How one assesses that in terms of HOF, it's a matter of personal belief. I would put him in, and what's more, I still have a hard time putting roids in one box and speed in another although I understand roids have more of a demonstrable effect on performance.

Nick didn't Ted Williams have something close to a second peak very late? From memory I thought he had dropped off a bit post-Korean War but came back to have a couple of phenomenal seasons including a .388 right at the end? Or was it too short to qualify, or not deep enough beyond the BA?

Pete, Ted hit .316 in 1960, after turning 42 in August of that year, with an incredible 29 homers in just 310 at bats! Teddy F___ing Ballgame!! A pinched nerve in his neck in 1959 (he has stated that he couldn't really turn his head around in his stance to the point he was used to to see the pitch!) accounted for his only bad year, 1959.

As you know, best always,

Larry

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Nick didn't Ted Williams have something close to a second peak very late? From memory I thought he had dropped off a bit post-Korean War but came back to have a couple of phenomenal seasons including a .388 right at the end? Or was it too short to qualify, or not deep enough beyond the BA?

actually, he didn't have a second peak as much as he just stayed really awesome for a long time. If you look at his couple of "down" years in the middle, they are as a result of small sample sizes due to war service. But even then his power numbers fell off post Korea as he hit more than 30 homers only once after 1951