Ron Santo!

[sayhey24]

Congrats to Ron Santo for his HOF election -- it's a shame it didn't come while he was alive to see it.

Greg

[Cy2009]

Greg,

I was listening to MLB radio and Al Oliver was quite upset that Santo didn't get to see his enshrinement. Those sports writers have no soul. We knew eventually that he would get in. Do it while he was alive.

They did the same thing to Buck O'Neil. They didn't enshrine him but asked him to speak at the Cooperstown ceremonies. Buck was such a gentleman that he did it without thought. But the writers didn't have the decency to put him into the Hall while he was alive. Buck was a great player. But he was an enormous ambassador for the game and deserved to be in the Hall, like Santo, when he was alive.

Cy

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Cy2009

Greg,

I was listening to MLB radio and Al Oliver was quite upset that Santo didn't get to see his enshrinement. Those sports writers have no soul. We knew eventually that he would get in. Do it while he was alive.

They did the same thing to Buck O'Neil. They didn't enshrine him but asked him to speak at the Cooperstown ceremonies. Buck was such a gentleman that he did it without thought. But the writers didn't have the decency to put him into the Hall while he was alive. Buck was a great player. But he was an enormous ambassador for the game and deserved to be in the Hall, like Santo, when he was alive.

Cy

Cy, I hear you, but the only way to ensure that this happens is to only allow voting once for each player. That would make the voters take things more seriously and it would also let the former player know one way or the other while still living.

The fact that Santo died might actually be part of why he was elected - people become better (or their qualities stand out more) in our memories once they are gone.

[mr2686]

Thanks again HOF for waiting till a deserving player dies to finally get it right. Ron, the curse of the black cat has finally been lifted. R.I.P.

[murphusa]

Santo doesn't belong. Good ballplayer? Yes Hall of Fame? No

[ScottR81]

Originally Posted by murphusa

Santo doesn't belong. Good ballplayer? Yes Hall of Fame? No

I must disagree with you, I understand you but disagree. He was a great 3rd baseman as far as 3rd basemen go and he brought such positive energy to his team sometimes thats more important then anything. There was a reason he was on so many magazine covers with Billy Williams and Ernie Banks.

[MacDice]

Congrats to the third person from Washington State (joining Earl Averill and Ryne Sandberg) to make the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I bet if he had the same numbers and played for the Yankees then he would be in the Hall of Fame.

[jerseygary]

I disagree on Buck. Was he a great spokesman for Negro League baseball? Heck yes. Was he the 1st black coach in the majors? Sure was. Was he indispensible in getting Negro League players elected to the Hall? You bet. Heck I've even met the guy quite a few times and just last month had 3 of my illustrations used as murals by the Baltimore Orioles to honor him (you can see them HERE), but I don't think his playing or managing skills were Hall of Fame quality. Maybe there should be a special place in the Hall, like they do for writers and broadcasters, to honor those guys who were great teachers and proponents of the game (if there isn't one already).

[sayhey24]

I think what made it even tougher for Buck was that so many other Negro Leaguers were elected en masse that one year.

Here's a game bat used by the newest HOFer (doesn't look so shiny in person!)--

Greg