Let's talk about Hall of Fame candidates who have been "neglected"

[molenick]

Originally Posted by G1911

The worst part is that I believe this committee still requires a decade of Major League Baseball service to be selected, and thus Creighton who died before it existed cannot ever be considered in the current system. Barnes only played 9 years and thus cannot be considered either. Marty Marion can be considered by the committee for pioneers, but not the two actual pioneers who clearly merit induction.

That could be true of some committees, but I think this committee would allow someone in as a pioneer without that requirement (and without them being designated as an executive, which is the other way you can get in without playing ten years).

I think that is how Cartwright, Chadwick, Cummings, etc. got in. Also the fact that Doc Adams was on the most recent ballot as a pioneer means it is possible, unless the rules have changed (see below for that vote and committee members).

I just don't like the fact that there are only ten people on a ballot covering a very large time period. Even if they made it two committees (19th century and 1901-1949) as opposed to the four I suggested, I'm sure many of us could think of ten very legitimate candidates (we would probably have trouble limiting it to ten).

That would at least help focus the committee. Plus if they were two different committees, the 19th century committee might lean more towards being made up of historians. Not to say that the other members were not qualified....just that the arguments for Ferrell, Dahlen, Walters, etc. are largely statistical and the arguments for true pioneers like Adams and Creighton require more of a knowledge of that era (again, not to say that the other members are not up on their 19th century baseball history).

Of course, the argument for some 19th century players is statistical as well....but it still needs to be taken in the context of that period.