What NY Yankee should be in the HOF?

[Al C.risafulli]

Last I checked, there were 13 third basemen in the Hall of Fame, and Graig Nettles was a better player than several of them. Nettles played in an era when offensive stats were depressed in general, and he was one of the game's better offensive players. His defense was magnificent, and if his career hadn't overlapped Brooks Robinson's, he would have won far more than one Gold Glove.

Ultimately he gets a raw deal because his career doesn't include the kind of cheap stats that most HOF voters look for (high batting average, number of awards, etc), but statistically, he's one of the best players to ever play his position.

-Al

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

Last I checked, there were 13 third basemen in the Hall of Fame, and Graig Nettles was a better player than several of them. Nettles played in an era when offensive stats were depressed in general, and he was one of the game's better offensive players. His defense was magnificent, and if his career hadn't overlapped Brooks Robinson's, he would have won far more than one Gold Glove.

Ultimately he gets a raw deal because his career doesn't include the kind of cheap stats that most HOF voters look for (high batting average, number of awards, etc), but statistically, he's one of the best players to ever play his position.

-Al

Nettles should get in on the basis of fighting Reggie Jackson at the team's victory party.

[CW]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

Last I checked, there were 13 third basemen in the Hall of Fame, and Graig Nettles was a better player than several of them. Nettles played in an era when offensive stats were depressed in general, and he was one of the game's better offensive players. His defense was magnificent, and if his career hadn't overlapped Brooks Robinson's, he would have won far more than one Gold Glove.

Ultimately he gets a raw deal because his career doesn't include the kind of cheap stats that most HOF voters look for (high batting average, number of awards, etc), but statistically, he's one of the best players to ever play his position.

-Al

He was the man when it came to robbing hitters of shots like this one....

[oldjudge]

Steinbrenner, whether you like him or not, deserves to be in the HOF. As a Yankee fan I appreciate what he did for the team. His sons, on the other hand, are a joke.

[Ronnie73]

My votes are for Don Mattingly and Paul O'Neill. I enjoyed watching them both at bat and on the field.

[cardaholic]

Tommy John.

[HexsHeroes]

.

Not intended as a slam against the Yankees, as it actually is intended for all teams with an above average percentage of the HOF population.

One of my pet peeves is that that some player performances (stats) have been influenced by playing with teams stocked with good/great players. While true the individual ballplayer had to perform, or be gone, having talented ballplayers hitting before and after you does influence the opportunities an opposing pitcher presents to you as a hitter. The opportunities presented defensively are possibly influenced by having quality pitching, and quality pitching likely influenced by having qualify defenders. The 1927 NY Yankees were an outstanding team. But I have to believe that if you had removed the two best hitters and one best pitcher from that team, while they would still have been a very good team, fewer of the remaining very good players would have made it into the HOF. Just my opinion. That is why I have a softspot for outstanding ballplayers who played for less than brilliant teams over a period of years. I feel they may have had less opportunities or ideal situations inwhich to shine, but they shone never the less with what was given them.

Personally, I feel that it is not enough to say that a player was among the best in the league, year in and year out. If that were the case, Jack Morris (among others), would have been in the HOF years ago. For me, if the player evaluated cannot be considered among the top 50% already in the HOF, then it is a no for HOF induction. I realize this completely dismisses the characteristics of the game during the particular era a ballplayer played in, and therefore is a particularly harsh measure, but I believe the HOF is for the greats of the game; not for the above average but not necessarily great. If a ballplayer cannot be considered among the best ever, then HOF is not for him.

[kcohen]

The top of the list IMO should be Allie Reynolds with an 8 year run of brilliance in a Yankee uniform. .630 career winning percentage, pitched in 6 WS with 7-2 record and 4 saves.

Can't understand why he isn't in.

[npa589]

Originally Posted by hexsheroes

.

Not intended as a slam against the yankees, as it actually is intended for all teams with an above average percentage of the hof population.

One of my pet peeves is that that some player performances (stats) have been influenced by playing with teams stocked with good/great players. While true the individual ballplayer had to perform, or be gone, having talented ballplayers hitting before and after you does influence the opportunities an opposing pitcher presents to you as a hitter. The opportunities presented defensively are possibly influenced by having quality pitching, and quality pitching likely influenced by having qualify defenders. The 1927 ny yankees were an outstanding team. But i have to believe that if you had removed the two best hitters and one best pitcher from that team, while they would still have been a very good team, fewer of the remaining very good players would have made it into the hof. Just my opinion. That is why i have a softspot for outstanding ballplayers who played for less than brilliant teams over a period of years. I feel they may have had less opportunities or ideal situations inwhich to shine, but they shone never the less with what was given them.

+1

I thought about offering an optional way of looking at this, and I guess I am now... saying I think a better question to ask is which Yankee HOF'ers should NOT be in the hall of fame? Let's say if the same players played with the Cubs for example, or the Expos...

For example...had Joe Gordon played for someone else, I doubt he ever gets in. He got a maximum of 28.5% from the BBWAA during his eligibility pre- veterans committee.

.

[tcdyess]

All of them

[tcdyess]

As big a Yankee fan as I am, I'm not really sure anyone else deserves to be in the HOF except one....

The Boss!!! Like him or hate him, you can not deny what he has done for the game, he brought it into the modern era (like it or not) and helped make the game more successful and popular. Sure, he was egocentric and loved the publicity that came with owing the most storied franchise in history (sorry, couln't resist), but he was partly responsible for growing the game... period. Not to mention everything he did philanthropically that hardly ever gets mentioned. His contributions to the game at levels far below MLB have also helped the game grow.

Player wise as much as love Thurman and Donny Baseball, I don't think they should be in, but baseball wise.... The Boss should be a shoe in....

Tim

[cyseymour]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

Last I checked, there were 13 third basemen in the Hall of Fame, and Graig Nettles was a better player than several of them. Nettles played in an era when offensive stats were depressed in general, and he was one of the game's better offensive players. His defense was magnificent, and if his career hadn't overlapped Brooks Robinson's, he would have won far more than one Gold Glove.

Ultimately he gets a raw deal because his career doesn't include the kind of cheap stats that most HOF voters look for (high batting average, number of awards, etc), but statistically, he's one of the best players to ever play his position.

-Al

+1

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

Last I checked, there were 13 third basemen in the Hall of Fame, and Graig Nettles was a better player than several of them. Nettles played in an era when offensive stats were depressed in general, and he was one of the game's better offensive players. His defense was magnificent, and if his career hadn't overlapped Brooks Robinson's, he would have won far more than one Gold Glove.

Ultimately he gets a raw deal because his career doesn't include the kind of cheap stats that most HOF voters look for (high batting average, number of awards, etc), but statistically, he's one of the best players to ever play his position.

-Al

I think Buddy Bell had just as much to do with Nettles not winning more Gold Gloves, as Brooksie.

[D. Bergin]

As a Yankee fan, I'm not exactly outraged by anybody not in there. I grew up in my formative years with Donnie Baseball as my favorite Yankee also.

I think I'm a little more annoyed with how easily Kirby Puckett got in with identical stats, rather then miffed that Donnie is not in there.

Never had a problem with Maris or Munson not being in. They are legendary for their own reasons, but I don't think they need the HOF to qualify their careers.

Carl Mays as somebody mentioned already is probably the biggest head-scratcher to me, and he bounced around enough, a lot of fans don't necessarily count him as a "Yankee"...........plus we all know how unlikable he was.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I think Buddy Bell had just as much to do with Nettles not winning more Gold Gloves, as Brooksie.

If kids didn't get very excited over pulling his card when he was playing, he's probably not HOF material (Nettles). But then again - Niekro got in.

Also, awards and a high batting average are sort of a good thing, although I'm not a huge Ichiro fan, as he didn't do much other than sell tickets.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Runscott

If kids didn't get very excited over pulling his card when he was playing, he's probably not HOF material (Nettles). But then again - Niekro got in.

Also, awards and a high batting average are sort of a good thing, although I'm not a huge Ichiro fan, as he didn't do much other than sell tickets.

I don't know. I remember getting really excited pulling Ron Kittle, Steve Sax and Dave Righetti cards back in the day.

If you would have asked me back in 1984, I would have told you I was sure that Kent Hrbek would be a sure-fire future Hall of Famer.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I don't know. I remember getting really excited pulling Ron Kittle, Steve Sax and Dave Righetti cards back in the day.

If you would have asked me back in 1984, I would have told you I was sure that Kent Hrbek would be a sure-fire future Hall of Famer.

Man, you got excited easily. I can understand, as a kid, getting excited about the 'could haves' that didn't pan out; after all, they were great during the period when you were watching them. For me it was Frank Howard, Sam McDowell, Tony Conigliaro, Don Drysdale - great players when I was watching them.

What I can't understand is the guys getting into the HOF who never excited anyone - Phil Niekro, Don Sutton (for the most part). Sure, you wanted a card of these guys, but it wasn't going to bother you too much if you didn't get one. Guys like Mays, Maris, Aaron and Mantle - you HAD to have them.

[johnmh71]

How about Luis Tiant? He only pitched with the Yanks for a short time, but he does have better stats than 10 pitchers already in there. Catfish has almost identical stats.