Maddux, Glavine, and the Big Hurt in the HOF

[the 'stache]

What I want to know is who are the 16 idiots that didn't have Greg Maddux on their ballots? Seriously?

355 wins
3.16 ERA in the steroid era
3,371 K

1.8 BB/9 IP (second lowest of any pitcher in the modern era)
59.44 Win Probability Added, second all-time for pitchers behind only Roger Clemens

4 consecutive Cy Young Awards
5 other top 5 Cy Young finishes
18 Gold Gloves

Greg Maddux never had an overpowering fastball. He outsmarted and outplayed his opponents. He's one of the most consistently great players to ever step on the diamond, yet 16 people thought he wasn't worthy of induction on the first ballot?

Edit:

For the record, I am glad that Glavine made it (no surprise there), and Thomas, too. That was a bit of a surprise, but well deserved in my opinion. I do think that Biggio should be in.

I am also agree with the voters on Jack Morris. I don't think he is a Hall of Famer. A 3.90 ERA in an era that slightly favored pitchers just doesn't impress me.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

What I want to know is who are the 16 idiots that didn't have Greg Maddux on their ballots? Seriously?

+1

[packs]

Plus 1 from me too. These voters had the opportunity to watch his entire career, one that mirrored pitchers of a century ago. Why would you not vote for him? To be able to say you didn't vote for Greg Maddux? Who would be impressed?

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by tschock

+1

+2...

[Mikehealer]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

What I want to know is who are the 16 idiots that didn't have Greg Maddux on their ballots? Seriously?
.

Maybe they focused too much on his losing record in the postseason.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by Mikehealer

Maybe they focused too much on his losing record in the postseason.

Yeah, 11-14. Pretty bad. I can see where, for these writers, Mathewson and Johnson's mediocre .500 post season record would have given them pause to vote for them as well.

[t206blogcom]

Glad to see Maddux get in, but a bit surprised his vote percentage wasn't higher. Anyone who didn't vote for Maddux should be barred from future voting in my opinion.

I knew Glavine would get in, but a little surprised he did so on his first ballet. I agree with some other posts that by the time be moved to NY, he was pretty much done. I sat behind home for a game while he was in NY and let's just say he fell short of his glory days. While I'm happy he's in, I think he should've been voted in after a year or two on the ballet to humble him a little. I can remember meeting him when he was in his prime at a card show in Richmond (along with Hank Aaron). He was such an ass and extremely cocky. Great pitcher, but too hung up on himself for me to be a big fan.

Congrats to Frank Thomas, but I'm very surprised it didn't take him 3-5 tries. Jack Morris, well, 3.90 just doesn't cut it in my book.

[packs]

Surprised to hear your story about Glavine. I used to go to Braves spring training every year and he was always a great signer and nice guy.

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by packs

Surprised to hear your story about Glavine. I used to go to Braves spring training every year and he was always a great signer and nice guy.

Perhaps I caught him on a bad day.

[packs]

I never did get Maddux or Smoltz there. But Chipper and Glavine were usually very good about signing. Everyone has a bad day though.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by packs

Surprised to hear your story about Glavine. I used to go to Braves spring training every year and he was always a great signer and nice guy.

This story really surprises me.

A quick Glavine story. I was outside Turner Field getting autographs with my son one day when the Mets were in town with Glavine. As his family still lived there he would stay at home and cab to the stadium. When he got out of the cab at the visitor's entrance on the west side of the stadium he would stop and sign for everyone, I mean everyone. This particular day there was a collector/hound there who discovered that he had left the item that he wanted Glavine to sign in his car parked on the other side of the stadium. Tom told him if he would hurry and go get it, he would wait and sign it - which he did.

With the possible exception of Sean Casey, Tom is the most accommodating signer I have ever encountered.

[Mikehealer]

Originally Posted by tschock

Yeah, 11-14. Pretty bad. I can see where, for these writers, Mathewson and Johnson's mediocre .500 post season record would have given them pause to vote for them as well.

I agree, that is pretty bad.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by Mikehealer

Maybe they focused too much on his losing record in the postseason.

Anything's possible, Mike. But if a Hall of Fame voter uses a pitcher's win-loss record as the sole basis for their decision, then they shouldn't be voting in the first place. Maddux might have had a losing postseason record, but if you look closer, he was actually quite good. He pitched in 35 postseason games, and had a 3.27 ERA. Not much difference from his 3.16 regular season ERA, really.

I bet if we delved deeper, a lot of those losses should not be blamed on Maddux.

Edit: by the way, Jack Morris, who was supposed to be the post season great, had a 3.80 ERA in extra play. Again, very close to his career 3.90 ERA in the regular season. Yet he had a 7-4 record in the playoffs.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

What I want to know is who are the 16 idiots that didn't have Greg Maddux on their ballots? Seriously?

355 wins
3.16 ERA in the steroid era
3,371 K

1.8 BB/9 IP (second lowest of any pitcher in the modern era)
59.44 Win Probability Added, second all-time for pitchers behind only Roger Clemens

4 consecutive Cy Young Awards
5 other top 5 Cy Young finishes
18 Gold Gloves

Greg Maddux never had an overpowering fastball. He outsmarted and outplayed his opponents. He's one of the most consistently great players to ever step on the diamond, yet 16 people thought he wasn't worthy of induction on the first ballot?

Edit:

For the record, I am glad that Glavine made it (no surprise there), and Thomas, too. That was a bit of a surprise, but well deserved in my opinion. I do think that Biggio should be in.

I am also agree with the voters on Jack Morris. I don't think he is a Hall of Famer. A 3.90 ERA in an era that slightly favored pitchers just doesn't impress me.

Bill,

Well said, but unfortunately there are voters who absolutely REFUSE to vote anyone in on their first ballots (for whatever stupid reasons they have come up with). Think about it Greg, how can ANYONE not vote for Ruth, Cobb, Johnson, Mathewson, Wagner, DiMaggio, Aaron , Mays, Williams, Seaver, Carlton...etc, etc, etc. Nobody ever achieved a 100% vote and no one EVER will. Wrong...yes...but it is what it is!

Joe T.