Golden Era Hall of Fame Ballot announced

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

It's interesting to see how we all view the HOF. To me a player should be judged exclusively against the era in which he played. That result would probably work against old time pitchers and modern hitters.

[BicycleSpokes]

I say remove him too! I have long argued that putting in relief pitchers is equivalent to honoring goal line backs in the NFL! Maybe important, but not HOF worthy...

[BicycleSpokes]

Bill, well said in defense of Yaz. It seems often forgotten how 1968 was so dominated by pitching, that they had to lower the mound afterwards!

[aro13]

Away from Fenway Park in his career Yaz was .264/.357/.422. Against left-handed pitching his splits were .244/.321/.371. He benefited huge playing in Fenway not only because of the park but because opposing managers were reluctant to start lefties in Fenway due to "the Wall". I still think he is a Hall of Famer, but other than Fred Lynn and Wade Boggs I am not certain there is a hitter who benefited more from their home park (pre-Coors) then Yaz.

Anybody who thinks Dick Allen is a Hall of Famer should read Bill James view on him. Basically what somebody mentioned earlier on the thread about his clubhouse issues.

[Tabe]

Regarding Dick Allen, "the clubhouse cancer":

- Asked if Allen's behavior ever had a negative influence on the team, Mauch said: "Never."

- Chuck Tanner: "Dick was the leader of our team, the captain, the manager on the field. He took care of the young kids, took them under his wing. And he played every game as if it was his last day on earth."

- Goose Gossage credited him for making him a better pitcher

- Stan Bahnsen:"I actually thought that Dick was better than his stats. Every time we needed a clutch hit, he got it. He got along great with his teammates and he was very knowledgeable about the game. He was the ultimate team guy."

- Mike Schmidt: "The baseball writers used to claim that Dick would divide the clubhouse along racial lines. That was a lie. The truth is that Dick never divided any clubhouse."


Dick Allen got a lot of flak for being a clubhouse cancer, no question. And he earned some of it - walking away from the White Sox because of a feud with Ron Santo, for example. But he also got flak for costing a white player (Frank Thomas) his job when that player actually attacked Allen (with a bat). His rep as a cancer is way overblown, without a doubt.

And, bottom line: Career OPS+ of 156. That's super-elite territory, folks.

[BicycleSpokes]

Personally, I am among those who think they got it right the first time, and am glad that none of these very good players got in.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BicycleSpokes

Personally, I am among those who think they got it right the first time, and am glad that none of these very good players got in.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeap.
I think we know a true HOFer when we see one, and these guys, fine players though they were, are not it.

[glynparson]

with the Hall of Fame I would not have cried if Wills, Allen, Kaat, Pinson, or Hodges had gotten in the Hall. Like I said though I am fairly lenient with who I would put in the hall.