Why is Jackie Robinson in the HOF?

Joshchisox08 · #1 04-15-2016, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf441

We certainly didn't live in PC America when Robinson was elected to the HOF in 1962. He was a dynamic player whose career didn't get started until he was 28 because of that pesky little "gentleman's agreement" to bar an entire race of people from the game. He integrated the game, transcended the game, and did more for civil rights in this country than all but a handful of people throughout the late 1940's through the 1960's....

So, yeah, he belongs...

Steve,
the PC America statement had nothing to do when he was playing and all of how people will and have reacted to my questioning his candidacy based on his statistics.

Prince Hal · #2 04-15-2016, 08:59 AM

I just don't understand where a stats based review of Jackie Robinson's HOF worthiness even comes from.

His career in MLB was relatively short because he was discriminated upon based on his race and because was serving his country in WWII. He achieved at a high level in MLB under what had to be the worst possible circumstances. Imagine not even being able to eat in the same restaurant as your team mates or being intentionally spiked and thrown at only because of the color of your skin.

His election was politically correct, baseball correct and morally correct. It's actually kind of amazing that he was elected at a time when Jim Crow laws were still prevalent.

Bill James' book Whatever Happened to the Hall will give you plenty of fodder for discussion on folks who have no right to be enshrined. For example, the cronyism (if you believe James) of Frankie Fritch when he was on the selection committee is a sad testament.

I was snarky and I'll own that. In my opinion Jackie personifies what the Hall should be about and to question his worthiness based on stats alone is an insult to a great baseball player and a great man.

Pilot172000 · #3 04-15-2016, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Hal

I just don't understand where a stats based review of Jackie Robinson's HOF worthiness even comes from.

His career in MLB was relatively short because he was discriminated upon based on his race and because was serving his country in WWII. He achieved at a high level in MLB under what had to be the worst possible circumstances. Imagine not even being able to eat in the same restaurant as your team mates or being intentionally spiked and thrown at only because of the color of your skin.

His election was politically correct, baseball correct and morally correct. It's actually kind of amazing that he was elected at a time when Jim Crow laws were still prevalent.

Bill James' book Whatever Happened to the Hall will give you plenty of fodder for discussion on folks who have no right to be enshrined. For example, the cronyism (if you believe James) of Frankie Fritch when he was on the selection committee is a sad testament.

I was snarky and I'll own that. In my opinion Jackie personifies what the Hall should be about and to question his worthiness based on stats alone is an insult to a great baseball player and a great man.

I can live with that.

T206Collector · #4 04-15-2016, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilot172000

I can live with that.

Me too!

wolf441 · #5 04-15-2016, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshchisox08

Steve,
the PC America statement had nothing to do when he was playing and all of how people will and have reacted to my questioning his candidacy based on his statistics.

I understand your questioning of his statistics. I was just making the point that he was voted into the HOF in 1962, when there were still Jim Crow laws and before LBJ signed his civil rights act into law. So for a country that was less than fair minded about race at the time, to elect him to the HOF says quite a bit about what they thought of him as a player...

jmb · #6 04-15-2016, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf441

I understand your questioning of his statistics. I was just making the point that he was voted into the HOF in 1962, when there were still Jim Crow laws and before LBJ signed his civil rights act into law. So for a country that was less than fair minded about race at the time, to elect him to the HOF says quite a bit about what they thought of him as a player...

Actually, LBJ and Al Gore Sr blocked the civil rights bill from passing when Eisenhower tried in the 50's.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
2 bats a co worker brought into work	vwtdi	Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used	4	04-12-2016 05:05 PM
SGC T206s....It needs to be brought up, it's scary, very scary if you are a collector	CMIZ5290	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	219	04-10-2016 03:42 PM
What the Secret Santa brought us...	brianp-beme	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	19	01-04-2016 08:22 PM
What Brought You To Collect Vintage?	bcookie	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	16	05-08-2012 05:44 PM
Another GAI update brought to you by a grant from "elronsanchez"	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	8	04-03-2002 07:35 PM