HOF Early Baseball Era Ballots are out

[z28jd]

Dahlen is credited with 75.2 WAR. If a shortstop in New York did that today, he would be a first ballot Hall of Famer without question and people would complain if he didn't get all of the votes. Don't think so? Just ask Derek Jeter and his 71.9 WAR and 99.7% vote total. The focus was the one person who didn't vote for him, yet people are okay with a better player who retired 110 years ago not being in at all? Insane.

If Dahlen doesn't get in, the system is broken*

*It's broken already because this ballot is awful and it's not scheduled to meet for ten more years!

[ejharrington]

I support Buck O'Neill, more as a pioneer than as a player.

[Peter_Spaeth]

What's the composition of the committee that will be voting?

[ClementeFanOh]

Bad Bill Dahlen, all the way!- Trent King

[Brian Van Horn]

Along with 1954 Globe Printing Blossom Dairy cards from the estate of Bill Pope as well as an album with a 1994 reunion of Negro League players (same estate), this is my favorite Negro League item. It was wonderful to shake hands with O'Neil. His is also a rare autograph I have outside of Manny Sanguillen and J Bob "Battleship" Kelly (NHL). Oh, yes. I am in Pittsburgh, on the NHL side I have Lemieux's signature and I refuse to attend Pirate games because of Nutting.

[kmac32]

With everything Buck O’Neal did for baseball, he is a clear no brained to get in.

[timn1]

I wonder if the folks who want to see Lefty inducted are prepared for the hundreds of players who would have to follow logically from it.

We could start with Josh Hamilton whose career is super similar. Check out the counting stats. Lefty had about four really nice years playing in the best hitters park in baseball history in the best hitters era in baseball history. He won two batting titles. Hamilton had a few great years in a less favorable hitters era and won a batting title and an rbi title. Plus an MVP.


Jeff Burroughs will have to be next.... sorry but I think Lefty would be a travesty.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Andres Gallaraga!!

O Doul basically had three amazing years. I leave it to others whether to consider his achievements in Japan and in the PCL, but on the basis of his MLB record, no.

[FrankWakefield]

It would never happen, but a Fix the Hall Committee would be good, they could meet every 10 years and vote a few out of the Hall. I'd start with voting Kirby Puckett out.

I'm actually an O'Doul fan, but I'd be ok if he didn't get in. Ditto for Dahlen.

I'm a Cardinals fan for the last 59 years, I saw Boyer play in 1963 and after. He was a stable rock for the Cards, Played well in Center Field and at Third Base. Good with hit and run; but they didn't often try that because he had some power and was a solid RBI guy... And with all of that said, in my estimation he shouldn't get in.

Jim Kaat should get in.

Josh Hamilton should get in 363 days a year (I think the Hall is closed 2 days a year), after he's paid admission; he shouldn't get inducted. Ever.

If it were up to me, Kaat gets in and the rest stay out. If they keep adding and adding players then it gradually becomes the Hall of above average baseball players. It'll be a bigass building.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by z28jd

Dahlen is credited with 75.2 WAR. If a shortstop in New York did that today, he would be a first ballot Hall of Famer without question and people would complain if he didn't get all of the votes. Don't think so? Just ask Derek Jeter and his 71.9 WAR and 99.7% vote total. The focus was the one person who didn't vote for him, yet people are okay with a better player who retired 110 years ago not being in at all?

Amen to that.