Hall of Fame Contemporary Era Committee Ballot

[dgo71]

I'm most disappointed that players like Dwight Evans, Keith Hernandez and Lou Whitaker were left off in lieu of the same old retread names. Clemens and Bonds have been voted on ad nauseum and nothing about their cases has changed. Same for Murphy and Mattingly, as much as I'd like to see both of them get in. Valenzuela is in no way shape or form a HOFer, and it feels like he was included only because of his recent passing.

It's to the point where having a vote seems like a charade as the ballots continually bring up the same names year after year. If they want them in so bad just hold a special election and put them all in. Players like Kent, Albert Belle, Lofton etc may never get in but they certainly deserve their shot at a deeper look.

[butchie_t]

Fingers crossed that the dynamic duo continue to have to buy tickets to get into the HOF and just look at what could have been through all the glass display cases.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by dgo71

I'm most disappointed that players like Dwight Evans, Keith Hernandez and Lou Whitaker were left off in lieu of the same old retread names. Clemens and Bonds have been voted on ad nauseum and nothing about their cases has changed. Same for Murphy and Mattingly, as much as I'd like to see both of them get in. Valenzuela is in no way shape or form a HOFer, and it feels like he was included only because of his recent passing.

It's to the point where having a vote seems like a charade as the ballots continually bring up the same names year after year. If they want them in so bad just hold a special election and put them all in. Players like Kent, Albert Belle, Lofton etc may never get in but they certainly deserve their shot at a deeper look.

I agree with you. Whitaker has been on only 2 ballots. Evans on only 4. Lofton on 1.

But Murphy and Mattingly 18 each. And Clemens and Bonds 11.

I don't like how they just keep voting on the same guys over and over. Give somone else a chance.

[Beercan collector]

I’m not a big WAR fan but I found it interesting on baseball reference that during 162 game average Kenny Lofton and Albert Pujols have an identical 5.3 WAR.
Despite being a 25 year old Rookie Lofton Got close to the Hall of Fame Required accumulative stats with 1528 runs and 622 stolen bases

[CollectingAmericasPastime]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

I agree with you. Whitaker has been on only 2 ballots. Evans on only 4. Lofton on 1.

But Murphy and Mattingly 18 each. And Clemens and Bonds 11.

I don't like how they just keep voting on the same guys over and over. Give somone else a chance.

At some point an ultimatum needs to be made on Murphy & Mattingly. Bonds & Clemens should be in; they're surefire HoFers that simply have an asterisk attached to their name. Get them off the ballot for goodness sakes.

Evans, Lofton, and Whitaker are who the committee should be focused on, especially Lofton.

[G1911]

I think I would vote for Lofton, but whether one thinks he should ultimately be inducted or not Lofton is clearly above the line of guys who should be dismissed after 1 ballot. It's a travesty he was never seriously considered - exactly the kind of player these committee 'second chance' votes should be for, looking at and correcting if appropriate the limited mistakes of the original voters.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Cards for a cardless thread.

[KJA]

Originally Posted by G1911

I think I would vote for Lofton, but whether one thinks he should ultimately be inducted or not Lofton is clearly above the line of guys who should be dismissed after 1 ballot. It's a travesty he was never seriously considered - exactly the kind of player these committee 'second chance' votes should be for, looking at and correcting if appropriate the limited mistakes of the original voters.

I always thought Lofton deserved it, his numbers are very close to Raines and he played in 400 less games.