Santo elected to HOF

[packs]

I don't understand how Jim Kaat gets more votes than Gil Hodges. Didn't Allie Reynolds come within one vote of getting in the last time the Veterans Committee voted? Now he only gets 3 votes?

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't understand how Jim Kaat gets more votes than Gil Hodges. Didn't Allie Reynolds come within one vote of getting in the last time the Veterans Committee voted? Now he only gets 3 votes?

I think these guys are afraid to put more that 1 player in at a time, so they sandbag a player or two.. First off, If they put all the deserving(or somewhat deserving) guys in, then there'll be nothing for them to vote on next time...Secondly, some of people don't think any of these guys belong, so if they were to elect too many at a time, people would start claiming that they opened the floodgates of mediocrity. Which many believe they've already done anyway, so why reinforce their suspicions....

I'm still kinda shocked that Hodges only got 9 votes though..

[Chris-Counts]

For all those who think Santo wasn't worthy, can you name 10 third baseman who were better? Curiously, there are roughly half as many third basemen in the Hall of Fame than any other position. The problem here isn't that Santo and Boyer aren't worthy — the problem is that the Hall of Fame voters don't know what a Hall of Fame third baseman looks like. If he's not a batting champ like Wade Boggs or a slugger like Mike Schmidt, they think he isn't worthy. They expect third baseman to hit like outfielders. But somehow, they overlook such offensive limitations in shortstops, second baseman and catchers ...

[FrankWakefield]

I agree with fkw above...


Chris, yes I can. Frank Baker, Pie Traynor, Jimmy Collins, George Brett, George Kell, Eddie Mathews, Brooks Robinson, Wade Boggs, Mike Schmidt, Tony Perez, Darrell Evans and Freddie Lindstrom. There's a dozen. Didn't even have to use Eddie Yost. I'm kinda glad/ok that Santo got in... but then go back up there and read what fkw said, put those guys in, too. Along with Ed Reulbach. Then take a few guys out... that recently got in.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

I agree with fkw above...


Chris, yes I can. Frank Baker, Pie Traynor, Jimmy Collins, George Brett, George Kell, Eddie Mathews, Brooks Robinson, Wade Boggs, Mike Schmidt, Tony Perez, Darrell Evans and Freddie Lindstrom. There's a dozen. Didn't even have to use Eddie Yost. I'm kinda glad/ok that Santo got in... but then go back up there and read what fkw said, put those guys in, too. Along with Ed Reulbach. Then take a few guys out... that recently got in.

Frank, I realize that you were just answering Chris' question, but now we're getting into the game of comparing not-greats with other not-greats: Perez, Evans and Lindstrom - I wouldn't have voted Evans or Lindstrom in, and possibly not Perez. Plus, I completely disagree with you regarding Brett, Robinson and Schmidt - it baffles me that anyone could consider Santo better than these three, but everyone has good reasons for thinking the way they do.

It's interesting to hear all the 3rd-basemen comparisons, but most of the arguments are simply based on that position - not on what HOF standards overall should be.

[molen]

As lifelong Cubs fan and a big Santo fan, I teared up a little when I read the news this morning. There are definitely arguments for and against him being in the HOF. Part of me hoped he wouldn't ever get in, so people will continue to talk about him every year when the HOF debates start. I just wish he could have gotten in while he was still with us. Because as Ron himself said, he didn't want to be inducted "post-humorously." Classic Santo. Either way, I'll always remember him saying when the Cubs retired his number that having his number up there with Banks and Williams meant more to him than being in the HOF.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

I agree with fkw above...


Chris, yes I can. Frank Baker, Pie Traynor, Jimmy Collins, George Brett, George Kell, Eddie Mathews, Brooks Robinson, Wade Boggs, Mike Schmidt, Tony Perez, Darrell Evans and Freddie Lindstrom. There's a dozen. Didn't even have to use Eddie Yost. I'm kinda glad/ok that Santo got in... but then go back up there and read what fkw said, put those guys in, too. Along with Ed Reulbach. Then take a few guys out... that recently got in.

Tony Perez only played a few seasons at 3B. If you count him you have to count ARoid.