Let’s talk Hall of Famers.
What makes an MLB Hall of Famer? Back in the day, it was all about either baseball milestones such as 300 wins, 500 homers or 3,000 hits, or the “eye test” – did the player “look like a Hall of Famer” when he played and did he dominate his era? Today it is often about “analytics” to put the guy in and baggage to keep him out.
Pete Rose, Manny Ramirez, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and others have been kept out by legal issues and/or cheating and use (or implied use) of PEDs.
Pete Rose was disqualified by his own agreement with MLB for betting on baseball, and the others were banned for positive tests or implied use of performance-enhancing drugs. Omar Vizquel lost support due to allegations of off-field misconduct.
The inaugural Hall of Fame election results inducted Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner as the Class of 1936, and they were followed by 1937’s Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker and Cy Young.
George Wright, who starred at shortstop for the first all-professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was elected by the Centennial Commission (Veterans Committee). Managers Connie Mack and John McGraw and AL and NL founders Morgan Bulkeley and Byron “Ban” Johnson were also inducted – no question there, Hall of Famers all.
But this year, two very good players, Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen, were enshrined, and Harold Baines was welcomed in 2019. I am not knocking them as players. They were great, but to me, they didn’t pass “the eye test” of being dominant faces of the sport during their playing days.
It used to be said that the defining attributes of a Hall of Famers are:
- Excellence: MVPs, Gold Gloves, batting or home run titles, Cy Young awards and being a player well above and beyond even the very good players is a requisite.
- Longevity: Other than Sandy Koufax’s six lights-out dominant years in a 12-year career, you generally need 10-12 great years to be considered.
- Consistency: Few peaks and valleys … they put out solid numbers every year.
- Teamwork: Great players will rise even when on poor teams.
There are no incomplete Hall of Famers. A Hall of Famer is someone who played a long time, had a high peak, was elite at his position and added a ton of value throughout his career.
The Hall of Fame is comprised of 342 elected members. Included are 270 former major league players, 40 executives/pioneers, 22 managers and 10 umpires. The BBWAA has elected 136 candidates to the Hall, while the veterans committees (in all forms) have chosen 180 deserving candidates.
We’ll discuss analytics and looking good next time we visit this topic.
Do you agree with this year’s selections? Have there been oversights and over-rated members?
What do you think?
Let me know at mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com.
