Baseball Hall of Fame voting

[Ken]

So you are claiming Bonds/Clemens are much better defensively ??

Exactly. It's like they were bowling with the bumpers out.

[revo]

I totally disagree that Walker was a fringy candidate but there are some very deserving names on that list (most notably Grich, Evans, and Edmonds) so if Walker's induction helps them, that's great.

The proof's in the pudding. He lasted 10 elections, he didn't have particularly overwhelming counting stats, and he experienced a huge vote renaissance due to changing thoughts on players of his caliber, likely due to recent Vet's Committee inductions. His WAR places him below many non-HOFers and in the neighborhood of others who you would never consider for the Hall, such as Rick Reuschel, Kevin Brown, Buddy Bell, etc.

[TS Garp]

The proof's in the pudding. He lasted 10 elections, he didn't have particularly overwhelming counting stats, and he experienced a huge vote renaissance due to changing thoughts on players of his caliber, likely due to recent Vet's Committee inductions. His WAR places him below many non-HOFers and in the neighborhood of others who you would never consider for the Hall, such as Rick Reuschel, Kevin Brown, Buddy Bell, etc.

Lasting 10 elections shouldn't be held against him given the track record of some of the voters (no need to look further than the fact that Harold Baines is in while Grich and Allen aren't or Tim Raines having to wait 10 times). In general, I think you're looking at Walker's career too narrowly. You have to take the full picture into account -- his WAR (which is also higher than many Hall of Famers...) and OPS+ are HOF worthy and his counting stats are very good although not superb but it's the all-around game: the defense, the speed, the ability to hit for average and sustain an elite OBP, the gold gloves, the MVP, the batting titles, the excellence throughout his career, even in his later years. A player like Buddy Bell may check the WAR box (largely because of his defense) but he falls down by the other measures.

[onejayhawk]

Lasting 10 elections shouldn't be held against him given the track record of some of the voters (no need to look further than the fact that Harold Baines is in while Grich and Allen aren't or Tim Raines having to wait 10 times). In general, I think you're looking at Walker's career too narrowly. You have to take the full picture into account -- his WAR (which is also higher than many Hall of Famers...) and OPS+ are HOF worthy and his counting stats are very good although not superb but it's the all-around game: the defense, the speed, the ability to hit for average and sustain an elite OBP, the gold gloves, the MVP, the batting titles, the excellence throughout his career, even in his later years. A player like Buddy Bell may check the WAR box (largely because of his defense) but he falls down by the other measures.

Why say Buddy Bell and not Todd Helton?

J

[chancellor]

Lasting 10 elections shouldn't be held against him given the track record of some of the voters (no need to look further than the fact that Harold Baines is in while Grich and Allen aren't or Tim Raines having to wait 10 times). In general, I think you're looking at Walker's career too narrowly. You have to take the full picture into account -- his WAR (which is also higher than many Hall of Famers...) and OPS+ are HOF worthy and his counting stats are very good although not superb but it's the all-around game: the defense, the speed, the ability to hit for average and sustain an elite OBP, the gold gloves, the MVP, the batting titles, the excellence throughout his career, even in his later years. A player like Buddy Bell may check the WAR box (largely because of his defense) but he falls down by the other measures.

This is all excellent. Reminds me of an old board post by Bob Kohm about how it’s the Hall of Fame, not hall of really good
Players. And Walker had the fame factor, too. The incredible throws from right field. Base running like a hockey player. Filled box sheets. And I can guarantee Todd Helton doesn’t show for his interview in a Spongebob NASCAR shirt. That then breaks the internet and sells out instantly

[The Feral Slasher]

This is all excellent. Reminds me of an old board post by Bob Kohm about how it’s the Hall of Fame, not hall of really good
Players. And Walker had the fame factor, too. The incredible throws from right field. Base running like a hockey player. Filled box sheets. And I can guarantee Todd Helton doesn’t show for his interview in a Spongebob NASCAR shirt. That then breaks the internet and sells out instantly

didn't BK proclaim Jeter to be not just the greatest baseball player of all time, but perhaps the greatest human ever to walk the earth ? If he is indeed human ? Or is my memory just failing me ?

[chancellor]

I didn’t think it was that excessive. But my memory may be blitzed and you could be right.

[The Feral Slasher]

I didn’t think it was that excessive. But my memory may be blitzed and you could be right.

It could be possible, however unlikely, that i am exaggerating

[cavebird]

didn't BK proclaim Jeter to be not just the greatest baseball player of all time, but perhaps the greatest human ever to walk the earth ? If he is indeed human ? Or is my memory just failing me ?

His main theory was that only Yankees could actually have the "fame" needed to enter the HOF, IIRC. He griped about Chipper Jones.

[Pauly]

Well at least Zola got into the FSWA Hall of Fame.

I thought these anti-Bonds/Clemens voters were diminishing.

[Hornsby]

There were 14 blank ballots submitted this year, I can see i-2 for symbolic reasons, but 14? That's just crazy. BBWAA is probably going to have to look at their voting procedures.

[madducks]

Curt Schilling announced on his personal Facebook page that he has requested to be removed from the BBWAA ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Schilling said that he wants to "defer to the veterans committee and men whose opinions actually matter and who are in a position to actually judge a player."

[GwynnInTheHall]

Curt Schilling announced on his personal Facebook page that he has requested to be removed from the BBWAA ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Schilling said that he wants to "defer to the veterans committee and men whose opinions actually matter and who are in a position to actually judge a player."

Take your ball and go home cheater

[chancellor]

There were 14 blank ballots submitted this year, I can see i-2 for symbolic reasons, but 14? That's just crazy. BBWAA is probably going to have to look at their voting procedures.

I'm not surprised this year. Cancel culture being what it is, even if a writer thought about voting for Schilling, Clemens, and/or Bonds, they know they'd have to deal with the outrage crowd, and so would their employers. A number of others just wouldn't vote for any of those three anyway, and no one down ballot, IMO, is worth voting for. I suspect a number of writers will follow Passan's lead and give up their voting rights after this year.

[GwynnInTheHall]

You can make it up to them by drafting them 1, 2, 3 in the nfbc league.

Un=cancelled!

I obviously disagree.

It's pretty simple. Asking people to do the right thing (don't cheat), tell the truth (don't lie) and to be a decent person (don't be a dick) isn't cancel culture.. It's building a better society.


I'm just here for the moral outrage.