SAVAGE VIEWS – Hall of Fame Ins and Outs

 

It’s another beautiful day here in New Bern, NC birthplace of Pepsi Cola.  Here are my thoughts on former major leaguers who deserve to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as well as a handful who should never be allowed into the Hall without a ticket.

I must be getting mellow in my old age because I now support the candidacies of Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.   No one can challenge that these five were among the best to ever play the game.

Charlie Hustle was a marvelous player to watch and he produced hit numbers that will probably never be matched.  His playing career was flawless and he was never accused of wrongdoing as a player.

Bonds was simply one of the best hitters of any era.  Sosa along with Mark McGuire revitalized interest in the game at a time when baseball was at its nadir.

Roger Clemens is usually ranked among the top ten pitchers all time.  And Joe Jackson was an unfortunate victim of circumstances.  

There are at least three players on the 2021 ballot who deserve to be enshrined.

1.   CurtSchillling was one of the best clutch pitchers ever.  This was the guy you wanted on the mound when the game was on the line.  He finished his career with a .346 ERA and 3116 strikeouts.  Seems his political views offended some.

2.   Gary Sheffield was as menacing a batter that ever stepped in the box.  Lifetime .294 hitter with 509 homers.  I wonder who he offended during his lifetime.

3.   Jeff Kent had eight seasons where he had 100 RBIs or more.  No second baseman in history did better. He was an adequate fielder who played the game hard.  He’s another one of those guys who was not a fan of the media.

Gil Hodges I would be remiss if I neglected to mention my all-time favorite player.  That oversight can be fixed by the Golden Era committee, which meets in December for the Class of 2021. This might be Hodges’ last best shot. He is the only player to have received 60 percent or higher of the BBWAA’s vote three times and not have made it into the Hall.  He was vital cog of the great Brooklyn Dodgers teams from the late 40’s into the 50’s. He was a winner among winners. Some accomplishments:

·        He may be the only player in history to have hit four HRs in a game and also hit for the cycle during his career. 

·        His 370 home runs were among the most ever by a right hand batter when he retired.

·        Seven consecutive years of 100 RBIs or more.

·        Lifetime OBP of .359

·        Never struck out 100 times in a year

·        One of the greatest fielding first basemen of all time.

·        A leader of men who was instrumental in welcoming and paving the way for Jackie Robinson to be accepted into the MLB fraternity.

·        Under his management the Mets became a contending team after being a laughing stock for the early years of their existence.

The following lists players elected into the Hall who would have fallen snort if they did not have powerful sponsors:

Phil Rizzuto made the Hall thanks to pressure exerted by George Steinbrenner. While he was a good player on great Yankee teams, his career stats do not support inclusion.

Pee Wee Reese was one of my favorite Dodgers.  I believe once Rizzuto was inducted it was hard to exclude Reese.  His greatest accomplishment may have been accepting and welcoming Jackie Robinson as a key member of the Dodgers.

Bill Mazeroski was an exceptional fielder who was a lifetime .260 hitter with a .299 OBP.  Famous for hitting the series winning home-run in the 1960 World Series.  Clearly not Hall of Fame material.

Ralph Kiner had a relatively short career of ten years during which time he managed to hit 369 home runs. His lifetime OBP was a very respectable .398.  He benefited by playing in Forbes field and hitting into Greenberg Gardens and later Kiner’s Korner.  He was at best a mediocre left fielder who player for terrible Pirates teams.  Not once in his career did he play in a meaningful game.

Harold Baines can thank Jerry Reinsdorf for his behind the scenes maneuvering.  Baines is another one who fails the spit test.

Let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and safe Thanksgiving.

Ray