Comments on: Who’s Missing From the Hall of Fame?

By: John McCann

John McCann — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 06:45:53 +0000

The Hall has been very kind to centerfielders, I think you need to approach it from that angle.

My top 8 CF eligible but not in:

1. Dawson
2. Reggie Smith
3. Al Oliver
4. Dale Murphy
5. Jimmy Wynn
6. Fred Lynn
7. Jimmy Ryan
8. George Van Haltren

This is based mostly on batting win shares, with adjustments for RBI and outs made.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 20:28:47 +0000

I’m a Braves fan too, and would like to see Dale Murphy in the HOF as much as anybody. But it seems to me that the most comparable player who isn’t in the Hall (yet) is Jim Rice. Rice and Murphy were contemporaries, and while Murphy was a better defensive player, Rice leads Murph in almost all offensive categories except for home runs. If I had a vote, Rice would be on my ballot ahead of Murph.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlbhist/alltime/playercard?playerId=11569

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlbhist/alltime/playercard?playerId=9909&type=0

By: ARR

ARR — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 21:38:03 +0000

your links to baseball-reference are broken

By: Tom Dierickx

Tom Dierickx — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:33:54 +0000

I swear every single time that I turned on TBS growing up when the Braves were playing and Dale Murphy was up to bat, he would hit one out! I agree, he was a great one. And how many guys can claimed to have came up as a catcher and later moved to CF … and win a gold glove!?

Also, back in the ’80s to hit 30+ homeruns was a very big deal, unlike before 1970 or after 1990. I think too many people just look at a player’s final career totals and don’t factor in how much above or below league average their yearly totals actually were. To hit 35+ hr in 1985 would be like hitting 55+ today.

It’s a shame he’s not in the HOF!

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 20:58:40 +0000

JC–good work as usual. One suggestion–in trying to mimic HOF voters’ preferences it might have been good to include some measure(s) of team success such as winning pct of the players’ teams, number of WS appearances, etc.

I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 14:45:37 +0000

Dude, it’s the internet. Who cares if you make random anonymous people mad?

By: JC

JC — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:34:25 +0000

I have that list, but I decided I’d better not publish it for now. That could really make people mad. I’m more concerned on finding those who should be in.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:28:49 +0000

Who is least deserving of his entry into the Hall by the Hall’s own standards? That is, of Hall members, who was less than 50% likely to be elected?

By: Full Servais

Full Servais — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 00:24:23 +0000

Where did Ron Santo end up?

By: NYGuy

NYGuy — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 00:05:50 +0000

There is a name on your list that I’m sure hardly anyone recognizes. He played before gold gloves were awarded, before there were MVP votes, so he had no chance at those points. He died before there was a Hall of Fame and he has more hits than any ‘eligible player’ not in the Hall of Fame. Jimmy Ryan, an Ur-Cubbie, of the Nap Lajoie, Montgomery Ward era was a very good hitter for almost 20 years and played centerfield most of that time. His career numbers look like he should be there, though he never led the league in any category, he was close in batting, stolen bases and runs scored.
He’ll never get in because he is completely forgotten and already was by the time there was a Hall of Fame.