2024 Baseball Hall of Fame thread

[Della9250]

Sure - but also - first-ballot HOFer without an MVP. Obviously one MVP or Cy Young doesn't mean a lock - but I would have thought a player who is first ballot would at least be the best in the game in at least one season in his career. Though I do get the "if he has the numbers and will get in eventually - just put him in" its not like he's going to add to his totals in retirement.

His runner-up MVP finish was to Bonds, so depending on your viewpoint he has one.

These days your finishing line is the point -- just put worthy guys in. All the plaques look the same and they dont designate on them how long it took. I was worried Mauer was going to fall short and take away votes from guys next year because he was still around. (I assumed Beltre and Helton would get in and Mauer and Wagner were at the mercy of being behind Ichiro, and potentially Sabathia)

Yogi Berra was not a first-ballot guy. Neither was DiMaggio or Fisk. heck Cy Young technically isn't a first-ballot guy. There's a bunch of guys that had to wait beyond a second ballot that don't make sense.

 

[YMCA B-Baller]

All-Star Game and Pro Bowls for football are two of the absolute worst criteria used for Hall of Fame consideration.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Sure - but also - first-ballot HOFer without an MVP. Obviously one MVP or Cy Young doesn't mean a lock - but I would have thought a player who is first ballot would at least be the best in the game in at least one season in his career. Though I do get the "if he has the numbers and will get in eventually - just put him in" its not like he's going to add to his totals in retirement.

There can only be one "best in the game." Frank Robinson, Mantle, Aaron, Banks, Berra, other stars from the 1950s and 1960s were all worthy first-ballot selections, but Willie Mays was the best player of their era. Same when Ruth played, Gehrig was never better. Williams was better than DiMaggio (or vice-versa). There is always a great player who is still not the best in the game.

Players have to be judged on their own merits, not compared to anyone else.

In 2019, Edgar and Rivera were inducted; in 2018, Chipper and Trammell were inducted. Before that 2007 was the last time two guys who played their entire careers on one team were inducted (Gwynn, Cal Jr.).

 

[swingline]

Molina will be the next to play his whole career with one team.

 

[Della9250]

Only 82 ballots not revealed

 

[Regan MacNeil]

Down to 82 useless cowards.

 

[Della9250]

Down to 82 useless cowards.

You ain't kidding

 

[Regan MacNeil]

Seems like good number of the 82 useless cowards are NO ONE MAKES THE HALL (except the guy who sexually assaulted a batboy) dipshirts who want to face zero public accountability for their myopic views.

 

[swingline]

Is the Hall or BBWAA that controls whether ballots are public?

If it's the writers, kick out everyone who keeps their votes private.