The Case Against the Hall

Paul Swydan suggests that the Hall of Fame is not worth our time:

I’m not suggesting everyone should cease attempting to identify baseball’s top players or most influential figures. History is important. I just don’t think that the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum should be the focus of this attention or serve as the arbiter of these decisions. One thing that struck me repeatedly while reading Jay Jaffe’s book, The Cooperstown Casebook, earlier this year is just how relentlessly the Hall of Fame has failed at the task of electing the best players to its institution.

I try not to get to upset or happy about Hall of Fame votes. This is a tough period for the voters as they try to infer who was a great player versus who was a great player because of help from drugs. It seems to me lately the writers are getting the top tier correct, electing many players on first ballots who clearly should be in the Hall. (Can anyone imagine not electing Yogi Berra on the first ballot today?)

Peter Gammons made a good point about the Hall of Fame in his discussion of Joe Morgan‘s issues today. It’s a point I used to make in respect to Roger Maris:

It doesn’t mean that anyone named in the Mitchell Report or who tested positive is therefore banished from the game for life. To the contrary—there are nearly 15 people named by Mitchell who have been coaching, advising, broadcasting and representing players over the last two years. Morgan’s contention is that there is a difference between Mark McGwire being a great, tireless coach and player advocate and being elected to The Hall. It does not in any way demean McGwire’s sincere contributions to the game and to so many who play it. He has a place in the museum, just not in the lineup of plaques.

Maris was in the Hall for his 61 home run feat, as are McGwire and Barry Bonds for their home run feats.

In addition, it strikes me that there is a good discussion about players. Fans interact with voters through web sites, voters interact with each other through their work in the media, and all make their opinions known. Minds are swayed in each direction. I think the voting process is getting better, but no process is going to produce a result that pleases everyone.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2k5scoK