Biggest HOF Snub

[ahuff]

Yesterday's HOF vote got me thinking. Who do you believe is the biggest HOF snub?

I think it comes down to 4 guys: Rice, Dawson, Blyleven, and Smith. My personal belief is that it has to go to Bert Blyleven or Lee Smith. My reasoning is this.

Though I'm a Cub fan, I was never a big fan of Smith. That being said, Lee Smith was great, and no one would be wrong for saying he should be in. Personally, I believe he deserves in more than Goose. But perhaps that goes back to the hanging pitches that taunted this Cub fan during Goose's days in Chicago. Smith held the saves record until Hoffman came along. Guys like Wilhelm, Quisenberry, and Fingers certainly were the early guys to begin to change how the closer was used. I believe Lee made the position what it is today. I don't understand how you can vote in the #17 saves leader and the #21 guy, but not the #2. I believe it just goes to show how ignorant the election system is.

Jim Rice - Played 16 seasons, which might be his biggest downfall. Had he been able to play another good 3 seasons, one would have to assume that he would be much closer to critical numbers 500 and 3000. Instead he comes in with 2,452 hits and 382 home runs. His career .298 average is great. Though there was a noticeable dip in statistics during that last 3 year period. Perhaps this indicated that the elusive numbers would never have been achieved.

Andre Dawson - Fell short of critical numbers 500 HR (438) and 3000 Hits (2774). He did this in an era where other guys did accumulate these statistics. I don't truly believe he is a HOFer.

Bert Blyleven - Fell short of 300 Wins by a mere 13 (287). But was well over the 3,000 K level (3,701) and had a career ERA of 3.31 during a span of 22 seasons. He is #5 in all-time strikeouts. Guys like Jim Palmer, Robin Roberts, and Bob Feller are all behind him in the wins list. However, they are all in. How can he not be in?

[Vintagedeputy]

Bleyleven, easily

[skyking26]

Blyleven and Smith easily. While I have great respect for the sluggers, their numbers are short...

[G1X]

Marvin Miller by far.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

[ahuff]

Marvin Miller

That is a good point. I've thought he should have been in years ago. He certainly has changed the face of the game, though financially not statistically. I think that snub came from the newly redesigned veterans committee. Not that it makes too much of a difference.

[suave1477]

DARRYL STRAWBERRY!!!!

ILL EVEN VOTE TWICE FOR HIM LOL LOL

[5kRunner]

I think Blyleven is probably the biggest snub. But I think Smith gets in before he does. And they both deserve it.

The thing I hate about the Hall of Fame voting is the fact that once a guy reaches one of the magical numbers (500 HR, 3000 Hits, 300 Wins), he sails in. If a player falls a little short, he struggles to get votes.

[byergo]

In the NFL: Derrick Thomas by a landslide. Greatest pure speed rusher of All Time, records galore both NFL and collegiate, NFL Man of the Year great community figure in KC, tons of Pro Bowls, one of the biggest Defensive impact players of all time who had to be game planned for--the offense had to know where DT was at all times. So many turnovers, the "Called Safety" vs Oakland, the "KC Strip" move, etc...

[misteremu]

Rusty Staub!! A top fifty'ish for many all-time records.

Also played on some of the crappiest teams in his prime known to mankind! Plus, used to cook up a mean plate-ful of ribs in New York City!

*Over 2,700 hits, 53rd all-time
*292 career home runs
*.279 lifetime average
*1,466 RBI's, 50th all-time
* 43rd all-time with 1,255 walks
*47th all-time with 499 career doubles
*8th all time in Sac flies with 119
*37th all time for times on base
*6 time all star, with a .600 batting average over those 6 games.
*Batted .423 in his lone World Series appearance, .341 in two total post season appearances with a .683 slugging percentage in those two series
*One of the best pinch hitters later in his career

[reed1216]

Yesterday's HOF vote got me thinking. Who do you believe is the biggest HOF snub?

I think it comes down to 4 guys: Rice, Dawson, Blyleven, and Smith.

I think all four names on this list deserve HOF enshrinement. There's no question that Lee Smith was a dominating, intimidating closer. I don't think it's fair to say he's better than the Goose, but that's debatable. In my opinion, Smith continued the evolution of the role of the closer, but Gossage was one of the pioneers. Gossage has a slew of two and three inning saves and for a significant stretch of his career, was the most dominant pitcher in the bigs. Smith was a little more of a one inning specialist, albeit a Hall of Fame worthy one.

Blyleven's numbers shouldn't be ignored. His strikeout totals should get in serious consideration. However, the fact that he won 287 games pitching for mediocre teams pushes him over the top, in my eyes. The dominating curveball seals the deal for me. With that said, among these four, I would place him as the fourth most worthy candidate- still deserving of enshrinement though.

Rice and Dawson are more interesting. Without question, both were dominant players in their eras. Moreover, both won MVPs and were consistantly among the league leaders in several offensive catagories and each has an MVP award to their credit. What makes them HOF worthy, in my opinion, is the fear they put in the hearts of opposing players and fans.

I can't stand the Red Sox, but when Rice came to bat against my Yankees, I held my breath and watched. Sure, both he and Dawson, for the matter, fell short of many statistical milestones. But stats don't always tell the whole story. These guys were, are and always will be HOFers in my book. Had they played in the steroid/expansion era, they'd have reached those milestones and would already be in Cooperstown.