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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?
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?
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