Once Again, The Hall Gets It Wrong
If you read this blog regularly, you know how much I love baseball. Of all our major sports, America's pastime is the one most linked to stats and comparison, and judging greatness.
Earlier today, Andre Dawson was elected to Cooperstown by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Once again, the supposed Keepers of Baseball Purity missed twice-voting Dawson in while excluding Roberto Alomar by 8 votes.
Make no mistake: Andre Dawson was a VERY GOOD/NEAR GREAT player. But Cooperstown was created for the Pantheon of Greatness,for men who all fans smile at the name and go "Yeah, he's special." It seems in the last few decades the Hall has watered down a bit. Dawson is not to be confused with Babe Ruth any more than Phil Rizzuto, who NEVER came close in his 15 years eligibility as a player,(rather voted in by the Veterans Committee) should be confused with Cal Ripken or Ozzie Smith.
Sutton, Perry, Stargell, Mazeroski, Niekro are among the enshrined who really don't deserve a place there. I'd take Dawson on my team any day, but not for the Hall.
Contrast that with Roberto Alomar, who SHOULD have gotten in. Alomar, love him or not as a person, is a top 5 all time 2nd baseman behind Eddie Collins, Rogers Hornsby, Charlie Gehringer and better than Ryne Sandberg and Joe Morgan.
Final point: Agree or not, why do Dawson and Alomar have to wait beyond their first year of eligibility? Does their greatness increase with each passing year? Why should Bert Blyleven, who I wouldn't put in the Hall, miss by 5 votes and have to hope for paydirt in year 14 of voting? The BBWAA has to stop being snobbish and lordly; Guys are either in or out. The only exceptions, those who perhaps need more time, are consideration for turn of the century ballplayers who no one ever saw, or Negro League players who were wrongly excluded by segregation.
Otherwise, measure greatness by this: A guy is either a can't miss, or he isn't. If arguments have to be made, or "This guy is in, so this guy SHOULD be" is stated, the answer is no
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Comments: 1
I do not agree with the election of "The Hawk" Andre Dawson to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Andre Dawson was the classic compiler. A compiler is one who has a lengthy career and compiles numbers. I do not understand his election.
Roberto Alomar should have been the lone player elected today. Roberto Alomar was the premier second baseman during his era. Despite his poor play in New York with the Mets, he was terrific in the American League.
Although I think players should stay on the ballot for the years noted, I do understand your point about "no brainer" Hall of Famers vs. guys on the fence. If you need to debate the worthiness of a candidate, he probably should not be there. He needs to be a dominant player during the era in which he plays. An elite player.