Free Republic

The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame was created all the way back in 1936 and has 312 members that have been enshrined over the years. The process, which involves sports writers and even former players voting and requires a player to receive 75% to be inducted, is far from perfect. Sure, you have plenty of players that are deserving that make it into the Hall of Fame without problem. But sometimes, deserving players are left out for long periods—such as third baseman Ron Santo, who finally was selected following his death in 2011—and other times undeserving players are chosen....

While he’s no longer rocking pinstripes on a regular basis, it’s hard to think about the New York Yankees and not turn your attention to the great Derek Jeter. Even after his retirement from Major League Baseball in 2014, the captain of all captains continues to remain a permanent fixture in the city with which he spent his entire career. And really, that shouldn’t be a surprise. That’s usually what happens when you’re an all-time great shortstop. Throughout his incredible career, Jeter showed himself to be one of the greatest shortstops to ever step on a diamond. While there have...

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) -- Ozzie Smith says he's done his last backflip. ADVERTISEMENT Perhaps. ``You never know what will happen when you get in front of people and start thanking the ones that have helped you along the way and see the look on their faces,'' the 47-year-old Smith said as he contemplated his induction Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame. ``How I will react to that, I don't know.'' Smith, the 22nd shortstop to make the Hall, moved with his family from Mobile, Ala., to the tough Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts when Ozzie was 6. It was...