Cal Ripken
Tony Gwynn
Lee Smith
Rich Gossage
Bert Blyleven
Jack Morris
Andre Dawson
Jim Rice
Dave Concepcion
Alan Trammell
Of these ten only two are DEFINITELY, no-questions-asked, Hall-worthy: Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn. Ripken is the second-best shortstop of all time, second only to Honus Wagner.
The other eight are maybes. (Don't try to sell me on Garvey or Murphy, I won't buy it.)
McGwire certainly has HOF *numbers*, no doubt about that. But I think it's wise at this time to hold off on voting him in until he can be cleared of the strong suspicion of chemical enhancement.
I live right here in St. Louis, and I witnessed--and cheered for--Big Mac's prodigious blasts. At the time I thought he was just a big strong dude who at most took a legal, over-the-counter protein supplement. But now I'm not so sure.
There are three other guys out there, not yet eligible, with certain HOF numbers but likewise under a cloud of suspicion: Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro. I say no Hall unless we're sure they didn't cheat.
BTW, I am HOPING, and crossing my fingers, that my man Ron Santo--easily one of the top ten all-time at the most underrepresented Hall position, third base--finally gets in this coming year through the Veterans Committee.
Too bad it's too late for Buck O'Neil to get in while he was still alive.
Ping, batter, PING!
When you combine all aspects of the game, there's little doubt about that. But Ozzie Smith was the best defensive shortstop.
Dale Murphy belongs in the HoF.
Bert Blyleven: The only Hall of Fame eligible pitcher with at least 3,000 (3,701) strikeouts not yet in the Hall of Fame.
Isn't Honus Wagner only "cool" because his baseball card is worth the most? My great grandfather followed baseball pretty well and had never even heard of Honus Wagner. You're not pimping his rookie card, are you? :O)
McGwire acknowledged that he took Androstenedione while he was still active.
Andro is not a steroid and was available in "health food" stores at the time. I don't hold that against him anymore that I would if he were taking Vitamin B-15.
Ripken and Gwynn move to the front of the line so the borderline guys like Rice and Blyleven have no chance this year. If I were a sportswriter, I would not vote for McGwire this year. Maybe that will force some answers from him. I do think McGwire goes in this year or next.
Harold Baines is the one worth watching. He won't go in this year but his numbers are Hall-worthy. The problem is that he was a DH most of his career and never had any "main stage" moments.
Canseco - the new standard bearer for most HRs while staying out of the Hall.
I think the Veterans Committee has made it too difficult to get in now. It was too easy for too long. Now they've made it too tough.
And too bad about O'Neal. Baseball had its chance to honor him and they choked.
They didn't cheat. It was legal, and they got their hits off of drug-enhanced pitchers. End of story...except for a few sanctimonious sportswriters who dream of becoming the next Keith Olbermann.
Good 'ol Ron Santo. That brings back a lot of memories--Kessinger, Beckert, Santo, Banks, Hickman................
I hope Ron gets in. He has been through so much and he well deserves it.
As founder and President of SBFBHOF (Shooty Babbit For Baseball Hall Of Fame) I may have a lot of work ahead of me. I am deeply saddened at his continued non-inclusion on the list of candidates.
Owl_Eagle
If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.
I personally think that besides Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn (both of which are "locks" to get voted to the Hall of Fame this year), they should vote Rich "Goose" Gossage into the Hall of Fame, too. Gossage in his heyday was one of the most intimidating and dominating closers on the pitching mound, and he should be honored for that feat.
Great post!
I agree with your top 10 list - these guys made contributions to the game on and off the field.
On a cynical note - why not introduce a new category for inductees - Performance Enhanced Players. As it is now, you can go in as a player, a manager, an umpire or an executive. Why not as a performance enhanced player? How about calling them Hybrids? Roiders? Mutations? Cheaters?
GSD