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To: Teacher317

.353, .358, .345 and .330 are just decent?

Ok...

And don't forget:
- first black coach in major league baseball (think that was a tough gig?)
- career as one of the best scouts in the game
- his career with the Negro League Hall of Fame, and efforts to get recognition for those players


19 posted on 08/02/2006 11:55:01 AM PDT by Deut28 (Cursed be he who perverts the justice)
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To: Deut28
In 18 seasons, he broke .300 four times. That's very good, but not nearly elite. His career average was .288 which is not impressive (see below). No other stats (hits, HR's, steals, etc) are even mentioned anywhere that I can find, meaning that they were not very impressive, either.

There were only 12 teams left in the Negro League when he had 3 of his four great-hitting seasons... after baseball started integrating, taking the top talent out of the league.

Can you name one other scout in the HoF who is there for his scouting?

"First black coach" is the only credit you list that seems close to HOF-worthy consideration. Look at others who are on the outside, looking in:

Joe Torre (.297, 252 HR, 1185 RBI, NL MVP, 2-time AL Mgr of the Year, 5 seasons over .300, including a .363),
Keith Hernandez (.296, 1071 RBI, 5-time All-Star, NL MVP, 8 seasons over .300 including a .344),
Allen Trammell (.285, 1003 RBI, 6-time All-Star, World Series MVP, 5 seasons over .300 including a .343),
Minnie Minoso (.298, 1023 RBI, 7-time All-Star, 8 seasons over .300, and also from the Negro Leagues),
Albert Belle (.295, 381 HR, 1289 RBI, 5-time All-Star, MLB Player of the Year, 4 seasons over .300 including a .357),
Dale Murphy (.265, 398 HR, 1266 RBI, 7-time All-Star, 2-time NL MVP, 4 seasons over .295),
Andre Dawson (.279, 438 HR, 1591 RBI, 8-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, NL MVP, 6 seasons over .299),
and Jim Rice (.298, 348 HR, 1451 RBI, 8 time All-Star, MLB MVP once, 7 seasons over .300)

(not to mention Pete Rose, of course).

You think Buck O'Neil's lower stats against lesser talent makes him worthy of the honor, when the above have been rejected? Once again, is the Hall of Fame for the best of the best, or is it for politically correct feel-good stories?

21 posted on 08/03/2006 6:25:08 AM PDT by Teacher317
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