Your Turn (Beckett Baseball issue No. 73): Who would you put in the Hall of Fame?
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
This year’s Baseball Hall of Fame voting has come and gone — and there was just one former player elected for induction by the writers this year, former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin.
Joining him will be the late Ron Santo, a Chicago Cubs legend, who was selected for induction by the Veterans Committee back in December.
But you probably know all that. We just want to know one thing for the next issue of Beckett Baseball, and it’s a simple question:
If you had one vote, who would you vote for and why?
Please include your name and location with your comment. We’ll run a selection of the best answers in the next magazine.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Example response: “I’d vote for Jose Canseco, who is a Hall of Fame whistleblower who helped clean up baseball’s PED and steroids problem.” — Chris Olds, Dallas, TX
Jack morris should be in the hall
— John Burlingame
If I had one vote, I’d vote for Pete Rose. The guy is the all-time hits king and his performance on the field was never tainted by his off-field negative actions. Unlike steroid users, his achievements are pure and legendary. The vendetta against Rose is a joke, considering how little MLB did to stop the steroid issue that they KNEW was going on in the sport.
— Kevin Porter
Listen….this is coming from a fan who absolutely detests the Cubs, and with that on the record let me expound on the TRAVESTY that is the fact that Lee Smith has not crossed the threshold into the hallowed Hall. 3rd on all time saves list, and either exceeds in performance categories that his contemporaries already ushered into the HOF put up or is in the same neighborhood. Come on! What’s the problem here?
— Pat Adair
Larry Walker, 5 tool player, 3x Batting Champ and NL MVP, should be a no brainer.
Dale Murphy. It’s time for baseball’s ultimate good guy, a two-time MVP who did it all cleanly and remains a model citizen, a dominant player of the 1980s, before the steroid era, gets his due.
My vote would go to Edgar Martinez, an amazing hitter who truly defined the designated hitter position. His numbers speak for themselves, however the fact that he didn’t play the field for much of his career is holding him back (which it shouldn’t). The guy was the epitome of consistent hitting and deserves his day.
tim the rock raines should be a slam dunk…this is why baseball writers of america should not get the chance to vote……
My one vote would go to Dale Murphy. He led the N.L. in games, runs, hits, and RBI’s in the 80’s. He had back-to-back MVPs, 7 All Star games, 5 Gold Gloves, and 4 Silver Slugger awards. Sure his numbers declined with age, but how could these numbers continually be ignored?
I’m in agreement with Kevin. My vote would go to Pete Rose.
Pete Rose hands down. Much of the way that kids are taught to play baseball, from the 60’s till current, are because of Charlie Hustle. This guy played the game the way it was meant to be played. Did he screw up? Certainly he did. He gambled and lied. So did many others. Ty Cobb used to go in the stands and beat the hell out of hecklers, DURING games. Imagine that today. He’s in the hall. Mickey Mantle admitted in his book that he went out drinking with Billy Martin and Whitey Ford on a Friday before a double header on Saturday. Stayed out all night and got so drunk that he was STILL drunk on Saturday. He hit a home run that he doesn’t even remember hitting in that double header. He’s in the hall. Many spitballers, scuffers, etc. cheated DURING the games and they are all in the hall. Rose didn’t do anything different than many others players did, he just got caught. Many people still say that Michael Jordan left basketball to play baseball because the heat was getting too hot on gambling in basketball.
Is there any way to edit one’s own post in this forum? My hand slipped on the keyboard and hit the “post comment” button before I was finished.
Thanks
1 vote?
Gil Hodges.
A hero in every sense of the word.
Don Mattingly…enough said!
I have 2, One is Pete Rose because of his Abilities on the Field. There was nobody that left more of themselves on the Field then He did, he wasn’t called Charlie Hussle for nothing. he could hit like nobody else could. Most people are excited to get 3000 hits and Pete hit over 4000. The other is Edgar Martinez. Edgar played with a quiet grace and his integrity,and humility was well known. The Designated hitter position has its place like every other position. Even though Edgar only had 2247 hits, He had almost half as many at bats as Pete Rose who had 4256 hits. plus out of the 18 years edgar played, 11 of those years He batted over .300 with a life time .312 BA.
Tim Raines. If not for playing in the shadow of the greatest leadoff hitter IN HISTORY, Tim would already be in! 8 seasons of .300, including one at 41, 8 seasons of 50+ steals, 3 more of 40+, 7 (straight) AS selections, 6 seasons of .400+ OBP, 5 more of .390+, and the unquestioned best leadoff hitter in his league. Also the all time leader in walks, runs, and SBs for the Expos.
Billy Pierce has been overlooked for election even though his considerable credentials are comparable to many of the pitchers enshrined in Cooperstown
How did the writers elect pitchers Whitey Ford (236–106), Jim Bunning (224–184) and Don Drysdale (209–166) to the Hall of Fame, while barely giving any recognition to Billy Pierce (211–169).
In his five years on the Hall of Fame ballot (1970–1974), Pierce never got more than 2% of votes, yet his record, compiled mostly with undistinguished White Sox teams, deserved much more respect from the voters.
Other stars such as Sandy Koufax, Robin Roberts, Warren Spahn and Whitey Ford became eligible, likely also drawing votes away from Pierce, and he was dropped from the ballot after 1974.
Of the top ten left-handers in career strikeouts at the time of his retirement, Pierce is the only one who has not been elected to the Hall.
Pierce’s average of 5.62 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched during the 1950s was the highest by any pitcher with at least 1,000 innings in the decade. His 3.06 ERA also ranked third (behind Ford and Spahn)
When comparing Pierce with the 13 left-handers in the Hall, he consistently stands in the middle of the group, ranking ninth in wins, seventh in strikeouts, games pitched, starts and shutouts, and eighth in innings.
7× All-Star (1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961)
World Series champion (1945)
2× AL TSN Pitcher of the Year (1956, 1957)
Although his two Series appearances both came after his peak years were behind him, Pierce posted a career Series ERA of 1.89 in 19 innings.
Maybe I can agree they should forgive Pete Rose and elect him, but I can’t forgive the writers or the veterans committee unless they wise up and elect Billy Pierce.
Bernie Williams. Not just because I am a Yankee fan but because even though his regular season stats are not top-10 of all time, his postseason numbers are some of the greatest we will ever see. The guy won 4 World Series championships and was at the time he retired the All-Time Leader in postseason home runs.
I would definitely, without a doubt, vote for Randy Johnson. Throughout his career he has been bringing in the wins and K’s. His 300 win career is sure to put him down with the all time greats. His power and caliber behind his fastball was incredible, even at age 45. His spot in the Hall of Fame should be a sure thing. I mean, what other pitcher has hit a bird with a 100 mph fastball?
Pete Rose! NOBODY has ever played the game with such intensity! It was evident that baseball meant much more to him than just a paycheck, which can’t be said for very many guys who followed in his cleat tracks. From ROY to MVP, with two Gold Gloves along the way! Seventeen All-star Games at five different positions – who’s gonna top that? Guys like McGwire and Bonds still have shots at the Hall and they aren’t good enough to carry “Charlie Hustle’s” equipment bag!
Alan Trammell
Jack Morris
Lance Parrish
Lou Whitatker – it’s an absolute travesty that he received so little votes his first time on the ballot, that now he’s no longer on the ballot
What? I’m going to be the first guy to mention Shoeless Joe?
Pete Rose. This is the biggest travesty in all of baseball.
Pete Rose and Tony Oliva!!