'08 Hall of Fame Candidates and Voting

by louismg on Nov 26, 2007 12:19 PM PST Comment 41 comments

Today, the list of MLB's Hall of Fame candidates was announced, including many names we all grew up watching, and a few hold-overs from last year who didn't quite make the cut. It'd be interesting to gain AN's opinions on these candidates, and see how much they vary from my own.

Utilizing ESPN.com's summary, the candidates are:

• Brady Anderson
• Harold Baines
• Rod Beck
• Bert Blyleven
• Dave Concepcion
• Andre Dawson
• Shawon Dunston
• Chuck Finley
• Travis Fryman
• Rich "Goose" Gossage
• Tommy John
• David Justice
• Chuck Knoblauch
• Don Mattingly
• Mark McGwire
• Jack Morris
• Dale Murphy
• Robb Nen
• Dave Parker
• Tim Raines
• Jim Rice
• Jose Rijo
• Lee Smith
• Todd Stottlemyre
• Alan Trammell

If I had a vote, I would vote for:

Harold Baines
Bert Blyleven
Andre Dawson
Goose Gossage
Mark McGwire
Dale Murphy
Tim Raines

But then again, I'm a lot nicer than the typical BBWA writer. Who would you vote for?

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Comments

My votes

Blyleven
Gossage
Murphy
Raines

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 26, 2007 12:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Why Murphy

but no Dawson?

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 26, 2007 12:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Confession time

Murphy is my second favorite player of all-time behind Frank Thomas, so it's not really an objective vote. From a purely statistical standpoint, Murphy would fall short thanks to his rapid career decline. If I actually had a vote I might not vote for him to protect the integrity of the process, but it would be hard not to.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 26, 2007 12:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

My ballot

• Rich "Goose" Gossage
• Mark McGwire

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Nov 26, 2007 12:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Raines, McGwire, Blyleven

by mikeA on Nov 26, 2007 12:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Mine

Raines
Trammell
McGwire
Gossage
Blyleven

The lack of support for Trammell (both among the writers and here) amazes me.

Urban drives a taxi.

by andeux on Nov 26, 2007 12:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oops

I missed his name when I was going down the list. Trammell would get my vote as well.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 26, 2007 12:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

As a Twins fan from 1965 to 1992

Of course I'd be voting for Blyleven and Morris. But not, under any circumstances, the appalling Chuck Knoblauch, although it was sort of a pleasure to watch the forces of karma attack him after he whined his way off the Twins and onto the Yankees and then completely fell apart. I had forgotten until I Googled him that it was Keith Olbermann's mom who got hit in the face with a bad throw from Chuck that sailed into the stands.

Pitchers and catchers report February 9, 2008! (tentative)

by Englishmajor on Nov 26, 2007 12:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Raines

Trammell
McGwire
Blyleven
Gossage

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 26, 2007 12:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

My votes go to

Blyleven (I guess we're all Neyer readers here)
Trammel (ditto)
Raines
Jack Morris (ace for 3 ws winners in 3 diff cities? that's gotta count for something)
McGwire, even though I don't want to talk about the past

Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC

by closetasfan on Nov 26, 2007 12:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

partial to rice

Jim, that is. He was a terror at the plate and he put up some pretty healthy numbers pre-Roid era.

Raines should get in, but maybe not on the first go.

It's time Bert and Goose got in. Maybe one more year for Morris and Dawson.

As for Mac, I say yes. But I'm biased.

"Baseball- like movies, newspapers, and magazines- has fallen into the hands of rich, vulgar people who neither love or understand it." - Hal Crowther

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 26, 2007 1:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

put me down for...

Blyleven
Gossage
McGwire
Raines

by sarchasmic on Nov 26, 2007 1:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Brady Anderson

Bwahahahahahahahhahaha.

hahhahahaha.

by awesomer on Nov 26, 2007 2:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

My votes:

-Bert Blyleven
-Andre Dawson
-Rich "Goose" Gossage

and then there's the Mark McGwire dilemma. i'd love to vote him in based on what he did on the field, but i don't know if i can based on what i suspect him doing off the field.

"Length matters, and if anyone tells you otherwise they're just trying to spare your feelings."-green star oakland

by F171615 on Nov 26, 2007 2:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

Blyleven of course, Gossage, Raines, Mcgwire, Trammel, maybe Smith.

Dawson was one of my favorite players as a kid, but i see his numbers now, and its not rnough, Rice declined too fast, Concepcion was a great defender but not that amazing to make it just on defense alone.

Baines should get some sympathy votes.
Tommy John should get in on name recognition alone, is it the hall of fame or the hall of excellence?

Fryman was a monster for a couple of seasons.

by jahs34 on Nov 26, 2007 2:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

My Ballot:

McGwire
Raines
Gossage
Blyleven

I'd also consider voting for Trammell ... have to think about it a bit ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 26, 2007 3:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Memories

Jose Rijo striking out 16 as an Athletic, back when the A's were crappy in '86 or '87. Ahh, Jose Rijo. What a great guy.
Jose Rijo beating Dave Stewart in a pitchers' duel to win Game 4 of the 1990 WS. God, that Jose Rijo. What a total bastard.

Brainless Automaton #439

by rubin sierra on Nov 26, 2007 5:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

As for me

I'd vote for Gossage, Blyleven, and Raines. If I had a vote on the Veteran's committee, I'd vote for umpire Doug Harvey.

"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick, 10/7/07

by doctorK on Nov 26, 2007 9:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Off the top of my head...

I'd vote for Dave Concepcion,Tim Raines,Goose,Andre Dawson, McGwire,and Jim Rice. A lot of folks don't think that McGwire deserves it but his OPS+ are fab. As for Rice, I used to watch him play when he came to the coli and he was just a beast with that bat. Concepion...had a GLOVE! Anyway, I haven't looked up numbers on most of the guys but those are the guys that I remember as really being great.

by IM4Oakgal on Nov 26, 2007 9:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

mine:

Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Rich "Goose" Gossage
and
Jim F'in Rice!

by kvn on Nov 27, 2007 12:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

To hell with McGwire.

As long as he's "not here to talk about the past", his past should be considered ineligible.

Bert Blyleven
Andre Dawson
Rich "Goose" Gossage

And I'd throw in Tommy John, just because he was part of the pioneering of something that a good chunk of today's pitchers get to keep their careers going with. Maybe that puts him in a special section of The Hall, not related to playing excellence, but so be it.

And, again, fuck McGwire.

We should play Jack Cust at shortstop for a week, just so we can feel good about Crosby again.

by Ozzz on Nov 27, 2007 2:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: "The Past"

My controversial opinion is if we openly acknowledge the Steroid Era, we should also acknowledge that McGwire and Bonds were the best "among their peers" and should get in. On the flip side, I don't see myself voting for Sammy Sosa once he's eligible, so I'm not all that consistent.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Nov 27, 2007 6:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree....

judge them worthy or not in comparison to the era in which they played. I could give a rip about McGwire's testimony or lack thereof in Congress. His production on the field is what is relevant to the HOF.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Nov 27, 2007 6:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Tommy John

his arm should be in the hall of fame after he dies.

by jahs34 on Nov 27, 2007 7:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll be pissed if Raines falls off the ballot.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Nov 27, 2007 7:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Current Tallies ... through 25 comments

• Bert Blyleven 82.35%
• Rich "Goose" Gossage 82.35%
• Mark McGwire 64.71%
• Tim Raines 64.71%
• Alan Trammell 29.41%
• Andre Dawson 23.53%
• Dale Murphy 17.65%
• Jim Rice 17.65%
• Dave Concepcion 11.76%
• Jack Morris 11.76%
• Harold Baines 5.88%
• Tommy John 5.88%

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 27, 2007 8:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

You missed my Brady vote?

by awesomer on Nov 27, 2007 2:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

My bad ...

I though be:

Bwahahahahahahahhahaha.
hahhahahaha.

you meant you were joking ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 27, 2007 2:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

To be honest I was

but anyone who puts Tommy John on their ballot has to be joking too.

by awesomer on Nov 27, 2007 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's good ...

adding in the vote for Brady would have knocked Blyleven below 75%.

Many voters vote to give a player that they know won't/shouldn't make it recognition ... and that's fine ... as long as they don't only vote for that guy ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 27, 2007 4:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

mine

Baines
Gossage
McGwire

by twinkle toes on Nov 27, 2007 1:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I think Tommy John

should be in the hall somewhere, just because the surgery that is named after him has extended the careers of untold number of pitchers. But I think that Mark McGwire will make it this year. Honestly I have to say that I really dislike the fact that a group of baseball writers get to vote who enters the hall. And most of them are self absorbed pricks. Honestly, if you never played in the big leagues, you should have no place in electing its hall of fame. Just my opinion. I dunno, the BBWA just makes my skin crawl sometimes....

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Nov 27, 2007 4:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

A few thoughts ...

This should finally be Goose's year. He just missed last time around and this is a relatively weak class.

This is just about the last, best chance for Blyleven. If he's going to make it, it will be in a class without an obvious choice ... to the BBWA (to me Raines, Gossage, Blyleven and McGwire are all obvious choices ...). With Rickey eligible for '09, Larkin Alomar and Edgar Martinez for '10, Bagwell, Walker and Palme-er, the first two anyway in '11 ... he'll have one last good chance in 2012, his final year on the ballot. I don't think Bill Mueller or Tim Salmon will steal too many votes.

What about Jim Rice? He's only got two more shots and his vote total actually went down last year. I'm not convinced -- but I never saw him play in any meaningful way ... he had a couple of ridiculous seasons, though ...

Mark McGwire ... I don't think he makes it this year. I do think the increase in his vote total will tell us a lot about his future, though. A small increase points to a long road ahead ... a larger one and 2009 or 2010 could be real possibilities.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 27, 2007 5:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

yea maybe

Mcgwire and Rickey will both go to the hall on the same day. And maybe they will both be wearing A's hats.... ahhh one can dream I guess.

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Nov 27, 2007 5:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Walker really?

Good player, but too many injuries, i don't think he has the nu,bers for the Hall, also Colorado helped him.

by jahs34 on Nov 28, 2007 8:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Colorado's thin air ...

didn't help him win seven gold gloves.

Without that, I'd agree that his park adjusted offensive numbers are borderline. Factor in defense, how well he scores on the various tests listed on BR, his MVP award and the memory of him switching hitting -- mid pitch -- against Randy Johnson in the All-Star game and in my book, you've got a HOFer.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 28, 2007 9:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rice and Mattingly

are grossly overrated. Red Sox and Yankee.

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 28, 2007 12:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

my vote

nada this ano. (fwiw - seeing the cobra's name on the list brings back great memories of his brief time with us.)

jesus saves. and espo scores on the rebound.

by oakath on Nov 27, 2007 8:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

yeah..and that home run trot of his

had those blue jays pissed off in the '89 ALCS. Loved it.

"Baseball- like movies, newspapers, and magazines- has fallen into the hands of rich, vulgar people who neither love or understand it." - Hal Crowther

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 27, 2007 8:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

My votes

McGwire
Gossage
Blyleven
Murphy
Trammell
Dawson

Dale Murphy was my favorite player before I came to know the Bash Brothers. Such a good, clean guy.

Barry Zito Colonoscopy

by JediLeroy on Nov 28, 2007 10:10 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Veteran's committee HOF elections

The results of the HOF Veteran's committee have now been made public and the Vet's have elected five members. They are:

Bowie Kuhn - Commissioner
Walter O'Malley - Brooklyn/Los Angles Dodgers owner
Barney Dreyfus - Pittsburgh Pirates owner (1900-1932)
Dick Williams - Manager Red Sox, Athletics, Angels, Expos,
Padres, Mariners
Billy Southworth - Manager Cardinals, Braves

Kuhn was the commissioner during a time of great change in the game of baseball. The players were able to successfully unionize and make it stick. Free agency was achieved and the baseball landscape was changed forever.

O'Malley moved the dodgers out of Brooklyn, not because they were losing money, but because they could make more money in LA. The Dodgers were probably one of the best run franchises during the time O'Malley ran the team (late 30's to late 70's)

Dreyfus owned the Pirates during their glory years of the 1900's until his death in 1932. He and the Botson Patriots owner are credited with creating the framework for the modern World Series.

Dick Williams was a successful manager who won pretty much werever he went. Only manager to lead three different teams to the World Series (Red Sox, Athletics, Padres).

Billy Southworth has the fifth highest winning percentage of any manager in Major League history. The four managers above him are all in the HOF (Joe McCarthy, Jim Murtie, Charles Comiskey, and Frank Selee). Guided the early 40's Cardinals and late 40's Braves to a total of four pennants and two World Series victories.

Congratulations to all the inducties. Williams is the only living inductee.

by skwid on Dec 3, 2007 9:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs