Baseball Hall of Fame

There are some great pitchers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Of course there are some who arguably don’t even belong there.

I recently finished doing a series on the Top 10 (at each position) Players Not in the Hall of Fame, so I thought it would be appropriate to list the Top 10 at each position who are already in the HOF.

There are different schools of thought on compiling such a list, basically because several of the “Mayflower Boys” have well over 40 wins in a season, sometimes more than once.

When you see Rollie Fingers, the first thing you notice is that perfectly coifed handlebar mustache. But behind the iconic lip sweater is 341 career saves, seven All-Star appearances, an MVP, and a Cy Young Award.

With Mustache May 2009 coming to a close, there was no one better to talk baseball with than Fingers.

I was at the gym the other day (these pecs aren’t going to wail on themselves) and I happen to catch a segment of one of ESPN’s talking head panel shows on one of the standard-issue muted flat-screen TVs placed every five feet around the wall of any self-respecting personal fitness facility. The following discussion topic was written across the screen:

“Who hurt their Hall of Fame chances more, A-Rod or Manny?”

This is not a list of who I think belongs in the Hall of Fame. This is a list showing the way I think the BBWAA will vote.

I know some think that the “Crime Dog” should be admitted post haste. Maybe so, but not if voters conduct themselves according to their record instead of according to Hoyle.

A person has to be great if they want a first ballot nomination. It happens, but you have to be special like Stan Musial, Nolan Ryan or even Ricky Henderson. The Fred McGriff’s of the game do not usually make it for several years if at all.

Am I slamming McGriff?

So we're all a bit sick of reading about steroids. OK, I get that. But allow me to indulge one more time and I swear this time, it will be a fun debate.

Which of the so-called "Steroid Era" players should make the Hall of Fame?

There are players that got caught, and then there are players that we strongly suspect used steroids, yet don't have the proof.

The question is, without the smoking gun, so to speak, who do you let into the HOF from this era and who do you keep out?

One of the most unappreciated positions in baseball is the Catcher. I know, I am guilty of the sin myself.

Catchers are very knowledgeable about the game, actually driving the machine, so to speak. I haven’t done the research on it, but I believe the best managers are former catchers.

Yeah, Pitchers get all of the glory, all of the accolades.

The Catcher is there to get bowled over by a base runner, taking a risk on ending his career (apologies to Ray Fosse).

On most days, 287 big league victories and 3,701 K would get you a plaque in Cooperstown.

So why isn't Bert Blyleven getting his ticket punched?

It's a long-standing dilemma that the baseball writers tangle with on every ballot. Do they value career numbers bulked by longevity over actual dominance and superior individual performance, or vice versa?

I miss Bill Veeck...from Larry Doby, to Satchel Paige, to Max Patkin, the shorts, exploding scoreboards, adding the surnames to jerseys, to having Harry Caray sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", to "Disco Demolition Night"...MLB stole his ideas...but lost sight of the fun that was supposed to accompany it.

The minute after Curt Shilling and Mike Mussina announce their retirements, the debating began in offices, message boards, and sport articles. Are these two terrific pitchers Hall of Fame worthy?

Well before we answer that question. I wanted to compare the two pitchers and decide who would be selected if only one was allowed.

So let's go to the Tale of the Tapes (Shilling's stats first then followed by Mussina):

Winning Pct.: 59.7% (216-146) v. 63.8% (270-153)

Regular Season

They are instructed that "voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."

This has been the charge of the baseball writers who determine which players are worthy for inclusion in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

There are several players now in the Hall of Fame who make for an uneasy fit if we take the Hall of Fame prescription seriously.

Ty Cobb