We can all argue the merits plus/minus for the top 11, but the deeper you go on the list the more you wonder what some of these guys are smoking. Here’s the list:
Don Mattingly — 87 – 16.1%
Dave Parker – 82 – 15.2%
Dale Murphy — 63 – 11.7%
Harold Baines — 33 – 6.1%
Andres Galarraga – 22 – 4.1%
Robin Ventura — 7 – 1.3%
Ellis Burks — 2 – 0.4%
Eric Karros — 2 — 0.4%
Kevin Appier — 1 – 0.2%
Pat Hentgen — 1 – 0.2%
David Segui — 1 – 0.2%
Twenty two writers voted for Andres “big cat” Galarraga? The guy who went from having an OPS of .673 to 1.005 by changing his address from St Louis to Colorado? Once again, a big smile and great personality get you votes, who cares what the numbers look like. Two writers voted Ellis Burks and Eric Karros. I’ll hazard a guess and say that it must have been the same two writers, were out drinking one night and and decided to do it as a goof. Or maybe they’re Gay and dating each other, and they think both guys are really cute (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Anyone who voted for Kevin Appier must owe him money, he had one Hall of Fame-quality season. Maybe the writer misread the HOF voting rules and thought he was voting on the Hall of Fame of 1993. Wild guess, the BBWAA writer who voted for Pat Hentgen describes himself as “Not a numbers guy”. Turns out the guy who voted for David Segui was a little known sportswriter named Diego Segui.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
6 Responses to The BBWAA Hall of Fame Bottom 11
Leave a Reply
TIQ IQ
Appier is wildly underrated, and would have a decent case if he had compiled some more innings or been on the clubs Morris was on. He was a better pitcher, and I have no problem with a writer who wasn’t going to fill his ballot recognizing an excellent career that came up short. I agree on the other guys. I bet the guy who voted for Segui didn’t vote for McGwire bc of steroids.
Definitely agree on Appier. He deserves at least a second look.
Kevin Brown is going to be up for election this year; I think he could end up being this generation’s Bert Blyleven.
Yup. If he was nice to reporters, he’d be in the conversation with SMoltz, Schilling, and Moose. Similar value.
HOF voting is of course is all about opinions but if Kevin Brown ever gets in without a ticket they really should take the Fame down and put up “Pretty Good”.
Smoltz, Moose and Schilling wouldn’t get in my HOF either. Big Unit is in of course as well as Maddux and Glavine but guys like Barry Larkin, I just don’t see it. He had a very nice long career buts really thats it. Alomar, sure, but not Larkin.
Larkin and Alomar put up literally identical numbers and both played up the middle positions quite well. Why is the latter deserving and not the former?
I’d also take all three of the guys you mentioned over Glavine.
They are pretty similar, maybe both should stay out. I would say Alomar is marginally better in every category and played in the much tougher AL most of his career. He stayed 2 or 3 years too long which hurt his BA noticibly.
Like I say, it’s just my opinion, but the way the TV boys have slobbered all over Larkin, I just don’t see HOF there. Maybe he’s just a swell guy and they love him. I mostly look at numbers. If there’s a nice guy bonus, Mattingly should be in.
As for Glavine, he was an absolute bulldog for a very long time. I have no idea why the Braves didn’t win more WSs but it wasn’t because of TG. When they played the Yanks, I was much more concerned about him than Maddux, who always did his best work in the regular season. They both have overwhelming career numbers. Both will be in the HOF soon.
I just hate to see the HOF fill up with really good but not fabulous players. Dawson, Jim Rice, Blyleven just don’t rate (for me) to be in there with DiMaggio, Williams and Bob Gibson.
I’m starting to ramble, so I’ll let it go. Have a good one.