Negro League ballot for HOF in Feb--contest

[jalbright]

Here's the thirty-nine names (in alphabetical order) approved for the Negro League special committee who will vote in February according to the Associated Press:

Newt Allen, John Beckwith, William Bell, Chet Brewer, Ray Brown, Willard Brown, Bill Byrd, Andy Cooper, Rap Dixon, John Donaldson, Frank Grant, Pete Hill, Sammy Hughes, Fats Jenkins, Grant "Home Run" Johnson, Dick Lundy, Biz Mackey, Effa Manley, Oliver Marcelle, Jose Mendez, Minnie Minoso, Dobie Moore, Alejandro Oms, Buck O'Neil, Red Parnell, Spotswood Poles, Alex Pompez, Cum Posey, Cannonball Dick Redding, Louis Santop, George Scales, Mule Suttles, Ben Taylor, Candy Jim Taylor, C. I. Taylor, Cristobal Torriente, Sol White, J. L. Wilkinson and Jud Wilson.

Overall, a very nice list. Minoso is a bit of a surprise, as is Dobie Moore, though I think each of them would be fine choices. There are a couple there that I'm going to regard seriously for the first time for the contest I'm about to propose, but that isn't a shock. The only serious omission to my mind is Ed Bolden, but everybody's going to lose a favorite or two in this kind of thing.

For the contest, with pride only at stake, post who you think will be elected by the committee by February 26 (the AP story says voting will be on Feb 27). They have to get 75% of the twelve votes available. You will get three points for each player you list who is inducted, and will have two points deducted for each player you list who is not. Ties will first be broken by the raw number of correct picks, followed by the higher percentage of correct picks. After that, it's a tie. Floor's open.

[538280]

So, Jim, this is who we think the committee will elect, right, not who we think the committee should elect?

[KCGHOST]

I just can't see this committee getting this right, so it is just a crap shoot on guessing who they will pick. Well I will go with Minoso (wouldn't have been a bad BBWAA choice) and home town favorite Buck O'Neill (extra credit for the TV show and working on the former VC).

[jalbright]

Yeah, the contest is who they will pick. For instance, I am unconvinced on Mendez and Hughes, but I think they will get chosen.

One other thing: please list your picks alphabetically It will make it a lot easier for me to keep track. Thank you.

Jim Albright

[jalbright]

The ones I think they will pick:

Brown
Grant
Hill
Hughes
Johnson
Mackey
Mendez
Minoso
Moore
Oms
Posey
Redding
Santop
Suttles
C. I. Taylor
Torriente
Wilkinson
Wilson

Jim Albright

[jalbright]

I just can't see this committee getting this right, so it is just a crap shoot on guessing who they will pick. Well I will go with Minoso (wouldn't have been a bad BBWAA choice) and home town favorite Buck O'Neill (extra credit for the TV show and working on the former VC).

They're a well versed and carefully selected group. I like the ballot they came up with. One thing which does give this contest an element of chance is the fact the committee has information which is not out in the general public.

Also, keep in mind the idea is this will be the last gasp for Negro League candidates. That should push up the number of inductees.

Votes may be altered up until February 26.

Jim Albright

[538280]

I agree with KCGHOST, I think who they actually will pick is basically a crapshoot. I honestly don't think too many will actually be inducted. It's hard to have a consensus on these type things. But, just for fun, I'll participate in this contest:

R.Brown
Donaldson
Mackey
Marcelle
Minoso
O'Neil
Posey
Santop
Suttles
C.Taylor
Torriente
Wilson

[538280]

Another thing I'm interested in is how much media attention do you think the Negro League inductees will get?

I hope they get at least some, but I think any media attention they get should be considered a positive. ESPN and most other sports networks don't seem to care much about sports before 1970.

[jalbright]

That depends in part on whether the BBWAA elects anyone, and if so, who and how many. The less MLB types elected, the more the Negro Leaguers will have to get the attention. In this respect, though, a large class of Negro League inductees will tend to make them more anonymous as individuals. That's a real flaw in this once and done approach of Cooperstown. However, given their recalcitrance over the years, I guess we should be grateful they're bending this far. I'll take a nice large class so long as it's qualified--and I don't see too many definite clunkers in the nominees.

Jim Albright

[sweaver]

What makes this election a crapshoot is that the committee can vote for as many as they want. They could, theoretically, elect all 39.

[jalbright]

I agree with KCGHOST, I think who they actually will pick is basically a crapshoot. I honestly don't think too many will actually be inducted. It's hard to have a consensus on these type things. But, just for fun, I'll participate in this contest:

R.Brown
Donaldson
Mackey
Marcelle
Minoso
O'Neil
Posey
Santop
Suttles
C.Taylor
Torriente
Wilson

Is that C. I. Taylor or Candy Jim Taylor?

My guess is C. I., but I'd like to be sure.

Jim Albright

[jalbright]

What makes this election a crapshoot is that the committee can vote for as many as they want. They could, theoretically, elect all 39.

Absolutely correct--each name is supposed to get an up or down vote--75% yeas, they're inducted, otherwise, they're not. The 75% requirement will be a limiting factor. Also, I can't see them taking many more than half the nominees--even a dozen will bring some howls of protest, and it will get worse with each additional inductee. It will be interesting to see how willing the committee is to stand up to that pressure--but given the fact this has been presented as the last shot and the fact these folks have spent oodles of time researching the Negro Leagues, they're sure to be motivated to get all the candidates they feel are qualified. Add to that the fact it's a small group (12 voters), which means a well-liked or formidable personality might have an outsized influence on the voting, there are a lot of variables which could greatly affect the outcome. One heartening thing is there weren't many restrictions on who or how many could or should be nominated, and the list is a pretty solid one.

Jim Albright

[Chadwick]

Well I'm embarrassed; just got home and had an e-mail from someone at the Hall about this, popped on here and posted the info by starting a new thread. Should've looked here first. ("Is my face red?")

My guess, for what it's worth...
Negro Leagues Ballot
Ray Brown
Biz Mackey
Buck O'Neil
Mule Suttles
Christobal Torriente
J.L. Wilkinson
Jud Wilson

Pre-Negro Leagues Ballot
Jose Mendez
Spotswood Poles
Dick Redding
Louis Santop

[jalbright]

The article is a good addition to the discussion. For those who want to see it, it's at: http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=36478

Jim Albright

[538280]

Is that C. I. Taylor or Candy Jim Taylor?

My guess is C. I., but I'd like to be sure.

Jim Albright

It is C.I. He's a sure bet, I think.