Baseball Fever Hall of Fame

[jjpm74]

Although the following have not appeared in an MLB game in 2013, the players below are NOT eligible for consideration. (Anyone playing - Giambi, Pettitte, etc. - in 2013 is not eligible.)

Chris Carpenter
Derek Jeter
Roy Oswalt
Alex Rodriguez
Johan Santana
Mark Teixeira

Tex appeared in 15 games this season.

Is Grady Sizemore eligible? It's been 2 years since he last played and 5 since he last played healthy.

[Chadwick]

Tex appeared in 15 games this season.

Is Grady Sizemore eligible? It's been 2 years since he last played and 5 since he last played healthy.

(1) Missed Tex as my master database was culled from data a few weeks old. Updated.

(2) By our rules, Sizemore is eligible unless the Twins or some other team signs him to a contract and places him on the 40-man roster before the election. As of today, however, he's eligible. Updated.

[Chadwick]

A Minor Rule Change Going Forward

Those of you who have participated in recent years may notice the following change:

Eligibility and Elections
The Players Election is held to determine the most deserving candidates solely on the basis of their on-field performance as a player. Ballots must list at least 15, and no more than 25 players. Voters must select those they deem most deserving of election.

Eligible players for the 2014 election must have died, declared their retirement, or sat out the entire 2013 regular season and either be at least 40 years of age or failed to appear on a 40-man roster in the prior season.

The Contributors Election is held to determine the most deserving candidates primarily on the basis of their off-field contributions (though playing career may be considered). Ballots must list at least 10, and no more than 15, contributors. Voters must select those they deem most deserving of election.

For a long time ballots with less than the full allotment were exceedingly rare. As we approached the same number of inductees as Cooperstown, however, they became more commonplace (including the even rarer blank ballot).

As this has been an annual project and our participation rate has dipped substantially from what it averaged when it was a regular, monthly project, the counting of ballots with fewer than a minimum number of candidates will no longer be permitted as they are not conducive to the purpose of the project.

Casting a ballot in these elections is an expression of who the best eligible candidates are, not the number of inductees one deems worthy.

Player ballots must name at least 15 eligible players. Contributor ballots must name at least 10 eligible contributors. This is a "compromise" position on my part, largely to accomodate those who may not have the time to research all the candidates, given how many show up in a given election these days, with all the "no brainers" already elected.

[jjpm74]

Newly Eligible* for 2014 Election
*Subject to change as the season progresses

Newly Eligible
Bobby Abreu
Johnny Damon
Andruw Jones
Chipper Jones
Hideki Matsui
Jamie Moyer
Scott Rolen
Grady Sizemore
Jim Thome
Omar Vizquel

Add Carlos Lee. He is officially retired and was not part of a 40 man roster this year AFAIK.

[Chadwick]

Add Carlos Lee. He is officially retired and was not part of a 40 man roster this year AFAIK.

Lee has been added to the list.

[jalbright]

A Minor Rule Change Going Forward

Those of you who have participated in recent years may notice the following change:


For a long time ballots with less than the full allotment were exceedingly rare. As we approached the same number of inductees as Cooperstown, however, they became more commonplace (including the even rarer blank ballot).

As this has been an annual project and our participation rate has dipped substantially from what it averaged when it was a regular, monthly project, the counting of ballots with fewer than a minimum number of candidates will no longer be permitted as they are not conducive to the purpose of the project.

Casting a ballot in these elections is an expression of who the best eligible candidates are, not the number of inductees one deems worthy.

Player ballots must name at least 15 eligible players. Contributor ballots must name at least 10 eligible contributors. This is a "compromise" position on my part, largely to accomodate those who may not have the time to research all the candidates, given how many show up in a given election these days, with all the "no brainers" already elected.

At one point, we mandated full ballots until we reached the size of Cooperstown. At that point, people were allowed to post only as many names as were needed to reach the limit of the Hall of Fame. In effect, we pushed hard for a minimum size for the Hall. Given that we were pushing at that point for the existing standard, I felt it was justified in forcing the hands of the "small Hall" types. Now, however, I believe that even if we exclude the guys who haven't yet reached APBA eligibility and the Japanese, we're over that many inductees. We probably forced out some small Hall types by the earlier maneuver, and now it seems to me in the name of keeping the project going, you're pushing an even bigger Hall. I will confess I don't like it. There are problems that are unique to these small group elections, like having a larger than usual proportion of small Hall types in your group. I've worked hard for this project, second to no one but yourself. I've loved it, and it isn't fun seeing it languish now that we've gone annual. But I don't think further skewing the rules in favor of a larger Hall is the right answer. It doesn't force my hand in this, as my ballot will be larger than the mandate anyway. Worse yet, though, is I'm not convinced it will actually help the project. It may inject more life into some campaigns for old time players, but it may also push away people who think we're already inducted too many, or at least that there aren't 15 more worthy candidates to elect. Losing voters is a huge thing in such a small group, and I'm not at all convinced of the wisdom of this change. That said, so long as you're running it and not me, you've got the authority to make this change, and if you stick to it, it's up to the rest of us to decide whether we want to participate under those terms or not. I rather expect I will, but less enthusiastically than if the rule were not implemented. It's clear to me that if this rule is implemented, the project is forcefully saying we care more about keeping the project going than accurately representing the views of the Fever electorate, which includes small Hall guys. That's my 2 cents worth, anyway.

[jalbright]

Looks like it will fall to me to run the election this November. That being the case, the proposed rule change by Brad will not be implemented. I plan on starting the election this Saturday, November 2 and ending the election on November 30. I do not know of any new contributors to add to the list, and will use Carlos Lee plus the others listed in post 1789 above as the list of new players eligible. If anyone has any contributors or players they think belong on the eligible list, post them here or contact me by PM.

[jalbright]

If anyone needs any refreshers on the rules or who the holdovers are beyond the previous posts by Brad, the previous election is here: http://www.baseball-fever.com/showth...t=2012+BBF+HOF

[jjpm74]

Looks like it will fall to me to run the election this November. That being the case, the proposed rule change by Brad will not be implemented. I plan on starting the election this Saturday, November 2 and ending the election on November 30. I do not know of any new contributors to add to the list, and will use Carlos Lee plus the others listed in post 1789 above as the list of new players eligible. If anyone has any contributors or players they think belong on the eligible list, post them here or contact me by PM.

For contributors, Jim Leyland? I do not remember if age is one of the criteria for eligibility in this project. If not, he did announce his official retirement as a manager this year.

[jalbright]

Leyland lasted into the playoffs, which means he becomes eligible next year. I suppose Charlie Manuel is eligible, since he wasn't active at the end of the season, and he, like Leyland is over 60.

[jjpm74]

Leyland lasted into the playoffs, which means he becomes eligible next year. I suppose Charlie Manuel is eligible, since he wasn't active at the end of the season, and he, like Leyland is over 60.

Dave Johnson?

[jalbright]

Dave Johnson managed all season, so he's not eligible

[J W]

My pre-ballot thoughts this year on the top 10 holdover players as well as some of the newcomers:

Gary Sheffield (32 votes) - Considering we have broken the PED barrier, this guy belongs. Dude was a great hitter; not good, great (34th all time in oWAR). His defense drags him down from lofty all-time lists however.

Rafael Palmeiro (31 votes)* - Also belongs; PEDs aside his numbers stack up with Eddie Murray and Willie McCovey.

Sammy Sosa (31 votes) - Even without PED suspicion he would be considered an overrated player I think (and strangely enough, underrated defensively). Borderline candidate whose 60 HR seasons simply don't mean as much these days.

Dwight Evans (30 votes)* - Better corner OF candidate than Sammy Sosa. Good defender with a cannon arm and a rock solid bat. Would be happy to see him elected.

Bobby Bonds (25 votes) - Power/speed. Relatively short career (8090 PA) drags his career numbers down; also played for 8 teams in 14 seasons. Still nearly a 60 WAR player and I voted for him last ballot.

Jimmy Wynn (25 votes)* - Similar boat to Bonds... 8011 career PA, an OPS+ just under 130 and a 55 WAR player. His identity with the expansion Houston franchise gives him the slight nod over Bobby in my book.

Billy Pierce (24 votes)* - A welcome addition to the perhaps under-represented pitchers of the 1950s. Classic borderline guy in many of these kinds of projects.

Kevin Brown (23 votes)* - Another PED case... but via the numbers, just as deserving a nod as Don Drysdale or Dazzy Vance.

Quincy Trouppe (22 votes)* - The other NL/Latin baseball catcher in line after Biz Mackey. Fair projections along the lines of a Wally Schang, with perhaps a better glove.

Pete Browning (21 votes)* - Still unsure how to rate the American Association star but he did bat with a 140 OPS+ in limited National League duty at the end of his career. Harry Stovey was elected and that bodes well for Browning.

* Hall of Merit member

--------------------------

Chipper Jones (85.2 WAR) - this guy should be ushered in without a second thought.

Jim Thome (72.8 WAR) - small hall guys might debate his inclusion but we have a Cooperstown sized hall and he may be in the upper half of that.

Scott Rolen (70.0 WAR) - we should not make the same mistake that I suspect the BBWAA will make; he is a HOF caliber 3B.

Andruw Jones (62.7 WAR) - I don't know if I can get around his lack of bat... well, except for the HR. Tough one.

Bobby Abreu (60.4 WAR) - wasn't even a star player and put up a .292/.396/.477 line. Still, there are others I like better.

Johnny Damon (56.3 WAR) - good player with nothing to really hang his hat on. Down in the queue.

Jamie Moyer (50.4 WAR) - won't even entertain him until Jack Quinn is elected.

Omar Vizquel (45.4 WAR) - most interesting newcomer to me. I see Visquel = Rabbit Maranville. Staggering defensive ratings but an identical 82 OPS+ over similar PA (aka a long time). Will his defensive rep help him on any ballots?

[bluesky5]

A couple contributors:

Louis Fenn Wadsworth -- Baseball Pioneer

- Came to Manhattan in 1848 as an attorney.
- Played with the Gothams, was a top NY first baseman.
- Moved to Knickerbocker Club in 1854 and was probably paid to do so.
- Brought a diagram he had of a baseball diamond from a previous club to Knickerbocker practice. According to Duncan F. Curry [Knickerbocker Club] it was "...laid out substantially as it is to-day..." which was 1877.
- Represented Knickerbocker at the first ever NABBP meeting. Went against Knickerbocker sentiment and motioned to make games 9 innings and 9 players to a side, which was accepted by the convention.
- Played first base in the first paid admission game: "Fashion Race Course Games" of 1858. A three game series between NYC and Brooklyn.

"I had almost forgotten the most important man on the team and that was Lew Wadsworth. He was the life of the club. Part of his suit consisted of a white shirt on the back of which was stamped a black devil. It makes me laugh still the way he used to go after balls. His hands were very large and when he went for a ball they looked like the tongs of an oyster rake. He got there all the same and but few balls passed him." - Veteran Knickerbocker to the New York Sun, 1887
-----
Responsible For:
- The modern field layout.
- 9 inning games
- 9 men to a side

William Rufus Wheaton -- Baseball Pioneer

- Lawyer, co-founder of the Gotham Club in 1833.
- Knickerbockers 1st VP
- Main recruiter for club.
- Wrote the clubs first formalized rules on September 23, 1845. Which he said were the same rules he wrote for the Gotham Club.

Responsible For:
- Basically the entire Knickerbocker rule book. Which served as the basis for the rules governing play we know today. Including:
- Catchers holding the third strike.
- No plugging runners. This allowed the ball to be wound tighter [because you weren't getting it thrown at you] and thus hit and thrown farther.
- Foul territory
- Offensive interference
- Designated batting order.
- Real bases -- not stumps or posts.
- No one hop put outs.

*All information from Baseball in the Garden of Eden by John Thorn

[bluesky5]

Another contributor:

Doug Allison

Allison was the first catcher to play right behind the batter and the first to use a glove. Also the first professional catcher. Very durable for his time.

Nice articles here:

“The ‘Original’ up-behind-the-bat Man”

Baseball 'Glove Affairs'

Allison played 279 G at catcher and 61 in the OF [mostly RF].
When the NA began in 1871 he was 24.
He began as a semi-pro player in Philadelphia [for the Geary Club] before becoming the regular catcher for the famed and fabled Cincinnati Red Stockings from 1868-70.
He was 2-21 as manager of the fabled Elizabeth Resolutes [NA] in 1873.
He jumped around the NA, as did most everyone, and was done as a full time player after 1876 at age 30.
Catchers had no [zero] equipment or protection.

In NA and NL play [9 seasons]:

318 G|1407 AB|236 R|382 H|44 doubles|10 triples|2 HR|139 RBI|44 SO|.271/.284/.321

GP and WAR
27/30: 0.9
-2tm-: 1.4
23/25
18/NA
-------
-2tm-: 0.4
11/NA
19/23
-------
65/65: 0.7
61/86: 1.4
44/70: 1.5
29/60: 0.1
19/60: 0.5

He is third in WAR among majority catchers at the time [1871-78], behind Cal McVey [whom he caught 100 more games than] and Deacon White.