Did Hack Wilson truly deserve the Hall of Fame?

[redban]

Hack Wilson is a player known for his monstrous 1930 season, hitting 56 HR and 191 RBI.

But aside from that season did Wilson do enough?

His career was short. He played just 12 seasons. Of those 12 seasons, 6 of them he played below 120 games.

So really, Hack Wilson got in the Hall of Fame for a mere 6 good seasons, in 1926-1930 and 1932.

6 good seasons... is that enough to be a Hall of Famer?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

In his Politics of Glory, Bill James stated that the Veteran's Committee was "forced" to elect Hack Wilson since they had previously elected Chick Hafey and George Kelly, two contemporaries of Wilson with inferior Hall of credentials.

[pheasant]

Hack Wilson doesn't belong in the Hall; not even close. He had one monstrous season, but it wasn't historic like Maris' 1961 season.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

In his Politics of Glory, Bill James stated that the Veteran's Committee was "forced" to elect Hack Wilson since they had previously elected Chick Hafey and George Kelly, two contemporaries of Wilson with inferior Hall of credentials.

I'm guessing Chuck Klein was part of that deal too. Wilson went in 1979 and Klein I think 1980.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I'm guessing Chuck Klein was part of that deal too. Wilson went in 1979 and Klein I think 1980.

You are correct. James also mentioned Johnny Mize who got elected in 1981. I'm not sure why Mize wasn't elected way earlier? Yes, WW II cut his career, but he was a great hitter. I guess he wasn't considered that special during his career?

[GiambiJuice]

He had an excellent 5 year peak, but that's about it. Not a Hall Of Famer in my book.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

You are correct. James also mentioned Johnny Mize who got elected in 1981. I'm not sure why Mize wasn't elected way earlier? Yes, WW II cut his career, but he was a great hitter. I guess he wasn't considered that special during his career?

Yeah Mize deff shouldn't be lumped in with those two. Before I joined this site I would have said Klein was better than Mize and thats probably how voters or alot of fans felt especially back then in the early 80's. I still think alot of people underrate Mize.

[Bigfoot 88]

Hack Wilson doesn't belong in the Hall; not even close. He had one monstrous season, but it wasn't historic like Maris' 1961 season.

I agree with him not being in the Hall, though I would disagree and say that it was very historic, possibly on par with Maris.

*208 hits/105 walks

*56 homers/35 doubles

*191 RBI/146 runs

And Maris by contrast:

*159 hits/94 walks

*61 homers/16 doubles

*141 RBI/132 runs

Not to mention positional adjustments.

[dgarza]

Debated between Yes and Unsure. Went with Yes. Not the strongest candidate, but I don't have a problem with him in the Hall.

Really, until Joe DiMaggio came around, no other player not named Speaker or Cobb had as many big CF seasons as Wilson did.

[jalbright]

Certainly, one can debate whether his years as a Cub are enough to merit induction. However, there can be no doubt that for those six years, he was one of the elite:

This guy is a classic high peak, relatively short term guy--Hack Wilson. Hack wasn't much when he wasn't a Cub, but in those years, he was a monster.

We all know about the RBI record, but that's only a part of the story.

In his six seasons with the franchise, Hack was:
in the top 10 among position players in WAR five times, 2 seconds, a third and a fourth among them;
in the top 10 in OBP five times;
in the top 6 in slugging five times;
in the top 5 in OPS+ five times;
in the top 10 in runs scored four times;
in the top 10 in homers six times, 4 of them firsts and another a third;
in the top 3 in RBI five times, 2 of them firsts and two more seconds; and
in the top 10 in walks drawn six times, two of them firsts.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Wilson is one of my favorite old time players because he was so unusual. I can't imagine a player built like Wilson would be allowed to play baseball today. It's like some wizard created a suped up Lilliputian and turned him into a baseball player! Check out Wilson's feet in this photo!

Image17-4.jpg

[westsidegrounds]

Peak, peak, peak!

Yes, absolutely. He compiled 31 career Black Ink points, where the average HOFer has only 27, and he did it in the course of five monster seasons.

Maybe Hack Wilson was the Dizzy Dean of hitters?

Me, I'll take 31 points in five seasons over 31 points in 20 years any time. It's nice for a franchise to have a guy who turns in solid performances over the course of a long career. But they don't award any prizes to the team with the best cumulative record over many seasons. The game is played one season at a time.

[pheasant]

Kirby Puckett is the only guy that I can think of that was built similarly to Hack Wilson. Ironically, he too was a centerfielder.

[Melottfan]

Said it before, one year does not a Hall of Famer make.

[philliesfiend55]

I'm guessing Chuck Klein was part of that deal too. Wilson went in 1979 and Klein I think 1980.

Chuck Klein hit .320 lifetime. How many players hit .320 and are not in the Hall Of Fame. In addition he played long enough to collect 2,000 hits and smack an even 300 home runs He also played 17 seasons, (1928-1944) which is a legitimate amount of longevity for HOF consideration, especially when compared to Wilson's mere 12 years.
Klein is a legitimate Hall Of Famer and to me it's surprising that Klein was not elected by the writers and was elected by the Veterans Committee THREE AND A HALF DECADES after his final playing season.
PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE HIM in your list of "Bad Choices for the HOF" because Klein is a good, legitimate choice.