What does Hall of Fame mean?

[Designated Fielder]

I want some perspective from the distinguished members of this forum about the words "hall of fame". Does within the meaning of the words represent who should be elected? That is the famous players.

A famous player may not be one of the greatest. For instance, Derek Jeter is a current famous player but probably not the greatest. Although it seems like under either standard Jeter is a famous and a great player.

Bernie Williams may be a more famous player than say Jeff Bagwell, but does that mean that Williams should get in the Hall of Fame before Bagwell. that is if we define fame as popularity.

Moreover, if he define fame as someone who is not infamous. Does that eliminate some players from being in the Hall of Fame so that a Joe Jackson, a Pete Rose, a Jose Cancesco may indeed be classified as infamous players, and do not deserve membership in the Hall of Fame. They would therefore deserve membership in the Hall of the Infamous.

I would like others perspective on this.

[calhalo]

I'm not distinguished but....

'Hall of Remember These Great Ballplayers After They (And You) Kick The Bucket Because They Shouldnt Be Forgotten By Time'......

....was probably too long, so they replaced it with the word 'fame'.

[abolishthedh]

[QUOTE=calhalo]'Hall of Remember These Great Ballplayers After They (And You) Kick The Bucket Because They Shouldnt Be Forgotten By Time'......
QUOTE]

Completely in agreement. The HoF was set up in a time before the media explosion from the advent of TV, and so Fame was earned on the ballfield or in newspapers. Radio was just getting started, sports magazines were still years away, and the only journalists who had a role were newspapermen.

Again, fame back then was earned on the field. Ballplayers were generally humble folk off of the field (unless you were named Dizzy Dean or Babe Ruth). Ballplayers would promote products because they needed the income, not because they were greedy.

I try to consider how the ballplayer will be remembered a few years from now whenever I add my 2 cents. In another current thread which addresses how quickly sluggers decline from high performance, I have mentioned this.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame is Baseball's Big Honor. In fact, it is the ONLY honor that is bestowed on a player for his CAREER.

One can be inducted into the HOF of an individual team, but it's nowhere near the honor of being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

I don't know that it was seen as this when the HOF opened. I don't know that players saw this as a big deal. It's a big deal now, though, and it's the ONLY career honor that a ballplayer can receive from all of baseball.

[The Kid]

The Hall of Fame is a shrine to the greatest players to play ball. It recognizes records and those who set them, too.