17 Negro Leaguers Elected to Hall

[TonyK]

I see that Sol White is listed as an Executive. I hope they mention his playing ability on his plaque, and his book on the History of Colored Baseball. I feel he was as good a player as Frank Grant since he replaced him at SS for the Cuban Giants.

[Blackout]

I'm still rather disapointed Home Run Johnson was not voted in

[Bill Burgess]

The sports writers/announcers receive what amounts to a lifetime achievement award. They are not considered part of the Hall of Fame.

I remember once having a talk by phone with Leonard Koppet, who lived in my town of Palo Alto, before he died. He insisted he was not a member of the Hall of Fame.

Why the executives/pioneers are in the Hall while the sports writers/announcers must settle for Lifetime Achievement Awards speaks loud and clear to the dynamics of power. When you have it, you don't have to explain why you give yourselves recognition, and make others wait outside in the waiting room.

[Brian McKenna]

Not sure what this has to do with the Negro leagues.

But, I'll weigh in and say that in no way, shape or form should a bunch (and I say a bunch because somehow they feel they deserve some kind of an award every single year) of writers and talkers be inducted into the HOF proper. Sounds like Koppet understood that. Leave the Hall to people who actually do something rather than those that just talk about it later.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Not sure what this has to do with the Negro leagues.

But, I'll weigh in and say that in no way, shape or form should a bunch (and I say a bunch because somehow they feel they deserve some kind of an award every single year) of writers and talkers be inducted into the HOF proper. Sounds like Koppet understood that. Leave the Hall to people who actually do something rather than those that just talk about it later.

Someone complained that if Buck O'Neill couldn't get in, then Peter Gammons shouldn't have been elected. Which he wasn't. But a lot of people mistake the Spinks and Frick awards as actual HOF enshrinement. Heck, a lot of people think Abbott and Costello are in the HOF as members and not just part of a single museum display.

[Bill Burgess]

Not sure what this has to do with the Negro leagues.

But, I'll weigh in and say that in no way, shape or form should a bunch (and I say a bunch because somehow they feel they deserve some kind of an award every single year) of writers and talkers be inducted into the HOF proper. Sounds like Koppet understood that. Leave the Hall to people who actually do something rather than those that just talk about it later.

I'll agree with you on this, Brian. I have no qualms that the sports writers/announcers are honored with a lifetime achievement award, but are not in the Hall proper. That is how it should be.

Honor some categories of contributors with a lifetime achievement award. That is the way to go. That is proper. And that is exactly what the executives/commissioners/owners should have been forced to be content with too.

Why owners/managers/execs got to vote on themselves is an ongoing outrageous travesty. Something like Congressmen getting to vote on their own salaries. They very desperately require the boot, but GOOD. Keep the Hall of Fame for the PLAYERS.