Nolan Ryan was never the best pitcher in the league, and I doubt whether you'd find too many people who feel he's undeserving of being in the HoF.
I was gonna use the same example. Mazeroski had one clutch hit in his career and he got in. I agree that he (Palmeiro) isn't a first ballot guy due to some of the other arguments against him going in at all, but he definitely has the resume that should put him in there. Even without 3000 hits, his 500+ HR's makes him worthy. It would be like leaving out a 200 win pitcher.
Is this a trick question? The question should be if Bags or Bidge HOF material...RP is a first ballot HOF, period...
Exactly, there's a lot of value in being really good for a really long time and being someone your team can count on year after year.
Exactly, those are the type of guys who are boderline. Whether you like it or not, baseball is all about the individual numbers. It isn't wins, it isn't dominance, its what your end total of individual stats that decide your place in baseball.
He was ALWAYS the best player on his team during his first stint with the Orioles. Of course, you never heard about him because everybody was busy kissing Cal Ripken's ass. His first 5 seasons in Baltimore were the most productive 5-year stretch by an Oriole, includung the Robinsons. There's no question he's a HOF'er. About the only thing going against him are that over-rated Ripken was his "teammate" and the short porch in right at Camden Yards. And the guys got the most beautiful swing in baseball. Watch it sometime. It's effortless.
I know one is that fat pr!ck out of Philly, Bob Ryan, who has his head so far up Steve Carleton's ass that he knows what he had for lunch. He's still pissed Nolan took the strikeout crown.
Bob Ryan writes for the Boston Globe and is not fat. I think you are talking about Bill Conlin who writes (or used to write) for the Philly paper (don't know which one) and is a ******.
I really don't get this 'first ballot' guy thing. He either deserves to be there...or not. His numbers, performance, skills etc will neither improve, nor deminish from the time he's eligible for selection. So if he's good enough to go in...he's good enough to go in on the first ballot. I know that's not how it works...but it just seems so stupid, really. How is it that he's deserving in later years, when he's not deserving on the first ballot? What would he have done in the interim to become more deserving? On a separate note, The Hall of Extremely Good is a pretty funky concept. Drapg...you should reup g-sports. Your dozens of loyal readers could use a fix.
has Palmeiro ever dominated in a season? Bagwell had that 2-3 year run (that got him one MVP and should have gotten him another if it weren't for the strike) where he dominated. Biggio was an All-Star at two VERY different positions and he was one of--if not THE--best 2nd baseman at one time. Palmeiro's numbers, although great, shouldn't even be used to determine whether he's a HOFer or not. 500 HRs in this steroid era is nothing. i'd take the 3000 hits into consideration but not even by much. 3000 / 19 seasons = about 158 hits per season. He has the stats for sure but he's just entry that i'm skeptical about.
Here are some other hall-of-famers, tell me what you think about their stats (I'll let you look them up on your own): Roger Bresnahan Larry Doby Richie Ashburn Phil Rizzuto Enos Slaughter Rick Ferrell George Kell Travis Jackson Fred Lindstrom Sunny Jim Bottomley George Kelly Bill Mazeroski Frank Baker Kiki Cuyler Just to name a few - the point is, there are MANY guys who would be eliminated pretty quickly if you wanted to make the Hall of Fame more exclusive than it already is. I am confident that Palmeiro is deserving than all of those guys I listed and they are already in the Hall and aren't leaving any time soon.
consistently average is one thing but dude was consistently awesome for his entire career. if you detract his homeruns for coming in this era than really who can you include in the hall again? no one? he was never the single best player on his team or in the league but he was AMONG the best for a long time.
Can I change my vote to a "no"? Seriously ...if he was considered a fringe HOFer before, what is he considered now?
