Welcome to the Baseball Hall of Merit!

What is the Baseball Hall of Merit? A pantheon conceived of by our founder and commissioner Joe Dimino as an alternative to the Baseball Hall of Fame located in Cooperstown. Our purpose is to identify the best players in baseball history and thereby identify the omissions and errors that can be found in the other venerable institution.

Established in 2003, the HoM welcomes any new voters who are serious about inducting the most worthy candidates from all eras and positions.

Annual elections will be held around December of each year. Prior to December of 2007, retroactive elections were held once or twice a month starting from 1898 up to the present.

Project coordinator John Murphy helps run the day-to-day activities for the HoM.

The Baseball Hall of Merit Plaque Room - Where we honor the greatest players of all-time.

2009 Election Results, 2008 Election Results - The results from our last two elections.

Important Links

Election Results: Seaver, Carlton, Gibson, Niekro and Perry Are the Kings of the Mound For Group 4!

By unanimous consent, legendary Met Tom Seaver was deemed to be the best of the best of the Hall of Merit’s Group 4 pitchers.

Practically tied, stoic moundsman Steve Carlton and fiery hurler Bob Gibson received 90% of all possible points.

Of the remaining pitchers that earned at least 75% support, famed knuckleballer Phil Niekro and noted spitball artist Gaylord Perry both nabbed 79%.

Thanks to OCF for his help with the tally again!

RK   LY  Player            PTS  Bal   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
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 1  n/e  Tom Seaver        380   19  19                                                         
 2  n/e  Steve Carlton     344   19      8  8  2        1                                       
 3  n/e  Bob Gibson        342   19      9  7     1  1  1                                       
4T  n/e  Phil Niekro       302   19         1  8  5  2  1  1     1                              
4T  n/e  Gaylord Perry     302   19      2  2  4  4  3  2  1        1                           
 6  n/e  Bert Blyleven     262   19            1  4  4  3  1  1  4  1                           
 7  n/e  Jim Palmer        233   19            3  1     2  4  3  2           4                  
 8  n/e  Fergie Jenkins    227   19                  3  4  3     3  3  2        1               
 9  n/e  Juan Marichal     206…

Election Results: Seaver, Carlton, Gibson, Niekro and Perry Are the Kings of the Mound For Group 4!

By unanimous choice, legendary Met Tom Seaver was deemed to be the best of the best of the Hall of Merit’s Group 4 pitchers.

Virtually tied, stoic moundsman Steve Carlton and fiery hurler Bob Gibson received 90% of all possible points.

Of the remaining pitchers that earned at least 75% support, famed knuckleballer Phil Niekro and noted spitball artist Gaylord Perry both nabbed 79%.

Thanks to OCF for his help with the tally again!

RK   LY  Player            PTS  Bal   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  n/e  Tom Seaver        380   19  19                                                         
 2  n/e  Steve Carlton     344   19      8  8  2        1                                       
 3  n/e  Bob Gibson        342   19      9  7     1  1  1                                       
4T  n/e  Phil Niekro       302   19         1  8  5  2  1  1     1                              
4T  n/e  Gaylord Perry     302   19      2  2  4  4  3  2  1        1                           
 6  n/e  Bert Blyleven     262   19            1  4  4  3  1  1  4  1                           
 7  n/e  Jim Palmer        233   19            3  1     2  4  3  2           4                  
 8  n/e  Fergie Jenkins    227   19                  3  4  3     3  3  2        1               
 9  n/e  Juan Marichal     206…

Ray Lankford

Eligible in 2010.

Ranking the Hall of Merit by Position: Pitchers Ballot (1959-1986+)

The inductees for this group are (in alphabetical order):

Bert Blyleven
Jim Bunning
Steve Carlton
Don Drysdale
Dennis Eckersley
Rollie Fingers
Bob Gibson
Rich Gossage
Fergie Jenkins
Sandy Koufax
Juan Marichal
Phil Niekro
Jim Palmer
Gaylord Perry
Nolan Ryan
Bret Saberhagen
Dave Stieb
Don Sutton
Tom Seaver
Hoyt Wilhelm

The election ends May 31.at 8 PM EDT. 

Election Results: Top 5 HoM Moundsmen For Group 3 - Grove, Spahn, Paige, Feller and Hubbell!

By unanimous vote, star flamethrower Lefty Grove was selected as the Hall of Merit’s top pitcher from Group 3.

Winningest lefthander Warren Spahn received an impressive 91% of all possible points, while NeL legend Satchel Paige was close behind with his 89%.

Cleveland great Bob Feller earned a fine 81%, while the Giants’ meal ticket Carl Hubbell was the last to make it at least 75%.

Thanks to OCF for all of the tallying help that he gives me!

RK   LY  Player         PTS  Bal   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  n/e  Lefty Grove    361   19  19                                                         
 2  n/e  Warren Spahn   332   19     10  8  1                                                
 3  n/e  Satchel Paige  322   19      8  7  1  2     1                                       
 4  n/e  Bob Feller     294   19      1  3  6  5  2  2                                       
 5  n/e  Carl Hubbell   269   19            6  4  4  2     2     1                           
 6  n/e  Robin Roberts  257   19         1  3  1  6  3  2  1  1  1                           
 7  n/e  Martin Dihigo  232   19            1  4  2  2  2  2  3  2  1                        
 8  n/e  Hal Newhouser  200   19               1     3  3  5  1  1  1  4                     
 9…

Ranking the Hall of Merit Pitchers (1959-1986+) - Discussion

The inductees for this group are (in alphabetical order):

Bert Blyleven
Jim Bunning
Steve Carlton
Don Drysdale
Dennis Eckersley
Rollie Fingers
Bob Gibson
Rich Gossage
Fergie Jenkins
Sandy Koufax
Juan Marichal
Phil Niekro
Jim Palmer
Gaylord Perry
Nolan Ryan
Bret Saberhagen
Dave Stieb
Don Sutton
Tom Seaver
Hoyt Wilhelm

The election starts May 17 and ends May 31.at 8 PM EDT.

Juan Gonzalez

Eligible in 2010.

Ranking the Hall of Merit by Position: Pitchers Ballot (1924-1958)

The inductees for this group are (in alphabetical order):

Bullet Rogan
Dazzy Vance
Lefty Grove
Ted Lyons
Carl Hubbell
Red Ruffing
Willie Foster
Martin Dihigo
Satchel Paige
Wes Ferrell
Ray Brown
Bob Feller
Early Wynn
Bob Lemon
Warren Spahn
Hal Newhouser
Robin Roberts
Billy Pierce
Whitey Ford.

The election ends May 3.at 8 PM EDT. 

Ellis Burks

Eligible in 2010

Ranking the Hall of Merit Pitchers (1924-1958) - Discussion

The inductees for this group are (in alphabetical order):

Bullet Rogan
Dazzy Vance
Lefty Grove
Ted Lyons
Carl Hubbell
Red Ruffing
Willie Foster
Martin Dihigo
Satchel Paige
Wes Ferrell
Ray Brown
Bob Feller
Early Wynn
Bob Lemon
Warren Spahn
Hal Newhouser
Robin Roberts
Billy Pierce
Whitey Ford.

The election starts April 19 and ends May 3.at 8 PM EDT.

Ranking the Hall of Merit Pitchers (1924-1958) - Discussion

The inductees for this group are (in alphabetical order):

Bullet Rogan
Dazzy Vance
Lefty Grove
Ted Lyons
Carl Hubbell
Red Ruffing
Willie Foster
Martin Dihigo
Satchel Paige
Wes Ferrell
Ray Brown
Bob Feller
Early Wynn
Bob Lemon
Warren Spahn
Hal Newhouser
Robin Roberts
Billy Pierce
Whitey Ford

The election starts April 19 and ends May 3.at 8 PM EDT.

Election Results: Johnson and Young are #1 and #2 on Every Ballot Among the Hurlers From 1893-1923!

No surprise here - legendary Washington Senator Walter Johnson unanimously claimed the top spot in this special Hall of Merit election.

Right behind him, all-time career wins leader Cy Young found himself in the second position on every ballot and with 94% of all possible points.

Contemporaries Pete Alexander and Smokey Joe Williams garned at least 80% of the points with their fine 89% and 80%.

Rounding out the top-tier pitchers were Christy Mathewson (78%), Kid Nichols (78%) and Eddie Plank (75%)

Thanks to OCF for his help with the tally!.

RK   LY  Player               PTS  Bal   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  n/e  Walter Johnson       342   19  19                                                         
 2  n/e  Cy Young             323   19     19                                                      
 3  n/e  Pete Alexander       303   19        18  1                                                
 4  n/e  Smokey Joe Williams  274   19         1 10  4  4                                          
 5  n/e  Christy Mathewson    267   19            5 10  4                                          
 6  n/e  Kid Nichols          258   19            3  5 11                                          
 7  n/e  Eddie Plank          209   19                    12  2  2  2           1                  
 8  n/e  Ed Walsh             192   19                     5  8  2  1  1           1  1            
 9  n/e  Amos Rusie           183   19                     2  4  4…

Robin Ventura

Eligible in 2010.

Ranking the Hall of Merit by Position: Pitchers Ballot (1893 - 1923)

The inductees for this group are (in alphabetical order):

Pete Alexander
Mordecai Brown
Stan Coveleski
Red Faber
Rube Foster
Clark Griffith
Walter Johnson
Christy Mathewson
Joe McGinnity
Jose Mendez
Kid Nichols
Eddie Plank
Eppa Rixey
Amos Rusie
Rube Waddell
Ed Walsh
Smokey Joe Williams
Cy Young

The election ends April 5 at 8 PM EDT. 

Election Results: Clarkson is the Clear Front-Runner Among the Pitchers of 1871-92!

With almost 100% support, John Clarkson was deemed head and shoulders above the other five hurlers from this group.

Thanks to OCF for help with the tally!

RK   LY  Player             PTS  Bal   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  n/e  John Clarkson      147   25  22  3                                                      
2T  n/e  Tim Keefe           98   25   1 11  5  2  5  1                                          
2T  n/e  Old Hoss Radbourn   98   25   2  4 11  6  2                                             
 4  n/e  Al Spalding         88   25      7  7  5  4  2                                          
 5  n/e  Bob Caruthers       55   25         2  8  8  7                                          
 6  n/e  Pud Galvin          39   25            4  6 15                                          
Ballots Cast: 25

Ranking the Hall of Merit Pitchers (1893-1923) - Discussion

The inductees for this group are (in alphabetical order):

Pete Alexander
Mordecai Brown
Stan Coveleski
Red Faber
Rube Foster
Clark Griffith
Walter Johnson
Christy Mathewson
Joe McGinnity
Jose Mendez
Kid Nichols
Eddie Plank
Eppa Rixey
Amos Rusie
Rube Waddell
Ed Walsh
Smokey Joe Williams
Cy Young

The election starts March 15 and ends April 5 at 8 PM EDT.

Edgar Martinez

Eligible in 2010.

Ranking the Hall of Merit by Position: Pitchers Ballot (1871 - 1892)

In alphabetical order:

Bob Caruthers
John Clarkson
Pud Galvin
Tim Keefe
Charley Radbourn
Al Spalding

The election will end March 8 at 8 PM Eastern.

Ranking the Hall of Merit Pitchers (1871-1892) - Discussion

We’ll start light. The first group are the pitcher’s box era pitchers, those whose careers were centered on the period 1871-1892.

Al Spalding
Charley Radbourn
Pud Galvin
Tim Keefe
John Clarkson
Bob Caruthers

We’ll discuss this week, vote next week. It’s a small group, so I think one week of voting will work.

Also, it’s a small group, so it should be pretty easy, please vote!!

Going forward, the other groups will be:

1893-1923: (18) Young, Nichols, Griffith, Rusie, McGinnity, Plank, Waddell, MBrown, RFoster, Mathewson, Walsh, JWilliams, Alexander, Mendez, Johnson, Faber, Coveleski, Rixey.

1924-1958: (19) Rogan, Vance, Grove, Lyons, Hubbell, Ruffing, BFoster, Dihigo, Paige, Ferrell, RBrown, Feller, Wynn, Lemon, Spahn, Newhouser, Roberts, Pierce, Ford.

1959-1986 (plus post-1986 for now): (20) Wilhelm, Bunning, Koufax, Drysdale, Gibson, Marichal, Perry, Niekro, Jenkins, Seaver, Carlton, Sutton, Fingers, Palmer, Ryan, Blyleven, Gossage, Eckersley, Stieb, Saberhagen.

Let’s keep discussion on this thread to the 1871-1892 guys. Please use the pitcher thread for the others for now. If you want me to open up discussion threads for each group now, that probably wouldn’t hurt anything, let me know what you think (on the pitchers thread).

--Joe

Fred McGriff

Eligible in 2010.

Barry Larkin

Eligible in 2010.

Roberto Alomar

Eligible in 2010.

2010 Ballot Discussion

2010 (December 7, 2009)—elect 3
WS W3 Rookie Name-Pos
376 132.6 1988 Roberto Alomar-2B
346 121,8 1986 Barry Larkin-SS
341 106.6 1987 Fred McGriff-1B
305 104.4 1989 Edgar Martinez-DH/3B
272 108.8 1990 Robin Ventura-3B
260 79.1 1987 Ellis Burks-CF/RF
234 74.9 1990 Juan Gonzalez-RF/LF*
227 70.3 1991 Ray Lankford-CF
221 62.9 1990 Todd Zeile-3B
190 67.2 1987 Benito Santiago-C*
183 56.5 1992 Eric Karros-1B
161 58.9 1987 Mark McLemore-2B
126 59.0 1992 Pat Hentgen-P
126 53.7 1987 Mike Jackson-RP
130 41.6 1991 David Segui-1B
128 41.6 1994 Fernando Viña-2B
106 44.8 1991 Rod Beck-RP (2007)

Thanks to Dan Greenia for the numbers!

2009 Post-WWII Players Results: Torre and Santo Meet Our Requirements for the Hall of Fame!

With 94% support from our electorate, star player and manager Joe Torre was the top vote-getter for this election.

Not that far behind, Cub third baseman Ron Santo earned a very impressive 92% in his own right.

Close but no cigar, talented and controversial great Dick Allen just missed it by obtaining 74%.

As for our HoM subgroup, Santo was a unanimous pick, while Torre and Allen had very strong support themselves with their 93% and 86% each.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a ballot or joined in the discussion! Thanks also to OCF for help with the tally!

See you again at the end of the year for the next elections!

RK   LY  Player       PTS  Bal   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1    2  Joe Torre     47   47                                
 2    1  Ron Santo     46   46                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3    5  Dick Allen    37   37                             
 4   11  Luis Tiant    23   23                                 
 5   17T Tony Oliva     3    3                                
 6   16  Jim Kaat       2    2                               
7T   20T Al Oliver      1    1                                     
7T   20T Vada Pinson    1    1                                    
Dropped Out: Gil Hodges(10), Maury Wills(n/e).
Ballots Cast: 50

RK   LY  Player       PTS  Bal   1  2  3  4  5…

2009 Pre-WWII Players Results: 19th Century Stars White and Dahlen Get Our Vote!

With 97% support from BBTF voters, star backstop and third baseman Deacon White was the top Hall of Fame vote-getter for this election.

Not far behind, renowned shortstop Bill Dahlen received an equally impressive 94% of the votes.

Close but no cigar was Phillies slugger Sherry Magee, who just missed “induction” himself with 72% of the votes.

All-Star second baseman Joe Gordon, newly elected to the HOF, didn’t receive as much love with us. Only 56% of the ballots had his name on it.

As for our HoM subgroup, White and Dahlen were all unanimous picks, while Magee just made it over the line with his 79%.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a ballot or joined in the discussion! Thanks also to OCF for help with the tally!

RK   LY  Player          PTS  Bal   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  n/e  Deacon White     35   35                                
 2  n/e  Bill Dahlen      34   34                                      
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3  n/e  Sherry Magee     26   26                                  
 4  n/e  Joe Gordon       20   20                                     
5T    6  Wes Ferrell       7    7                                    
5T  n/e  Vern Stephens     7    7                                    
 7  n/e  Bucky Walters     3    3                                        
 8   13  Carl Mays         2    2                                         
Dropped Out: Allie…

2009 Veterans Committee Ballot - Post-WWII Players

The election will end on Jan. 18 at 8 PM Eastern.

Eligible candidates: Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre and Maury Wills.

Rules:

9. Voting: The Committee shall consider all eligible candidates and voting shall be based upon the individual’s record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the game. Electors may vote for as few as zero (0) and as many as four (4) eligible candidates deemed worthy of election. Write-in votes are not permitted (Editor’s note: though if you want to post them, I’m not going to stop you from doing that).

10. Number to be Elected: All candidates receiving votes on at least 75% of ballots cast on will earn election.

2009 Veterans Committee Ballot - Pre-WWII Players

The election will end on Jan. 11 at 8 PM Eastern. The post-WWII player ballot will be posted that day and end the following Sunday

Eligible candidates: Bill Dahlen, Wes Ferrell, Joe Gordon, Sherry Magee, Carl Mays, Allie Reynolds, Vern Stephens, Mickey Vernon, Bucky Walters and Deacon White.

Rules:

9. Voting: The Committee shall consider all eligible candidates and voting shall be based upon the individual’s record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the game. Electors may vote for as few as zero (0) and as many as four (4) eligible candidates deemed worthy of election. Write-in votes are not permitted (Editor’s note: though if you want to post them, I’m not going to stop you from doing that).

10. Number to be Elected: All candidates receiving votes on at least 75% of ballots cast on will earn election.

2009 Veterans Committee Discussion - Players

We’ll have one week of discussion and then the ballot thread will be posted next Sunday (the election will end on Jan. 11).

Eligible candidates (pick up to four from each group): Pre-war candidates: Bill Dahlen, Wes Ferrell, Joe Gordon, Sherry Magee, Carl Mays, Allie Reynolds, Vern Stephens, Mickey Vernon, Bucky Walters and Deacon White; Post-war candidates: Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre and Maury Wills;

2009 BBTF HOF Results: Henderson, Raines, Blyleven, Trammell and McGwire Should Be Enshrined!

In his first year of eligibility, all-time stolen base king Rickey Henderson was selected by the BBTF electorate unanimously.

With 99% support last year, terrific leadoff hitter Tim Raines improved to a perfect 100% of all ballots.

His fourth time on a BBTF ballot, curveball specialist Bert Blyleven had his best percentage so far with 97% this year (he had 96% in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and 87% in 2007).

Tiger shortstop Alan Trammell also improved with his 94% (he had 79% in 2005, 81% in 2006, 84% in 2007 and 83% in 2008).

Last but not least, impressive slugger Mark McGwire easily made it past 75% again this year with 84%, up from last year by 9%. Will the anti-Big Mac faction in the BBWAA show similar percentage progress this year or are we just more forgiving as a group than the baseball writers?

Rounding out the top-ten were: Andre Dawson, Tommy John (big increase this year, but too little, too late), Dale Murphy, David Cone (first year of eligibility) and Lee Smith.

94 voters participated in our exercise, 49 less than our record of 143 in 2008 (in our first BBTF in 2005, we had only 28 voters casting…