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Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Herman Long

The original “Flying Dutchman!”

John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: September 07, 2004 at 04:47 PM | 8 comment(s)
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1. Bob "Jugement" Dernier Posted: September 07, 2004 at 07:44 PM (#841411)

Herman Long has always interested me because he's arguably the best shortstop that the Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta franchise has had to this day. I guess it's not wildly unusual that the Braves haven't found a better shortstop in over a century, but it's a bit odd -- especially considering that Long was no superstar ...

Other candidates might be Rabbit Maranville and Johnny Logan. (The NBJHBA has Long 34th, Maranville 38th, Logan 39th.) Jeff Blauser wasn't terrible, either, but he was not of Herman Long calibre ...

2. jimd Posted: September 07, 2004 at 08:12 PM (#841534)

Herman Long ... arguably the best shortstop that the Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta franchise has had to this day.

George Wright excepted, I'd agree with that.

3. Dag Nabbit Posted: September 07, 2004 at 08:32 PM (#841608)

Turn-of-the-century Boston Braves: Greatest. Defense. Ever.

4. John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: September 07, 2004 at 08:38 PM (#841640)

Wright and Long were probably equal as shortstops on total value for that franchise.

5. EricC Posted: September 07, 2004 at 08:45 PM (#841674)

In 1936, there were two initial elections for the Hall of Fame: a BBWAA election and a "Veterans" election. Although nobody in the Veteran's election received enough votes to be elected in 1936, the top 10 were:

1T: Cap Anson
1T: Buck Ewing
3: Willie Keeler
4. Cy Young
5. Ed Delahanty
6. John McGraw
7. Charlie Radbourn
8. Herman Long
9. Mike "King" Kelly
10. Amos Rusie

Why did Herman Long, who last played in 1904, and died in 1909, receive so many votes?

6. John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: September 07, 2004 at 09:04 PM (#841765)

Why did Herman Long, who last played in 1904, and died in 1909, receive so many votes?

Another question is: what happened to his support?

7. jimd Posted: September 07, 2004 at 10:32 PM (#842083)

That was the only election conducted by that original "Veteran's" committee, which IIRC was a group of senior writers. It was replaced by a small group of executives (Landis and the two league presidents?) who selected Bulkeley, Ban Johnson, Mack, McGraw, and George Wright.

8. Paul Wendt Posted: September 10, 2004 at 11:27 AM (#846976)

Herman Long was a big star. OK, not a superstar, but there are many of 128 {ballclubs, fielding positions} without a superstar in 100 years.

Yes, the BBWAA voted for old-timers only once.

Germany Long was briefly the active home run leader, during his final offseason, before Hugh Duffy returned to the majors as a player-manager.

Long is the victim in the recent non-murder mystery by G.S. Rowe, Best Bet in Beantown.

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Herman Long

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