BBTF.org/m/history : Ryan: Finding a colorful solution for the Hall of Fame

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

2013 Results: Bonds, Clemens, Piazza and Biggio are elected to the Hall of Merit!

(bbtf)

posted on December 12, 2012 at 10:14 PM by Joe Dimino to history | 61 comment(s)

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza and Craig Biggio have been elected to the Hall of Merit!

The timing for our first year electing 4 candidates could not have worked out better, since class of 2013 is the strongest in terms of electees that we’ve ever had. The top of the 1934 ballot included Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Pop Lloyd, Smokey Joe Williams and Cristobal Torriente, but only 2 were elected.

Bonds and Clemens were each unanimous at 1 and 2. I believe that’s the first ...

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

posted on July 25, 2011 at 08:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Let's release rabid skunks in orphanages. That's a better idea.

2. Gonfalon Bubble posted on July 25, 2011 at 08:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Again, BTF boys and ghouls, do not fear the coming chaos. Embrace it.

3. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on July 25, 2011 at 08:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is a bad idea but it's a better idea than the one we currently have which will keep players like Clemens, Bonds and others who are grotesquely qualified out.

4. flournoy posted on July 25, 2011 at 09:05 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

What about green plaques for amphetamine users, white plaques for segregation era players, black plaques for gamblers, and purple plaques for general jerks?

5. The Yankee Clapper posted on July 25, 2011 at 09:09 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Bad idea. Who decides which category a player is in? Based on what evidence? What if a later, more accurate test (or autopsy) changes their category?

6. The George Sherrill Selection posted on July 25, 2011 at 09:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Shouldn't racists get black plaques?

7. YR Misses Reggie Bars posted on July 25, 2011 at 09:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

What about yellow plaques for members of the media who ignored the obvious proliferation of PEDs in baseball?

8. Guapo posted on July 25, 2011 at 09:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Let's release rabid skunks in orphanages.

I like this idea, but only if we color-code the orphans first.

9. cardsfanboy

posted on July 25, 2011 at 09:56 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The problem, is, I can’t enact this all by myself. And, believe me, if you’ve got a better idea, let me hear it.

Sure, change the rules on the ballot to state. "PED usage, whether it's suspected or confirmed is not grounds for not voting for a player, MLB has it's own rules and has established it's own method of punishment and that is already reflected in the players career"

10. Jim (jimmuscomp) posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Keep that logic out of this #9! ;-)

11. Never Give an Inge (Dave) posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's frustrating to see a professional writer use language with such a lack of precision. PEDs "invaded" baseball? And "may have dabbled briefly"? Couldn't that describe basically any player from the era?

Anyway, I understand what Ryan's trying to do here, but the question of whether a player used performance enhancing drugs defies simple categorization like this.

12. Best Regards, L.M. posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's frustrating to see a professional writer use language with such a lack of precision. PEDs "invaded" baseball? And "may have dabbled briefly"? Couldn't that describe basically any player from the era?

Not Derek Jeter.

13. Bad Doctor posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:30 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

No way, no way. Tried it once, doesn't work. You got four guys all fighting over who's gonna be on a black plaque, but they don't know each other, so nobody wants to back down. No way. I pick. You're on a pink plaque.

14. Fourth True Outcome posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:33 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Not Derek Jeter.

The only thing Jeter dabbled in was starlets. What color plaque does that get you?

15. Walt Davis posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So Piazza gets a pink plaque right?

16. mex4173 posted on July 26, 2011 at 01:26 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

The following players are either admitted users, accused users, or, in the face of overwhelming circumstantial evidence, so strongly suspected of being users that their denial is implausible.

What is the difference between being accused and "may have dabbled briefly?"

I don't like the idea of the pink plaque. It is too one sided, the player has no way to argue in his own favor.

17. Jeff R., P***y Mainlander posted on July 26, 2011 at 01:54 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

What about yellow plaques for members of the media who ignored the obvious proliferation of PEDs in baseball?

Ding, ding, ding. For a bunch of writers who spent a lot of time with the players they cover, there's a pretty big lack of PEDS expose' stories in the late 90's to early 2000's.

18. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises posted on July 26, 2011 at 02:12 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is dumber than 10 Tommy Lasordas.

19. Eric P. posted on July 26, 2011 at 05:32 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

The only thing Jeter dabbled in was starlets. What color plaque does that get you?

Milky white.

20. Pat Rapper's Delight posted on July 26, 2011 at 06:25 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This may well be the absolute dumbest PED/HOF idea I've ever seen.

21. Boxkutter posted on July 26, 2011 at 06:50 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

What about green plaques for amphetamine users, white plaques for segregation era players, black plaques for gamblers, and purple plaques for general jerks?

What about jerks who gambled during the segregation era? (I'm looking at you, Ty Cobb!)

Also... nice Reservoir Dogs reference, #13!

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

/m/history

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

2013 Results: Bonds, Clemens, Piazza and Biggio are elected to the Hall of Merit!

Reader Comments and Retorts

History Think Factory