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From: amb@duke.UUCP (A. Michael Berman)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Maris for Hall of Fame?
Message-ID: <6727@duke.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 10:07:23 EST
Article-I.D.: duke.6727
Posted: Wed Dec 18 10:07:23 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 03:31:13 EST
Organization: Duke University
Lines: 24

I'd like to start a new topic that I hope will generate a lot of
controversy....  

All baseball fans mourn the passing of Roger Maris, holder of one of the
best-known records in the game.  There is no question that Maris was an
outstanding player.  My question is, does he belong in the Hall of Fame?

On the plus side: 61 homeruns in 1961, 2 times MVP (60,61?), excellent
and smart hitter and fielder.

On the more questionable side: lifetime stats, while good, maybe a
little soft for Hall of Fame -- around .270 ba, with 279 hr, in a 10
year career (this is from memory, I welcome corrections).  If he had
done the same for another 8 years, there would be no question in my
mind.

I would remind the reader that it is standing Hall of Fame policy that
admission should be based on lifetime achievement and not on a single
great accomplishment, e.g., consider Don Larsen.

Well, I have an open mind on the issue and I look forward to a flood of
opinions, educated and otherwise.

Michael Berman