Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Denver Mods 7/26/84) 6/24/83; site drutx.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!drutx!dtvh
From: dtvh@drutx.UUCP (VanHandelDT)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: RE: MARIS
Message-ID: <86@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Dec-85 10:03:00 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.86
Posted: Fri Dec 20 10:03:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 01:07:07 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 43

>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
>
>


Even though some of Maris' "season" records are extremely impressive, I
do not believe he deserves Hall of Fame recognition.  The Hall of Fame
is reserved for those players who have consistently produced great
seasons, year in and year out (OH MY GOD, THAT MEANS PETEY WILL MAKE IT!!).

There are places for those players who have single great seasons, such as
the All-Star Games, Record Books, etc.

I'd like to propose the start of a new exclusive group - THE HALL OF BLAME!!
My first two nominees are Rene Lachemann and Tony LaRussa;  both destroyed
teams capable of winning the World Series. (-:

Dan Van Handel
drutx!dtvh