Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site 3comvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!glacier!oliveb!3comvax!mykes From: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Re: MARIS Message-ID: <328@3comvax.UUCP> Date: Fri, 3-Jan-86 19:08:56 EST Article-I.D.: 3comvax.328 Posted: Fri Jan 3 19:08:56 1986 Date-Received: Sun, 5-Jan-86 02:00:24 EST References: <86@drutx.UUCP> Reply-To: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz) Organization: 3Com Corp; Mountain View, CA Lines: 39 It is my opinion that both great players and great achievements belong in the Hall of Fame. If Larson didn't pitch his World Series Gem, he probably would not be fame-ous, but he did and he is. However, he certainly doesn't rank with the all-time greatest pitchers, at least in my book. I agree that the Hall of Fame criterea is kind of fuzzy, and this criterea has probably changed from decade to decade (or even year to year). I don't know if being a dominating player is any more valid a criterion (is this a real word?) than some accomplishment like 61 home runs. If Maris had hit 161 home runs in one season, but hit not more than 5 in any other, would he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? How do you compare a guy like Maris with a guy like Babe Ruth? How do you compare guys like Clemente, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, or many of these "greats" to a Babe Ruth? Ruth hit 714 Homers, batted .342 LIFETIME, had enormous walk totals every year, and even stole a bunch of bases (pardon me if I am in error, but I think he stole something like 172 bases in his career - this is off the top of my head). None of these other guys come close. And there are many players, not as awesome as Ruth, who put these same guys to "shame" (I use this term loosely - very loosely). What it currently boils down to is a vote among the world's greatest authorities on the game - the sportswriters. They might not really be more knowledgeable than many of us fans, but at least they get paid to be experts. Clearly, the ultimate critera seems to be a consensus "gut" feeling, which takes into consideration all the things that need to be considered. Larson might not belong in the hall, but his accomplishment(s) do make him worthy of consideration. The only thing I can think of that might be fairer would be to have the fans vote, but that is a whole new can of worms that someone else can tackle. It might be fairer, it might not - it wouldn't make a difference, because once a guy is in, he obviously has met all the critera needed. Sorry to be so long winded. 8 weeks till spring training? Can't wait.... mike schwartz at 3Com Corp.