Blyleven Elected to Hall of Fame

Bert Blyleven made it on his 14th try. He won 287 games, threw 60 shutouts and is 5th all-time in strikeouts so he is worthy, especially considering the credentials of many of his peers elected in recent years (e.g. Jim Rice, Andre Dawson).

Roberto "TheSpitter" Alomar made it in his firsttry.

Jack Morris was the only other White player to get over 50% of the vote, at 53.5%. Jeff Bagwell, one of my favorite players, received only 41.7% in his first year of eligibility. He and Morrislook to be the only White players on this year's list who have even a slight chance of getting into Cooperstown. Dale Murphy, who should be in the Hall, received a ridiculously low 12.6%.

Here's the vote: http://bbwaa.com/


<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width=300 align=right><T><T><T><T>
<T>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=3 align=middle ="black">2011 Hall of Fame voting</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Name</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Votes</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Pct.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Roberto Alomar</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">523</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">90.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Bert Blyleven</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">463</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">79.7%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Barry Larkin</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">361</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">62.1%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Jack Morris</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">311</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">53.5%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Lee Smith</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">263</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">45.3%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Jeff Bagwell</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">242</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">41.7%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Tim Raines</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">218</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">37.5%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Edgar Martinez</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">191</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">32.9%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Alan Trammell</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">141</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">24.3%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Larry Walker</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">118</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">20.3%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Mark McGwire</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">115</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">19.8%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Fred McGriff</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">104</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">17.9%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Dave Parker</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">89</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">15.3%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Don Mattingly</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">79</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">13.6%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Dale Murphy</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">73</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">12.6%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Rafael Palmeiro</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">64</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">11.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Juan Gonzalez</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">30</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">5.2%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Harold Baines</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">28</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">4.8%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">John Franco</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">27</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">4.6%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Kevin Brown</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">12</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">2.1%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Tino Martinez</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">6</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">1.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Marquis Grissom</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">4</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.7%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Al Leiter</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">4</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.7%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">John Olerud</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">4</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.7%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">B.J. Surhoff</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">2</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.3%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Bret Boone</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">1</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.2%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Benito Santiago</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">1</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.2%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Carlos Baerga</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Lenny Harris</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Bobby Higginson</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Charles Johnson</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Raul Mondesi</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Kirk Rueter</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0</TD>
<TD align=middle ="#d8d7d7">0.0%</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=3 align=middle ="#d8d7d7">Note: 436 votes (75%) required for enshrinement. Induction July 24, 2011 in Cooperstown, N.Y.</TD></TR></T></T></T></T></T></TABLE>Edited by: Don Wassall

Nice that Blyleven made it in. He was certainly deserving. I think the knock on him was that he never won 20 games which is less of an issue nowadays when that is rarely reached. He was known for his curve ball, considered one of the best ever. For that reason alone he should be in.

The steroid era legacy continues on with many noteworthy (statistically speaking) players being partially ignored. I'd like to see Jack Morris in the Hall, he was a player I followed closely for many years and is deserving.

I read that the taint of steroids would hurt Bagwell's chances, I guess it did.

Strange stuff. Alomar was eligible last year, I believe. You'd think, considering all the controversy surrounding him as a player and person, he wouldn't be so popular. Then I have to remind myself we're not talking about a White man here.

I'm curious to see if Lee Smith ever gets in. I see his percentage is up slightly this year. I've met him on a couple of occasions and wasn't impressed. His personal life is at least as messed up as Alomar's but few people know about it. I picked up his drunk alcoholic brother one night and gave him a ride into town. He offered to give me a bunch of signed memorabilia but I told him I wasn't interested. Lee Smith and his first wife lived in a practically all White small town in the Louisiana hills but he had his place cordoned off and outfitted like it was a military installation. That is just one reason why I never liked him.

I was watching a bit of Mike and Mike this morning and Jeff Bagwell's name came up. I think they said this is the first year he is eligible for the HOF. They also mentioned that Bagwell was being linked to steroids by some people despite the fact that there is no known proof he ever did steroids. Looks like they are going to use that against him forever.

Colonel_Reb said:

Strange stuff. Alomar was eligible last year, I believe.

Click to expand...

You're right about that. He just missed being elected last year.

The only knock people had against Blyleven was that he only put up mediocre seasons, but played for 22 of them. Sure he didn't get to 300 wins, but we're fast approaching the point where pitchers coming up for the hall aren't going to be anywhere close. Clemens, Glavine, Maddux, and Johnson are probably the last 300 game winners that are going to come up in a good long while, if ever again. The win is becoming a dated statistic, so it'll be interesting to see how the Hall voters change their perception of pitcher success going forward.

PED users coming up is also going to be interesting in how the voters handle it. In my opinion, players who have admitted to doing them (Alex Rodriguez, etc.), failed drug tests (Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmiero, Sammy Sosa), or there is overwhelming logical evidence that they did use (Bonds, maybe not so much Clemens) should not be allowed in. Their achievements are not legitimate or authentic.

Players who there may have been "whispers" of, like Bagwell, shouldn't be penalized, as there is nothing concrete against them. People who put up Hall of Fame-quality numbers during the steroid era are obviously going to be put under the microscope, but I think obvious locks like Thome, Chipper, and the pitchers I mentioned above should have no difficulty getting in. Unless of course they're penalized for not being dark enough to fit the Hall nowadays.

By the way, Blyleven trails only Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and Steve Carlton on the all-time strikeout list. Not too shabby. I think he deserved it.

Colonel_Reb said:

Strange stuff. Alomar was eligible last year, I believe. You'd think, considering all the controversy surrounding him as a player and person, he wouldn't be so popular. Then I have to remind myself we're not talking about a White man here. I'm curious to see if Lee Smith ever gets in. I see his percentage is up slightly this year. I've met him on a couple of occasions and wasn't impressed. His personal life is at least as messed up as Alomar's but few people know about it. I picked up his drunk alcoholic brother one night and gave him a ride into town. He offered to give me a bunch of signed memorabilia but I told him I wasn't interested. Lee Smith and his first wife lived in a practically all White small town in the Louisiana hills but he had his place cordoned off and outfitted like it was a military installation. That is just one reason why I never liked him.

Click to expand...

Hahaha I recall writers talking about Lee Smith as a Black version of a "Good Old Boy". Smith to me isn't a hall of famer he might be a veterans committee type guy, but he was never viewed as the best reliever even for a short period. I would love to see Morris make it as he was a clutch as it got. From looking at the numbers Bagwell will eventually make it as his totals will eventually get to 75 percent.

Colonel_Reb said:

Strange stuff. Alomar was eligible last year, I believe. You'd think, considering all the controversy surrounding him as a player and person, he wouldn't be so popular. Then I have to remind myself we're not talking about a White man here. I'm curious to see if Lee Smith ever gets in. I see his percentage is up slightly this year. I've met him on a couple of occasions and wasn't impressed. His personal life is at least as messed up as Alomar's but few people know about it. I picked up his drunk alcoholic brother one night and gave him a ride into town. He offered to give me a bunch of signed memorabilia but I told him I wasn't interested. Lee Smith and his first wife lived in a practically all White small town in the Louisiana hills but he had his place cordoned off and outfitted like it was a military installation. That is just one reason why I never liked him.

Click to expand...

Since Alomar gave that umpire an AIDS bath, I've had a nickname for him: Spitbird (he was an Oriole then). As for Smith, I still get a thrill as a Phillies phan from the day the seemingly indestructible Smith blew a save and lost to the Phightin's during that "Beards, Bellies and Biceps" season in 1993. Never knew those factoids about Smith, Reb.

OTOH congrats to the Flying Dutchman. I saw Blyleven pitch in person twice: in 1977 when he beat Jim Palmer in 10 innings as a Ranger

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL197704070.shtml

and in 1978 when as a Pirate he lost (sorry Don and Van Slyke ) to the Phillies' Dick Ruthven in the opener of a Three Rivers double dip.*

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT197808061.shtml

*Played on the day Pope Paul VI died. I learned the news when it was flashed on the scoreboard during the DH's nightcap.

John

Edited by: foreverfree

Blyleven was a great pitcher that should have been elected to the HOF many years ago. I had the pleasure of watching him pitch on many occasions as a child. Bert would NO DOUBT have well over 300 wins if he played on better teams.

Bagwell should also be elected into the HOF because he's more than deserving and he never had a sudden change in size and stats like known/suspected PED users. Bagwell's career stats are ridiculously great and HOF material, check them out on the link below...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bagweje01.shtml

Bagwell is more worthy of the Hall than Jim Rice and Andre Dawson. He was a beast offensively. His runs, HRs and RBIs were at an elite level year after year. For him to get so little support is, well, racist.

The real shame is that Bagwell's best season was in the ill-fated strike year of 1994, when MLB shut down in early August and there was no World Series. He had 39 homers and 116 RBIs in two-thirds of a normal season, to go along with a .368 batting average. That would have been a complete season reminiscent of the Babe Ruth/Jimmy Foxx/Hack Wilson era of the '20s and '30s.

Heard today that Blyleven had 240 complete games.

Bagwell has the numbers and had a stellar career, although the challenge is that he is part of the steroid generation - this is the perception.

IMHO, Murphy, Raines, Morris and Mattingly (career bad back shortened) should all be in the HOF. Easy.

Lee Smith, Trammell and Larry Walker borderline.

I always thought Larkin was somewhat overrated for some reason. Can't specifically say why, just my own vague perception. A very good player, yet not HOF. I'd rate Mcgriff better then Larkin.

WhiteWorld said:

Heard today that Blyleven had 240 complete games.

Click to expand...

Bert had 242 complete games, throwing an incredible 25 in 1973 and 24 in 1985. I linked BB's HOF career stats below.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blylebe01.shtml

Is Murph too nice and too white? What the hell. In Bill James Historical Abstract, he's the only position player on the All-80s team not in the Hall of Fame. I think he may be the only eligible back-to-back MVP not in either. He was a freak athlete pre-steroids, 30-30 at 6-foot-5.

James has him No. 12 CF of all-time, ahead of Earl Averill, Wally Berger, Richie Ashburn, Hack Wilson. Behind Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Micky Mantle, Tris Speaker, Joe DiMaggio, Duke Snider, Ken Griffey Jr., Kirby Puckett, Billy Hamilton, Jimmy Wynn and Larry Doby.

Bill James' 1980s:
C Gary Carter
1B Eddie Murray
2B Ryne Sandberg
3B Mike Schmidt
SS Cal Ripken
LF Ricky Henderson
CF Robin Young
RF Dale Murphy
SP Dave Stieb
SP Jack Morris
SP Bert Blyleven
SP Fernando Valenzuela
SP Roger Clemens
RP Dan Quisenberry