Alomar and Blyleven inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame

digicat · January 5, 2011 4:06AM

Alomar jumped all the way up to 90%. Guess the writers made a "statement" last year, or something.

CEOBIDMC · January 5, 2011 4:27AM

both players are well deserved and neither should have been made to wait.

weinhold · January 5, 2011 4:28AM

Sluggers Rafael Palmeiro, Jeff Bagwell and Mark McGwire all fell below the 50 percent mark.

digicat · January 5, 2011 4:34AM

As for the guys who didn't make it..

Barry Larkin: 62.1% (+10.5%)
Jack Morris: 53.5% (+1.2%)
Lee Smith: 45.3% (-2.0%)
Jeff Bagwell: 41.7%
Tim Raines: 37.5% (+7.1%)
Edgar Martinez: 32.9% (-3.3%)
Alan Trammell: 24.3% (+1.9%)
Larry Walker: 20.3%
Mark McGwire: 19.8% (-3.9%)
Fred McGriff: 17.9% (-3.6%)
Dave Parker: 15.3% (+0.1%) (15th and final ballot)
Don Mattingly: 13.6% (-2.5%)
Dale Murphy: 12.6% (+0.9%)
Rafael Palmeiro: 11.0%
Juan Gonzalez: 5.2%

Everyone else fell off, including Harold Baines who falls off in his 5th ballot.

Hallco · January 5, 2011 4:35AM

So....is it officially time to sell all of my 1971 Topps Bert Blyleven Rookie cards?

RonBurgundy · January 5, 2011 4:37AM

Props to both players! Never really thought Alomar was the slam dunk everybody else did. Glad to see Bert make it, man did he crank out the hits in his day. Any Day Now and What The World Needs Now are 2 of my favorites.

Hallco · January 5, 2011 4:40AM

digicat · January 5, 2011 4:43AM

Blyleven was worthy, but it's interesting to note his rough road on the ballot:

1998: 17.6%
1999: 17.4%
2000: 17.4%
2001: 23.5%
2002: 26.3%
2003: 29.2%
2004: 35.4%
2005: 40.9%
2006: 53.3%
2007: 47.7%
2008: 61.9%
2009: 62.7%
2010: 74.2%
2011: 79.7% - Induction

bman90278 · January 5, 2011 5:09AM

<< Blyleven was worthy, but it's interesting to note his rough road on the ballot:

1998: 17.6%
1999: 17.4%
2000: 17.4%
2001: 23.5%
2002: 26.3%
2003: 29.2%
2004: 35.4%
2005: 40.9%
2006: 53.3%
2007: 47.7%
2008: 61.9%
2009: 62.7%
2010: 74.2%
2011: 79.7% - Induction >>

Very interesting how much he gained in votes.

Lets see who was inducted each year by the BBWAA . I left on Bly's vote percentage on each year.

1998: 17.6% Don Sutton
1999: 17.4% Robin Yount, Nolan Ryan, George Brett
2000: 17.4% Tony Perez, Carton Fisk
2001: 23.5% Dave Winfield, Kirby Puckett
2002: 26.3% Ozzie Smith
2003: 29.2% Eddie Murray, Gary Carter
2004: 35.4% Molitor and Eckersley
2005: 40.9% Sandberg and Boggs
2006: 53.3% Sutter
2007: 47.7% Ripken and Gwynn
2008: 61.9% The Goose
2009: 62.7% Henderson and Rice
2010: 74.2% Dawson

Sorry if i got anyone wrong...just did this fast.

So you have Sutton, Nolan Ryan, Eckersley and the Goose got in during those years...Interesting.

I never considered Bly one of the best when you look at each year, but he certainly compiled HOF #'s during his career. I always thought the same as Sutton.

I do think the writers did get it right though and Glad Alomar got in because he was one of the best.

brian

PSASAP · January 5, 2011 6:24AM

Any Day Now and What The World Needs Now are 2 of my favorites.

Don't you mean Burt?

ernie11 · January 5, 2011 6:44AM

<< So....is it officially time to sell all of my 1971 Topps Bert Blyleven Rookie cards?

>>

Don't have his rookie card, but I did get this from him in 1990, from a through-the-mail autograph request:

jaxxr · January 5, 2011 6:44AM

Alomar and Blyleven are reasonable, and fine selections,
as McGwire, Larkin, and Bagwell would have been as well.

It is always interesting/surprising to note, that Bly was rated as among the better pitchers in his league,
a grand total of two times in a 22 season career, via AS game selections.

Mickey71 · January 5, 2011 8:06AM

Blyleven,
Quietly compiled alot of stats. Was never one of the top pitchers in the game. Stats can be deceiving.

Mickey71

PowderedH2O · January 5, 2011 8:28AM

No problem with either of these guys. Both are deserving. Props to the voters for getting this one right.

Boopotts · January 5, 2011 8:58AM

<< Blyleven,
Quietly compiled alot of stats. Was never one of the top pitchers in the game. Stats can be deceiving.

Mickey71 >>

Stats are only deceiving if you don't understand how to interpret them.

Blacklabelsociety · January 5, 2011 9:09AM

Looks like the voters never forgave Dave Parker for his past coke addiction. He was a better player than Rice, and deserves to be in.

weinhold · January 5, 2011 9:10AM

<< Blyleven,
Quietly compiled alot of stats. Was never one of the top pitchers in the game. Stats can be deceiving.

Mickey71 >>

I agree with you. Blyleven was a compiler. All sports Hall Of Fames are so watered down that people aren't even upset anymore that someone whom was never the greatest pitcher for any considerable period of time now has a Cooperstown plaque in perpetuity.

I'm in the minority in that sports HOFs should be much more exclusive. If current HOF members in each respective HOF numbered 40-50% of what they are now, then HOFs might truly feel special again. They're all lost forever.

There are other ways to honor outstanding athletes: a "Bert Blyleven night" in Minnesota, the Twins' retirement of Bly's number, or perhaps even induction in the Twins Hall Of Fame.

Though only in my 30s, I still remember Chris Berman calling him: Bert "Be Home" Blyleven. I wish he were staying home in July rather than honored at a certain ceremony in upstate New York.

Blacklabelsociety · January 5, 2011 9:15AM

287 wins. 3700 strikeouts. Great post season record.

What else can you ask for out of a pitcher??

digicat · January 5, 2011 9:21AM

There have been 17,498 MLB players throughout history. There are 214 MLB players in the Hall of Fame.

That's 1.2%. I'm perfectly fine honoring that 1.2%.

bking · January 5, 2011 9:49AM

I have a hard time reconciling the complaints about unworthy guys getting in and compalints about voters who don't vote for enough guys.

Maybe I'm dense. Ok, yeah, I KNOW I am. But still......

CEOBIDMC · January 5, 2011 9:49AM

look at the record on some of those twins teams that Bert pitched for, lotta losing records lots of .500 records.

he pitched great in 2 world series and helped both teams win in the playoffs and the big stage. he tossed a ton of complete games AND 60 shutouts.

he has more Wins than guys like Palmer, Hunter and Bunning and he probably should have won the 1973 Cy young award.

bking · January 5, 2011 9:52AM

<< look at the record on some of those twins teams that Bert pitched for, lotta losing records lots of .500 records.

he pitched great in 2 world series and helped both teams win in the playoffs and the big stage. he tossed a ton of complete games AND 60 shutouts.

he has more Wins than guys like Palmer, Hunter and Bunning and he probably should have won the 1973 Cy young award. >>

Yep, guy pitches during possibly the greatest pitching era in modern times, surrounded by guys like Ryan, Seaver, Jenkins, and Carlton, yet not being better than those guys somehow makes him unworthy.

Garabaldi · January 5, 2011 9:58AM

I am surprised the Crimedog does not get more love. He is not a HOFer, but he was a very good player for a long time.

weinhold · January 5, 2011 10:19AM

<< 287 wins. 3700 strikeouts. Great post season record.

What else can you ask for out of a pitcher?? >>

Greatness, or near-dominance, even for a short period of time would be nice.
Just one Cy Young Award. He has none.
For goodness sake, Blyleven only made two All-Star teams in his 23-year career!

As for 214 HOF players of 17,498 players in the history of MLB, that is exactly my point. That's more than 1 out of 82 players - which even includes those that had a cup of coffee in the Majors - are enshrined forever.

Looking at roster size, that would work out to about one player for every three Major League Baseball team's rosters at any given time!

I'm not saying Bert Blyleven shouldn't be honored, I'm saying he should not be inducted into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame. This once-hallowed institution was formerly synonymous with terms like "Gods Of The Game" and "Living Legends". Today - Bert Blyleven. LOL!

bking · January 5, 2011 10:24AM

<< 

<< 287 wins. 3700 strikeouts. Great post season record.

What else can you ask for out of a pitcher?? >>

Greatness, or near-dominance, even for a short period of time would be nice.
Just one Cy Young Award. He has none.
For goodness sake, Blyleven only made two All-Star teams in his 23-year career!

As for 214 HOF players of 17,498 players in the history of MLB, that is exactly my point. That's more than 1 out of 82 players - which even includes those that had a cup of coffee in the Majors - are enshrined forever.

Looking at roster size, that would work out to about one player for every three Major League Baseball team's rosters at any given time!

I'm not saying Bert Blyleven shouldn't be honored, I'm saying he should not be inducted into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame. This once-hallowed institution was formerly synonymous with terms like "Gods Of The Game" and "Living Legends". Today - Bert Blyleven. LOL! >>

Please tell me you're not using All-Star appearances, especially during a time when it was 100% fan voting at the stadiums, as a measure of HOF-worthiness.

EDIT: Especilly#2: In an era when the only way to see a player was to attend a game or watch the GOTW on Saturday. How many fans even knew who he was?

PowderedH2O · January 5, 2011 10:36AM

When I was 8 years old I used to go to the Gillette All-Star voting displays and stuff them. I voted for my favorites. Being that there was no cable, and the Twins were never on television, I never voted for Blyleven. I'm sure I was not alone in not voting for him, even if he deserved it.

Boopotts · January 5, 2011 10:37AM

<< 

<< Blyleven,
Quietly compiled alot of stats. Was never one of the top pitchers in the game. Stats can be deceiving.

Mickey71 >>

I agree with you. Blyleven was a compiler. All sports Hall Of Fames are so watered down that people aren't even upset anymore that someone whom was never the greatest pitcher for any considerable period of time now has a Cooperstown plaque in perpetuity.

I'm in the minority in that sports HOFs should be much more exclusive. If current HOF members in each respective HOF numbered 40-50% of what they are now, then HOFs might truly feel special again. They're all lost forever.

There are other ways to honor outstanding athletes: a "Bert Blyleven night" in Minnesota, the Twins' retirement of Bly's number, or perhaps even induction in the Twins Hall Of Fame.

Though only in my 30s, I still remember Chris Berman calling him: Bert "Be Home" Blyleven. I wish he were staying home in July rather than honored at a certain ceremony in upstate New York. >>

Very nice sentiments. There's a Jim Rice thread in here somewhere with which you should become acquainted.

weinhold · January 5, 2011 10:51AM

<< Very nice sentiments. There's a Jim Rice thread in here somewhere with which you should become acquainted. >>

'Tis true; of course Rice shouldn't be in either...and with all the Red Sox partisanship, I don't have time to fight that battle.

Slippery-slopeism is alive & well. There's no erosion control plan in sight.

grote15 · January 5, 2011 12:09PM

Blyleven,
Quietly compiled alot of stats. Was never one of the top pitchers in the game. Stats can be deceiving.

Mickey71 >>

Stats are only deceiving if you don't understand how to interpret them.

Exactly. Blyleven was an outstanding pitcher on a lot of mediocre small market teams. Wins are probably the most misleading stat there is to gauge a pitcher's effectiveness, but Blyleven's career ERA of 3.31 in nearly 5K IP, 3700 K's, career ERA+ of 118 and WHIP if 1.19, not to mention 60 career shutouts tell the real story.

Mickey71 · January 5, 2011 12:41PM

I don't think pitchers were ever voted on by the fans. The coaches picked them in the all star game?

Blacklabelsociety · January 5, 2011 5:38PM

<< 

<< 

<< 287 wins. 3700 strikeouts. Great post season record.

What else can you ask for out of a pitcher?? >>

Greatness, or near-dominance, even for a short period of time would be nice.
Just one Cy Young Award. He has none.
For goodness sake, Blyleven only made two All-Star teams in his 23-year career!

As for 214 HOF players of 17,498 players in the history of MLB, that is exactly my point. That's more than 1 out of 82 players - which even includes those that had a cup of coffee in the Majors - are enshrined forever.

Looking at roster size, that would work out to about one player for every three Major League Baseball team's rosters at any given time!

I'm not saying Bert Blyleven shouldn't be honored, I'm saying he should not be inducted into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame. This once-hallowed institution was formerly synonymous with terms like "Gods Of The Game" and "Living Legends". Today - Bert Blyleven. LOL! >>

Please tell me you're not using All-Star appearances, especially during a time when it was 100% fan voting at the stadiums, as a measure of HOF-worthiness.

EDIT: Especilly#2: In an era when the only way to see a player was to attend a game or watch the GOTW on Saturday. How many fans even knew who he was? >>

Agreed. More impressive Blyleven stats:

60 shutouts....9th all-time

5-1 post-season record.....2.47 era.............2 Championships............NUFF SAID

MeteoriteGuy · January 5, 2011 6:57PM

Hats off to Alomar. He played here locally in AAA while I was selling drinks and snacks for tickets I would turn it at the end of the night for my pay.

Garabaldi · January 5, 2011 9:48PM

<< Looks like the voters never forgave Dave Parker for his past coke addiction. He was a better player than Rice, and deserves to be in. >>

I am not saying that Rice is a great HOFer, but how is Parker more derserving?

CEOBIDMC · January 6, 2011 1:53AM

Parker is not more deserving and its not even close.

Mickey71 · January 6, 2011 3:12AM

Parker had a cool earring when he was about 275 LBS and DHing in the American League. Hall of Fame talent early on in his career. Food and drugs took him out of the hall.......Mo Vaughn also.

rip8cp1 · January 6, 2011 3:43AM

Jack Morris should be in, same with Ron Santo. Congratulations to Alomar and Blyleven.

How to get autographs.....

bking · January 6, 2011 3:52AM

<< I don't think pitchers were ever voted on by the fans. The coaches picked them in the all star game? >>

DeutscherGeist · January 6, 2011 5:04AM

Alomar was the right choice. Blyleven I am on the fence on.

It looks like Larkin and Morris could be next. Next year's Ballot rookies is led by Bernie Williams. While Williams was outstanding, I think Larkin's star shines brighter.

Mickey71 · January 6, 2011 5:27AM

I totally respect Bernie Williams and can say "No way in hell he makes it". He just wasn't good enough to even consider.

Saberman · January 6, 2011 6:00AM

Coaches get fooled by W/L records as well...so it is no surprise they wouldn't select Blyleven too often.

Blyleven's low showing in Cy Young awards is because of writers voting...nuff said. They have no clue on W/L record, and still think it is because players 'know how to win', ala Jack Morris, as opposed to the reality of it.

So in a nutshell, the W/L record perception hurt him in those two areas.

What didn't hurt him is how good a pitcher he was...and luckily the measurements with a high validity on determining that, does show it.

Bernie Williams is better than most people think. However, being a bit of a 'glass man' where he only played 150 games twice in his career, does limit him.

RonBurgundy · January 6, 2011 6:52AM

Saberman is spot on.

3701 K's is nothing to sneeze at. I respect the guy who put in the effort, didn't beat his chest (until now, LOL), and over time materialized into a Hall of Fame player. Put him on some better teams and you're looking at 325 wins.

Blacklabelsociety · January 6, 2011 9:59AM

<< 

<< Looks like the voters never forgave Dave Parker for his past coke addiction. He was a better player than Rice, and deserves to be in. >>

I am not saying that Rice is a great HOFer, but how is Parker more derserving? >>

Rice deserves to be in the hall. I watched the hall of fame show last night on Major league network. Jon Heyman said it is an injustice that Parker is not in the hall.

Many people think Parker was a better player than Rice. Parker had a more successful career and was by far a more feared hitter than Rice.

IBB....Parker 124
Rice 72
Parker should be a two-time MVP because of the year he got robbed in 1985 over his cocaine trial. He hit 312 that year and led the league in rbi, doubles, and extra base hits and 2nd in homers.
When Parker retired he was in the top-50 all time in 6 different categories and still is in a couple.
some of his stats to make his case:

1978 MVP
1979 ALL-STAR MVP
7-time all-star
2-time batting champion
3 silver sluggers
3 gold gloves
2 championships with 2 different teams
Had 10 hits against the Orioles in 79 series
1493 RBI
2712 HITS
526 DOUBLES
940 EXTRA BASE HITS

Finished in the top 10 in MVP voting 6 times.

PowderedH2O · January 6, 2011 10:19AM

Blacklabelsociety... I think this might be the first time we have ever agreed, but we have done it!!! Yes, Dave Parker was better than Rice. And amongst those highlights you mentioned were the Gold Gloves. Parker had an arm of legend. Only fools ran on him. Nobody ran on Rice at Fenway either, but that was because by the time the ball came off the Monster to him, he was only about 200 feet from the plate.

Blacklabelsociety · January 6, 2011 10:24AM

<< Gold Gloves. Parker had an arm of legend. Only fools ran on him. >>

Yea Eddie Murray found out the hard way in game 2 of the 79 series. I'll never forget the stunned look on Murray's face at home plate....priceless

Saberman · January 6, 2011 10:41AM

Yup,

Blacklabel got one right there.

Blacklabelsociety · January 6, 2011 11:53AM

<< Blacklabelsociety... I think this might be the first time we have ever agreed, but we have done it!!! Yes, Dave Parker was better than Rice. And amongst those highlights you mentioned were the Gold Gloves. Parker had an arm of legend. Only fools ran on him. Nobody ran on Rice at Fenway either, but that was because by the time the ball came off the Monster to him, he was only about 200 feet from the plate. >>

Just learned another interesting Parker stat from watching Major league network tonight.

Parker
1977...single season assists...26....Most assists ever in a season by a outfielder.

Estil · January 9, 2011 2:23AM

Sorry for being so late to reply to this, but I've only got one thing to say that I think is appropriate (and I bet Mr. Blyleven himself was at least tempted to say this) regarding Mr. Blyleven FINALLY becoming a HOF-elect:

It is about damn time!!

Seriously, there was no excuse for making the man wait 14 years while every 3000 hit club member since 1962 (until Palmeiro of course) got in on the first ballot. And I strongly believe 3000 K's for a pitcher should get that same "automatic bid" status. And Mr. Blyleven had 701 K's to spare, plus 287 wins, and most importantly, 60 career shutouts!!

Better late than never I suppose...

Now I can only hope Ronnie Milsap gets his call to the (Country Music) Hall in 2011. He's certainly a much more worthy singer than say, Vince Gill.

Alomar and Blyleven inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame

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