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Reactions: Hall of Fame snubs Users weigh-in with their picks for CooperstownLatest: Friday August 11, 2000 02:32 AM
CNNSI.com users were asked who they think still deserves election into the MLB Hall of Fame and who keeps getting snubbed. A sample of the responses we received follows: I think that Roger Maris has been overlooked by the Veteran's Committee for years. I do NOT think that he should be elected just because of the 61 homers. His career stats are almost identical to Larry Doby's (who seemed to be elected mainly with the one season's statistic of being the first black in the American League). Maris was an all star, two year MVP and played on World's Series teams with the Yankees and the Cardinals. In addition, he was always rated as one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, with a rifle arm and great leaping ability.
Gary Carter...his offensive stats for a catcher are as good, if not better than any catcher in history. Just because writers don't care for him doesn't mean he's not deserving of induction. I'm a life long Red Sox fan and remember the '86 World Series all too well, but the guy deserves to be in the Hall!
I doubt it will ever happen because he never played in New York or any other major media market, but I think Tony Oliva deserves strong consideration for induction. Without question, he was one of the great hitters of the 1960s. Only injuries kept him from amassing the sheer numbers that guarantee a trip to Cooperstown. I've always considered him the Sandy Koufax of outfielders: great in their prime, but careers cut short by injuries.
Dale murphy. I know he is a fan favorite and doesn't have the supposed numbers of everyone else, but we don't look at the total player. He had the second-most homers in the 80s. He played in the second longest streak of games behind Cal at 719. He won back to back MVP awards, hit almost 400 homers and countless hits and RBIs. Was the most popular player in the 80s thanks to TBS. People love the Murph and maybe he's not Babe Ruth but sometimes maybe nice guys deserve to finish first.
He didn't have Ruthian career numbers, he doesn't have 500 homeruns or 3000 hits, but Don Mattingly for a good 6 year period was the best player at his position in my mind. Yes Hernandez was probably a better defensive player (who should also be elected) but Mattingly was a better hitter, one of the few Yankee captains ever, would have been my choice every time for first basemen of that era and played the sport the way it should be played. He was about 35 when he retired, which if you put that up against some other future and current Hall of Famers is young. Perhaps he could have played until he was 40 or 41 and got his 3000 hits, but instead he left on his terms, when he wanted, partly because of injury, and partly because he knew his best days were behind him. But his best days were indeed great days for baseball.
Dave Parker. It is a joke that The Cobra is not in the HOF. He was an All-Star in three different decades, won two batting titles, an MVP, an All-Star Game MVP, and played in three world series, winning two. He was an incredible right fielder and drove in more than 90 runs almost every year of his career. Not to mention his numbers compared to Yount, Perez, Fisk, Mantle, Stargell, and Jackson are equal if not better. The HOF needs to stop omitting players just because they don't reach one of the fabeled statisitcal milestones.
Pete Rose should already be in the Hall OF Fame. HE was one of the most outstanding player of his time. He should be valued for his playing ability ONLY.
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