Boom!
You hear that? It's the sound of baseball once again shooting itself in the foot. Upon hearing the news that the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame class will have no living players inducted, I was thoroughly annoyed., aggravated, and pretty much upset with the great game that I love. Many others were, and I'm sure you are as well. I knew there was a possibility based upon the ridiculous thinking of the baseball writers (Hall of Fame Votes: The First Step in Handling the Steroid Era), but I was just hoping that the game wouldn't do such a thing to it's self.
However, here we are.
With a ballot stocked full of big-time names and well-deserving players, we get the result of no one going in. Apparently, these writers felt that no one was good enough. And honestly, with a history of no one ever receiving 100% of the votes, apparently no one ever has been. And that is the problem. After all, take a moment and answer this question...who is the greatest baseball player of all-time?
Ruth? Gehrig? Mays? Musial? Bonds? Heck, make a case for Ty Cobb or even a pitcher. Maybe, Nolan Ryan?
Got your guy? Good.
Now think about the mere fact that Tom Seaver, in the history of ALL players, received the highest percentage to enter into the HOF. Tom Seaver! Seaver is no slouch, but receiving of such a dignitary is absurd.
Want more evidence of this ridiculous system, Aaron Sele received a Hall of Fame vote today. Aaron Sele! My goodness...
These writers with voting power have ultimately made the Hall of Fame decision about themselves. That's ultimately what it boils down to. These guys, some who are never even seen at games, take their bias, their personal feelings, and their over-cavalier thinking and attempt to push upon us what the history of baseball should be.
I hate to bear bad news to these folks, as much as they try to "erase" the steroid era - it happened! We all saw it with our own two eyes. And here is a bit of truth that will haunt these writers at night, not one of them said anything while it was going on. They all clamored, jumped on the bandwagon, and even made money off the backs of the McGwires, the Sosas, the Bonds, the Clemens, and whomever else has been labeled a suspect during this time, and are now attempting to turn their nose at it in disgrace.
Hypocrisy at its best.
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| These numbers absolutely make me sick! |
We also have some current Hall of Famers like recent Inductee, Barry Larkin, who is stepping on the growing soap box saying the following statement in defense of the absent 2013 class:
“There’s a very strong sentiment in that fraternity that integrity, credibility, sportsmanship is a big part of being a Hall of Famer. These guys feel very strongly about integrity of the Hall of Fame members. It would be devastating and traumatic to the institution if there is a divide among the Hall of Famers.”
Stop it. Please, stop with the credibility nonsense. Are we really to believe that everyone in the HOF is a choir boy. There are tons of HOF's who were guilty of insane bigotry, amphetamines and cocaine usage, cheating on their wives, gambling, and other unethical measurements that would destroy the credibility of any one person, but this - speculative steroid use - is the line?
Heck, there are PED users currently in the Hall of Fame!
And oh yeah, why didn't Barry Larkin say something while he was playing? He also could have put a stop to it.
Give me a break.
Mike Piazza was not voted for because one writer claimed he once saw acne on Piazza's back in the clubhouse and quickly asserted that to steroid use. Really? The greatest offensive catcher of all-time is not being put into the HOF because he has back acne?
I forgot that back acne means you are on the juice.
And how about Craig Biggio? The guy has better numbers than any second baseman in the past fifty years?!
Ugh!
There are other writers who did not vote for certain players because they did not like them, or because simply, they had an issue with that player. So this is their revenge.
Once again, give me a break.
And to those writers who handed in empty ballots in their way of demonstrating their self-righteousness in the game while protesting the ballot of alleged steroid users, you are the greatest disservice to the game. If you claim steroid users are cheaters and should be punished, then why not elevate the guys who aren't suspected of cheating. Shouldn't a guy like Fred McGriff and his 493 home runs mean that much more now?
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| Cooperstown might be empty for more reasons because of this vote |
I can go on and on about this, as is the case with anything steroid-related in baseball, but I'm sure you get the point. There needs to be a new system for voting. More votes should be allowed. A rule of mandatory election each year. And of course, let's open the voting up to more than just these select writers. Why doesn't a guy like Bob Costas have a vote? Why not beat writers who spend countless days of their lives with these players? How about broadcasters? Hello, Vin Scully, anyone?! Or heck, in today's world, how about bloggers? Some of these guys cover way more baseball than these self-important ego-maniacs that are doing more damage to the HOF than a Barry Bonds plaque would.
With all of that said, here are the biggest losers in today's debacle:
Guys on the Ballot - Ultimately, you need at least 5% to stay on the ballot for the next year, and at least 75% to get inducted. You have five years on the ballot. With names like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas next year and Ken Griffey Jr. in 2015, the ballot will become insanely cluttered, and look for more injustices to happen. Ultimately, the damage is just getting started.
Overall Health of the Game - In a recent poll, it showed that MLB is the second most popular league in a very distant second behind the NFL. However, what was more interesting is that NCAA Football was now a close 3rd. Baseball continues to hurt itself with these pre-historic thoughts and being wrapped up in tradition that doesn't do anything but hurt the sport. Can anyone explain the stupid thinking from writers that no one should have 100% because Babe Ruth didn't receive it? Didn't think so. After all, to think that there were actually people who did not vote for Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn when they were on the ballot?
Must be the same guy who voted for Aaron Sele.
A HOF induction ceremony that celebrates the history of the game in June, helps the sport. The sport may be healthy, but it is not progressive right now. And such injustices rooted in past thinking proves it.
Cooperstown, NY - A small town that I was fortunate enough to visit last year makes its living on baseball. And induction weekend is the big cash cow. With an empty class, business will be bad. Thanks for those blank ballots guys.
All in all, baseball has managed to do it to itself again. We are now looking at a sport that is on the verge of having its all-time home run king, its all-time hits leader, and a pitcher with the most Cy Young awards in history of the game on the outside of the HOF.
Boom! It's time to take away the gun before more damage is done.