I just saw that Tony O got stiffed again. They need 75% and nobody came close. The memory of these guys' exploits fades with each vote. Why have this committee at all?

Gil Hodges 65.0%
Ron Santo 65.0%
Tony Oliva 56.3%
Jim Kaat 53.8%
Joe Torre 45.0%
Maury Wills 32.5%

I am bitter.

Why am I not surprised? I am so not happy about this state of things.

I officially want an HOF vote!!!

Win Twins!

*signs Batgirl's letter*

How the HECK does someone like Tony O not get in there?

*pouts*

Ah, Bat-Girl: everything needed in a letter of complaint: stated displeasure, a solution, a deadline, and (most importantly), a big powerful name to back it up with. I hope the HOF Veterans Committee is reading...

Seriously, what were they thinking?

"How the HECK does someone like Tony O not get in there?"
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Are his stats good enough for the hall ?

The Veterans Committee body now includes a large number of members voting on a wide-open list, I believe, of former ballplayers no longer eligible for the writers ballot. Also given the bias that many former players will feel for those from their own league and era, and the fact that none of the players under consideration were dominant enough to be inducted by the writers in the first place, and under the circumstances I think it's just too difficult statistically for anybody to get 75% of the VC vote.

All the players under consideration are borderline HOF candidates, by definition of their standing, right? So if about 150 men are submitting names, or voting from a long list, what are the chances that 75% of them can agree that even one of these borderline candidates really deserves to be in the HOF?

I'd like to see Santo and Oliva make the HOF, but I don't think the VC is going to induct another candidate until they restructure the process, and possibly bring down the threshold for induction.

It's a traveshamockery.

and still no honor for ROGER MARIS :(

Tony O's stats (according to Baseball1.com): Seasons: 15 | Average: .304 | Hits: 1917 | RBI: 947 | Runs: 870 | HR: 220

Not too shabby, but maybe not HOF material . . . until you consider HOFer and - not uncoincidentally - former Yankee Phil Rizzuto:
Seasons: 13 | Average: .273 | Hits: 1588 | RBI: 563 | Runs: 887 | HR: 38(!)

OK, Phil's a bad example. Everyone knows he shouldn't be there. What about Yogi Berra?
Seasons: 19 | Average: .285 | Hits: 2150 | RBI: 1430 | Runs: 1175 | HR: 358

Overall better than Oliva's, but out of his league? No way. Tony O should be there.

Vada....Vada....Vada

The argument I have heard most often is that Tony Oliva didn't play long enough. Personally, that sounds like pants to me, but there it is.

And I have a vested interest. Tony O. was one of my coaches when I played baseball as a kid. His son was on my team.

Go Tony!

NY-Brian

Uhh, what about Bert? He ranks in the top 20 on so many lists... him not being in there is only legal in this country. If this were Canada the Veterans Committee would, like, have to pay a small fine and maaaaybe spend the weekend in a detenion center.

Sorry Bert. Keep being patient though, the SABR movement is gaining steam and you'll soon be able to ride it right into Cooperstown - where you belong.

You're only eligible for induction by the Veteran's Committee once you're no longer eligible through the normal Writer's election process. The idea is that guys who slipped through the cracks that the players all think should be in get in. It's not really working so much, though.

From baseball-reference.com:

Black Ink: Batting - 41 (34) (Average HOFer ~ 27)
Gray Ink: Batting - 146 (93) (Average HOFer ~ 144)
HOF Standards: Batting - 28.9 (319) (Average HOFer ~ 50)
HOF Monitor: Batting - 114.0 (120) (Likely HOFer > 100)

So, Tony passes 3 out of 4 tests. It appears his award votes (All-Star, RoY, MVP, GG) and rate stats are pretty solid, even if he didn't have the career longevity. Very similar to Puckett, actually.

If only, if only, if only . . .

If only Tony O. didn't play in Minnesota. If only he had played for the Yankees (which he himself recently pointed out), he would be in the Hall.

True enough.

Still, I would rather curse at the heavens for not allowing Tony O. in the Hall and have my memories of him in a Twins uniform than have him in the Hall wearing some other cap.

It may not be fair, but at least we know he should be there and we know he will always be a Twin.

I realize no one is still reading this thread, but the good people at Baseball Prospectus think that Santo and Blyleven are the two most worthy candidates not already in the Hall. I'm pretty sure they're bullish on Tony O. as well. Basically, the VC has its collective head up Joe Morgan's ass.