January 04, 2005
Class of 2005
It's Boggs and Sandberg.
Update: Wade Boggs is no surprise. His 3000 hits and high batting average and OBA made him an easy pick. Sandberg makes it on his third try. I'm sure they're celebrating in Chicago. Ryne was a very productive 2nd baseman from 1984 through 1993. While his numbers may not be a gaudy as some second sackers of today, remember his prime years were before the offensive explosion of the 1990s. He gathered 346 win shares in his career, 38 coming in his big 1984 season that led the Cubs to the playoffs. He added 3 more 30+ seasons in the early 1990s. A great a second baseman, it's too bad his career was cut a bit short. It's nice to see the writers recognize his accomplishments after short changing him on his first ballot.
I have a post comparing Sandberg to other second basemen throughout history. It's interesting to see that Lou Whitaker and Bobby Grinch, two guys who will never be selected to the HoF, are significantly higher on the list than Sandberg. But I guess that's how the cookie crumbles, eh? No one ever said life was fair.
There were a number of 2nd basemen of the previous generation (Grich, White, Randolph and Whitaker) who were very good but got very little HOF recognition. It's a shame, really.
When you see how relievers get shortchanged by the HOF voter (like, oh, Lee Smith, Gary Sutter and Goose Gossage), my sympathy of second baseman diminishes just a wee bit.
They may be celebrating in Chicago, but we're crying in Philadelphia. Ryno was a throw-in in the Larry Bowa for Ivan DeJesus trade in the early '80s. Once again the Phillies let another great get away.
Regarding the relievers, I have no sympathy. The very best of the best should get it, but I view the Hall of Fame as a place where the best should be, not merely where the players who contributed the most value.
I don't really think of relievers as a separate position than starting pitchers. They do almost exactly the same thing, but generally aren't as good. Or rather, I think a lot of very good starters would have been great relievers.
That's not to take away from the best of the best. But Lee Smith is the type of guy who is going to fade with history, and I don't think he was ever a great baseball player.
Then again, I feel kinda similar about second basemen and shortstops.
