Hall of Fame Results Open Thread - Rice out by 14 votes

by Randy Booth on Jan 8, 2008 1:12 PM EST in News

Update [2008-1-8 14:7:4 by Randy Booth]: MLB.com link. Rice fell just 14 votes shy of getting into the Hall.

Update [2008-1-8 14:4:21 by Randy Booth]: Gossage in, Rice still out. Link to come.

Around 2 p.m. eastern we'll all know the results of the 2008 Hall of Fame voting. While Goose Gossage and Jim Rice wait for their names to be called, we get to stew over the good and bad choices. Consider this an open thread for all your Hall o' Fame needs.

Here's a note: if Rice is elected to the Hall of Fame, look for No. 14 to be raised in right field come Opening Day in April.

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Comments

Randy, I'm Truly Sorry...

... I'm not at all in a bad mood today, but after looking at Goosage's career stats (you watch them play, but don't pay attention to the numbers), and I don't see anything that warrants a Hall of Fame entrance.

Is it just me?

Dennis

The Red Head

by the red head on Jan 8, 2008 3:16 PM EST reply actions

Re: Randy, I'm Truly Sorry...

Don't need to preach to me. I could go either way on the Goose...

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 8, 2008 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Randy, I'm Truly Sorry...

Don't look at numbers - esp. not saves. Goose pitched in an era when relievers were not save machines.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Gossage was the best reliever in baseball. Better than Fingers and Sutter, who were both in already. Gossage definitely deserves to be in.

So does Rice. The idea that Wade Boggs should be in on the 1st ballot while Rice isn't in after 14 years is absurd to me. For nearly ten years, Jim Rice was the most feared bat in the American League. Wade Boggs? Not so much.

by RickD on Jan 9, 2008 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Hall of Fame Results Open Thread - Rice out by

Anybody who's seen my other posts know I'm not a fan of the HOF.

But in a semi-related rant, why the hell does Rice have to wait for his number to be retired by the Sox until he gets into the Hall? I know there's that arbitrary rule and all, but this ownership has bucked more than a few of the mistakes of ownerships past, and why not just retire Rice's number?

I don't think Rice is Hall-worthy, but I think his number should be retired by the Sox.

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by Hughie Jennings on Jan 8, 2008 3:51 PM EST reply actions

Re: Hall of Fame Results Open Thread - Rice out by

I agree. His number is worth retiring by the Red Sox but he's not HoF worthy.

by future on Jan 8, 2008 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Hall of Fame Results Open Thread - Rice out by

I like the current way it all works. I think it's pretty fair.

However, one number that will never go up there (due to current restrictions) but SHOULD is Johnny Pesky's. I think they should definitely retire his number and soon.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 8, 2008 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Hall of Fame Results Open Thread - Rice out by

I don't know why you guys think Jim Rice is not hall-worthy. As Gammons says, he finished in the top 5 in MVP voting 6 times in a 12-year period. His 1978 season was the best offensive year by any player in my lifetime before the steroids era.

The only argument against him is that his late 30s were not terribly productive. I think this obsession with late-career production is odd. So if Jim Rice has petered along for another 8 years at a .260-.275 level like Dave Winfield did, he'd be a HoF lock? Winfield's peak was nowhere near as high as Rice's.

by RickD on Jan 9, 2008 11:15 AM EST reply actions