Just read a long article on Doubleswitch.com on how the 80s are being cruelly shafted in the Hall of Fame (thanks to Batter’s Box, a Blue Jays blog which pointed it out). The ignoring of the 80s is one of my favourite points to make about the Hall, second only to the Hall’s ritual blindness to 2Bs and 3Bs. The writer points out that he would vote for Alan Trammell and Bert Blyleven, both of whom are Hall of Famers in my book.
I think the 80s are screwed partly by the transition to the offensive explosion of the 1990s: Trammell was a great shortstop and good hitter, but on the cusp of a period in which great shortstops became sluggers (Nomar, A-Rod, even Jeter). And right on cue, the latest Gammons column has a quote from Tony La Russa supporting Trammell for the Hall -
“No question,” La Russa said, “it’s Alan Trammell. He did everything perfectly. He could and would hit anywhere in the order because all he cared about was winning. How he’s not in the Hall of Fame is a mystery.” (Link)
I also wonder, now that 3B has suddenly seen some superstars - Scott Rolen, A-Rod - as well as some offensive forces like Mora (until Sosa came on board, Baltimore’s power looked like it was going to come from Mora, Tejada, and Javy Lopez - a 3B, SS, and C - bizarre), will the most underrepresented position in the Hall of Fame get some love in the future? Seems like while the Hall takes a fairly lenient approach with many of the rest of the positions, you’re not getting in as a third baseman unless you play like Schmidt, Brett, or Boggs. Second basemen and catchers are also similarly screwed.
Oh well. I’ll develop these thoughts further, but to close on the 80s - I think Tim Raines will get screwed over in the Hall votes partly because he played in the obscurity of Montreal and partly because he was one of the greatest leadoff men of all time, perhaps the best the NL ever had, but he had the misfortune to play at the same time as Rickey.