One of the Biggest Hall of Fame Classes to date: Discussion and vote thread

[Greedy22]

Just because Kenny Lofton is my absolute favorite player ever, I thought I would remind everyone of how remarkable he was...

The dude led the league in stolen bases 5 times, was a 6-time All-Star, and a 4-time Gold Glove winner. He played in the 6th-most games in center field since 1954. From 1995 to his last year in 2007, he only missed the playoffs TWO times...TWO!

His 622 career stolen bases rank 15th all-time. For you stat people out there, his WAR is 65.3--which is good for 79th ALL TIME (and similar to guys like Manny Ramirez, Robbie Alomar, Ernie Banks, and Gary Carter). In terms of just center fielders, he ranks 10th all time.

Lofton was really exciting to watch, and by my estimation, a lot better than merely "good." He was one of the best (perhaps the best) leadoff hitters of the 90's. He deserves to be in!!

I voted for him

[ciaban]

ciabian is the biggest homer/rival hater I've ever seen.

Really? do you spend most of your time in your teams forum? I am assuming you mean me, because you misspelled my name. I'm a fan of LA teams, my rivals are Bay Area teams i don't care about Seattle either way, I never said Edgar Martienez didn't have a good career. I'm not sure where you are getting this hater thing from, the debate i am having is one that has gone on before about edgar. It's not like he is this unanimous pick that everyone agree's on and I am picking a fight out of no where.

But the DH is a legal position by rule. Nobody in a capacity to vote for the HOF should try and object to policy because they don't like it.

well, it's not postion, pitcher/catcher/3rd base is a position, because it's the position the player takes on the field, DH is a spot in the line up, i never said it was illegal, i don't know why you and jeffy have come to that conclusion, it's just not a position, there are 9 positions on the field, not 9 plus some dude in the dugout, i never have accused him of doing thing illegal.

That being said, he was injury prone early on, and moved out of the field because he couldn't play in the field everyday, it is what it is. He wouldn't have accumulated the stats he did without being a DH 70% of his career.

Just because Kenny Lofton is my absolute favorite player ever, I thought I would remind everyone of how remarkable he was...

The dude led the league in stolen bases 5 times, was a 6-time All-Star, and a 4-time Gold Glove winner. He played in the 6th-most games in center field since 1954. From 1995 to his last year in 2007, he only missed the playoffs TWO times...TWO!

His 622 career stolen bases rank 15th all-time. For you stat people out there, his WAR is 65.3--which is good for 79th ALL TIME (and similar to guys like Manny Ramirez, Robbie Alomar, Ernie Banks, and Gary Carter). In terms of just center fielders, he ranks 10th all time.

Lofton was really exciting to watch, and by my estimation, a lot better than merely "good." He was one of the best (perhaps the best) leadoff hitters of the 90's. He deserves to be in!!

this is a very interesting argument you made, him missing the playoffs twice has more to do with the teams he was on, but he was a very exciting player who got out shadowed by the era he was in, idk if he will be first ballot, but i think he is a guy who might grow in stature as the years go on.

[Iansnightout]

Really? do you spend most of your time in your teams forum? I am assuming you mean me, because you misspelled my name. I'm a fan of LA teams, my rivals are Bay Area teams i don't care about Seattle either way, I never said Edgar Martienez didn't have a good career. I'm not sure where you are getting this hater thing from, the debate i am having is one that has gone on before about edgar. It's not like he is this unanimous pick that everyone agree's on and I am picking a fight out of no where.

Ha. I've been here long enough to know your style. You've bashed on everything not LA time and time again and you're doing it here.

He's a baseball player and one of the better we've seen. You claiming he isn't worthy is just you being a homer.

Do closers deserve to be inducted? They pitch one inning a game.

[DodgerBlue24]

Piazza
Martinez
Biggio
Lee Smith
I believe these are the clean players during that era...

Palmerio
Bonds
Sosa
Clemens
Shilling
Big Mac
These are believed to be the dirty players but its gonna be hard to keep any of them out with the numbers they put up... I believe all the players I listed will make it in eventually

[ciaban]

Ha. I've been here long enough to know your style. You've bashed on everything not LA time and time again and you're doing it here.

He's a baseball player and one of the better we've seen. You claiming he isn't worthy is just you being a homer.

Do closers deserve to be inducted? They pitch one inning a game.

I don't bash on anything not LA, i love me some Frank Thomas, Craig Biggio, Bagwell, Randy Johnson, and Paul Kanerko, Migeul Cabrera, i always liked hanley even before he came to LA, and i always liked the Expos, it's a shame they are not still around.

Wait so if i say trammel doesn't belong that means i am being a homer too? Bagwell and Biggio weren't ever in LA, but i think they belong in the HoF.

[Az_Dodgers_Fan]

I voted for Biggio, Piazza (the locks out of the group), Jeff Bagwell (who like Griffey Jr was never linked to any wrong doing) and Jack Morris and Dale Murphy (best pitcher of the 80's and probably third best hitter of the 80's)

I'm fuzzy on Bonds. If you look at his numbers before 2001 he was a hall of famer. The steroids (allegedly) make him ineligible in my books though.

[Jeffy25]

I voted for Biggio, Piazza (the locks out of the group), Jeff Bagwell (who like Griffey Jr was never linked to any wrong doing) and Jack Morris and Dale Murphy (best pitcher of the 80's and probably third best hitter of the 80's)

I'm fuzzy on Bonds. If you look at his numbers before 2001 he was a hall of famer. The steroids (allegedly) make him ineligible in my books though.

Jack Morris is not the best pitcher of the 80's, hell he isn't even top 5, maybe not even top 10.

Dangerously over rated pitcher, by all accounts.


As for Murphy.

Evans and Murray were for certain better, and then you have Yount, Boggs, Henderson, Brett, and Schmidt likely ahead of him.

[Greedy22]

Piazza
Martinez
Biggio
Lee Smith
I believe these are the clean players during that era...

Palmerio
Bonds
Sosa
Clemens
Shilling
Big Mac
These are believed to be the dirty players but its gonna be hard to keep any of them out with the numbers they put up... I believe all the players I listed will make it in eventually

You don't think Bagwell will get in?

[Bravo95]

Excuse me while I put on my homer shades...

Bagwell
Bonds
Biggio
Clemens
Martinez
McGriff
Murphy
Piazza
Raines
Schilling

[Boozerguy47]

Edgar!

[Iansnightout]

I want to know why someone would vote a closer in but not a DH.

Anyone?

[Dugmet]

Biggio is a bigger slam dunk than Palmeiro and Schilling.

Juicer.

[Iansnightout]

Juicer.

They probably all juiced. Big friggin deal.

[tbone2171]

Jack Morris is not the best pitcher of the 80's, hell he isn't even top 5, maybe not even top 10.

Dangerously over rated pitcher, by all accounts.


As for Murphy.

Evans and Murray were for certain better, and then you have Yount, Boggs, Henderson, Brett, and Schmidt likely ahead of him.

We get it, you don't like Jack Morris..

[Jeffy25]

We get it, you don't like Jack Morris..

I don't have a problem with him.

It's when fans grossly over-rate him by saying things like 'best pitcher of the 80's' when he isn't even really close.