How do you define a Hall of Famer

[Hank Greenberg]

Just like hte question says, what makes a Hall of Famer in your mind. For me, my Hall of Fame ends up around the size of Cooperstown (ok a little smaller) but has a much different makeup of players.

Things I look for:

1) Postseason performance. I dont believe in Clutch (though I do believe in the lack of it) however, if a player can be just amazing in the playoffs for a few years he will get a lboost in his chances. Memorable moments and what not. This isn't a requirement but will give a guy a boost.

2) Being on a winner. Yes I know baseball is a team sport and this isnt a requirement, but I again, this gives a guy a boost in his chances (especially if combined with #1). This is a way to remember those great teams, but im not letting scrubs in either.

3) Period of Domination. This, if combined with 1 and 2, gets a guy in. If a guy just tears up the league for 4 years, including the playoffs and helps his team to back-back championships, he'll get in, even if he falls after that (Of course this means GOOOD years, .330-50-110-.430-.650 type years...even if the rest of his career is .270-20-70 and only lasts 3 years or 25 wins+, sub 2.8 ERA or something, again even if the rest of his career is 3.80 ERA with 13 wins max)

4) Single Season Records....HRs-Wins-ERA-BA ect.. automatic tickets.

5) Key numbers....in a timely fashion. 3,000 hits, 300 wins, 500 Hrs, as long as they didn't take insane amounts of time to get (23 years or what not) and they player was still productive and not just hanging around when he got it (Fred McGriff anyone). I dont think playing for 25 years, getting 500 HRs, but playing for 5 years hitting .200 with 10 HRs a year gets you in the hall automatically. Same with hits, playing 27 years, with 7 years hitting .210 but picking up your 3000 hits....

Guys I would let in: Kirk Gibson (300-300, on of the most memorable hits ever and was a damn good player for years, hes a bit borderline but I still put him in).

Derek Jeter (assuming he has a few more .300 seasons in him)

Jose Canseco (well not as a person, but for what he did)


Just for examples.

[tward13]

I wouldn't put Gibson in, he just wasn't that good.

To me 3,000 hits is 3,000 hits. That number has stood up for a long time. 500 homers has become questionable over the past decade. 300 wins, automatic (20 wins a year for 15 straight years, or 15 wins for 20 straight?)

I'd give some consideration to post season, or special feats as a way to put someone over the top. I also look at how they compared to their peers at similar positions during their playing careers. (Ron Santo anyone?)

[joncarlos]

In OOTP I usually look at how often they were on the leaderboard, their career numbers, how many PoW and PoM awards they win, and how many championships.

At a minimum I would say a player would have to really blow me away to get in without winning an MVP or Cy.

[beatnikpoet13]

i usually stick with 3,000 hits, or 2,700 hits with an average above .300, and 550 homeruns. for pitchers i look for 300 wins, or 200+ wins with a good winning percentage and a reasonable era. as far as saves go, 450 seems like a good numbers. additionally, i look for players who have been very good for an extended period of time, as opposed to players who had 4 or 5 dominant seasons.

[William4192]

Let me ask a dumb question, how do you add and how do you delete people for the HOF?

[Number 6]

To induct the player, call up the list of retired players on the HoF screen and right click on the player you want.

Removing them used to be an option within the HoF itself, I don't know if that's still the case with the new version; I'm mainly a pbper, so I haven't finished a season yet.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

I also tend to favor players who were very good for many years, which naturally gives career stats a heavy influence.
When a player's career numbers are borderline, then I consider playoff performance and peer comparisons the crucial factors.
While we're discussing numbers, I look at RBI even before hits and HRs. Any thoughts on a 3000/500-type magic number for RBI or runs? I'd guess 1300 or 1400 RBI and probably 1500 runs.
Does anyone agree or disagree on 450 saves? Given the difficulty in comparing eras, I figure any reliever today at least would have to surpass Rollie Fingers' 341.

[Mike D]

Originally posted by Hank Greenberg
Re: How do you define a Hall of Famer

2,000 posts and your a HOF.

[HolyCow98]

+423

[metsgeek]

I run mainly Historical Replays with the occasional twist. My criteria for the HOF changes as the years go on. In the early years, 2000 hits will get you in, but you'll need a much higher average....just like the actual Hall.

Early on in my Random Chaos thread, someone criticized my selections for the Hall. He knew nothing about baseball's history beyond the early 80's, so I made sure to point out his ignorance.

Check out some of the players who made it in the actual HALL. Eppa Rixey? Rick Ferrell? There are a number of players that don't have the numbers, but they still deserve to be in.

Perhaps a nice addition to the game would be election via Veteran's Committee. Twenty-five years after retirement, a list of players who just miss the threshold could be brought up for election.....maybe incorporating the "ink tests" from CatoBase?

[tward13]

I believe Ferrell was an undeserving beneficiary of the old boys network of the Veteran's Committee.