WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE HALL OF FAME

Rating:
Summary: Once Again, a Brilliant Curveball of Perspective
Review: You know, I always wondered why Babe Ruth was elected to the Hall with only 95% of the vote. How does he get in with anything less than 100? I think that it's questions like this one that inspired James to write this book.

James, again, scientifically explains why players like Sandy Koufax are in the Hall while others like Don Drysdale just miss the boat. He argues for Vern Stepens (you'll find out who he is) in comparison to Phil Rizzuto. He illuminates us about the Veterans Committee of the 70s, led by HOFer Frankie Frisch, and the several potentially biased selections that were made. Why IS Ross Youngs in the Hall of Fame? Must be his 1491 career hits. Or it could be that he was a teammate of Frisch's.

I always thought that the Baseball Writers Association (BBWAA) didn't know their head from their exit-hole, but I should have been saying it about the Veterans Committee. On the other hand, I can't understand why the BBWAA elects Nolan Ryan with 99% of the vote, yet can't agree on Bert Blyleven.

James may not answer some of my beefs directly, but he gives us a magnificent historical HOF perspective as to why they probably happened.