Oliva Falls One Vote Shy (Kaat Two Votes Shy)

[Seth Stohs]

The Baseball Hall of Fame announced today that NO "Golden Era" players were elected into the Hall of Fame by the 16-person Veteran's Committee. 

 

Tony Oliva received 11 votes. Jim Kaat received 10 votes. A player needed 12 votes for induction.

 

Dick Allen also received 11 votes.

 

Here is the link to the Baseball Hall of Fame site for the details of the vote. 

[Giles Ferrell]

That hurts. Love Tony O.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Bummer!

[nicksaviking]

That hurts.  Three votes shy of being an unexpectedly great day in Twins history.

[Seth Stohs]

Yeah, I don't think Oliva or Kaat should be in the Hall of Fame (even if I tried to make the case for both in the last couple of weeks), but every time they're up for election, I will hope like crazy that they get in.

[DaveW]

Lame.

[davidc3915]

Why do I get the feeling that Joe Morgan voted for nobody because he wasnt on the ballot? The way he talks, he should be the only one in the Hall of Fame.

[ashbury]

Fooey.

[Platoon]

Yeah, I don't think Oliva or Kaat should be in the Hall of Fame (even if I tried to make the case for both in the last couple of weeks), but every time they're up for election, I will hope like crazy that they get in.

I agree on Kaat, I think some of his luster comes from his ability as an announcer. But there were few players capable of hitting the pitched baseball with the frequency, and authority of Oliva. The real difference in him being in the Hall is more likely where he played than how he played.

[Halsey Hall]

Ouch, that really bites.  So close...........

[ashbury]

But there were few players capable of hitting the pitched baseball with the frequency, and authority of Oliva. The real difference in him being in the Hall is more likely where he played than how he played.

 

Or, "when".  The mid-to-late-60s were brutal on raw offensive stats.

 

Or, "how long".  Had he been born in the US his minor league seasoning might easily have happened quicker and he'd have had a couple more good major league seasons at the front end.  Not to mention the injuries that made him a shell of his former self very suddenly instead of a more typical decline phase.

[HitInAPinch]

The Baseball Hall of Fame announced today that NO "Golden Era" players were elected into the Hall of Fame by the 16-person Veteran's Committee. 

 

Was or was not this committee created specifically for the purpose giving the older generation of worthy players a chance to enter The Hall?  Look at Dick Allen's numbers.  Look at Tony's numbers.  Jim Kaat, by his own admission, was no better than a #3 starter.  My gosh,  Gil Hodges for cripes sakes!!  Fire ALL 16 of these boobs!

 

Ahhhhhhh.....   Feel better now......

[Otto von Ballpark]

I still think if you elect one or two of these candidates, you'd pretty much have to elect them all, right? I mean, do Kaat and Oliva have that much better of a case than Tiant and Boyer (who brought up the tail end of the results)?

 

Part of me wishes they would just stop with this era. All of these guys had fine careers but were pretty clearly HOF borderliners by established standards. They don't deserve to be continuously subjected a lottery for HOF admission.

[GCTF]

ALL 16 of these boobs!

You make me wish I had 16 hands.