You and I are starting an all-time Fantasy Baseball Hall of Fame team. The only rule that we must follow is that any player selected to the team must be a member of the Hall of Fame. That’s it. We select one player at each starting position. I get the first pick because this is my article, but you can have the second and third picks, after which we alternate selections.
Okay, my first pick is Sandy Koufax. I want to prevent you from scoring, and no one can stop a team from scoring better than Koufax. Obviously, I don’t know your first two selections, but that doesn’t matter because many great players remain for our remaining picks. Now that you are thinking about the best of the best, I will tell you that my second baseman will be Bill Mazeroski.
What? Are you surprised? What about Rogers Hornsby (.358), Nap Lajoie (.339), Eddie Collins (.333), Rod Carew (.328), Frankie Frisch (.316), or Jackie Robinson (.311)? Am I that obsessed with defense that I would select Mazeroski (.260) over the others because of his defensive ability? Could he prevent more runs than any one of the others could help to produce? I don’t think so.
The point is made. Mazeroski was a fine second baseman whom many rate as the best defensive second baseman of all time. He turned the double play better than anyone who ever played the game, but that credential alone should not be enough to elect one to the Hall of Fame. A Hall of Fame member must be outstanding in many facets of the game.
Mazeroski did not hit for a high average, did not hit with power (except twice during the 1960 World Series), or have great speed. He was not a threat to get on base (lifetime on base percentage an amazingly low .302, compared to Red Schoendienst’s second lowest .338 for Hall of Fame second basemen) or to steal a base (only 27 -- repeat -- 27 lifetime stolen bases), and he certainly did not drive in many runs.
It is interesting that the Rules for Election to the Hall of Fame do not outline specific criteria with respect to defining excellence. All that is stated is that “voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” Only active and honorary members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, who have been active baseball writers for at least ten years are eligible to vote.
Despite the lack of specific criteria, one does not require a cook book recipe to determine if a player belongs in the Hall of Fame. Does anyone question the credentials of Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, or Stan Musial? No one doubts that Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, Ivan Rodriguez, Tony Gwynn, and Cal Ripken are future Hall of Famers.
Bill Mazeroski is not alone. One must question the credentials of Rabbit Maranville (.258, 631 career errors, and a lifetime .956 fielding average), Joe Tinker (.262, 648 career errors, and a lifetime .938 fielding average), and some others, but that does not alter a thing. Adding Mazeroski simply lowers the level of excellence needed to be a Hall of Famer.
Baseball Reference, which is a respected website (http://www.baseball-reference.com), lists batters similar to Mazeroski. Included are Kansas City second baseman Frank White, Cincinnati shortstop Leo Cardenas, Los Angeles shortstop Bill Russell, and Oakland and Pittsburgh second baseman Phil Garner. All were fine players, but none has been even remotely considered for election to the Hall of Fame.
A Hall of Famer must be the top of the top. There should be little controversy associated with determining if a player is deserving of being elected to the Hall of Fame because the presence of doubt indicates a lack of certainty and a decreased level of excellence. The election of Bill Mazeroski illustrates that point.
Mazeroski was a fine baseball player. He was great defensively and had a great World Series in 1960. That should not have been enough to get Mazeroski into the Hall of Fame.
» Harold Friend is an intense Yankees fan who has followed baseball longer than he cares to remember.
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Posted July 30, 2001.
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