Who will most likely be the first D-rays player in the HOF?

[W_Marone]

So guys, who do you think will be the first player from the D-rays to get into Cooperstown? Someone who is currently playing, or perhaps he hasnt been drafted yet, or even born yet, what do you guys think?

[1905 Giants]

Well, Wade Boggs played for the D-Rays

As for current players, I think Carl Crawford perhaps

[538280]

Fred McGriff.

[Sockeye]

Jose Canseco should be anyways

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I think Gog Gomes means a "career" D-Ray.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Crawford definately. Not too unrealistic to think he could end up with 200+ homers, 200+ triples, and 600+ steals to go along with his zero championships.

[RamMan12]

I don't think any current player of D-Rays will make it to the HOF. Crawford is awesome in my opinion, but so were a lot of baseball players not in the HOF. I think someone that is fairly young now will sign or get traded there and will become a star there.

[Erik Bedard]

My money is on Delmon Young.

[geezer]

My candidate is Greg Vaugh hahahahhaa, ok now seriously my candidate is got to be Jorge Cantu.

[538280]

Wow, no one likes Fred McGriff for the HOF? If he went in certainly the D-Rays would be the most logical choice for the HOF hat.

[DoubleX]

Wow, no one likes Fred McGriff for the HOF? If he went in certainly the D-Rays would be the most logical choice for the HOF hat.

Why are the D-Rays the most logical (you really have to stop making these seemingly definitive characterizations without explaining)?

He spent 3.5 years on the D-Rays and made one All-Star appearance, and never came close to winning anything.
Whereas he spent..

4.5 years of his prime with the Braves, 3 All-Star appearances, and a WS title. There there is also...

The Blue Jays, where he spent his first four seasons and established himself as a star.

If McGriff goes in, I see it as a Brave or Blue Jay. Both seem more logical than the Devil Rays (McGriff's home town roots aside, we're talking about where his career the most impact, and that was not in Tampa).

[538280]

If McGriff goes in, I see it as a Brave or Blue Jay. Both seem more logical than the Devil Rays (McGriff's home town roots aside, we're talking about where his career the most impact, and that was not in Tampa).

Why are we talking about where his career had most impact? We're talking about his HOF hat. Since he was born in Tampa, and he probably was the organization's first real star, I think McGriff, if elected, would jump at the chance to be elected the first D-Ray in the HOF.

I would agree he did a bit more in Toronto or Atlanta, but I would think the most logical choice looking at it from Fred McGriff's standpoint would be as a D-Ray.

[DoubleX]

Why are we talking about where his career had most impact? We're talking about his HOF hat. Since he was born in Tampa, and he probably was the organization's first real star, I think McGriff, if elected, would jump at the chance to be elected the first D-Ray in the HOF.

I would agree he did a bit more in Toronto or Atlanta, but I would think the most logical choice looking at it from Fred McGriff's standpoint would be as a D-Ray.

You do know that the players have no control over the hat anymore, right? Gary Carter wanted to be a Met, but he's an Expo. If McGriff goes in, the smart money is on the Braves of Blue Jays, that is where his career had the most impact and where his career is most identifiable, and that's pretty much the criteria now for hat selection. His years in Tampa were forgettable compared to his years in Atlanta and Toronto.

[Brad Harris]

Jose Canseco should be anyways

Why am I not surprised? :laugh

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

Delmon Young, Carl Crawford and maybe Scott Kazmir.

[abacab]

I'll go with "hasn't been born yet." The Angels have been around for 45 years and still don't have a Hall of Famer*. The Astros have been around for 44 years and still don't have a Hall of Famer. The Mariners and Blue Jays have been around for 29 years and neither has a Hall of Famer. The D-Rays have a long, long, long wait ahead of them.

* - Nolan Ryan played more games for the Angels than any other team, but his HoF plaque has a Rangers hat. You could count Ryan as an Angels Hall of Famer, but then the Rangers don't have one, and they've been around for 35 years.

[W_Marone]

Johnny Gomes, who else would I say haha.

[538280]

You do know that the players have no control over the hat anymore, right? Gary Carter wanted to be a Met, but he's an Expo. If McGriff goes in, the smart money is on the Braves of Blue Jays, that is where his career had the most impact and where his career is most identifiable, and that's pretty much the criteria now for hat selection. His years in Tampa were forgettable compared to his years in Atlanta and Toronto.

They don't? I must admit I didn't know that. I don't think that's right. The player should have the power to decide what hat he wears, as long as he doesn't make a completely off the wall selection (like Boggs as a Devil Ray).

The HOF hat isn't something people should get all serious about, it should be the team that the player feels he wants to represent, or at least that's the way I think it should be.

[BoofBonser26]

They don't? I must admit I didn't know that. I don't think that's right. The player should have the power to decide what hat he wears, as long as he doesn't make a completely off the wall selection (like Boggs as a Devil Ray).
It's a "newer" policy. Correct me (I could be wrong), but I think Eck's year was the first year the HOF decided cap.

[Captain Cold Nose]

It's a "newer" policy. Correct me (I could be wrong), but I think Eck's year was the first year the HOF decided cap.
I think the HOF decided on Winfield as a Padre.

[DoubleX]

They don't? I must admit I didn't know that. I don't think that's right. The player should have the power to decide what hat he wears, as long as he doesn't make a completely off the wall selection (like Boggs as a Devil Ray).

Many people think it's because of Boggs that the Hall decided that they would decide. I think players can express a preference, but in the end, it's the Hall's call. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I think players should choose how they are honored, but on the other hand, I think players should be remembered in light of where they contributed most. I don't like Reggie Jackson being a Yankee, I'd rather him be an Athletic. Nolan Ryan is another example, he should probably be an Angel or Astro instead of a Ranger.

As for Dave Winfield, cause someone else mentioned it, I think he actually picked the Padres over the Yankees.

[DTF955]

Well, Winfield and Steinbrenner had lots of problems, not just the Mr. May comments. Some question of contributions to charities or something; I don't really remember. However, I think his choice was probably more anti-Steinbrenner than anti-Yankee.

I was curious a while back and checked, and was surprised at the Padres being chosen. I thought, like Hunter, he might actually go in with no logo on his cap, though he could have gone as a Blue Jay, too. (His one World Series ring after all those years.)

LOL, had to come back and fill in after I realized my post said "with no cap." Now that would really be a unique plaque! :-)

[W_Marone]

OK boys lets get back on topic, whos gonna be the first D-ray in the Hall?:D

[DoubleX]

Well, Winfield and Steinbrenner had lots of problems, not just the Mr. May comments. Some question of contributions to charities or something; I don't really remember. However, I think his choice was probably more anti-Steinbrenner than anti-Yankee.

I was curious a while back and checked, and was surprised at the Padres being chosen. I thought, like Hunter, he might actually go in with no logo on his cap, though he could have gone as a Blue Jay, too. (His one World Series ring after all those years.)

LOL, had to come back and fill in after I realized my post said "with no cap." Now that would really be a unique plaque! :-)

Perhaps Winfield's choice had something to do with the private investigator Steinbrenner hired to snoop on Winfield back in late 80s (which resulted in Steinbrenner being suspended from baseball)?

Even if Winfield and Steinbrenner got a long, the Padres still wouldn't have been a bad choice for Winfield, given that he spent almost as much time there as he did in New York.

[DoubleX]

OK boys lets get back on topic, whos gonna be the first D-ray in the Hall?:D

There really isn't much else to say on that. Sorry.

[RedSoxVT92]

Carl Crawford is the best choice for right now. But there is no telling wether he'll get injured or go to another team. I think the first D-ray hall of famer isnt even playing yet. Although they have a crop of good young guys, so its too early to really tell.