Freakshow
02-20-2007, 09:23 PM
Welcome to Baseball Fever's Mock VC Election for 1988. The goal of this project is to conduct Hall of Fame VC elections from 1987-2001 (and perhaps beyond, as long as we’re still electing guys), as if we were the VC, and then compare our results to the actual results. However, these elections will not consider players already elected in BBF Mock BBWAA elections, such as Ashburn and Santo.
This post will provide two things:
1) The Format and Rules
2) A Guide for the 1988 Election
Format and Rules
- The HOF VC never published an actual ballot, and the results of their voting were not compiled for public consumption. At the same time, they rarely considered players who retired over 70 years ago, preferring guys they fondly remembered seeing. Thus, our focus will be towards 20th century players they should have been considering. Our ballot will allow them a 50-year window of retirees (1915-1964 for this election). This will eliminate most players whose careers began in the 19th century. As the actual VC did, we will consider those players in separate ballots 1995-2001. The VC was also giving short shrift to Negro league candidates at this time. Again, as the actual VC did, we will consider those players in separate ballots 1995-2001.
- We will have a 41-player ballot for this election, down from 45 in 1987. I will act as the screening committee. You can suggest other candidates, of course, and if I get a second for a candidate I’ll add him to the next ballot. This number will likely decline as we proceed with elections, but we will always list at least 25 candidates. Close attention will be paid to identifying candidates who are in their last two years of eligibility (1915-16 retirees for the 1988 election).
- Voters may vote for between 1-41 candidates; you’re free to support anyone you think is deserving of the Hall. Because we are electing only one player each time, voters will have complete freedom to support everyone they like. This policy is consistent with the VC rules in force at the time.
- A "None of the Above" option is not available. We operate under the premise that the continued existence of a veterans committee establishes a fait accompli, that it is an acknowledgment that there are worthy players who should be elected. Our mandate is to identify the best ones, so figure out which players deserve the honor and vote for them. (The words above the poll, “but at least five,” are a suggestion and not a requirement, that we might have a better chance of fulfilling our mandate and actually electing a few guys. I would ask that anyone who can't find five worthy candidates here to explain why, that we all might profit from your thought process.)
- 75% support or greater will elect a player, but only one player per year maximum. Exception: If two players with 75%+ tie for first place, they both will be enshrined. If three or more players with 75%+ tie for first, there will be a runoff election.
- Players will ensure their continuing on the ballot as long as they draw 5% (candidates failing to get 5% will sometimes be added back to the ballot to reach the 25-player minimum or if they’re deemed deserving of another chance). Players in their final year eligible will be allowed to continue beyond that as long as they receive 15% support. We’ll also give new candidates a chance to build some momentum: players drawing less than 5% may also continue on the ballot if their vote percentage equals or exceeds their years eligible minus 1%. Look at that in chart form:
Yr 1 needs 0%
Yr 2 needs 1%
Yr 3 needs 2%
Yr 4 needs 3%
Yr 5 needs 4%
Yr +5 needs 5%
- This thread is also meant to be a discussion thread, so please feel free to stump for and/or against players, including players that will come up for election in the following year.
- When figuring a candidate’s worthiness, everything counts, the sum of their lifetime in baseball. Some players have significant manager credit – Red Schoendienst, Gil Hodges, Alvin Dark and Fielder Jones. Others, like Lefty O’Doul, made contributions that nearly surpassed their playing career.
- The election will close exactly a week after it started. The next election might not commence for another day or two.
- IMPORTANT: There is some concern about voters defrauding this process by voting with multiple screen names. First, please don't as there is really no point and it takes the fun out of this which is to see how we come out, more than it being a heated competition to get your player elected. Nevertheless, to take precaution against the possibility of a voter abusing the process, votes will be made public, so if we see unfamiliar screen names casting similar ballots, we'll see cause for concern, and if the concern proves to be founded, some form of punitive action could follow. So basically, ONE PERSON = ONE BALLOT. Anything else is really just moronic and defeats the purpose.
- One thing I want to add. Remember, this is a veterans committee election. We’re dealing with players near the Hall’s in-out line. Careful study of the candidates is required to determine the ins from the outs. If you’re not up to this, please, no off-the-top-of-my-head ballots. If that means fewer ballots, that’s fine. I would rather have an informed vote of 12 ballots then a quick-and-dirty vote of 52 ballots.
1988 Guide
There are 41 candidates on the 1988 ballot. They all played their final game in the period 1915 to 1964. Here's some information regarding the candidates:
Top Vote-getters in the 1987 Election
Name Pos Pct
Larry Doby CF 71.05
Hal Newhouser P 68.42
Joe Gordon 2B 60.53
Sherry Magee LF 52.63
Stan Hack 3B 47.37
Carl Mays P 42.11
Red Schoendienst 2B 42.11
Gil Hodges 1B 34.21
Wes Ferrell P 31.58
Heinie Groh 3B 28.95
Tony Lazzeri 2B 28.95
First Timers (1)
Billy Pierce (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Pierce)
Other Recently-New Eligibles
Gil Hodges (2nd year)
Red Schoendienst (2nd)
Eddie Yost (2nd)
Ted Kluszewski (2nd)
Don Newcombe (3rd)
Mickey Vernon (3rd)
Alvin Dark(3rd)
Larry Doby (4th)
Del Ennis (4th)
Last Year of Eligibility
Fielder Jones (http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1195&pid=7123)
Next to Last Year of Eligibility
Nap Rucker (http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=927&pid=12303)
Actual Hall of Famers on VC 1988 Ballot (5)
Larry Doby (1998)
Tony Lazzeri (1991)
Hal Newhouser (1992)
Phil Rizzuto (1994)
Red Schoendienst (1989)
Members of BBF Hall of Fame on VC 1988 Ballot (6)
Larry Doby
Wes Ferrell
Joe Gordon
Stan Hack
Sherry Magee
Hal Newhouser
Members of the Hall of Merit on VC 1988 Ballot (8)
Larry Doby
Wes Ferrell
Joe Gordon
Heinie Groh
Stan Hack
Sherry Magee
Hal Newhouser
Billy Pierce
Candidates Named to the BBF Hall of Corrections (4)
Wes Ferrell
Joe Gordon
Stan Hack
Sherry Magee
Candidates Listed on the 2007 Hall of Fame VC Ballot (7)
Wes Ferrell
Joe Gordon
Gil Hodges
Carl Mays
Don Newcombe
Lefty O’Doul
Mickey Vernon
For previous discussion of this project, see these threads:
Cooperstown, NY - Spring, 1986 (http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=57472)
BBF Mock Veterans Committee Election: 1987 (http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=57498)
This post will provide two things:
1) The Format and Rules
2) A Guide for the 1988 Election
Format and Rules
- The HOF VC never published an actual ballot, and the results of their voting were not compiled for public consumption. At the same time, they rarely considered players who retired over 70 years ago, preferring guys they fondly remembered seeing. Thus, our focus will be towards 20th century players they should have been considering. Our ballot will allow them a 50-year window of retirees (1915-1964 for this election). This will eliminate most players whose careers began in the 19th century. As the actual VC did, we will consider those players in separate ballots 1995-2001. The VC was also giving short shrift to Negro league candidates at this time. Again, as the actual VC did, we will consider those players in separate ballots 1995-2001.
- We will have a 41-player ballot for this election, down from 45 in 1987. I will act as the screening committee. You can suggest other candidates, of course, and if I get a second for a candidate I’ll add him to the next ballot. This number will likely decline as we proceed with elections, but we will always list at least 25 candidates. Close attention will be paid to identifying candidates who are in their last two years of eligibility (1915-16 retirees for the 1988 election).
- Voters may vote for between 1-41 candidates; you’re free to support anyone you think is deserving of the Hall. Because we are electing only one player each time, voters will have complete freedom to support everyone they like. This policy is consistent with the VC rules in force at the time.
- A "None of the Above" option is not available. We operate under the premise that the continued existence of a veterans committee establishes a fait accompli, that it is an acknowledgment that there are worthy players who should be elected. Our mandate is to identify the best ones, so figure out which players deserve the honor and vote for them. (The words above the poll, “but at least five,” are a suggestion and not a requirement, that we might have a better chance of fulfilling our mandate and actually electing a few guys. I would ask that anyone who can't find five worthy candidates here to explain why, that we all might profit from your thought process.)
- 75% support or greater will elect a player, but only one player per year maximum. Exception: If two players with 75%+ tie for first place, they both will be enshrined. If three or more players with 75%+ tie for first, there will be a runoff election.
- Players will ensure their continuing on the ballot as long as they draw 5% (candidates failing to get 5% will sometimes be added back to the ballot to reach the 25-player minimum or if they’re deemed deserving of another chance). Players in their final year eligible will be allowed to continue beyond that as long as they receive 15% support. We’ll also give new candidates a chance to build some momentum: players drawing less than 5% may also continue on the ballot if their vote percentage equals or exceeds their years eligible minus 1%. Look at that in chart form:
Yr 1 needs 0%
Yr 2 needs 1%
Yr 3 needs 2%
Yr 4 needs 3%
Yr 5 needs 4%
Yr +5 needs 5%
- This thread is also meant to be a discussion thread, so please feel free to stump for and/or against players, including players that will come up for election in the following year.
- When figuring a candidate’s worthiness, everything counts, the sum of their lifetime in baseball. Some players have significant manager credit – Red Schoendienst, Gil Hodges, Alvin Dark and Fielder Jones. Others, like Lefty O’Doul, made contributions that nearly surpassed their playing career.
- The election will close exactly a week after it started. The next election might not commence for another day or two.
- IMPORTANT: There is some concern about voters defrauding this process by voting with multiple screen names. First, please don't as there is really no point and it takes the fun out of this which is to see how we come out, more than it being a heated competition to get your player elected. Nevertheless, to take precaution against the possibility of a voter abusing the process, votes will be made public, so if we see unfamiliar screen names casting similar ballots, we'll see cause for concern, and if the concern proves to be founded, some form of punitive action could follow. So basically, ONE PERSON = ONE BALLOT. Anything else is really just moronic and defeats the purpose.
- One thing I want to add. Remember, this is a veterans committee election. We’re dealing with players near the Hall’s in-out line. Careful study of the candidates is required to determine the ins from the outs. If you’re not up to this, please, no off-the-top-of-my-head ballots. If that means fewer ballots, that’s fine. I would rather have an informed vote of 12 ballots then a quick-and-dirty vote of 52 ballots.
1988 Guide
There are 41 candidates on the 1988 ballot. They all played their final game in the period 1915 to 1964. Here's some information regarding the candidates:
Top Vote-getters in the 1987 Election
Name Pos Pct
Larry Doby CF 71.05
Hal Newhouser P 68.42
Joe Gordon 2B 60.53
Sherry Magee LF 52.63
Stan Hack 3B 47.37
Carl Mays P 42.11
Red Schoendienst 2B 42.11
Gil Hodges 1B 34.21
Wes Ferrell P 31.58
Heinie Groh 3B 28.95
Tony Lazzeri 2B 28.95
First Timers (1)
Billy Pierce (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Pierce)
Other Recently-New Eligibles
Gil Hodges (2nd year)
Red Schoendienst (2nd)
Eddie Yost (2nd)
Ted Kluszewski (2nd)
Don Newcombe (3rd)
Mickey Vernon (3rd)
Alvin Dark(3rd)
Larry Doby (4th)
Del Ennis (4th)
Last Year of Eligibility
Fielder Jones (http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1195&pid=7123)
Next to Last Year of Eligibility
Nap Rucker (http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=927&pid=12303)
Actual Hall of Famers on VC 1988 Ballot (5)
Larry Doby (1998)
Tony Lazzeri (1991)
Hal Newhouser (1992)
Phil Rizzuto (1994)
Red Schoendienst (1989)
Members of BBF Hall of Fame on VC 1988 Ballot (6)
Larry Doby
Wes Ferrell
Joe Gordon
Stan Hack
Sherry Magee
Hal Newhouser
Members of the Hall of Merit on VC 1988 Ballot (8)
Larry Doby
Wes Ferrell
Joe Gordon
Heinie Groh
Stan Hack
Sherry Magee
Hal Newhouser
Billy Pierce
Candidates Named to the BBF Hall of Corrections (4)
Wes Ferrell
Joe Gordon
Stan Hack
Sherry Magee
Candidates Listed on the 2007 Hall of Fame VC Ballot (7)
Wes Ferrell
Joe Gordon
Gil Hodges
Carl Mays
Don Newcombe
Lefty O’Doul
Mickey Vernon
For previous discussion of this project, see these threads:
Cooperstown, NY - Spring, 1986 (http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=57472)
BBF Mock Veterans Committee Election: 1987 (http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=57498)