More than 1 way to enter the HOF ( ? )

[Calif_Eagle]

QUOTE=william_burgess@usa.net] Notes: John 'Monte' Ward is elected as a SS, Eddie Cicotte is ineligible.[/QUOTE]
There is no instance of someone being put in TWICE for different roles is there? For example: Babe Ruth has, of course, long been in as a slugging outfielder, but he cant be put in AGAIN as a pitcher can he? Is John McGraw in as a player (one of the highest OBP's of all time) or as a manager (long outstanding winning record with the New York Giants)? I always thought, once you were in, you were in. Mr. Burgess' statement above *seems* to imply that John M. Ward could go in again as a pitcher. (He probably could have a spot as a labor leader also. Contributor, Executive or Pioneer I guess.) This brings up an interesting idea. Who is the man who could go in the HOF on the most different "levels?" Ward could go into the HOF in 3 different ways if this were a practice that was followed. Any other contenders? (Again, perhaps this is best pursued in a different thread. I dont want to detract from the pitching thread. )
I decided to just go ahead and post this as a thread. Anyone have any thoughts? Contenders? Would this be a good idea to start doing, or once you are in, you are in ?

[Appling]

"Once you're in, you're in."
There are several different doors you might enter, but it's like heaven -- once you get there, you don't care which door you came through.

As I recall there is no distinction once you are "in the hall". I often thought that non-players should have their plaques in a different wing, but as I recall this is not the case.

Now I read the question again and see that I missed the point. "If there were separate wings for players and non-players, who would qualify the most ways?" My answer to this would be "no one". I can't think of anyone chosen as an executive or manager who would also meet HOF criteria as a player. For example, I would support Joe Torre as a manager, but he doesn't meet the standard for a HOF player.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Joe Torre probably has the best case of anyone as both a player and a manager. Another one I can think of, though he falls short as a player to me, is Bill White.

Guys like Dizzy Dean, Ralph Kiner and George Kell have shots at the Frick award for broadcasters, but that isn't exactly what is being proposed here. I'm not too crazy about the basketball HOF's method of reelecting people like they did with John Wooden, Bill Sharman and Lenny Wilkens. For football, I don't think a coach like Tom Landry, who was a fine defensive player in his day, even received consideration as a player, as the success he had with Dallas made it obvious how he would get in. As far as I know, HOF TE Mike Ditka has not even made the preliminary ballot as a coach. I won't even talk about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where guys like Eric Clapton and Neil Young have been elected three times. Ok, I talked about it a little.

Once you're in, you're in.

[dgarza]

I won't even talk about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where guys like Eric Clapton and Neil Young have been elected three times. Ok, I talked about it a little.

Not by name... that would be a like a team getting in. Is CSN&Y in? I thought it was just CS&N.

Once you're in, you're in.
OK, so have they ever amended a plaque?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Not by name... that would be a like a team getting in. Is CSN&Y in? I thought it was just CS&N.


OK, so have they ever amended a plaque?
I could've swore he got in with them. Their HOF section is basically (at least it was five years ago, when I last was there) just the names of the groups/artists, and the signatures of each member. So, you see their signatures with each effort.

In regards to amending the plaque, the only case I know of where they've done that is for Roberto Clemente, where they changed the name from Roberto Walker Clemente to Roberto Clemente Walker, out of Latin-American custom. His original plaque is in the kids' section.

[dgarza]

His original plaque is in the kids' section.
I didn't even see a kids section. Well, I looked at the online site. Maybe you meant a physical kids' section at the museum.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I didn't even see a kids section. Well, I looked at the online site. Maybe you meant a physical kids' section at the museum.
Indeed, yes, on the latter. It's right by the library in the museum. Sorry for any confusion.

[KCGHOST]

The HoF is a "one and done" deal. You can only be voted in once. The Ford Frick award winners are not, technically, HoFers. The same for those that win the writer's award.

[yest]

In regards to amending the plaque, the only case I know of where they've done that is for Roberto Clemente, where they changed the name from Roberto Walker Clemente to Roberto Clemente Walker, out of Latin-American custom. His original plaque is in the kids' section.

I think they also ammended Stan Musials where they gave him 7 slugging titles as appose to batting titles

[Calif_Eagle]

"Once you're in, you're in."
There are several different doors you might enter, but it's like heaven -- once you get there, you don't care which door you came through.

As I recall there is no distinction once you are "in the hall". I often thought that non-players should have their plaques in a different wing, but as I recall this is not the case.

Now I read the question again and see that I missed the point. "If there were separate wings for players and non-players, who would qualify the most ways?" My answer to this would be "no one". I can't think of anyone chosen as an executive or manager who would also meet HOF criteria as a player. For example, I would support Joe Torre as a manager, but he doesn't meet the standard for a HOF player.
Fair enough re: Torre but I have seen more than 1 BBF-er make the suggestion that they feel Torre DOES belong as a player. (I personally feel he is kind of borderline as a player, and that there are dozens of players with similar batting records. Of course most them werent catchers either... ) And since managers typically get in for winning records, Torre is a lock on that score. The man that prompted my conjecture here, John Montgomery Ward, *may* have 2 or 3 legitimate ways he could qualify. John McGraw was a fine player and a Great manager. Ward made me wonder if there is someone out there overlooked with multiple legitimate solid ways to qualify as a HOF-er (IF that was a standard or accepted practice.) I also wonder if it COULD be done. Suppose someone decided that, say, McGraw deserved entry as a player also. Is there anything in the HOF bylaws to prevent such a thing?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Another possibility here is Lefty O'Doul, who had a split career like Ward and also is given a lot of credit for helping out with baseball in Japan. He was a fine hitter in his short MLB career.
I've honestly never checked the bylaws about such a thing. I don't think there's anything against it, but am not sure.