Freakshow
08-08-2007, 11:53 AM
Welcome to Baseball Fever's Mock HOF VC Black Baseball Players election for 2006. This is the 12th election in a project to conduct Hall of Fame VC special elections from 1995-2006 (and perhaps beyond). You're being asked to play the role of a VC voter, as if you were actually part of the VC conclaves of that time. The goal of this project is to elect the best candidate each time.
This post will provide two things:
1) The Format and Rules
2) A Guide for the 2006 Election
Format and Rules
- In 1995, the Hall decided to begin holding a special election each year to elect one player from black baseball. Non-players were apparently not being considered at this time. Players whose primary contribution was off the field, such as Sol White and Buck O’Neil, were apparently not included. (The HOF VC never published an actual ballot for these special elections, and the results of their voting were not compiled for public consumption.) The original plan was to do this for five years, which was extended for two more. Here is who the Hall elected:
1995: Leon Day
1996: Bill Foster
1997: Willie Wells
1998: Bullet Joe Rogan
1999: Smokey Joe Williams
2000: Turkey Stearnes
2001: Hilton Smith
Five years later, in 2006, the special committee on African-American baseball elected twelve more players to the Hall: Frank Grant, Pete Hill, Jose Mendez, Louis Santop, Ben Taylor, Ray Brown, Willard Brown, Andy Cooper, Biz Mackey, Mule Suttles, Cristobal Torriente and Jud Wilson.
- We will have a 25-player ballot for these elections. 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 consider adding him to the next ballot.
- 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.
- We will enshrine the leading vote-getter so long as he is supported by a majority of the voters (more than 50% needed); but only one player per year maximum. If two or more players with +50% tie for first place, the one with the earlier election to the Cooperstown HOF will be enshrined. If neither is in the Coop or they were elected the same year, the one with the earlier election to the BBF HOF will be enshrined.
- Players will ensure their continuing on the ballot as long as they receive a vote. Candidates with zero votes may be dropped from the ballot if a new candidate is nominated and seconded to replace them
- This thread is also meant to be a discussion thread, so please feel free to stump for and/or against players, including players that you think belong on the ballot
- When figuring a candidate’s worthiness, everything counts, the sum of their lifetime in baseball.
- The election will close about a week after it starts. 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.
- MORE IMPORTANT: Remember, this is not an election of the BBF VC; this is not the place to express your personal feelings as to where the line should be drawn for the Hall of Fame. You’re playing the role of a HOF VC voter. You go into that room with a list of players that you're supporting - nobody goes in there with the aim of objecting to every candidate brought up. By requesting, insisting, agitating for at least five votes, I'm trying to impress this reality on our electorate here: you've gotta support some guys. I am also asking voters to be sensitive to the consensus of who the top candidates are (see chart below) and try to support them. I've even taken the unpleasant step of singling out ballots that are obviously contrary to our aim.
If you’re not up to this, please, no off-the-top-of-my-head ballots. Don’t just cast a contrarian ballot without good reasoning. If that means fewer ballots, that’s fine. I would rather have an informed vote of 10 ballots then a quick-and-dirty vote of 40 ballots. We need voters who are on board with the mission. Ballots that are judged to be frivolous or an obstruction to our goal of electing someone may be deleted from the poll.
If you have no interest or knowledge of Black baseball or think they weren't really playing baseball or you dismiss them out of hand, well, this poll isn't for you; go back to your fanboy team forum and leave this job to the experts.
2006 Guide
There are many good avenues for researching Black baseball. Jim Albright has developed good resources here at BBF. The Hall of Merit has done groundbreaking work in creating MLE’s for many players. There are also many websites dedicated to promoting and educating people about the Negro leagues.
Top Vote-getters in the 1999-2005 Elections
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Willie Wells 87.50% ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Joe Williams 75.00% 81.82% ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Bill Foster 75.00% 54.55% 62.50% ------ ------ ------ ------
Biz Mackey 87.50% 72.73% 62.50% 91.67% ------ ------ ------
Louis Santop 50.00% 81.82% 62.50% 66.67% 75.00% ------ ------
Ray Brown 62.50% 72.73% 62.50% 66.67% 75.00% 100.00% ------
Jud Wilson 62.50% 63.64% 50.00% 66.67% 62.50% 100.00% 76.92%
Jose Mendez 37.50% 72.73% 62.50% 66.67% 62.50% 100.00% 69.23%
Pete Hill 37.50% 54.55% 62.50% 41.67% 75.00% 100.00% 61.54%
Willard Brown 50.00% 54.55% 50.00% 41.67% 62.50% 100.00% 61.54%
Dick Redding 25.00% 27.27% 37.50% 41.67% 62.50% 80.00% 53.85%
Leon Day 12.50% 18.18% 12.50% 16.67% 50.00% 60.00% 53.85%
Hilton Smith 25.00% 27.27% 12.50% 33.33% 62.50% 40.00% 53.85%
John Beckwith 12.50% 36.36% 37.50% 41.67% 62.50% 80.00% 46.15%
Frank Grant 12.50% 45.45% 37.50% 25.00% 62.50% 80.00% 46.15%
Grant Johnson 12.50% 9.09% 25.00% 8.33% 50.00% 80.00% 38.46%
Dobie Moore 0.00% 27.27% 12.50% 16.67% 50.00% 60.00% 38.46%
Ted Radcliffe ------ ------ ------ ------ 25.00% 40.00% 38.46%
Perucho Cepeda 0.00% 0.00% 12.50% 8.33% 25.00% 40.00% 23.08%
Spot Poles 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 25.00% 0.00% 20.00% 23.08%
Luke Easter 12.50% 9.09% 12.50% 8.33% 12.50% 0.00% 23.08%
Ben Taylor 12.50% 18.18% 0.00% 0.00% 12.50% 0.00% 23.08%
First Time On Ballot
Sam Jethroe (http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/hall_of_merit/discussion/sam_jethroe)
Actual Hall of Famers on this Ballot (8)
Willard Brown
Andy Cooper
Leon Day
Frank Grant
Pete Hill
Jose Mendez
Hilton Smith
Ben Taylor
Members of BBF Hall of Fame on this Ballot (3)
Willard Brown - elected in 41st election
Jose Mendez – 48
Dick Redding - 38
Members of the Hall of Merit on this Ballot (8)
John Beckwith – elected in 1957
Willard Brown - 1976
Frank Grant - 1926
Pete Hill - 1927
Grant Johnson - 1925
Jose Mendez - 1985
Dobie Moore - 1991
Quincy Trouppe - 1995
For previous discussion of this project, see this thread:
Links to the BBF mock HOF elections (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=57084)
Which has the links to these threads:
Cooperstown, NY – Spring, 1994
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1995 (Mule Suttles elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1996 (Turkey Stearnes elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1997 (Cristobal Torriente elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1998 (Bullet Joe Rogan elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1999 (Willie Wells elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2000 (Smokey Joe Williams elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2001 (Bill Foster elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2002 (Biz Mackey elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2003 (Louis Santop elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2004 (Ray Brown elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2005 (Jud Wilson elected)
This post will provide two things:
1) The Format and Rules
2) A Guide for the 2006 Election
Format and Rules
- In 1995, the Hall decided to begin holding a special election each year to elect one player from black baseball. Non-players were apparently not being considered at this time. Players whose primary contribution was off the field, such as Sol White and Buck O’Neil, were apparently not included. (The HOF VC never published an actual ballot for these special elections, and the results of their voting were not compiled for public consumption.) The original plan was to do this for five years, which was extended for two more. Here is who the Hall elected:
1995: Leon Day
1996: Bill Foster
1997: Willie Wells
1998: Bullet Joe Rogan
1999: Smokey Joe Williams
2000: Turkey Stearnes
2001: Hilton Smith
Five years later, in 2006, the special committee on African-American baseball elected twelve more players to the Hall: Frank Grant, Pete Hill, Jose Mendez, Louis Santop, Ben Taylor, Ray Brown, Willard Brown, Andy Cooper, Biz Mackey, Mule Suttles, Cristobal Torriente and Jud Wilson.
- We will have a 25-player ballot for these elections. 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 consider adding him to the next ballot.
- 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.
- We will enshrine the leading vote-getter so long as he is supported by a majority of the voters (more than 50% needed); but only one player per year maximum. If two or more players with +50% tie for first place, the one with the earlier election to the Cooperstown HOF will be enshrined. If neither is in the Coop or they were elected the same year, the one with the earlier election to the BBF HOF will be enshrined.
- Players will ensure their continuing on the ballot as long as they receive a vote. Candidates with zero votes may be dropped from the ballot if a new candidate is nominated and seconded to replace them
- This thread is also meant to be a discussion thread, so please feel free to stump for and/or against players, including players that you think belong on the ballot
- When figuring a candidate’s worthiness, everything counts, the sum of their lifetime in baseball.
- The election will close about a week after it starts. 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.
- MORE IMPORTANT: Remember, this is not an election of the BBF VC; this is not the place to express your personal feelings as to where the line should be drawn for the Hall of Fame. You’re playing the role of a HOF VC voter. You go into that room with a list of players that you're supporting - nobody goes in there with the aim of objecting to every candidate brought up. By requesting, insisting, agitating for at least five votes, I'm trying to impress this reality on our electorate here: you've gotta support some guys. I am also asking voters to be sensitive to the consensus of who the top candidates are (see chart below) and try to support them. I've even taken the unpleasant step of singling out ballots that are obviously contrary to our aim.
If you’re not up to this, please, no off-the-top-of-my-head ballots. Don’t just cast a contrarian ballot without good reasoning. If that means fewer ballots, that’s fine. I would rather have an informed vote of 10 ballots then a quick-and-dirty vote of 40 ballots. We need voters who are on board with the mission. Ballots that are judged to be frivolous or an obstruction to our goal of electing someone may be deleted from the poll.
If you have no interest or knowledge of Black baseball or think they weren't really playing baseball or you dismiss them out of hand, well, this poll isn't for you; go back to your fanboy team forum and leave this job to the experts.
2006 Guide
There are many good avenues for researching Black baseball. Jim Albright has developed good resources here at BBF. The Hall of Merit has done groundbreaking work in creating MLE’s for many players. There are also many websites dedicated to promoting and educating people about the Negro leagues.
Top Vote-getters in the 1999-2005 Elections
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Willie Wells 87.50% ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Joe Williams 75.00% 81.82% ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Bill Foster 75.00% 54.55% 62.50% ------ ------ ------ ------
Biz Mackey 87.50% 72.73% 62.50% 91.67% ------ ------ ------
Louis Santop 50.00% 81.82% 62.50% 66.67% 75.00% ------ ------
Ray Brown 62.50% 72.73% 62.50% 66.67% 75.00% 100.00% ------
Jud Wilson 62.50% 63.64% 50.00% 66.67% 62.50% 100.00% 76.92%
Jose Mendez 37.50% 72.73% 62.50% 66.67% 62.50% 100.00% 69.23%
Pete Hill 37.50% 54.55% 62.50% 41.67% 75.00% 100.00% 61.54%
Willard Brown 50.00% 54.55% 50.00% 41.67% 62.50% 100.00% 61.54%
Dick Redding 25.00% 27.27% 37.50% 41.67% 62.50% 80.00% 53.85%
Leon Day 12.50% 18.18% 12.50% 16.67% 50.00% 60.00% 53.85%
Hilton Smith 25.00% 27.27% 12.50% 33.33% 62.50% 40.00% 53.85%
John Beckwith 12.50% 36.36% 37.50% 41.67% 62.50% 80.00% 46.15%
Frank Grant 12.50% 45.45% 37.50% 25.00% 62.50% 80.00% 46.15%
Grant Johnson 12.50% 9.09% 25.00% 8.33% 50.00% 80.00% 38.46%
Dobie Moore 0.00% 27.27% 12.50% 16.67% 50.00% 60.00% 38.46%
Ted Radcliffe ------ ------ ------ ------ 25.00% 40.00% 38.46%
Perucho Cepeda 0.00% 0.00% 12.50% 8.33% 25.00% 40.00% 23.08%
Spot Poles 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 25.00% 0.00% 20.00% 23.08%
Luke Easter 12.50% 9.09% 12.50% 8.33% 12.50% 0.00% 23.08%
Ben Taylor 12.50% 18.18% 0.00% 0.00% 12.50% 0.00% 23.08%
First Time On Ballot
Sam Jethroe (http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/hall_of_merit/discussion/sam_jethroe)
Actual Hall of Famers on this Ballot (8)
Willard Brown
Andy Cooper
Leon Day
Frank Grant
Pete Hill
Jose Mendez
Hilton Smith
Ben Taylor
Members of BBF Hall of Fame on this Ballot (3)
Willard Brown - elected in 41st election
Jose Mendez – 48
Dick Redding - 38
Members of the Hall of Merit on this Ballot (8)
John Beckwith – elected in 1957
Willard Brown - 1976
Frank Grant - 1926
Pete Hill - 1927
Grant Johnson - 1925
Jose Mendez - 1985
Dobie Moore - 1991
Quincy Trouppe - 1995
For previous discussion of this project, see this thread:
Links to the BBF mock HOF elections (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=57084)
Which has the links to these threads:
Cooperstown, NY – Spring, 1994
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1995 (Mule Suttles elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1996 (Turkey Stearnes elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1997 (Cristobal Torriente elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1998 (Bullet Joe Rogan elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 1999 (Willie Wells elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2000 (Smokey Joe Williams elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2001 (Bill Foster elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2002 (Biz Mackey elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2003 (Louis Santop elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2004 (Ray Brown elected)
BBF Mock VC Black Baseball Players Election: 2005 (Jud Wilson elected)