View Full Version : 2008 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
I noticed that the actual induction ceremony isn't being televised where I am? Unacceptable.
Anyways, for those in my boat, click the link from the HOF website for the live broadast on the web:
http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/index.jsp
They're doing Bowie Kuhn as I type. They've covered Dreyfuss as well as the unveiling of the Buck O'Neill Lifetime Achievement Award (statement by Joe Morgan) and the Frick and Spink Winners, Dave Niehaus (he was entertaining) and Larry Whiteside (statement by his son Tony).
Michael Green
07-27-2008, 09:28 PM
I watched as much of the ceremony as I could. I wanted to throw something at the TV when ESPN cut away from the speeches. I thought Dave Niehaus's speech was beautiful and that Peter O'Malley did a fine job.
As to the inductees ... Bowie Kuhn? No disrespect to the Kuhn family, but ... Bowie Kuhn?
Brad Harris
07-28-2008, 06:55 AM
As to the inductees ... Bowie Kuhn? No disrespect to the Kuhn family, but ... Bowie Kuhn?
Taking Kuhn and snubbing Miller is like calling awarding the World Championship trophy to the '98 Devil Rays, not the '98 Yankees.
Yeah, I notices Kuhn got a lot of love up on stage from the speakers... I wonder what the ol' HOFers were thinking in their chairs though.
Niehaus had the best speech (no surprise). No particularly historic speech like Peter Gammons though. Unfortunately, Larry Whiteside wasn't around to give his -- Tony did an admirable job.
Dick Williams rambled a bit and Rich Gossage was kind of "a-hyuk"-y... but it was nice to see them. Goose still looks like a pretty strong guy!
Michael Green
07-28-2008, 01:56 PM
JW, they should have been thinking, "We are so grateful for Bowie Kuhn. A smarter commissioner wouldn't have been such a sitting duck for Marvin Miller."
What struck me as interesting, too, is that Peter O'Malley really liked Kuhn, partly because he and his dad influenced him a lot, and Peter reportedly had no use for Selig. But Peter always has been a class act and didn't let anything show. I also thought it was incredibly nice of him to mention Al Barlick and Jocko Conlan, especially when the biggest crime next to Marvin Miller not getting in was Doug Harvey not getting in, and the two of them broke in Harvey as an umpire.
Brad Harris
07-28-2008, 03:42 PM
What struck me as interesting, too, is that Peter O'Malley really liked Kuhn, partly because he and his dad influenced him a lot, and Peter reportedly had no use for Selig. But Peter always has been a class act and didn't let anything show. I also thought it was incredibly nice of him to mention Al Barlick and Jocko Conlan, especially when the biggest crime next to Marvin Miller not getting in was Doug Harvey not getting in, and the two of them broke in Harvey as an umpire.
Kuhn was O'Malley's pawn. Nothing more.
Michael Green
07-28-2008, 04:22 PM
Classic, I'll agree, with this caveat: when he was O'Malley's pawn, he made more sense! When O'Malley wasn't involved, then Kuhn was really in trouble.