1946 Best of Baseball Election

[jalbright]

This is our eleventh election in this project. The entire rules follow.

This election will run through 11:59:59 PM EST May 8, 2009.

The prior election, and the ballots of the 1945 voters, are in this thread (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=89352)

[jalbright]

Rules

1) All BBF users in good standing may participate. However, if there is more than one vote being cast from any one computer or IP, it must be cleared in advance, or only the first vote will be counted. I only anticipate exceptions for family members living in the same home, but I will entertain requests on other bases. Please note that I and the other mods who participate in the project have the capability of determining the IP from which posts come, and I for one intend to monitor same. I have had to deal with a single user manipulating a project with multiple votes, and I don't intend to repeat the experience.

2) Elections will require a 10 voter quorum. If we do not get ten voters and there are candidate(s) who would be elected no matter what the voters needed to make a quorum did, those candidate(s) will be inducted. Otherwise, no one will be inducted. Further, if we fail to meet a quorum in two of any four consecutive elections, the project will end. If, for instance, we're doing fine on the player end but not the contributor end, I would drop the contributor end under this rule.

3) We will start in 1936, just as Cooperstown did. For the first election (1936), voters will rank their top 20, taking 10. After that we will go to having voters rank their top 12 players. Points awarded 12-11-10, etc. We will take the top five through 1940, then top three players per year elected until 2010, then two per year. If a voter does not number his selections, I will try to get him/her to do so. If they do not do so before the end of the election period, I may in my sole discretion invalidate the ballot. I have included this provision in order to ease the process of recording the votes. On another point, I know, the 1936 backlog is huge--but that was a historical issue they couldn't avoid, so neither will we.

4) We will also have a contributor ballot, which will elect one a year through 1985, then one every three (3) years. Contributors will be ranked 1 through 5, with points awarded 5-4-3-2-1. Voters may choose to participate in either one of the ballots or both.

5) It is permissible to vote for a candidate on both the contributor and player lists.

6) You are allowed to change your ballot at any time the ballot is open. However, if you change your ballot, you've got to notify me (jalbright) by PM or by a new post in the voting thread, or the changes likely will not be registered.

7) Players are eligible at the later of age 45 or the first year thereafter in which the player does not play. If the birthdate is not known, add five years to the first time the player misses a season and has less than 10 games the next season. There is an exception for early death, in which case the year of death plus two will be used if that yields an earlier date.

8) Contributors become eligible at age 65 or in the year of death plus two. whichever comes first.

9) Each election will run for two weeks unless expressly altered by the project manager, contributors and players done simultaneously.

10) No one is ineligible, nor are players from any league ineligible. If there are players who returned to the Negro Leagues or Japan after going to the majors, the departure from the majors will be their career end date for purposes of this project. Candidates will not lose eligiblity after becoming eligible except by being elected as either a contributor or player.

11) The standard for including a player on one's ballot is that the player must in the voter's opinion be among the very best eligible players (preferably the number voted on, but if a voter wishes to support someone they feel is 15th in a 12 person ballot instead of one of the top 12, it's too close for anyone to reasonably object. On the other hand, supporting the 25th best eligible candidate on a 12 person ballot is probably beyond the pale). I reserve the power to invalidate ballots which I do not feel are a reasonably knowledgeable, good faith effort to rank the players. One issue I am quite concerned about is that I do not want to see what clearly appear to be attempts to manipulate the ballot so as to elect a candidate. In isolation, I probably could live with this, but if it became a widely used tactic, the project would devolve into something I have no desire to be associated with. Moreover, I think that this position asks everyone else to cast legitimate votes so that you can manipulate the system to favor your pet candidates. I cannot accept that, as it strikes me as unfair to other voters. For example, you can't expect to favor even a legitimate HOF candidate like Bill Dahlen over Babe Ruth to get Dahlen elected without being asked to provide a reasonable justification for ranking Dahlen over Ruth. If you can provide a reasonable justification in that scenario, the ballot will stand. If not, you will be asked to make a change. Certainly, a reasonable justification does not indicate in essence simply that you want Dahlen elected. Furthermore, if I invalidate multiple ballots by the same individual as failing to meet this rule, that individual will forever lose the right to have his/her ballots counted. Voters are encouraged to consider character, sportsmanship, and compliance with the rules and spirit of baseball in their rankings of players.

12) I will post lists of eligible players and contributors before each election. If you have a question about the eligibility of a candidate, please ask. I will provide a list of future eligibility dates as well.

13) My eligibility lists come from all persons in the BBF HOF, BBTF Hall of Merit, and Cooperstown, plus all persons getting a vote in a BBF HOF election in the past year and a half or in a BBWAA election. This is a relatively comprehensive list, and thus I must request that if you want another candidate included, you provide some justification for why said candidate is worthy of getting a vote in this project. The main area I think this might come into play is if a voter supports a person who was eligible for the final selections from the recent pre WWII or Negro League committees but not on my master list. That fact alone would serve as ample justification for putting said candidate on the list. We may learn more about Cuban ball or what have you and thus include others after a case is made for them, however. The contributor list is undoubtedly not as comprehensive, and this fact will be taken into consideration.

14) Other than the sportsmanship and character issues, players are to be evaluated solely upon their play. I would prefer that if a player is qualified by his play standing alone that he be elected on that basis. However, a candidate may only be elected either as a contributor or a player, but not both. Contributors are the area where the entire body of work during his career in the sport, including his play, managing, scouting, executive, writing, broadcasting or other work in the sport is relevant. Contributors are to be ranked based on who the voter thinks is most worthy of induction into the Contributor group in this project.

15) Any ballot with two (2) or more spots unfilled with eligible candidates is invalid. In the event of the listing of ineligible names, I will try to notify the voter so that he/she can correct the ballot before the end of the voting period. If the change is made timely, it will count. If not, and there are two or more invalid names, the ballot will not be considered valid. If there is only one, the ineligible name will be stricken and all names after it on the affected ballot will be moved up one spot.

16) Any players listed beyond the 12th place for any ballot but the first (in which case it is 20th place) will be ignored. If more than one person is listed as tied for the last available place and the ballot is oversize, all names will be dropped, which may lead to the invalidation of the ballot.

17) Ties are not permitted in ballot listings. I reserve the right to invalidate ballots for use of ties in the rankings, be it within a single ballot or over the course of several ballots. If the voter does not correct such a listing voluntarily, except in the case of an oversize ballot tie for the last eligible place, if do not invalidate the ballot, I will choose the placement of the two "tied" candidates, generally preferring the candidate preferred by the other voters.

18) For any ties between candidates straddling the in/out line of selections, the first thing considered is the ranking of the candidates by the ballots cast. If there are more than two candidates tied, use a 3-2-1 or whatever is appropriate system. Once one person separates from the tied group, restart with the remaining candidates until there are only as many candidates as the rules call for being elected. If they remain tied after this process, take those with the most #1 votes as the next step, then the most #2 votes and so on to see if that breaks the tie. If not, we will induct all candidates who remain tied at that point.

19) One thing we're going to have to be aware of is the timeline in the case of at least a few contributors. Two which jump out at me are Buck O'Neill, 1976, and Branch Rickey, 1946. I intend to eventually vote for both men, but in 1946, Jackie Robinson was still in Montreal. Really, Branch should wait until at least 1947 after Jackie's success in the majors to get credit for that move. If you think Rickey belongs in the top 5 in 1946 without his role in breaking the color line, that's fine--but he shouldn't get credit for that important success until it actually happened. Buck O'Neill did some important things up until 1976, but after that he was in Ken Burns' Baseball and he was instrumental in the establishment of the Negro Leagues Hall of Fame (both occurred in or around 1994). If you think he belongs based on accomplishments before those two things, that's perfectly acceptable, but please don't credit him with them before they actually happened.

20) I reserve the right to hold both 19th century and Negro League special elections in 2000 if we don't have a sufficient number in those categories by then. These elections probably will be limited to voters I feel are appropriately versed on the group of players to be considered. I do wish to only use this as a last resort, however, and only to ensure that those groups received what I regard as at least adequate bare minimum representation. I do not plan on sharing with you what I consider to meet those bare minimum standards, but I think that the numbers I am thinking of are well below the number of candidates that well informed observers believe are well qualified candidates from each group.

21) I will maintain a thread of the project's history and rules which will provide a listing of all elected candidates.

22) Feel free to ask questions by either sending jalbright a PM, or by posting a question in voting thread

[jalbright]

The players who become eligible in 1945 are:


Bush , Guy
Fitzsimmons , Freddie
Manush , Heinie
Sewell , Luke
Stearnes , Turkey
Sukeforth , Clyde
Wilson , Jud
Wright , Glenn


There are only two contributor candidates becoming eligible in 1946, Ed Bolden and Branch Rickey

[jalbright]

The 1944 player candidates who were not elected had these results in the 1944 election:


player…………….. votes points
Hines , Paul 12 91
Suttles , Mule 12 87
Clarke , Fred 12 69
Barnes , Ross 9 68
Sisler , George 9 61
Jackson , Joe 6 57
Collins , Jimmy 9 56
Goslin , Goose 10 53
Magee , Sherry 8 51
Vance , Dazzy 9 42
Wheat , Zack 6 39
Radbourn , C 8 34
Start , Joe 3 23
Keeler , Willie 4 22
Traynor , Pie 4 22
Thompson , S 3 21
Bennett , C 3 20
Johnson , HR 3 20
Carey , Max 2 15
Waddell , Rube 4 15
Flick , Elmer 3 14
Groh , Heinie 3 14
Stovey , Harry 4 13
Lyons , Ted 3 12
McPhee , Bid 3 11
Sutton , Ezra 2 11
Grant , Frank 3 10
Joss , Addie 1 10
Terry , Bill 4 10
Maranville , R 3 9
Coveleski , S 2 8
Galvin , Pud 1 7
Chance , Frank 1 6
Caruthers , B 1 5
Gore , George 1 5
Pearce , Dickey 1 5
McGinnity , Joe 1 4
Browning , P 2 3
Roush , Edd 1 3
Tinker, Joe 1 3
Evers , Johnny 1 2
Jennings , H 1 2
Bresnahan , R 1 1
Duffy , Hugh 1 1


The 1944 contributor candidates who were not elected had these results in the 1944 election:


contributor………… votes points
Richter , F 11 37
Klem, Bill…… 14 35
Cartwright , A 7 33
Landis , K 8 19
Barrow , Ed 8 18
Reach , A. J. 5 11
Commiskey , C 3 7
Pearce, Dickey 2 7
Spink, Albert 2 6
Clarke , Fred 1 4
Hanlon , Ned 1 4
Doubleday , A 1 3
Dunn , Jack 1 3
Taylor , C. I. 1 3
Conlan , C 1 2
Connolly , Tom 1 1
Selee , Frank 1 1


I strongly suggest that you pay attention to this list, as the leaders of the holdovers are likely to join any strong newcomer candidates as the leaders for winning induction.

[jalbright]

Members of the Best of Baseball Hall

Players


Pete Alexander
Cap Anson
Frank Baker
Dan Brouthers
Mordecai Brown
Jesse Burkett
Oscar Charleston
John Clarkson
Ty Cobb
Eddie Collins
Roger Connor
Sam Crawford
Bill Dahlen
George Davis
Ed Delahanty
Buck Ewing
Frankie Frisch
Lou Gehrig
Lefty Grove
Billy Hamilton
Gabby Hartnett
Harry Heilmann
Rogers Hornsby
Walter Johnson
Tim Keefe
King Kelly
Nap LaJoie
Pop Lloyd
Christy Mathewson
Kid Nichols
Jim O'Rourke
Eddie Plank
Bullet Joe Rogan
Amos Rusie
Babe Ruth
Louis Santop
Tris Speaker
Cristobal Torriente
Honus Wagner
Ed Walsh
John M. Ward
Deacon White
Smoky Joe Williams
George Wright
Cy Young


Contributors


Doc Adams
Henry Chadwick
Jim Creighton
Rube Foster
William Hulbert
Ban Johnson
Connie Mack
John McGraw
Al Spalding
Harry Wright

[jalbright]

The complete list of eligible players:


Adams , Babe
Adams , Sparky
Altrock , Nick
Archer , Jimmy
Arlett , Buzz
Austin , Jimmy
Bancroft , Dave
Barnes , Ross
Barry , Jack
Battin , Joe
Beaumont , Ginger
Beckley , Jake
Bender , Chief
Bennett , Charlie
Benton , Larry
Bergen , Marty
Bigbee , Carson
Bishop , Max
Blades , Ray
Blue , Lu
Bluege , Ossie
Bodie , Ping
Boley , Joe
Bond , Tommy
Bottomley , Jim
Bradley , Bill
Breitenstein , Ted
Bresnahan , Roger
Browning , Pete
Burns , George J.
Bush , Joe
Bush , Donie
Bush , Guy
Cadore , Leon
Camnitz , Howie
Carey , Max
Carrigan , Bill
Caruthers , Bob
Chance , Frank
Chapman , Ray
Chase , Hal
Chesbro , Jack
Childs , Cupid
Cicotte , Eddie
Clarke , Fred
Coakley , Andy
Collins , Jimmy
Collins , Shano
Combs , Earle
Conroy , Wid
Coombs , Jack
Cooper , Andy
Cooper , Wilbur
Coveleski , Stan
Crandall , Doc
Cravath , Gavvy
Creighton , Jim
Criger , Lou
Critz , Hughie
Cross , Lave
Crowder , Al
Cruise , Walt
Cummings , Candy
Cuyler , Kiki
Daubert , Jake
Davis , Harry
Dinneen , Bill
Doak , Bill
Donlin , Mike
Donovan , Bill
Dooin , Red
Doyle , Jack
Doyle , Larry
Duffy , Hugh
Dugan , Joe
Dunlap , Fred
Dykes , Jimmy
Earnshaw , George
Ehmke , Howard
Elberfeld , Kid
Elliott , Jumbo
Ens , Jewel
Evers , Johnny
Faber , Red
Falkenberg , Cy
Fitzsimmons , Freddie
Fletcher , Art
Flick , Elmer
Fonseca , Lew
Foster , Eddie
Fraser , Chick
Galvin , Pud
Glasscock , Jack
Gleason , Kid
Gonzalez , Mike
Gore , George
Goslin , Goose
Gowdy , Hank
Grant , Eddie
Grant , Frank
Grantham , George
Griffith , Clark
Grimes , Burleigh
Grimm , Charlie
Groh , Heinie
Hahn , Noodles
Haines , Jesse
Hargrave , Bubbles
Harris , Bucky
Herzog , Buck
Hill , Pete
Hinchman , Bill
Hines , Paul
Hooper , Harry
Hoyt , Waite
Huggins , Miller
Irwin , Charlie
Jackman , Will
Jackson , Joe
Jennings , Hughie
Johnson , Home Run
Johnson , Judy
Jones , Charley
Jones , Fielder
Jones , Sam P.
Jordan , Tim
Joss , Addie
Judge , Joe
Kamm , Willie
Keeler , Willie
Kelley , Joe
Kerr , Dickie
Killefer , Bill
Kilroy , Matt
Kling , Johnny
Knabe , Otto
Kremer , Ray
Lange , Bill
Larkin , Henry
Latham , Arlie
Leach , Freddy
Leach , Tommy
Leever , Sam
Lewis , Duffy
Lobert , Hans
Long , Herman
Lowe , Bobby
Lundy , Dick
Luque , Dolf
Lyons , Denny
Lyons , Ted
Magee , Sherry
Manush , Heinie
Maranville , Rabbit
Marberry , Firpo
Marquard , Rube
Mathews , Bobby
Mays , Carl
McAleer , Jimmy
McCarthy , Tommy
McCormick , Jim
McGinnity , Joe
McGowan , Bill
McInnis , Stuffy
McLean , Larry
McManus , Marty
McPhee , Bid
McVey , Cal
Meadows , Lee
Mendez , Jose
Meusel , Bob
Milan , Clyde
Miller , Bing
Miller , Dots
Miller , Hack
Moore , Dobie
Moran , Pat
Mostil , Johnny
Mullane , Tony
Murphy , Danny
Murray , Red
Nehf , Art
O'Doul , Lefty
Oeschger , Joe
O'Farrell , Bob
O'Leary , Charlie
Oms , Alejandro
O'Neill , Steve
O'Neill , Tip
Orr , Dave
Pabor , Charlie
Paskert , Dode
Pearce , Dickey
Peckinpaugh , Roger
Peitz , Heinie
Pennock , Herb
Perdue , Hub
Perkins , Cy
Phillippe , Deacon
Pike , Lip
Pipp , Wally
Poles , Spotswood
Pruett , Hub
Quinn , Jack
Radbourn , Charlie
Raymond , Bugs
Redding , Dick
Remsen , Jack
Rice , Sam
Richardson , Hardy
Ring , Jimmy
Ritchey , Claude
Rixey , Eppa
Robertson , Dave
Rommel , Eddie
Root , Charlie
Roush , Edd
Rucker , Nap
Rudolph , Dick
Ruel , Muddy
Ryan , Jimmy
Schacht , Al
Schaefer , Germany
Schalk , Ray
Schang , Wally
Schreckengost , Ossie
Schulte , Frank
Scott , Everett
Scott , Jack
Severeid , Hank
Sewell , Joe
Sewell , Luke
Seymour , Cy
Sheckard , Jimmy
Sherdel , Bill
Shocker , Urban
Sisler , George
Smith , Earl
Smith , Sherry
Sparks , Tully
Stahl , Jake
Start , Joe
Stearnes , Turkey
Steinfeldt , Harry
Stephenson , Riggs
Stovey , Harry
Street , Gabby
Sukeforth , Clyde
Suttles , Mule
Sutton , Ezra
Sweeney , Bill
Tannehill , Jesse
Taylor , Ben
Tenney , Fred
Terry , Bill
Thomas , Ira
Thompson , Sam
Tiernan , Mike
Tinker , Joe
Toney , Fred
Traynor , Pie
Turner , Terry
Uhle , George
Van Haltren , George
Vance , Dazzy
Veach , Bobby
Waddell , Rube
Walberg , Rube
Wallace , Bobby
Wambsganss , Bill
Warfield , Frank
Welch , Mickey
Wheat , Zack
White , Sol
White , Will
Whitehill , Earl
Williams , Cy
Williams , Ken
Williamson , Ned
Willis , Vic
Wilson , Hack
Wilson , Jimmie
Wilson , Jud
Witt , Whitey
Wood , Joe
Wright , Glenn
Yerkes , Steve
Youngs , Ross
Zachary , Tom
Zimmer , Chief


The complete list of eligible contributors (Please note John M. Ward has been elected as a player and thus is no longer eligible):


Abe , Iso
Bancroft , Frank
Barrow , Ed
Bolden, Ed
Bulkely , Morgan
Cartwright , Alexander
Caylor , O. P.
Chance , Frank
Clarke , Fred
Commiskey , Charlie
Conlan , Charles
Connolly , Tom
Cooper , Andy
Cummings , Candy
Dinneen , Bill
Doubleday , Abner
Dreyfuss , Barney
Dunn , Jack
Elias , Al Munro
Foster , John B.
Fullerton , Hugh
Gleason , Kid
Griffith , Clark
Hanlon , Ned
Hillerich , John
Huggins , Miller
Jennings , Hughie
Klem , Bill
Landis , Kenesaw
Lardner , Ring
Leavitt, Jr. , Charles W.
McCarthy , Tommy
Mendez , Jose
Mills , A. G.
Moran , Pat
Mutrie , Jim
Navin , Frank
Norworth, Jack
Osborn , Frank
Reach , A. J.
Rice, Grantland
Richter , Francis
Rickey, Branch
Robinson , Wilbert
Ruppert , Jacob
Selee , Frank
Shibe , Ben
Spink, Albert
Stallings , George
Taylor , C. I.
Thayer , Ernest
Warfield , Frank
White , Sol
Wilkinson , J. L.
Wilson , Horace

[jalbright]

My ballot:

Players
1. Turkey Stearnes
2. Mule Suttles
3. Sherry Magee
4. Zack Wheat
5. Paul Hines
6. Jud Wilson
7. Fred Clarke
8. Dazzy Vance
9. Harry Stovey
10. Goose Goslin
11. Ted Lyons
12. Burleigh Grimes

Contributors
1. Bill Klem
2. Francis Richter
3. Ed Barrow
4. Kennesaw Landis
5. Branch Rickey

[jalbright]

Reminder #1: John Montgomery Ward has been elected as a player and thus is no longer eligible as a contributor.

Reminder #2: DO NOT credit Branch Rickey with success in breaching the major league color line until 1947. For this reason, while he's made my ballot for his work with the Cardinals and for preparing to make this move in 1946, he's currently #5. "If" Jackie Robinson succeeds in 1947, he'll move up if not elected, quite possibly (wink, wink) to #1.

[AstrosFan]

1. Turkey Stearnes
2. Jimmy Collins
3. Max Carey
4. Dazzy Vance
5. Mule Suttles
6. Fred Clarke
7. Paul Hines
8. Jud Wilson
9. Sherry Magee
10. Goose Goslin
11. Ted Lyons
12. Zack Wheat

Contributors:

1. Alexander Cartwright
2. Francis Richter
3. Bill Klem
4. Ed Barrow
5. Kenesaw Landis

[Sockeye]

Players

1. Joe Jackson
2. Fred Clarke
3. Zack Wheat
4. Goose Goslin
5. Sherry Magee
6. Willie Keeler
7. Sam Thompson
8. Elmer Flick
9. Bill Terry
10. Harry Stovey
11. Pete Browning
12. George Sisler

Contributors

1. F. Richter
2. B. Klem
3. A. Cartwright
4. E. Barrow
5. K. Landis

[Tiboreau]

1. Turkey Stearnes
2. Jud Wilson
3. Ted Lyons
4. Paul Hines
5. Dazzy Vance
6. Elmer Flick
7. Ross Barnes
8. Grant "Home Run" Johnson
9. Stan Coveleski
10. Fred Clarke
11. Hughie Jennings
12. Charley "Old Hoss" Radbourn

[Dogdaze]

Players:

1. Turkey Stearnes
2. Jud Wilson
3. Jimmy Collins
4. Mule Suttles
5. Ross Barnes
6. George Sisler
7. Sam Thompson
8. Old Hoss Radbourn
9. Paul Hines
10. Zack Wheat
11. Frank Grant
12. Dazzy Vance

Contributors:

1. Francis Richter
2. C. I. Taylor
3. Bill Klem
4. Ed Barrow
5. Branch Rickey

[Ubiquitous]

1. Sherry Magee
2. Pie Traynor
3. Heinie Groh
4. Max Carey
5. Frank Chance
6. Rabbit Marranville
7. Bid McPhee
8. Joe Tinker
9. Johnny Evers
10. Roger Bresnahan
11. George Sisler
12. Johnny Kling


1. Charles Comiskey
2. Ed Barrow
3. Jack Dunn
4. A.J. Reach
5. Bill Klem

[leecemark]

1) Ross Barnes
2) Paul Hines
3) Fred Clarke
4) Turkey Stearnes
5) Jimmy Collins
6) Charlie Bennett
7) Dazzy Vance
8) Charlie Radbourne
9) Rube Waddell
10] Mule Suttles
11) Goose Goslin
12) Sherry Magee



1) Alexander Cartwright
2) Francis Richter
3) Dickey Pearce
4) Commissioner Landis
5) Bill Klem

[jjpm74]

Players:

1. Mule Suttles
2. Turkey Stearnes
3. Ross Barnes
4. Ezra Sutton
5. Joe Start
6. Jimmy Collins
7. Paul Hines
8. Goose Goslin
9. Charlie Bennett
10. Rabbit Maranville
11. George Sisler
12. Jud Wilson

Contributors:

1. Francis Richter
2. C. I. Taylor
3. Bill Klem
4. Charley Comiskey
5. Al Reach

IMO, Branch Rickey, while eligible, hasn't made his most significant contribution to the game yet. I can't see a justification for voting for him before 1947 at the earliest. I'm not likely to add him to my ballot until 1950 and realistically, it's unlikely that the significance of his contribution was realized until the 1960s.

As far as Kenesaw Landis, it's hard for me to pinpoint his career and whether or not he deserves to be in the HoF. On one hand, he eliminated the issues associated with gambling and fixing games that had been a problem from the beginning of professional baseball. On the other hand, he also ruled with an iron fist for 25 years, blocked Bill Veeck from buying the Phillies when learning of his interest in integrating the team, and blocked any attempt to let a black ball player play in MLB during his lifetime. Does the positive outweigh the negatives in Landis' case?

[jalbright]

Players:

IMO, Branch Rickey, while eligible, hasn't made his most significant contribution to the game yet. I can't see a justification for voting for him before 1947 at the earliest. I'm not likely to add him to my ballot until 1950 and realistically, it's unlikely that the significance of his contribution was realized until the 1960s.

As far as Kenesaw Landis, it's hard for me to pinpoint his career and whether or not he deserves to be in the HoF. On one hand, he eliminated the issues associated with gambling and fixing games that had been a problem from the beginning of professional baseball. On the other hand, he also ruled with an iron fist for 25 years, blocked Bill Veeck from buying the Phillies when learning of his interest in integrating the team, and blocked any attempt to let a black ball player play in MLB during his lifetime. Does the positive outweigh the negatives in Landis' case?

Before 1947, Branch Rickey had:
1) signed George Sisler for the Browns;
2) developed the Cardinal farm system (and, more importantly, the whole notion of a "farm system"), which in turn lead to:
3) five pennants in nine seasons (1926-34), and added one more while Branch was with the team in 1942;
4) signed Jackie Robinson to a contract and had him play quite successfully for a top minor league Dodger team in Montreal. He had already signed some other Negro Leaguers as well (Newcombe and Campanella were in Nashua of the New England League).

I think the significance of his move was well grasped by 1950, as can be seen from the influx of talent by that time: Satchel Paige, Newcombe, Campanella, Jackie, Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, Minnie Minoso, Luke Easter and Hank Thompson had all played by then, and many more guys who had played in the Negro Leagues were in the minors. Also, Rickey had set up the Dodgers for their successes of the 50's plus helped them to their 1947 and 1949 pennants through Jackie and others.

====================================

As for Landis, his position on the color line is a negative factor, and his approach to the gambling scandal(s) have offended some. I think he cleaned the game up in that regard, which was essential for the good of the game, and he deserves a great deal of the credit for that. Landis was hardly unique in his approach to racial issues in his time, and while his position isn't to his credit, I think one must consider that issue in context in determining how much to dock him. He wasn't a roll back the clock reactionary, but rather a hold the line conservative-type in that regard. Standing up for the status quo of exclusion isn't a positive thing, to be sure, and I understand the motivation in lowering his stature for that failing. I just don't think his stance on race wipes out the positives.

[Brad Harris]

Players
1. Turkey Stearnes
2. Mule Suttles
3. Paul Hines
4. Goose Goslin
5. Sherry Magee
6. George Sisler
7. Fred Clarke
8. Edd Roush
9. Dazzy Vance
10. Heinie Groh
11. Zach Wheat
12. Jud Wilson


Contributors
1. Francis Richter
2. Ed Barrow
3. Alfred H. Spink
4. Bill Klem
5. Frank Selee

[Mr. Red]

1) Turkey Stearnes
2) Sherry Magee
3) Mule Suttles
4) Zack Wheat
5) Heinie Groh
6) Goose Goslin
7) Dazzy Vance
8) Old Hoss Radbourne
9) Frank Chance
10) Fred Clarke
11) Johnny Evers
12) Pie Traynor


1) Charlie Comiskey
2) Bill Klem
3) Ed Barrow
4) A.J. Reach
5) Francis Richter

[PVNICK]

1. Mule Suttles
2. George Sisler
3. Turkey Stearnes
4. Jimmy Collins
5. Hoss Radbourne
6. Pie Traynor
7. Bob Caruthers
8. Goose Goslin
9. Joe Jackson
10. Bill Terry
11. Dazzy Vance
12. Covelski

1. AJ Reach
2. Albert Spink
3. Barrow
4. Landis
5. Klem

I know Barrow is not a new candidate, and Suttles was an omission on my part last vote.

[jalbright]

We now have a quorum on both halves of the ballot.

[Captain Cold Nose]

1. Turkey Stearnes
2. George Sisler
3. Goose Goslin
4. Mule Suttles
5. Willie Keeler
6. Charles Radbourne
7. Jud Wilson
8. Jimmy Collins
9. Paul Hines
10. Harry Stovey
11. Frank Grant
12. Pete Hill

Contributors

1. Alexander Cartwright
2. Ned Hanlon
3. Bill Klem
4. Ed Barrow
5. A.J. Reach

[PVNICK]

In looking at other ballots on the player side there's always a cringe along the lines of geez how could I not have that guy on my ballot. But then I go through my ballot or the "next year" do so and find there is noone that merits bumping (in my mind of course).

[J W]

Players

1. Turkey Stearnes
2. Joe Jackson
3. Mule Suttles
4. Jud Wilson
5. Frank Grant
6. George Sisler
7. Rube Waddell
8. Sherry Magee
9. Stan Coveleski
10. Charlie Radbourn
11. Fred Clarke
12. Pie Traynor

Contributors

1. Alexander Cartwright
2. Fred Clarke
3. Bill Klem
4. Francis Richter
5. Ed Barrow

[dgarza]

Players

1. Sam Thompson
2. Joe Jackson
3. Ross Barnes
4. George Sisler
5. Goose Goslin
6. Harry Stovey
7. Willie Keeler
8. Bill Terry
9. Charley Radbourn
10. Pete Browning
11. Hugh Duffy
12. Turkey Stearnes


Contributors

1. Branch Rickey
2. Kenesaw Landis
3. Alexander Cartwright
4. Abner Doubleday
5. Charles Conlon

[bambambaseball]

Players:

1. Ross Barnes
2. Mule Suttles
3. Charlie Bennett
4. Jimmy Collins
5. Ezra Sutton
6. George Sisler
7. Bob Caruthers
8. Roger Bresnahan
9. Dickey Pearce
10. Turkey Stearnes
11. Paul Hines
12. Sherry Magee

Contributers:

1. Bill Klem
2. Francis Richter
3. O.P. Caylor
4. Ed Barrow
5. A.J. Reach

[jalbright]

PMs sent to bambambaseball about the fact that both Wright and Santop have been elected.

[bambambaseball]

all fixed.

[jalbright]

all fixed.

The changes have been noted. Thank you--I don't want to invalidate ballots, especially not for someone who's been a solid participant in the project and is returning after a brief absence.

[jalbright]

Some housekeeping matters:

Voted last election, yet to vote in this one:
AG2004
BlueBlood
Domenic
Freakshow
jaxxr
Paul Wendt

Joining the contributor ballot next election:
Paul Krichell
Gabby Street

I don't know what the attraction to Street may be, but he was named by one of the BBF HOF voters, so here he is. Krichell was a well-known scout who had a lot of success with the Yankees. He got some significant support in the BBF HOF project, but didn't make it. He's not exactly someone I'm aching to vote for right now in this project, though he may well make my ballot some day.

Joining the player ballot next election
Earl Averill
John Beckwith
Moe Berg
Charlie Berry
Watty Clark
Bill Hallahan
Red Lucas
Al Simmons

Al Simmons will be high on my ballot, and I expect Averill and Beckwith to garner support, if not quickly, certainly eventually. The rest don't even merit much consideration, IMHO.

[jalbright]

In the current election, spots 3 through 8 in the player election are currently separated by a total of six points. In the contributor ballot, two guys are in a dead heat. If you haven't voted yet, don't think your ballot can't make a difference.

[Domenic]

Players
01. Turkey Stearns
02. Edd Roush
03. Dazzy Vance
04. Goose Goslin
05. Sherry Magee
06. Zack Wheat
07. Fred Clarke
08. Paul Hines
09. Mule Suttles
10. Heinie Groh
11. George Sisler
12. Willie Keeler

I'm not too comfortable working with the contributors for now, so I'm going to sit that out until the next time around.

[Freakshow]

1 Turkey Stearnes
2 Mule Suttles
3 Paul Hines
4 Goose Goslin
5 Fred Clarke
6 Jud Wilson
7 Ross Barnes
8 Joe Start
9 Jimmy Collins
10 Dazzy Vance
11 Zack Wheat
12 George Sisler

[jalbright]

Players
I'm not too comfortable working with the contributors for now, so I'm going to sit that out until the next time around.

You don't have to vote in both elections, so do whatever suits you in that regard.

[Paul Wendt]

With seven infielders (3b-ss-2b, or add the catcher position if you wish) and three centerfielders on my ballot, Sockeye and I are opposites at this stage of the process. With no pitchers on our ballots, we are fellow travelers.

Players
1 Stearnes
2 Hines
3 Clarke
4 Barnes
5 Johnson G
6 Wilson J
7 Gore

8 Groh
9 Colllins J
10 Suttles
11 McPhee
12 Glasscock

The leading corner outfielders and 1Bmen in my esteem are Start, Flick, Magee, Goslin (chron order) and it has come time to mention Joe Jackson. My opinion of Jackson is up and down but I ignore the ups when it comes to voting.

The leading pitchers in my esteem are Radbourn, Caruthers, Coveleski, Vance, and Lyons (chron order)

A few more "infielders" may yet reach my ballot before anyone from those quintets: Ezra Sutton, Hardy Richardson, and Charlie Bennett. There are others whom I certainly rank higher than most do, although they are not yet close to my ballot: Pearce, Grant, Jennings, Wallace.

Other players with some support in our polls, led by George Sisler, are not yet close to my ballot. --although, because I am easily swayed in the down direction re Joe Jackson, some of them may get my vote before he does.

[Paul Wendt]

I don't have enough perspective on the senior executives in the game, Barrow, Rickey, and Wilkinson. Maybe next year. (Really I would like to do some historical reading. Here I believe that reading rather than original research would be sufficient but I don't see making much time for it this spring.)

Contributors
1 Richter
2 Klem
3 Reach
4 Comiskey
5 Connolly

[jalbright]

Other players with some support in our polls, led by George Sisler, are not yet close to my ballot. --although, because I am easily swayed in the down direction re Joe Jackson, some of them may get my vote before he does.

Jackson will never get my vote in this project, as this project does consider the "sportsmanship" issue. Joe was an undeniable talent, but IMHO, he sold his right to be honored for his play when he took money in furtherance of the conspiracy to fix the World Series. At that point, he dirtied himself, and it's on him and his supporters to prove he didn't further the conspiracy, including by mere silence. Proving such a negative is a tremendous burden, and IMHO, it can't be done, but Joe saddled himself with that burden. Moreover, if Joe gets in, I don't want to hear his apologists knocking suspected steroid users or Pete Rose on the character/sportsmanship issue. If Joe stays out, I won't push for Rose, but IMHO, once Jackson is in, Rose unquestionably belongs.

[leecemark]

--I second Jim's post on Jackson. He will never appear on my ballot and if he does make it in then nobody else ever needs to worry about being discounted for character issues.

[jalbright]

I'm interested in hearing a case for Al Reach. He was a good ballplayer, no doubt, and a popularizer of the game and a sporting goods mogul. Maybe the combined role is enough, but in that regard he's got to compete with Hughie Jennings and Frank Chance at the very least. I'm getting an itch to vote for a manager or two to add to Mack and McGraw, and wonder why I should favor Reach instead.

[jjpm74]

--I second Jim's post on Jackson. He will never appear on my ballot and if he does make it in then nobody else ever needs to worry about being discounted for character issues.

I also echo these sentiments in regards to this project and all other projects involving the HoF here at BBF.

[Freakshow]

I'm interested in hearing a case for Al Reach. He was a good ballplayer, no doubt, and a popularizer of the game and a sporting goods mogul. Maybe the combined role is enough, but in that regard he's got to compete with Hughie Jennings and Frank Chance at the very least. I'm getting an itch to vote for a manager or two to add to Mack and McGraw, and wonder why I should favor Reach instead.There was a little discussion of Reach (http://www.baseball-fever.com/showpost.php?p=1154088&postcount=17) in The Ultimate Quest for Candidates: Round 1 – The 1860’s/70’s thread. He received zero votes in that poll, as seven strong candidates swamped the rest of the field.

I tend to think that Bob Ferguson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ferguson_%28baseball%29) contributed more to the game than Reach, both on the field and off.

[AG2004]

My ballot

PLAYERS
1. Turkey Stearnes
2. Paul Hines
3. Jud Wilson
4. Joe Start
5. Home Run Johnson
6. Hoss Radbourn
7. Fred Clarke
8. Dickey Pearce
9. Joe McGinnity
10. Mule Suttles
11. Sherry Magee
12. Jimmy Collins

CONTRIBUTORS
1. Branch Rickey
2. Kenesaw Mountain Landis
3. Dickey Pearce
4. Al Reach
5. Ed Barrow

Rickey's creation of the farm system is a big deal, as it ensures that the best white players will make the major leagues.

Remember Buzz Arlett from the 1920s? The Oakland Oaks had Arlett, and they kept him for years on end. He didn't get to play in the majors until he was past thirty -- and then had a severe injury during his sole season there. Arlett could not get into the majors during his prime, no matter how good he was; the Oaks wouldn't let him leave the club.

Then there was Gavy Cravath. Joe Cantillon, who managed the Senators but owned the Minneapolis Millers, was swindling the major league team out of some of its better players -- and the players victimized ended up being stuck in the minors. Cravath wouldn't have been able to return to the majors if the Millers had known how to fill out their paperwork correctly.

With the establishment of farm systems, the best players are able to earn their way into the major leagues. Rickey deserves a lot of credit for that.

----

True, the major leagues have not been integrated. However, as Jackie Robinson led the International League in batting average, his appearance on the Dodgers roster next year seems to be all but certain. Robinson is not the only one of his race in Brooklyn's farm system; there are four others. Furthermore, the Cardinals also integrated one of their minor league teams this past season. Manny McIntyre played for Class C Sherbrooke, but was released after making 30 errors in 30 games at shortstop. (McIntyre's baseball experience consisted of semipro play for some Canadian clubs. He doesn't belong in organized baseball, as hockey is his true love. He, and the other two members of the "Black Aces," deserve a chance in the NHL.)

[jalbright]

I tend to think that Bob Ferguson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ferguson_%28baseball%29) contributed more to the game than Reach, both on the field and off.

Is this a nomination of Ferguson for the contributor ballot? If so, I can buy it.

[Paul Wendt]

Furthermore, the Cardinals also integrated one of their minor league teams this past season. Manny McIntyre played for Class C Sherbrooke, but was released after making 30 errors in 30 games at shortstop. (McIntyre's baseball experience consisted of semipro play for some Canadian clubs. He doesn't belong in organized baseball, as hockey is his true love. He, and the other two members of the "Black Aces," deserve a chance in the NHL.)
Three do not make a hockey team. Are the Black Aces teammates, perhaps composing one "line" on a hockey team? It occurs to me that that might be a compromise incomplete integration.

[AG2004]

Three do not make a hockey team. Are the Black Aces teammates, perhaps composing one "line" on a hockey team? It occurs to me that that might be a compromise incomplete integration.

The Black Aces are, indeed, teammates who compose one line on a team. McIntyre is the left-winger for Sherbrooke, while brothers Herb and Ossie Carnegie are the center and right-winger, respectively. The Carnegies had played together for the Buffalo Ankerites in a mines league before McIntyre joined them.

---
(Herb Carnegie would be offered a minor-league contract by the New York Rangers in 1948. By then, he was pushing thirty and had a family. The contract was for less money than he was getting in Sherbrooke, and Carnegie turned down the offer. An article on Carnegie can be found at

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blackhistory/news/story?id=1739870

One on Manny McIntyre is available at

http://www.insidehockey.com/columns/116 )

[jalbright]

The 1946 elections are now official. We had 19 votes in the Player ballot, and elected Turkey Stearnes, Mule Suttles and Paul Hines. The complete results are:


player…………….. votes pts
Stearnes, T 17 178
Suttles , Mule 15 127
Hines , Paul 13 97
Goslin , Goose 12 79
Clarke , Fred 12 78
Wilson, Jud 11 75
Barnes , Ross 8 73
Magee , Sherry 11 70
Collins , Jimmy 10 68
Sisler , George 12 67
Vance , Dazzy 10 54
Radbourn , C 9 45
Wheat , Zack 8 43
Jackson , Joe 4 38
Groh , Heinie 5 29
Thompson , S 3 24
Keeler , Willie 4 22
Start , Joe 3 22
Bennett , C 3 21
Johnson , HR 3 21
Traynor , Pie 4 20
Carey , Max 2 19
Stovey , Harry 4 17
Sutton , Ezra 2 17
Roush , Edd 2 16
Lyons , Ted 3 14
Caruthers , B 2 12
Chance , F 2 12
Flick , Elmer 2 12
Grant , Frank 3 12
Terry , Bill 3 12
Maranville , R 2 10
Waddell , Rube 2 10
Coveleski , S 3 9
Pearce , D 2 9
Bresnahan , R 2 8
McPhee , Bid 2 8
Evers , Johnny 2 6
Gore , George 1 6
Browning , P 2 5
Tinker, Joe 1 5
McGinnity , J 1 4
Duffy , Hugh 1 2
Jennings , H 1 2
Glasscock , J 1 1
Grimes , B 1 1
Hill , Pete…. 1 1
Kling, Johnny 1 1


The contributor ballot had 16 votes, and elected Francis Richter. The complete results are as follows:


contributor…… votes points
Richter , F 11 44
Klem, Bill... 14 42
Barrow , Ed 12 29
Cartwright , A 6 26
Reach , A. J. 8 17
Landis , K 7 16
Commiskey , C 4 14
Rickey, Branch 4 12
Taylor , C. I. 2 8
Spink, Albert 2 7
Pearce, Dickey 2 6
Clarke , Fred 1 4
Hanlon , Ned 1 4
Caylor , O. P. 1 3
Dunn , Jack 1 3
Doubleday , A 1 2
Conlan , C 1 1
Connolly , Tom 1 1
Selee , Frank 1 1