Another good question is why do writers get to vote for such an huge honor in the first place? For a writer to get a vote, all he or she has to do is
be in good standing with the BBWAA for ten years. Ten Years even if you didn't follow baseball your whole life, and have minimal experience following the game of baseball, you get a vote. This whole process has contradiction all over it.
I'm not the only one here who is critical of this process. Some other big names openly questioned why the BBWAA is involved in the Hall of Fame voting process at all, citing in some cases journalistic integrity and the need to remain unbiased in their coverage of newsworthy events. To go further, what happens if a writer goes and interviews, lets say Craig Biggio and that interview does not go well, whether Biggio was supposedly arrogant, or just not a very good interview. That writer will have that in the back of his mind forever, and could leave Biggio off of his ballot. I sometimes wonder if or how many times that has happened. This process needs to be something different, these writers have never played professional sports, or baseball. How do we know what they go through in the day to day grind, to put up all the numbers you need to get to the Hall of fame, and yet, get snubbed by some guy with a laptop and a media guide.
They say that a certain number will get you in, 3000 hits 300 wins, and so forth. Yet, here we are with a player with 3060 hits, seven time all-star, played three different positions, and still falls 39 votes shy of the Hall of Fame. How does that happen? He put up all the numbers that the writers set forth, played the game right, for all we know was a great man outside the game, yet he his not in the Hall of Fame. Was it he didn't win a World Series? Should they include that you have to win a title to get in? Do these writers have a "God like" mentality that they wont put anyone in on their first ballot? I have no idea, but it amazes me every time that the Baseball Hall of Fame votes to see who gets in.
They have to remember that the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown is an museum, not some glorified sanctuary of only the huge names get in. There are players like, Craig Biggio, and Dale Murphy, that should be in. These guys were one of the best in their respected era, and deserve to be in. Did they remind of us of Babe Ruth, or Mickey Mantle, no but, they had the numbers to get in to the Hall of Fame. Fans go to Cooperstown to see things they never could, like Babe Ruth's bat, or Willie Mays pictures and so on. This is what the Hall of Fame should be like, not some Chapel of baseball gods that these writers want to make it out to be.
OK, the process is flawed we all know it, but what changes could be made? For one, have former players, managers, scouts, GMs, whatever do the voting. These are the guys that get to see them inside and out. They see how the players act on and off the field, and they are the ones who know what it takes to be a good baseball player, and they definitely know what it takes to be an Hall of Fame player. Second, everyone that has a vote, has to vote no more empty blank ballots. This year there were five blank ballots. No reason for that, those extra five ballots could of helped someone get in this year. Third, treat it for what it is, a museum. A place where the fans can go, and be part of the great game of baseball. A place where if Dale Murphy was their favorite player, they could see his shrine. I know this process will not change anytime soon, but it is worth taking a look at to see if they can improve it. I just hope I'm alive to see it.
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