HoF Debate: Bill James

[giants!]

Does the sabermetric guru deserve to be inducted into the hall and if so, when?

[johnsamo]

No... you shouldn't make the hall of fame base on your skill with a calculator. I'm not really a fan of even announcers and sportswriters getting in, but I could make exceptions for a Harry Carry, Mel Allen or Vin Scully... In General, the Hall should be for players and the occassional great coach like Bobby Cox.

[pokerplaya]

No. I appreciate his new ideas, but he doesn't deserve to be recognized in the HOF.

[Matthias]

Agree. At a minimum, you have to be associated with a baseball franchise. And yah, he's now doing some consulting work for the Red Sox but no.

Sabremetrics Hall of Fame? Sure.

Baseball Hall of Fame? No.

[looptid]

I think he probably could have played a better short than Phil Rizzuto. It's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Merit, and I think he's famous enough now.

[Starkmadfan]

No. For all the above reasons. If we begin to go down that route, the descendants of George and Alfred Rawlings would then start lobbying for their induction - and they probably have a stronger claim than James.

[ukrneal]

Gee, I don't know. He single-handedly changed the way many people think about baseball and approach the game. He definitely had revolutionary ideas (many then took those ideas further) that baseball eventually embraced. I think he should at least get a closer look and not simply be dismissed.

[j_d_mcnugent]

i'd say no to the hall of fame, but potentially yes to the spink award which is what peter gammons got. most people think gammons is in the hall of fame. technically they arent members of the hall of fame but are recognized in an HOF exhibit. the spink award is only open to members of the baseball writers association of america and i dont know if james is a member of that or not. supposing he were eligible for the award i would vote for him.

[noseeum]

They do have a Pioneer/Executive category of Hall of Famer.

I'd vote for Bill James as a pioneer for certain. He's changed baseball forever.

[Starkmadfan]

They do have a Pioneer/Executive category of Hall of Famer.

I'd vote for Bill James as a pioneer for certain. He's changed baseball forever.

That category I agree with.