Tag Archives: Hall of Fame

Maybe the Hall of Fame voting procedure changes aren’t so bad

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I admit, when I heard the news that the MLB Hall of Fame changed its voting procedures to reduce eligibility from 15 years to 10, I was outraged. That’s my usual reaction to things the HOF does, since most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Lance Berkman

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Former Astro and Rice Owl Lance Berkman hung up his spikes this week. Lance Berkman, who starred at Rice before becoming one of the most clutch hitters in Astros history, is retiring after a 15-year career in the major leagues. … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

No BGO for HOF

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Missed it by one vote. One of the most majestic induction classes in the history of the National Baseball Hall of Fame was set on Wednesday with the announcement that Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas were elected by … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Hall calls for Torre, Cox, and LaRussa

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to the newest members of the Hall of Fame. The first wave of inductees for the 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame class have been announced. The Veteran’s Committee has decided to induct managers Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, and Tony … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hall calls for Torre, Cox, and LaRussa

Time to ponder how the Hall of Fame voters will screw things up this year

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Pinstripe Alley reviews this year’s Hall of Fame ballot and heaves a sigh. If I was given a ballot and asked to name at most 10 players for induction, I would first complain that I can’t add more, then submit … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

On wins and losses

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This story about CC Sabathia and his chances of winning 300 games in his career got me thinking along some slightly different lines. CC Sabathia won his 200th career game [last] week against the Minnesota Twins, becoming the 114th pitcher … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on On wins and losses

The Hall calls for Guy Lewis

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Long overdue. Former University of Houston coach Guy V. Lewis, who won nearly 600 games, was the architect of the high-flying, rim-rattling Phi Slama Jama dynasty of the 1980s and helped integrate college basketball in the South, will be inducted … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Hall calls for Guy Lewis

Hall of Fame elects nobody

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Truly, utterly, ridiculous. Steroid-tainted stars Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa were denied entry to baseball’s Hall of Fame, with voters failing to elect any candidates for only the second time in four decades. Bonds received just 36.2 percent … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hall of Fame elects nobody

The Hall of Fame and guilt by association

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

John Royal hits on one of the least admirable traits of Hall of Fame voters. There are some voters out there once again claiming that Jeff Bagwell used ‘roids, and these same folks are claiming that Craig Biggio used them … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Biggio on the ballot

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Former Astros great Craig Biggio will make his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot this year. Ballots for the 2013 Hall of Fame class will be issued this week to media members; candidates will officially be announced Wednesday. Results … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

RIP, Marvin Miller

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Marvin Miller, whom Red Barber said was “one of the two or three most important men in baseball history, along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson”, has died at the age of 95. It is impossible to overstate Miller’s impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mills and Clemens

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Enjoy your paid time off, Brad Mills. General manager Jeff Luhnow and owner Jim Crane see no reason to wait until the season ends to begin the search for the next Astros manager after Brad Mills was fired and replaced … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why I hold the Hall of Fame voting process in contempt

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This story has the best distillation of why the Baseball Writers Association of America should have had the Hall of Fame voting privilege taken away from them years ago. Former BBWAA president Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Larkin elected to Hall of Fame

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Barry Larkin on his Cooperstown call. I just wish he had some company for the dais. Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop and current ESPN analyst Barry Larkin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday, getting 86.4 … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Larkin elected to Hall of Fame

Ron Santo elected to Hall of Fame

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Long overdue. Ron Santo, a nine-time All-Star who amassed 342 home runs and five Gold Glove awards, has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee, it was announced today. Santo was the lone … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Will the feds get another shot at Clemens?

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Probably. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton is considering the possibility that putting Clemens on trial again would subject him to double jeopardy. Walton, who declared a mistrial on July 14, has ordered both sides to submit their arguments in writing … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Will the feds get another shot at Clemens?

Der-ek Jet-er!

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Clap-clap-clap clap clap. After Derek Jeter fouled off consecutive full-count pitches in the third inning on Saturday, the Yankee Stadium organist tickled the ivories to the tune of “Let’s-Go, Yank-ees!” Impulsively, the 48,103 fans who made up the sold-out crowd … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Bonds found guilty on one charge

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A mixed result for Barry Bonds and the feds who have been pursuing him. Just like the whole Steroid Era: We’ll never really know. Even the one charge that left Barry Bonds a convicted felon didn’t specify steroids. Instead, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Bonds found guilty on one charge

Alomar, Blyleven enter HOF

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Roberto Alomar and (at long last) Bert Blyleven for their election to the Hall of Fame. Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were chosen to the baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday, in an election in which voters again … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The 2011 Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Brace yourself for lots of posturing and moralizing about the eeeeevils of steroids and the general decline of society. Suspected steroid users Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez are on baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, joining Bert … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

Hawk enters the Hall

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Andre Dawson for his election to the Hall of Fame. I’ll be honest, I don’t know how you can induct Dawson when guys like Bert Blyleven, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Allen Trammell, and Barry Larkin are on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Hawk enters the Hall

Herzog and Harvey to the Hall

Posted on December 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Meet your newest members of the Hall of Fame. Manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey got the call Monday, elected to the baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Herzog and Harvey missed by one vote in their … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Herzog and Harvey to the Hall

Leaders of the pack

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, Derek Jeter passed Lou Gehrig as the all-time hits leader for the New York Yankees, collecting his 2,722nd hit to move atop the leaderboard. In writing about this just before it happened, MLB.com gave a fascinating list of … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Please listen to Hank

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure which depresses me more – that Hank Aaron feels the need to remind everyone that Barry Bonds is the home run king (and that Hank himself is just fine with that), or that there’s a bunch of … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Please listen to Hank