Corky Simpson: The writer who didn’t vote for Rickey Henderson
Posted by: Richie Rich in Baseball Hall of Fame, WritersSo I was putting together some research on which BBWAA members had published their ballots for the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame, trying to get a feel (albeit from a small sample size) of what the 2009 voting might look like.
While I was compiling it, I kept noticing one name among every writer’s picks.
Rickey Henderson.
Could it be unanimous? Even in my small sampling of writers whose picks I could find on the internets? No one has ever received every vote in the history of BBHoF voting. Not Babe Ruth, not Ty Cobb, not Tom Seaver, not Willie Mays, not Jackie Robinson, not Nolan Ryan, not Cal Ripken, Jr., not Cy Young.
But every writer was putting Henderson on their ballot, usualy followed by the words “no-brainer.” Could it be done? Could Rickey make HoF history? I was getting kinda excited.
And then, I got to the ballot of the Award-Winning Corky Simpson - who, you guessed it … didn’t vote for Rickey Henderson.
You might remember Corky Simpson (1988 AP National Sportswriter of the Year), the former Tucson Citizen writer who garnered quite a bit of attention in 1992 when he (and he alone) voted Alabama #1 every week in the AP college football poll.
Mind you, he was more than vindicated when ‘Bama upset Miami in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, prompting the other 60 AP voters to unanimously vote Alabama #1 in the final AP Poll. He was the 1988 AP National Sportswriter of the Year.
Seventeen years later, Simpson is retired, but still writes for the Green Valley News and Sun (Green Valley is a small retirement community in Southern Arizona) and is a lifetime member of the Baseball Writers Association of America - the people who vote for the Hall of Fame.
Here’s Corky Simpson’s ballot for the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame:
- Bert Blyleven
- Andre Dawson
- Tommy John
- Don Mattingly
- Tim Raines
- Jim Rice
- Alan Trammell
- Matt Williams
Eight names (you can vote for ten). But no Rickey Henderson. I was dying to read Simpson’s explanation of why he left Henderson off the ballot and especially how eight other players could get his vote before he gave one to Rickey.
But there was nothing. Not a Sausage. He barely even mentions Henderson’s name …
Others honored with nomination this year and who may well be voted into the Hall of Fame, include Harold Baines, Jay Bell, David Cone, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Rickey Henderson, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Jesse Orosco, Dave Parker, Dan Plesac, Lee smith, Greg Vaughn and Mo Vaughn.
Rickey Henderson is merely “honored with nomination” and “may well be voted into the Hall of Fame” ?!? Has Simpson been living under a rock in the Arizona Desert? Incidentally, the Vaughns have no shot at being voted into the Hall of Fame, let alone making next year’s ballot.
Simpson voted for Tim Raines (who belongs in the Hall, too). And his reasons which should have guaranteed a vote for Rickey Henderson.
Tim Raines, a seven-time All-Star outfielder, 1986 National League batting champion, and four-time (NL) base-stealing champ.
In comparison, Rickey Henderson was a ten-time All-Star outfielder, 1990 American League MVP, and twelve-time AL base-stealing champ. Not to mention that he’s MLB’s all-time leader in Stolen Bases.
I stepped away from the computer and thought, “Okay, maybe he’s one of those writers who doesn’t vote for players in their first year on the ballot.” Then I remembered he cast a vote for first timer Matt Williams.
Matt Williams, my first Hall of Fame vote for an Arizona Diamondback player. Matty played 17 seasons for the Giants, Indians and Diamondbacks. Nobody ever played the game with more intensity, nor with more reverence for the sport. He was the inspirational leader of the 2001 World Series champion D’backs.
“Matty” ? Nobody played with more intensity? I’d hold up alot of players to Matt Williams in the intensity department (including Rickey Henderson) any day of the week. No one played with more reverence? Not even Cal Ripken, Jr.? And if we’re voting in players just because they’re former D-Backs, where’s Mark Grace on the ballot?
I got really cheesed off about the Williams selection when Simpson explained why he didn’t vote for Mark McGwire.
Of those I didn’t vote for but wish I could have, Mark McGwire tops the list. One of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, Big Mac broke Roger Maris’ record with 70 home runs in 1998 and accumulated an astounding 583 for his career. But there is doubt about whether McGwire’s career was chemically enhanced and unless — and until — that matter is taken care of, this voter won’t mark the ballot for Mark.
Well … I guess that sort of logic should have excluded Matt Williams from Simpson’s ballot … considering that Williams was named in the freaking Mitchell Report for having purchased HGH and steroids.
Retired Diamondbacks player Matt Williams was named in the long-awaited Mitchell Report on Thursday.
Williams, who is retired, allegedly bought human growth hormone, steroids, syringes, and other drugs from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center in 2002, when he was playing with the Diamondbacks, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The orders reportedly were sent to Williams at a business address in Scottsdale, Arizona. The article reported that “Williams’ prescriptions were written by the same dentist who prescribed [human] growth hormone for [Paul] Byrd and [Jose] Guillen.”
I guess there’s no “doubt” associated with Williams’ career-high 43 Home Runs in strike-shortened 1994, huh?
I’m really struggling to understand how an Award-Winning writer like Corky Simpson leaves Rickey Henderson off his ballot. Did Simpson think Henderson was too cocky and didn’t show enough “reverence for the sport?” Did he not realize he was on the ballot? Does he think no one should be voted in unanimously?
Either way … it deserves an explanation. Our efforts to contact Mr. Simpson have been unsuccessful.
Or could it all just be a big publicity stunt. Nothing draws attention like leaving a sure-fire Hall of Famer off your ballot.
More than likely, Mr. Simpson won’t be the only Hall of Fame voter who doesn’t put an “X” next to Rickey Henderson’s name on the 2009 Ballot. And in this blog-eat-blog world … we’ll be looking to find out why.
By the way, here’s the list of published HoF votes so far.
UPDATE: - Now Corky Simpson says he’d vote for Rickey if he could do it again. Too little, too late.
Entries (RSS)
January 7th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Rickey’s a sure HOF’er, for sure, but it would be a disgrace for him to be the first unanimous pick. Has there ever been a more selfish player? Roger Clemens, maybe. Remember Rickey’s cringe-inducing speech when he broke Lou Brock’s career stolen base record? I remember a Mets teammate mentioning that Rickey was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even say who was on the mound that night — for his own team.
He’s one of the most gifted players of all time but I wouldn’t have him on my team.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I can’t wait for pitchers and catchers.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:53 am
It’s such a joke. Guys like him deserve to have their voting privileges revoked. I wrote about something similar the other day at my site. Voting for Mark Grace and Harold Baines?
January 7th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Jeff, does a bad speech and some funny apocrypha about forgetting his teammates really outweigh being the most prolific run-scorer in the history of the game? Gee, if the worst you can say about a guy is that he was full of himself, that probably puts him ahead of most Hall of Famers.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Whichever writer votes for either of the Vaughns is gonna get it just as bad. Those two shouldn’t get one vote between them.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
You would put him on your team, Jeff, if you wanted to win.
The fact that no baseball player has ever been unanimously voted in makes me sick. How can Willie Mays not get every single writers vote?
They’ll never do it, but they should take away these writers voting privileges after reading their explanations.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Damn.
That was reminiscent of FJM.
Excellent work.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:46 am
This guy should have his vote taken away
January 7th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
i have actually had some emails back and forth with corky in the past, he seems like a decent guy with his head on his shoulders.
rickey’s character has been in question for a while aside from his playing ability. let us not forget the card game with bobby bonilla. maybe he considered this? i couldnt say.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
All time leader in walks, runs scored, stolen bases and he’s not a lock. Too much time in the sun Corky?
January 7th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
On second thought maybe he is a historian and knows no player has ever been unanimously elected. Why start now? Ruth, Cobb, DiMaggio, Williams etc. all were better ball players.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
This guy is retarded. He just votes like this to see his name in print (other than in a third rate newspaper). All this does is make him an answer to a sports trivia question. The cork is in his head, not just his name. Take away his voting privileges and give them to an adult.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
“Rickey’s a sure HOF’er, for sure, but it would be a disgrace for him to be the first unanimous pick.”
“Disgrace?” I love it when people get carried away about just how large an affont to humanity votes for Halls of Fame and Pro Bowls and All-Star Games are. I guess I should be happy you didn’t say “tragedy,” because it’s a freaking sport.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Maybe he’s voting backwards; rather than have to say in 2010 that “Raines should be in because the only better player at Raines’ game is already in,” he was hoping to be able to say “Rickey should be in, because I’ll be deep in the cold, cold ground before Raines stands alone in there without Rickey to put him in his place.”
Could Corky Simpson be the most Advanced Hall of Fame voter of all time?
Actually, after reading the above, I’m inclined to say he’s not; this vote is so illogical I can’t even make a snarky comment about it with a straight face.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I wonder if Corky would be upset at all if EVERY voter decided not to vote for first ballot players. If this happened, nobody would make the ballot on the second year and players like Rickey would be left out of the Hall until the Veterans Committee could get a look. That would be (in)justice for these morons who dont vote on the first ballot.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Anais, if the HoF is ONLY about the on-the-field behavior and achievements of players, then why does the HoF not include baseballs all-time leading hitter? I’d never condone Rose’s actions (or his lies), but his exclusion from the Hall is a far greater crime than Ricky Henderson not being voted in unanimously.
This is a pass/fail situation. We have players’ entire careers’ worth of stats by which we judge and compare them, nobody cares who got more HoF votes than who.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Matt -
The Hall doesn’t include Pete Rose because no one can vote for him.
I’ve always wondered if Rose would get in if he was actually on the ballot.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Jeff, you do not want Ricky Henderson on your team because he is selfish? The same Ricky Henderson who has been on 9 post-season teams, usually as a major contributor to their success? That includes 2 World Series winners and 2 more pennant winners.
Everywhere he has been, he has been considered an excellent teammate and major contributor to his team’s success. In most cases, especially during his prime, every time he moved to a team its record improved. Now it would be silly to attribute that entirely to Ricky; many other factors may have been involved. But it suggests his mythical selfishness did not interfere with the team’s success.
As examples, once he arrived as a full time player in Oakland in 1981, the record improved by 29 games! (His first year he played in only little more than 1/2 the games.) Coming to the Yankees in 1985, they improved by 10 games. Returning to Oakland in 1989, they lost 5 more games but won the World Series and when he returned again in 1998 they improved by 9 games. Joining the Mets in 1999 they improved by 9 games and captured the wild card and in San Diego in 1996 they improved by 21 games and won the division.
I will take “selfish” players like Henderson on my team whenever possible. That designation of him is perception only, not reality.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
A vote for Mattingly is a vote for America!!!!
OK, so he won’t ever see Cooperstown unless he buys a ticket….which is sad for a Donnie Basbell fan such as myself.
This sadness, however, will be offset once Rickey inducts Rickey into the hall of fame. It may be the greatest speech of all-time.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I don’t see why you all are dancing around the obvious.
Corky didn’t vote for him the same reason ‘Jeff’ made his statement.
They”re old white guys who don’t like uppity negros.
As opposed to the ones who are a credit to their race (i.e. know their place) like (in Corky’s opinion) Rice, Raines, Dawson, et all.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he never voted for Eddy Murray either.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Andre Dawson
Tommy John
Don Mattingly
Tim Raines
All belong in as does Jesse Orosco (His longevity is a thing of legend, and he has some decent stats for it.)
I wonder where the writers will go when again Buck O’Neill could qualify since he did “play” in a Independent minor league game. (albeit wearing blue jeans with his uniform like Urkel in place of Baseball pants.)
And anyone who thinks Mo Vaughn should be in.
1: is CLEARLY NOT A NY METS FAN! lol
2: given elctro shock therepy
3: Should have all voting privilidges revoked, not just for Baseball HoF, But any elected office in the United States from President down to assistant secretary for the local 4H!
January 7th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
As Bill James once said
“if you could split him in two you’d have 2 hall of famers” I’ll post the rest
“the greatest base stealer of all time, the greatest power/speed combo of all time (except maybe barry bonds) the greatest leadoff man of all time, of the the top five players of all time in runs scored…yead i would think that might make a man a hall of famer. Without exaggerating one inch, you could find fifty Hall of famers who, all taken together, don’t own as many records, and as many IMPORTANT records, as Rickey Henderson.”
On another note. I find it interesting that many here would cry about Ricky being a bad guy (because of off field incidents) yet you mention Cobb as if he was a angel. You do know that Cobb was a cerified racist who during a season STABBED TWO BLACK PEOPLE because they said something he thought was “uppity”..he wasn’t fined..he wasn’t supsended.
that right there beats ANYTHING Rickey has ever done…hell anything Bonds or other hated players have done.
chew on that for awhile.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Don’t forget Cobb beat the piss out of a cripple man who called him “Half a N****r”!
The sad not there, Baseball felt Cobb was a victim.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
forget about whether or not he was a generous man with the media. he truly was the best leadoff man in baseball history.PERIOD!!! nobody has changed the game of baseball (other than another media bad boy Barry Bonds) than Ricky. it is a shame that media voters hold grudges and dont act sportsmanlike either. Ricky should be an unanimous selection. cant wait for the reviews when Barry is eligiable.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:44 am
the responsibility of the writer is to look at the accomplishments of each individual eligible.such achievements are compared to the so-called hallowed statistical benchmarks.established by baseball’s powers that be. rickey henderson has approached,met or surpassed said numbers set before us.that determines his worthiness.this is a once-in-a-lifetime player who struck fear into pitchers whenever he was on base.many times he was walked because they feared he would put the ball into play with a hit or home run. he also was a patient hitter. all of this led to pitchers choosing their poison of walking him and then fretting his stealing bases during their windup.there are questions about who is the best pitcher,hitter,fielder with era comparisons.the best leadoff hitter and base-stealer? one and the same:rickey henderson.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:34 am
Wow. Sucks for Rickey that some guy kept him from making history. Sucks for that guy to live in infamy. Best leadoff hitter ever. Nice guy too. I’ve met him numerous times living in Oakland.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:48 am
I think with all the great HOF nominees still out there, any sportswriter who does NOT fill all 10 selections with a player’s name should lose their voting priveledges for the Hall of Fame. It says something about their judgement if they pass over players from the “steroid era” because it has been proven that both sides, pitchers and hitters, were using them, which makes not voting for them a moot point. Bonds will be left out? Rose is forgotten? What’s next, A-Rod can’t get in for marital infidelity? C’mon………
January 8th, 2009 at 1:56 am
[...] Rickey Henderson’s Hall of Fame vote won’t be unanimous. Corky Simpson left him off the ballot, yet voted for Tim Raines. If Tim is a Hall of Famer, Henderson certainly deserves a vote. Home Run Derby takes Simpson down pretty hard, especially for not providing an explanation for leaving Rickey off the ballot. I have a feeling Mr. Simpson is going to get a lot of requests for interviews out of this. [...]
January 8th, 2009 at 3:29 am
“Rickey’s a sure HOF’er, for sure, but it would be a disgrace for him to be the first unanimous pick. ”
The disgrace is that no one has been voted in unanimously yet, despite numerous players who one would have to be clinically insane not to vote for failing to reach the number. That fact only gets more perverted by the notion that it’s now somehow a sacred peak that no one should be able to reach. I just want SOMEONE to get 100% of the vote and end the madness once and for all. If it’s Henderson, awesome. If not, hopefully someone else will do it.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:55 am
We’ll find out in five years… if anyone can come up with any argument, ANY AT ALL… for not writing down Greg Maddux’s name on a HOF Ballot, I’ll completely stop caring about who does and doesn’t get voted in anymore. Hell, at that point, i’ll just hope someone starts a brand new baseball HOF just for players who should have got in unanimously and few players would rank ahead of Rickey Henderson on that list.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:15 am
What a senile loser. Relegated to writing for a small retirement community. Take his vote away!
January 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Plesac, Bell, Gant, and the Vaughns
How did these guys even get on the ballot.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Jeff stated “He’s one of the most gifted players of all time but I wouldn’t have him on my team.”
I ask that Jeff go and read last week’s Sporting News magazine on pages 8 & 9, where they asked 17 of Rickey’s ex-teammates questions about him. The one I found most interesting was that they asked them if Rickey was a good teammate or a clubhouse distraction and to a man, 17 of 17 all said he was a good teammate. So Jeff, you shoudln’t have Rickey on your team, so I can have him on mine and beat your ass…..I’m going to Cooperstown this Summer & cannot wait on what will surely be the greatest acceptance speech of all time!!!
January 8th, 2009 at 10:57 am
This guy is a homo
January 8th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
My guess is he didnt put Rickey on his ballot to ensure the fact that Rickey isn’t unanimously chosen…however…for anyone to question Rickey’s character…gettin into the baseball HOF isnt about character…if it was…there would be quite a few left out…Babe Ruth (fat drunk)…Ty Cobb (racist bastard)…Mickey Mantle (redneck drunk)…just to name a few…
January 8th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
“Corky” Simpson is an clear-cut example of why the Baseball Writers Association of America should not decide who should be in the baseball hall of fame. It’s downright disgusting that the greatest lead off hitter of all time is not a 100% percent ballot!
January 8th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
This is such a load of crap. Ricky is a first ballot lock, no-brainer, sure bet. The fact that this guy leaves him off is an insult not only to Ricky, but to baseball and the writer’s association. Simpson should be stripped of his voting privelidge – NOW. Ricky was the best leadoff man ever, and he (legally) changed the game more than any player since the Babe. He changed it by being faster, betterm and playing the game the way it should be played. Not by using ‘roids, and not by exploiting elbow pad rules because he had a note from his mother. Either Simpson is a racist against black players who don’t always conform to his idea of what they should act like outside of baseball, or he’s in idiot. Maybe both. He’s a disgrace.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Hey Matt #16, I used to agree with you about Pete Rose. I mean this is Charlie Hustle a man with no talent but still produced with the best. An all star at 5 different positions. The man lied to all of us for 10+ years and only told the truth to make some money. He broke an unwritten rule of baseball which sometimes is worse than breaking the written rules. He would be in if he just admitted to gambling and apologized when he got busted.
As for Henderson, he should be unanomous just like 50 other players should have been. It doesnt happen but who really cares at least he is getting in like he should. The real story is Jim Rice not getting in at all for 15 years, the most dominating and feared hitter in baseball for a 10 year period and he cant get 75%. He was the last player to get 400 total bases before the steroid era. At least Ricky is getting in.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Corky is a straight up A-Hole.
Period, the end.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Not to say he is the best offensive player ever might be a mistake guys. The point of the game is to score runs. So, if you look at it that way, he is better than ruth, the mick and cobb
January 8th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Tim says:
January 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
“Plesac, Bell, Gant, and the Vaughns
How did these guys even get on the ballot.”
Plesac probaly for being on the MLB network.
The only record Dan P hold is last Phillie to pitch at the vet.
Not sure thats much of a Hall of Fame stat. Hell Phillies Phans have yet to put him on the wall of fame.
Maybe silent film actress Hazel Mae, can be a HoF broadcaster for “drowl material”.
And any Phillies fans read this other than me?
Am I alone in wondering if something went on between Utley and Leslie Gudel. They sounded like a couple that was upset with each other when the phils clinched in LA.
The way she told him not to pour champaign on her. Reminded me of my ex and me.
Seriously Utley does ads with Soap stars, Leslie Gudel?
I need to call up Thea Andrews maybe the Soap ads Utley did , will get Entertainment tonight on it.
I’d rather have an affair with Dei Lynam she loves sports, its not another TV gig for her. Maybe the World Series has me thinking Phillies too much in January.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I am happy Rickey Henderson did not get the unanimously. Think about what he has to go up against to get every single vote. If players like Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken Jr., Ted Williams, and Joe Dimaggio didn’t get every single vote why did Rickey Williams. Obviously he is a hall of famer but for those who forget some of the writers take pride in the fact that nobody is unanimous and won’t vote for a for sure hall of famer because they don’t want him to get every single vote. If arguably the greatest player of all time, Babe Ruth, didn’t get every single vote why should Rickey Henderson. Who cares if you get every single vote anyway, think of how many people are just happy to be in the hall. The simplest reason for Rickey Henderson to not be unanimous is that the true greatest players to ever play the game didn’t get it so why should he? Yes, he could help my team win but I would much rather have a Cal Ripken, Joe Dimaggio, or Babe Ruth on my team so don’t give him every vote. If the true greatest players didn’t get every single vote then keep the tradition alive until there is truly someone who deserves every vote. Babe Ruth transcended baseball, Rickey Williams did not so by comparison Rickey should get every vote since The Babe didn’t. Cal Ripken can be credited with saving baseball (without the help of steroids) after the 1994 strike, Rickey cannot make that claim so elect him to the hall but not with every vote.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
What a baffoon. He should lose his vote and his editor should fire him for lack of credibility as a journalist. It is idiots like him who are eating away at the core of baseball and turning fans off.
I don’t care if you like Henderson or not, he is a clear HoFer. He shouldn’t be able to look at himself in the mirror after voting for Matt Williams over Rickey Henderson.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Integrity is involved with Hall of Fame enshrinement. Henderson had none. I wouldn’t vote for him either.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
With no player ever being unanimous, Ricky should not be the first unanimous selection. Ricky was one of the most self absorbed me me me ballplayers ever. This guy obviously felt this way. He knows Ricky is getting in no matter what. Therefore I have no problem with his decision. Raines belongs. Rice belongs. Dawson belongs. And Mattingly belongs. Many people may say Mattingly? Yes he belongs and here is why. Yes he never won a World Series but there are many in the HOF that never have. As far as numbers go, his career stats are almost identical in every category to the man that got in the same year he becam eligible and that mans name in is Puckett.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Corky is an idiot.
Rickey is the All-Time Stolen Base Leader, as well as numerous other records.
Corky–BOO BOO BOO!
January 8th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
This “Why should Rickey get in unanimously when DiMaggio, Ruth, et al didn’t” argument is crap.
Rickey should get in unanimously BECAUSE EVERYBODY WHO VOTES SHOULD VOTE FOR HIM. Period. If you have a vote, and you don’t vote for Rickey, you’re a moron.
The fact that short-sighted sniveling buffoons in the past did not vote for Babe Ruth does not excuse this short-sighted sniveling buffoon.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
You miss the point of the article Nathan. While I would agree that not voting for Rickey to insure he would not be unanimous is A justification, to vote for clearly inferior players while leaving Rickey off smacks of a lack of integrity on the part of the writer and should provide cause for his removal from the balloting process. If he intended to not vote for Rickey, which is his right, then his ballot should have been blank.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Rickey Henderson is a no-brainer … as a Hall of Fame pick, that is.
But if Babe Ruth and Willie Mays weren’t unanimous picks, then no one should be.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
The HOF of pre-1980 (or thereabouts) should be closed and a new one opened up for “modern baseball.” The criteria, media coverage and moral evaluation involved in HOF balloting has completely changed the “game.”
Can you imagine Congress wasting time and tax dollars on an inquiry into doping of baseball players in 1960? Well, maybe if Senator McCarthy was involved…
If Rose had retired a couple of years earlier, he’d be in and there would be no controversy there.
Ramble ramble ramble.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
It’s really disapointing that someone can be a life long member of the baseball writers association and make such a debacle of the Hall of Fame voting system.
You can go to a game, be a true fan honored to be around talented athletes and many of the people directly associated with the game of baseball can be a total farce.
It’s just something that needs to change someday. I personally never thought that Corky Simpson was a talented writer, AP writer of the year or not. That in a way is likely why he didn’t vote for the most talented leadoff, gamechanging base threat to ever play the game. He’s not a talented writer, just a corky one.
Ricky can be my leadoff hitter on a Dynasty MVP team any day. Who wouldn’t want the best ever?
January 8th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Dee dub said it perfectly.. The fact that some of the greatest players in the past weren’t unanimously chosen only means that those voters were idiots. I think all can agree with that. It should have nothing to do with the potential that players today have at being unanimously chosen. He is an obvious pick, and should be on all voted on all ballots. This does mean unanimous. But oh no! Players in the past weren’t chosen unanimously so this means Rickey can’t be!? Give me a break. Let go of ignorant tradition and give the guy the credit he deserves
January 8th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Nathan –
Comparing Cal Ripken Jr to Rickey Henderson is a joke right? Cal Ripken Jr got to 3000 hits and played a whole bunch of consecutive games (at the expense of his team in hundreds of them). The 3000 hits gets him in. I suppose the consecutive games thing is some type of accomplishment, but as i stated, he hurt his team by playing in hundreds of those games when he wasn’t 100%, an his last 5 years he was probably the worst at his position in the league, yet playing everyday. No one from the planet earth would say he was even the best shortstop in the game when he played, let alone of all time.
Rickey crossed home plate more times than any player in history, that alone should make him unanimous for the hall. He has 500 more stolen bases than the next closest player. That will not be broken in our lifetime, probably never. 81 times, he gave his team a lead before anyone else had even seen a pitch, no one is close to even approaching this number.
To compare Ripken to the greatest leadoff hitter the game has ever seen, and the best baseball player of his generation, is truly a joke and you should stick to commentary on tiddlywinks or knitting.
As for the jackass writer not selecting him, his vote should be disregarded…especially when Raines is on the same ballot and the guy is voting for Raines. How do you vote for for Raines and not the guy who statistically crushes him in every category that matters?
January 8th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Damn, sorry, I am still laughing….
mentioning Cal even in the same breath as Rickey, Dimaggio, Ruth, Mays is a joke…
January 8th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
What a cheap publicity stunt. This guy should lose his vote for abusing the process.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
This man’s HOF voting rights should be revoked. He may have been a great sports writer, and in fact, may still be. (the people of the Green Valley Retirement Trailer Park have never been so well served). But it is very clear that he does not take his responsibility seriously.
What if an AP voter voted Navy as the number one team in the FBS, each and every week, without regard for record. He would loose his right to vote! But what if he was in the Navy? Too bad. Being a voter is an privelage and an honor. There are plenty of people who are just as qualified, and willing to be objective, who would be happy to have that vote.
Matt Williams? Where does he rank on the all time runs scored list? Stolen bases? Walks? (non-intentional walks)? He must have hit 500 HR. No? must be in the 3000 hit club….Not even 2000?
I guess this is good news for Craig Counsell in 2013 (14,15).
January 8th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Noone on the ballet was as dominant during his era as Ricky Henderson. End of discussion. The Arizons heat has affected Simpson’s judgement.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I loved watching “The Hawk” and his career was awesome … but he’s definitely WAY below Ricky in Hall of Fame stature. Ricky was the BEST at his leadoff specialty and the BEST base stealer ever. Dawson was just ONE of the great outfielders of his time. And other than that 49 HR 130+ RBI season of ‘87 … he never really put up any eye-popping offensive numbers. The Hawk over Ricky is tough to rationalize. Williams over Ricky is just silly.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Corky explains it was a mistake.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
His crappy explanation makes it even worse…..wow, how pathetic.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:09 am
A lot. Two words. A lot.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:31 am
He still didn’t do his research, even in his stinking apology.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:06 am
Glad he didn’t get all the votes. He is the best leadoff hitter? Soooooo, does the best 7th hitter get in too? Stupid argument. He was good at STEALING BASES. The stealing bases do NOT turn into runs unless someone ELSE knocks him in.
I’ll take Hawk on my team, or Blyleven, or Morris – over this punk – 365 days a year. Good player. HOF player, but there WERE and ARE better players on this ballot. Runs win games? KNOCKING THEM IN is what scores runs. You could bat 1.000, steal 2nd and 3rd every time, and still not score a run without a stud ballplayer to come through in the clutch. He’ll get in. QUIT WHINING about it not being 100%. This is why America sucks. Nobody cares that he is a shoe in to get in, you all want ‘the numbers’ to be perfect. Shame on us.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Scooter is smart…..oh wait, nope. Moron.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Hey Scooter –
Rickey Henderson not only leads all of baseball in stolen bases, but Runs Scored, too.
Stealing a base automatically gets you into “scoring position” (ie, at least 2nd Base) – making it easier for a batter to get him in. Rickey made it easier for the bats behind him to get an RBI.
Plus with a speedster like Rickey threatening to swipe a base every time, the pitcher either has to throw extra balls to first to keep him on base or throw pitchout (balls) to the batter that he wouldn’t otherwise, infalting his pitch count. He has to worry about two things – the batter and the runner. And a lot of pitchers can’t handle that very well.
There is a definite correlation between stolen bases and runs scored.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Who are these guys anyways!? Who are they to deny someone there due? These nonathletic bums!! I don’t get it. Not this guy, not those other few sports writers who didn’t vote for Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, Willy Mays, Hank Aaron etc etc….any writer who makes these kinds of judgments should be tossed from the voting privilege they have….boom that’s it.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Simply put. Corky Simpson needs to have his voting privileges revoked. What a dolt.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Everyone is missing the point…. which is that the Hall is far too lax in handing out ballots. Sure, this writer has the credentials that others may not. But CLEARLY the hall needs to put more scrutiny on the issue. And when someone does something like this, they ought to have their ballot taken away. for ever.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:52 am
matt williams, and jay bell are bumbs, matt williams calls some of the games now and he sucks at that too. when the Dbacks won the world series he sucked!!!!! (he batted .275 and only played in 102 games it would have been alot less had he played in all of them) it was all about the pitching that year and some timely hits from grace and gonzales. the only people from that team who belong in the hall is Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson (they still have to retire), and Mark Grace he is only the all time hit leader in the 90’s……………………
I personally believe Jay bell was the worst contract that the dbacks have ever signed……
January 9th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
you will always be remembered as the idiot writer in BBWAA who wished he had voted for RICKEY HENDERSON THE MOST EXCITING AND THE BEST OF HIS ERA. MAY YOU ROT AND DRY UP IN THE DESERT
January 9th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Corky can vote for whoever Corky wants. Rickey will just have to deal with the fact that Rickey was not as popular as Rickey thought. A little adversity would do Rickey some good.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
# Baseball Bob says:
January 8th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Integrity is involved with Hall of Fame enshrinement. Henderson had none.
——————–
Exactly! Because Ty Cobb was FULL of integrity and was a shining beacon of the greatness of the human spirit.
oh wait…..
January 9th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
sounds senile to me.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Guys like Corky Simpson make moves like not voting for Rickey simply to put the attention on guys like him. Sportswriters need all the publicity they can get, and what better way to have your name noticed than be the one jackass who decided not to vote for Rickey Henderson (or whomever it may be), and would waste his vote for guys like Tim Raines or Alan Trammell (a guy who had 10 seasons where he batted under .270 and only one season where he had over 200 hits). Corky wants the attention, and will do it at any cost to continue the history of sportswriters who want to be noticed.
January 11th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I am certainly not a huge fan of Ricky Henderson. However, he deserves to be in the Hall-Of-Fame. I don’t think anyone can argue that. I have always had the opinion that the HOF should be reserved for those that are clear-cut choices. I know it will never happen, but I think players should have one year one eligibility for the Hall. This would eliminate the jokers who have a personal agenda and try to grab attention for themselves. As far as I am concerned, a player is either a Hall-of-Famer or he is not. In some instances, the choice would be tough. But, a writer would have five years to put a player’s career in perspective and vote accordingly. Ricky Henderson will be inducted into the Hall this year, so Corky won’t have to worry about putting him on his ballot next year. Maybe another method of voting would be better.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
corky is an idiot….and should have his vote taken away. Congrats to ricky for joining the hof
January 12th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
One word, STATS! We should give a crap about whether or not a player was a pleasure to be around. We have no idea what they went through day in and day out. If a players STATS exceed any existing member STATS in the HOF then that player should be automatically inducted. Leave it to them to police their own actions. Put McGwire in even though its questionable about what he did. Rose belongs in there too. I’m sure these writers have all done their share of bad deals and misleading articles. These guys are human. Whether they are in or out of the HOF it doesn’t change their STATS. Any question about those STATS will still exist after they are in, but in the HOF they do belong.
January 13th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I think the only thing worse than Henderson not being unanimous is Jesse Orosco getting a vote.
January 13th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
[...] thanks the Home Run Derby blog: Some writer out in California named Corky Simpson didn’t vote for Rickey and caught hell for [...]
January 16th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
How can you NOT vote for Rickey, Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, etc?
I would love to see MLB make these guys justify their voting. There have been several “sure thing” Hall-of Famers that should have been a unanimous choice.
As for the guy who questioned Cal Ripken’s Hall-of Fame status…his numbers do not tell the whole story. He deserves to be there more because he was good for baseball than he does for his stats. I agree that “the streak” was overblown, but most fans seemed to love following it and it was good for baseball. It came along at a time when baseball interest was waning and it brought a lot of fans back to the game.
January 19th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
[...] the voters wanted you to shut your yap, Jim Rice. You don’t hear Rickey talk about those know-nothing knuckleheads that don’t think about not voting for the greatest basestealer and run scorer ever. So take [...]