Corky Simpson would like his Rickey Henderson vote back – I want his BBWAA card
Posted by: Richie Rich in Baseball Hall of Fame, WritersTwo days ago, we told you about Corky Simpson, the retired BBWAA writer who didn’t vote for Rickey Henderson on his 2009 Hall of Fame Ballot.
After Rob Neyer of ESPN, Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard, The Big Lead, Deadspin, and a whole slew of bloggers who picked up our lead in questioning Simpson’s glaring omission of MLB’s all-time steals leader from his 2008 Ballot and created an online lynch mob …
Well, Corky wants to say that if he could do it again … he’d vote for Rickey.
Too little, too late in my book.
Simpson recanted to the Tucson Citizen (registration required) …
“First things first, would I vote for Rickey if I had it to do all over again? Damn right, I would,” Simpson said. “I had no idea my ballot would cause such an uproar.”
And again at InsideBayArea.com (which mentioned Home Run Derby’s HoF Vote Tracker but gave the wrong link) …
I screwed up on the Henderson nonvote,” said Simpson, who detailed his choices in a Dec. 10 column for the Green Valley News. “You get to vote on 10 and I only picked eight. I probably did it too quickly.”
“Seriously, he was a wonderful player and I simply goofed. I voted for eight deserving men. I could have picked two more — and I wish to heck I had.”
Unfortunately, it took the internets being set on fire for it to happen. And unfortunately for Rickey Henderson and a lot of baseball fans who were wondering if he could be the first unanimous HoF inductee, you can’t hit recall on a ballot mailed to the Baseball Hall of Fame nearly a month ago.
But when Simpson said he “had no idea” about the “uproar” that was to come by leaving a Baseball legend off his ballot … well, that wasn’t exactly true …
He had some warning from the staff at his own newspaper in Green Valley …
Green Valley News staff sportswriter Nick Prevenas said he warned Simpson about leaving Henderson off his ballot when he filed the column, but that Simpson told him he “wasn’t a Rickey guy and that he would vote for him next time.”
Right there, Simpson had a chance to reconsider … and he didn’t - because he “wasn’t a Rickey guy.” That’s just inexcusable. And he’d “vote for him next time?” DID HE THINK RICKEY HENDERSON WOULDN’T GET IN?
But it gets better. Next, Simpson confirms what we all figured and admits he didn’t do his research …
“If I had properly researched the situation, I would have voted for Rickey Henderson if for no other reason than he played for nine ball teams,” he said. “Imagine that. He’ll be the first Hall of Famer to have a bronze bust with nine caps stacked on his head.
Argh – I guess when you retire from an accredited newspaper, you retire from research. By the way, Hall of Famers Hoyt Wilhelm (1985) and Rich “Goose” Gossage (2008) both played for nine teams. That took me a whole minute to “properly research.”
Add that to the inconsistencies in Simpson’s reasoning (Steroids) for not voting for one player (Mark McGwire) but still voting for another (Matt Williams) and this whole thing still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Lastly, Simpson tries to pass off his blunder as not being so bad, because it’s happened before …
“The blogosphere would have exploded if it had been around when 43 people failed to vote for Mickey Mantle, 23 for Willie Mays, 36 for Jackie Robinson, nine for Hank Aaron, 31 for Roberto Clemente, 57 for Yogi Berra, 23 for Stan Musial, 20 for Ted Williams and 28 for Joe DiMaggio.”
So Simpson had the chance to learn from the mistakes of the past … and decided to repeat them.
This is the freaking Hall of Fame of America’s Pastime. Having the ability to vote for the Hall of Fame should never be considered a right, or something you take for granted, or something you’ll get right “next year.” This is a privilege.
No, it’s more than that … it’s being entrusted with the ability to grant baseball immortality upon a player - It should be considered a sacred honor.
And in my world, Corky Simpson should lose that honor.
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January 9th, 2009 at 9:09 am
When it all comes down to it, I think Simpson is probably just a forgetful old man … who happens to have a Hall of Fame vote.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Speaking as someone who’s been working in a long term nursing home, I’m seriously wondering if Corky Simpson has a slight case of dementia. His reasoning is way out there. He should be tested for it. Which leads me to a question….If someone comes down with a mental illness, does the BBWAA take their vote away or continue to allow unreasonable decisions to be voted in?
January 9th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Its another case of a Baseball writer thinking they have a “power” over the players who they don’t like.
Bob Costas would be proud.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Leaving Rickey off the list is obviously weapons-grade stupidity but overall, I’m happy Corky cast this ballot. Rickey’s getting in this year regardless of what Corky Simpson thinks. Life Goes On. Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines and Alan Trammell are deserving players who are not sure things and each one gets the nod from Corky. I’m resigned to the idea that Jim Rice is probably getting in this year, so Corky’s vote for him is worth Raines, Blyleven and Trammell getting a vote each. Is Corky Simpson a horribly misguided fool? Obviously, but his ballot actually increases the likelihood of the deserving players making it. Simpson’s non-vote for Rickey and vote for Matt Williams won’t have any impact. His votes for Raines, Blyleven and Trammell might. Sorry to repeat myself so much but I wanted to make the point very clear because I haven’t seen it made anywhere else.
Totally agree with you on the apology not clearing up the bad taste in my mouth. Corky said he wishes he could change his vote, but not because he did some research and concluded that Rickey is Hall-worthy. Corky wants to change his vote because “he wouldn’t be hated by so many people.” Now that’s a man of integrity and conviction. It also bothers me that he’s making jokes about Henderson being worthy because he played for 9 teams and it would be cool to see him wearing 9 hats on his plaque. This guy clearly doesn’t take the Hall seriously. Also, Corky’s sticking with his vote for Matt Williams despite all the comments he received pointing out his logic fail concerning PED use. Finally, Catfish Hunter? Yeah, he fits right in on a list with Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Yogi Berra, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. I’m pretty sure the blogosphere wouldn’t have exploded over Catfish Hunter not being a unanimous selection. He’s a borderline Hall of Famer, not someone who was robbed of unanimity.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Good news, by the Simpson Criterion(TM), I have determined who should be in the Hall of Fame:
MIKE MORGAN UNANIMOUS!!
January 9th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Hey, I’m as outraged as you are, but I KNOW he wasn’t the only one who didn’t vote for Rickey. A colleague of mine at a small newspaper in New Jersey did the same. His reasoning went to the character clause: Rickey was caught playing cards once during a playoff game. That, to him, is close to an ultimate sin.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Everyone needs to chill. Clearly, the first unanimous Hall of Fame honor will (and should) go to Ken Griffey Jr. He could (and can still somewhat) hit a ton, played the field with more passion than anyone, and is steroid-free. Oh, and he started the trend of wearing a baseball cap backwards….
January 9th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
[...] + Corky Simpson wishes he had voted for Ricky Henderson to make the HOF now. Must have been all those bloggers whining about it. {Home Run Derby.} [...]
January 9th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Short answer: Nobody lost his vote over Williams or Aaron, why should they lose it over Rickey?
People have the right to be wrong, or vindictive or even asses if they want.
If you are going to strip his vote for “voting wrong” then why bother having a vote at all?
January 9th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hof09/news/story?id=3819625
I’m pretty sure thats worse. Pedro Gomez voted for Jay Bell.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I think the worst thing he says is that if he had to do it over, he would have added Ricky as one of his last 2! So, he is just throwing the greatest lead-off hitter of all-time a bone!
January 9th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I’ve only briefly followed this story – and it is an unbelievable one – but does Simpson even still write about baseball? Shouldn’t that be a criteria for voting… actually following the game?
January 9th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
The Hall of Fame procedures need to change. There are card carrying members of the BBWAA that have stopped covering baseball or don’t care about the game anymore, yet they still get a ballot. How do we change it? Well it has always been the fans game, at least that is what the tell us. I sure something could be worked out between having the writers vote, the electronic media, fans, some combination but this system in place really has holes. I don’t care for how long they been using it for, it needs to change. Maybe when I become king, I can work on it
.
January 10th, 2009 at 3:05 am
And he would have gotten away with it, if it wasn’t for those meddling kids!
January 10th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
I would rather a computer and/or the whole sabremetrics system pick the Hall. There are plenty of bums (Tinker and Evers, Chance was pretty solid) and guys like S.J. Jacksom, Rose, Blyleven still out. Total crap for the most part
January 11th, 2009 at 4:10 am
Chris, I like Grif to get in, but he’s not unanimous material. Too many injuries. But, Pujols will be if he isn’t stopped by a meteor first.
Kuda, be careful about including the fan vote. We saw the dangers of that road in this year’s NL lineup for the all-star game, thousands of Japanese voters and Northside homers crippling the starting lineup in what they must’ve thought was a popularity contest (a.k.a. “What the Fukudome?”)…
January 11th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I suspect Adult film star Jenny Hendrix would be more competent in her votes than ol’ Corky!
The dick sucking that would come of that is her physically not by vote like Corky!
January 11th, 2009 at 10:38 am
blondieb Pujols spends half a season on the IR. Hence the great BA and low number of errors.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I think there are various levels of players that should get into the Hall of Fame:
At the bottom there are those that may be disputed, but after time for reflection the requisite number of voters is convinced.
Next are those that obvously should be in, but maybe not on the first ballot. This is a distinction that has been lost in recent years. It used to be that first ballot inclusion was an honor reserved for the special few. This is, no doubt, why certain people didn’t vote for those previously mentioned stars who were obviously deserving of being in the Hall.
At the top of the list (so far) are those worthy of being first ballot selections. I believe Henderson is in this group.
BUT . . . no one has ever been a unanimous selection. I’m hoping that if this ever happens, it will be someone who is widely believed to be the best of all time and deserving of an honor that has not yet been given. This isn’t Henderson, so I’m glad a few people chose to overlook him, even if it was done for the wrong reasons.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Richie Rich,
Just thought you would like to know that you were listed as “Link of the Week” in Newsday Long Island Sports Section (Jan. 11) for this article. I love reading this site and upon reading the paper and seeing that this article got a hat tip I thought I would share. Congrats.
January 11th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Nice try Spike, but you should really stick to semi-coherent posts about porn. The IR is in football; perhaps you were thinking of the DL? Pujols has been on it twice, once in 2006 for 18 days (missing 15 games) and again in 2008 for the minimum of 15 days (missing 13 games). He has played for 8 seasons and AVERAGED 155 games per season. You hear a lot about his injuries in the press because he plays through them most of the time…
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-pujols062908&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Thanks for playing!
-B
January 11th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
How in the world could a supposedly baseball writer leave Rickey Henderson off of the
first ballot. There are NO excuses for that. NONE. NADA. ZERO.
The ballot is not something you rush through, period.
And just because there were dumb asses who left off Babe Ruth etc in the past, on the first ballot – does one really want to be included in that dumb ass list? Well Corky –
congrats – you made the dumb ass list this year.
Like Rickey’s personality or not, it is not a friggin popularity contest. It is based on your accomplishments during your baseball career.
It is amazing how many people over the years commented on his personality with out ever meeting him. I have met him. And I can tell you he was very polite and nice to my son.
Someone needs to keep Corky and those like him, from being able to vote.
It does the game an injustice.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Relax people!!! So Corky Simpson left Rickey Henderson off his ballot. Has anyone realized that Rickey would be the first UNANIMOUS choice, EVER???
That means that at least one writer has left every baseball great off their ballot, at least once, every year. That means Ruth, DiMaggio, Musial, Ripken etc. Yes, Henderson was good and deserves to be inducted, but those of us whom saw him “jog” to 1st base to then steal 2nd base, do hold reservations. Oh, that was at Yankee Stadium, in the pre-ESPN days folks. Some of us just don’t forget.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:38 am
I wish Corky hadn’t bowed to pressure and just come out and said, “Rickey doesn’t deserve to be a unanimous choice. He’s not the best player ever over Ruth, over Ripken, and all the other eternals. Screw Henderson!”
January 12th, 2009 at 2:47 am
Ricanwizkid said: “at least one writer has left every baseball great off their ballot, at least once, every year. That means Ruth, DiMaggio, Musial, Ripken”
If you think Ruth, Gehrig, or DiMaggio have anything to do with whether or not someone should vote for Rickey Henderson, you have brain damage, and shouldn’t be allowed to opine on the subject.
If you think a person belongs in the hall of fame, you should vote for them. If you think a person belongs in the hall of fame, and you DON’T vote for them, you aren’t qualified to be a hall of fame voter. If you think a person belongs in the hall of fame, and you DON’T vote for him, THEN you go online and tell everyone you didn’t vote for him because you rushed your vote, and didn’t research anything, you aren’t qualified to be a hall of fame voter, and you should have your vote revoked.
The problem isn’t that he didn’t vote for Rickey. The problem is that the moron went out and gave a POSITIVELY insane reasoning for his non-vote.
If a hall of fame voter started screwing with the votes, by leaving off obvious hall of famers, and voting for absurdly underqualified third basemen, and then goes on the public record basically laughing about how he’s screwing around with his hall of fame vote, he should have that vote removed.
January 12th, 2009 at 8:00 am
You forgot another voting option: “Yes — Simpson voted for Matt Williams”
January 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I don’t think he didn’t do his research!
I think he just wanted some attention for his po-dunk little newspaper. It’s still a YES – he should have his credential taken away. Just not due to a lack of research.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
All you idiots who said Corky Simpson would be the reason Rickey Henderson would not make it in the Hall of Fame unanimously……Ha Ha Ha!!!
You are all FOOLS. 20 some odd other sports writers left RH off the ballot.
Too bad. So sad. You should be embarrassed by your ignorant diatribes against an incredibly talented, respected writer.
Oh yeah. You’re too stupid to be embarrassed.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:46 am
He is a idiot! He said he voted for 8 that should be elected, he voted for his local favorite MATT WILLIAMS who will NEVER get in the Hall of Fame
enough said they need to take
his vote away
January 14th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Dear Mimi:
If you’ll go back and read my original post … I wasn’t criticizing Simpson for not voting for Henderson. I was criticizing him for not offering any explanation for doing so (as well as ignoring Henderson in his original article) and I also lambasted him for a bunch of inconsistencies in his logic voting for TIm Raines but not Rickey) (no vote for Mark McGwire because of suspicion if steroids, yet he voted for Matt Williams after Williams was listed in the Mitchell report for actually having received steroids)
And then, when it came out that he didn’t “just forget” that he was there (see this post) he just brushed it off.
That’s not an “incredibly talented writer” – that’s a no-talent hack. He might have been an award-winning journalist 20 years ago. But not any more.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
First of all, the old coot is an idiot.
But there is something to be said for this: There are idiots everywhere, in every line of work. Why hasn’t anyone been a unanimous choice? Because it would require zero goofs and zero idiots out of hundreds of voters, that’s why.
Bottom line: Rickey got in easily, deservedly so. End of story.
BTW: Joe DiMaggio not only didn’t get in unanimously, it took him THREE BALLOTS to get in … just to add a little perspective to that 5.2 percent of the vote Rickey didn’t get.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
blondieb what did Albert have for lunch?
Yeah your right IR is football DL is baseball.
Brett Farve a over hyped player who selfishly plays through injuries to show how bad ass he is.
Alber Pulous a over hyped player who selfishly plays through injuries to show how bad ass he is.
Both once won a championship. Neither will ever win another!
Pujous couldn’t shine Keith Hernadaz’s jock!
Thanks for playing. Maybe you should stick to the “I buy what ever hype ABC/DISNEY ESPN spoon feeds me” Posts!
Thanks for playing
January 17th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Walt and Richie Rich.
You poor, sad little men….spending your time criticizing men whose shoes you can never hope to fill. What have you done with your lives? Spent them ripping people on blogs?
Now…move on to another person who needs your “straightening-out”. Goodness knows your opinions affect the course of civilization.
Wow.
Pathetic.
Both of you.
And shame on you.
January 17th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Mimi -
You haven’t done anything to counter the premises I laid out in this post or the one that prededes it on this subject. I was looking for an explanation for the inconsistencies in Mr. Simpson’s logic – which I haven’t gotten, even though I’ve sent a handful of emails directly to him.
All you’ve done is throw insults at people who don’t share your view.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:51 am
[...] and Huffingtons and Deutschs reactions be outlines that draw scorn. Cory Simpson got more flack for leaving Ricky Henderson off his HOF ballot then they will get for their statements defending [...]