Rickey Henderson was apparently not good enough to get 100% of the Hall of Fame vote. Apparently, 28 voters left Rickey Henderson off of the Hall of Fame ballot. Interesting that some would leave off a guy who has the record for stolen bases, runs scored, and lead off homeruns, but of course he was left off because well..some writer simply didn't want to vote for him. Jim RIce apparently has hit some more homeruns since he retired years ago because after years of being denied entrance into the hall of fame, he miraculously is now hall worthy. Why is he now a hall of famer but wasn't just 12 months ago? Just so you know, Hank Aaron didn't get 100% of the vote either. You remember Hank right? The all time home run leader wasn't good enough to warrant 100% of the vote into the hall of fame.The same fate likely awaits the "Roid-0f-Fame" candidates in Barry Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, and Roger Clemens. They are likely to be denied entrance on the first vote as some voters attempt to prove some point; as petty as it may seem. To me common sense says that if a guy is a hall of famer then he is a hall of famer. Once a player retires, they don't hit more homeruns, strike out more batters, steal more bases, or get more saves. It makes no sense to deny a guy HOF entrance for 10 years and then all of a sudden because public pressure comes you let him in. Get it right the first time. And why is there some unwritten rule that a player can't get 100% of the vote? If Hank Aaron can't get 100% of the vote, who can? This 1st ballot, 2nd ballot, or 3rd ballot hall of fame stuff is dumb. Just vote the people in who deserve to be there. Waiting until the 3rd time to vote a guy in doesn't change the fact that he is a hall of famer. And stop withholding votes from obvious entrants into the hall. Its dum and petty and a stupid tradition.
What about me?
You beat me to the punch on this one. It really is, in my mind, a combination of being a slave to tradition and doing anything one can to maintain one's relevance. Every year these clowns refrain for voting an obvious choice in just because they can't let anyone get in unanimously. And I'm with you on Rice 100%. Word is he suffered from 'didn't talk to the media' syndrome, which means that if they can find a way to screw you over they will. If he's a Hall of Famer today then he was one ten years ago. Period.
...and MLB wonders why they have been replaced by the NFL as America's favorite pass-time.
Just another one of those asinine things about baseball that makes me scratch my head.