Future Candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Pre-Integration Committee, Part III

Part I and Part II of my analysis of some of the most deserving Pre-Integration candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame detailed players, umpires, executives and pioneers from baseball's early era. Part III will cover many of those same categories, abet not from Major League Baseball and its ancestral organizations. Instead, this part will explore several individuals who face the toughest clime of any worthy Hall of Fame candidates, as they spent their careers in the Negro Leagues.

Not too long ago, this would have been no problem. From Satchel Paige's election in 1971, until the mass election of 17 Negro League players and executives in 2006, Cooperstown admitted 34 men (and one woman), whose primary contributions took place in black baseball. However, since that great day in 2006, there has not been any follow up on any Negro League candidates. None have been on any Veteran's Committee ballots, and players whose careers split the black and white leagues, like Minnie Minoso have been judged solely on their Major League numbers. 

Graham Womack interviewed Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson in January for Sporting News. When asked why the Hall has any plans to consider any more Negro Leagues figures in the future, Idelson replied:

"No, because in 2006 we had a special Negro Leagues election… It was 17 contributors in the Negro Leagues who were elected in 2006, and at that time, we indicated that that would be the final election for those who performed in the Negro Leagues unless new research came out that would warrant another look. We felt that the number of candidates eligible, whether they be players, managers, umpires, or executives, had been reviewed to the point where the top echelon had earned election, and the Negro Leagues research community endorsed that at the time. That’s why you had an election of 17."

That mindset is slightly troubling. New information is discovered constantly on figures from the past, and baseball is no exception. In the past few years alone, partial or full statistics for Negro Leaguers have been added to Baseball-Reference and Seamheads, allowing for people to explore ballplayers who have completely disappeared from the public consciousness. 


It's important to note that Negro League statistics need to taken with a grain of salt. For most players, complete statistics for their careers, especially for exhibition or off-season games, will never be known. That is why it's not fair to judge numbers put up in the Negro Leagues to numbers in MLB. Batting averages and available ERA data often isn't enough to accurately tell whether someone was a Hall of Famer or not. The Negro Leagues are more complicated than that. Anecdotes, stories, first person accounts, such as interviews from former players, or polls conducted during a players' career are invaluable tools to separate great players from the good ones.

Is it possible that the committee that met for the Class of 2006, apparently meant to be the last hurrah for the Negro Leagues, missed some people? The answer is almost certainly yes. The most famous person up for consideration at that time was the still-alive and highly beloved baseball ambassador Buck O'Neil. Most accounts indicate the Buck was good first baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs in the 1930s and 1940s. He later became a manager, a scout with the Chicago Cubs, and the first African-American coach in MLB history. Made famous for his work with the Negro League Baseball Museum, and his appearance on Ken Burns' Baseball documentary in 1994, O'Neil was the living embodiment of the Negro Leagues for much of his later life. His election would have been a celebration of not just his life and career, but all those associated with the Negro Leagues. Instead, he was skipped over. While he did give a joyful speech at the 2006 induction ceremony, it never felt quite right. He should have been there, but not as a special guest speaker. He should have been an inductee. 

O'Neil is just one of many great Negro Leaguers passed over, not just in 2006 and beyond, but the years prior to that. His case has been well documented, and if the Hall ever does consider Negro Leaguers, it would be shocking if he doesn't get elected at some point.

Instead, here are a 13 other candidates who should be allowed on a Hall of Fame ballot again, either from the Pre-Integration Committee, or a new Negro Leagues committee. 

John Beckwith: Starting off with John Beckwith, who played a variety of positions during his career, but mostly patrolled shortstop and third base. Known for his outstanding power, Beckwith was known for his tape-measure shots. His playing ability may have been overshadowed by his hot-temper and willingness to fight. He compares favorably to Hall of Famer among Negro League third basemen according to Win Shares leaderboards on Seamheads, tied with another member of this list, Candy Jim Taylor. Playing for a variety of teams from 1916 to 1938, as many players did in the Negro Leagues, he spent several years with the Chicago Giants and Baltimore Black Sox. Regarded by Hall of Famer Pete Hill as a "Demon at bat," his stats look impressive in any context.

William Bell during the 1924 Colored World Series (Wikimedia Commons)

William Bell: I'm a little higher on William Bell than historian James A. Riley is. Riley's work with the Negro Leagues is vast, and his book The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues is one of my favorite reference works. In ESPN's 20006 Baseball Encyclopedia, Riley ranked his top 100 Negro League players, separating them into five categories-Titans, Elites, All-Time Greats, Long and Distinguished Careers, and Short but Brilliant Careers. All those in the "Titans" category are in the Hall of Fame, with Biz Mackey finally joining his contemporaries in 2006. Most of the "Elites" are in Cooperstown, with many names who fell short of election winding up on my list.

William Bell falls down into the "Long and Distinguished Careers" section, among many names which didn't even make the second stage of the Hall's Negro Leagues screening process in 2005.

Maybe Riley's right, but I'm a big Hall guy. I don't even believe it would be the end of the world if the Hall elected all 94 of those names on that preliminary ballot, or at least the 39 names on the final ballot. Why that might be a tad rash, I can't imagine too many of those candidates are more unqualified than actual Hall of Famers Tommy McCarthy, Jesse Haines, and George Kelly, to just name a few.

But back to Bell, who was known as a winning pitcher for some of the league's best teams. Spending the bulk of his career with the Kansas City Monarchs, he possessed great control and a good fastball and curveball. Bell, along with Hall of Famers Jose Mendez and Bullet Joe Rogan, helped to lead the Monarchs to the 1924 Colored World Series title. Bell pitched in Cuba in the offseason, and later managed for several years, winding down his two-decade plus career with the Newark Eagles in 1948. Known for his skill at helping to teach younger players, he ranks among the all-time best in wins in the Negro Leagues.

Would he be the first name I'd put in the Hall if I had supreme control over the election process? No. But he's a perfect example of a player who had a great career, but was unable to show the world what he was truly capable of. I like William Bell.

Ed Bolden: Ed Bolden is one of favorite obscure Hall of Fame candidates. I believe I first became aware of Bolden from an article by John B. Holway titled "What if Effa Manley Had Been an Ugly Man?" Effa Manley, the part-owner of the Newark Eagles with her husband Abe, was elected to the Hall in 2006, becoming the first woman admitted to Cooperstown. Manley was probably elected more so because she was a rare woman in a position of power in a sport and culture dominated by men and her works for better scheduling, pay, and accommodations for players than her team's actual baseball accomplishments. I don't really have any problem with her election, but she's not in my own personal Hall. Maybe I'll come around to her, but this isn't supposed to be an anti-Effa Manley post. 

Instead, I bring up Manley because I just don't see how she is more qualified than Ed Bolden. I'm glad other Negro League executives like Rube Foster, J. L. Wilkinson, and recent electee to the Basketball Hall of Fame Cumberland Posey have received their due. To me, Bolden is in that category. Starting in 1910, he helped to build the Hilldale club from a semipro unit to a professional ball club. He also helped to found the Eastern Colored League, with Hilldale claiming the league's first three championships in 1923-1925. He later formed the Philadelphia Stars, who captured the Negro National League title in 1934. He was a champion of the cause for Negro League clubs to be fairly compensated when their best players were plucked for the Major Leagues, and was known as a shy, quiet, gentlemen.

John Donaldson: John Wesley Donaldson has a greater online presence than most Negro League players, with a collection of researchers referring to themselves as the "Donaldson Network," advocating for his election to Cooperstown. Donaldson became famous in the early 1910s thanks to his masterfully pitched games, including several no-hitters, and his huge strikeout totals against professional and semipro ball clubs. Countless newspaper clippings have showcased her exploits as one of the best left-handed pitchers, black or white, of his era. Pitching many years with J.L. Wilkinson's All-Nations team and the Kansas City Monarchs, before eventually transition to the outfield before his career ended. He also became the first full-time African-American scout in the majors, working with the Chicago White Sox in the 1940s and 1950s. Donaldson certainty has his supporters, and it should be no surprise.

Vic Harris with the Homestead Grays

Vic Harris: There has never been a Negro Leaguer ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame based primarily on their managerial career. Vic Harris has one of the best candidacies. A mainstay of the Homestead Grays, Harris started out as a infielder in 1923. By 1925 he was an outfielder with the Grays, known for his speed and slap hitting. By 1935, he became player-manager, and led Homestead to six straight Negro National League pennants. He captured another in 1945, and one last pennant in 1948, before his last season as skipper of the Birmingham Black Barons in 1950. This PDF from the Center for Negro League Baseball Research demonstrates Harris' managerial success. Vastly unappreciated by history, I think Harris is at or near the top of worthy Cooperstown candidates.

Grant Johnson: Coming back to Riley's list of greatest Negro Leaguers, Grant "Home Run" Johnson makes his "Elites" category, thanks to his stature as the first great shortstop in black baseball. Him spending much of his post-playing career in my hometown-area of Buffalo, NY doesn't hurt his standing with me, either. He apparently earned his nickname "Home Run" after smashing 60 homers with the semipro Findlay Sluggers. He helped form the Page Fence Giants in 1895, serving a captain. By 1905, he helped lead the Philadelphia Giants to two championships, before captaining the Brooklyn Royal Giants to a title in 1909. Impressive batting numbers highlight Johnson's available statistics, and place him on this list.

Dick Lundy: Next up is another shortstop, Dick Lundy. Lundy ranks in with the "Elites" in Riley's all-time list, just ahead of nine Hall of Famers in a row. Riley calls Lundy "the Negro Leagues' top shortstop of the 1920s." He ranks Lundy right up with John Henry Lloyd and Willie Wells as the three greatest at that position among Negro Leaguers. Seamheads ranks him as the 17th best player by Win Shares based on available numbers from 1896 to 1940. He spent a dozen seasons with the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, also spending significant time with the Baltimore Black Sox. John McGraw once apparently said that he wished he "could paint that Lundy white," while declaring him the best shortstop in history, excluding Honus Wagner. He also managed during and after his playing career.

Alejandro Oms

Alejandro Oms: Outfielder Alejandro Oms was a star in two countries, both in his native Cuba and the United States. A member of the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame, José Méndez's induction in 2006 helps Oms case. Much of Mendez's career took place in Cuba, and it must have played a significant role in his election. Cuban League statistics have been lumped in with those of the Negro Leagues on Seamheads and Baseball-Reference, and black and dark skinned Latinos often split part of the year between the island and the mainland U.S. Mendez spent 14 years in the Cuban Winter League, and Cristóbal Torriente played played in parts of 12 seasons there. Between 1922 and 1946, Oms played in parts of 16 Cuban Winter League seasons. 

Regarded as a flashy and colorful player, his hitting was tremendous, and he was a key member of four Cuban championship clubs. One of the best handful of Cuban baseball players in history, while in the United States, he played for New York City's Cuban Stars East throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. His career in two countries easily places Oms in the discussion of overlooked Hall of Fame candidates. 

Spot Poles A stellar athlete with legendary speed, Spottswood "Spot" Poles drew comparisons to Ty Cobb and Cool Papa Bell. Racking up great numbers for some of the country's best black teams, including the New York Lincoln Giants and the Hilldale club, Poles also spent time in the Cuban Winter League. John McGraw listed Poles, John Henry Lloyd, Dick Redding and Cyclone Joe Williams as the four black players he would sign if he could. A prototypical leadoff hitter, Oms racked up steals and high batting averages throughout his career. 

George Scales: Scales spent his long career with countless clubs, including notable stints with the Lincoln Giants and Baltimore Elite Giants. Ranked among the greatest second basemen in Negro Leagues history. He made up for a lack in speed with a strong arm and ability to crush curveballs while at the plate. A middle of the order hitter with the Lincoln Giants, he later shared a lineup with the Homestead Grays that included Hall of Famers Joe Williams, Josh Gibson, Jud Wilson, and Oscar Charleston. By 1932, he organized and managed the New York Black Yankees, skippering them for parts of nine seasons.

His greatest managerial success came in the Puerto Rican Winter League, managing the Ponce Leones and Santurce clubs to seven pennants. It is unknown how much this work in Puerto Rice would play into Scales' Hall of Fame case, but I think it's certainly worth mentioning.

Candy Jim Taylor and C.I. Taylor: Brothers James Allen and Charles Isham Taylor were passed over by Cooperstown, while their talented younger brother Benjamin Harrison Taylor was honored in 2006. If both of the Taylor brothers someday join Ben in the Hall, they would become the first trio of brothers elected.

First, Candy Jim. As far as I can tell, no one man managed more years and more games in the Negro Leagues than him. Initially a catcher and third baseman, he won three championships in 1909, 1912 and 1916, before leading the St. Louis Stars in 1928 and the Homestead Grays in 1943 and 1944 to titles as a manager. Few had as long a career in baseball as Candy Jim, stretching from 1904 to 1948. Basically every season during that time, if a team needed a leader, Jim would be there. His 907-809-4 record in Negro League games, and 1094-892-10 record in all levels of competition dwarfs all other managers, including Vic Harris.

C.I. was the oldest of his baseball brothers, which includes non-Hall of Fame candidate Steel Arm Johnny. James A. Riley places C.I. with Rube Foster as one of the two greatest managers in Negro League history. Though his career was not as long as Candy Jim's, due mainly to C.I.'s early death in 1922, it was still impressive. Managing and playing with the Birmingham Giants starting in 1904, he moved to the West Baden Sprudels in 1910 before sticking with the Indianapolis ABCs until his death. His 1916 club won the Colored Championship of the West, thanks to the play of his brother Ben, Bingo DeMoss, Oscar Charleston, and Dizzy Dismukes. During World War I, when many of the ABCs best were drafted, Taylor took his new servicemen to Washington, D.C., showing them around the capital. This sense of country was likely instilled in the elder Taylor during to his service in the Spanish-American War.

Taylor was known for his reluctance to curse, and dressed well on and off the field. His business acumen helped him serve as the vice president of the new Negro National League in 1920. Every year, the Negro League Baseball Museum honors the best MLB manager in both leagues with the "Charles Isham 'C. I.' Taylor Legacy Award."

A 1923 Nip Winters card

Nip Winters: Many names could have made the last spot on this list. Dick Redding might be the most famous name missing. Newt Allen, Oliver Marcelle, Bingo DeMoss, Sammy T. Hughes, Bill Byrd, and executive Gus Greenlee deserve consideration as well, just to name a few. Another name, Bud Fowler, is almost certainly the greatest black ballplayer of the 19th century whose not in the Hall of Fame already. I've yet to really study him, so I held off on including him in this list.

I went with Winters, despite his relativity short career, which was only 13 years. He dominated the Eastern Colored League with the Hilldale club in the 1920s, thanks to a great curveball and good fastball. Winters' led Hilldale to three straight pennants, including a World Championship in 1925. Though the club would lose to the Monarchs in the 1924 championship, Winters pitched four complete games, winning three, in the series. Among the best lefties in Negro League history, Winters excessive drinking, along with a loss of control and diminishing fastball, led to his early departure from the game in 1933.


One last note concerns the Cuban League. Alejandro Oms made his way onto this list based partially on his success in Cuba, and José Méndez and Cristóbal Torriente might not have made Cooperstown had their careers there been judged. Jorge S. Figueredo's book Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961 is fascinating, and holds many names completely unknown by even the most ardent of baseball fans and historians. A couple names stick out with the Cuban League. I am almost certainly leaving out many names, but I thought I would share just a few:

Al Cabrera with Almendares

Alfredo Cabrera: The only player mentioned who actually played in the Major Leagues, Al Cabrera played in one game for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1913. His real career, however, was in his native Cuba. As both a shortstop and manager, mostly with the Almendares club, Cabrera piloted the club to four championships. He was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942.  A great Buzzfeed article by Erik Malinowski explores Cabrera is much greater detail. 

Antonio María García: García was considered the best player in the early history of the Cuban League, and was among the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame's first inductees in 1939. He played from 1882 to 1905, and in the middle of his career was eyeballed by John McGraw, who hoped to bring the star catcher and outfielder to America.  

Tinti Molina: A catcher and first basemen beginning in 1894, Molina became a longtime manager, leading the Cuban Stars, Club Fé, Habana, and Santa Clara Leopards. His 1923-1924 Sanata Clara club is considered the greatest in Cuban League history, featuring Hall of Famers Oscar Charleston, José Méndez, with the club finishing with a .766 winning percentage. He was inducted into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame along with Al Cabrera in 1942.

Eustaquio Pedroso: Pedroso sticks out on the Seamheads' Win Shares leaderboard, with his 197.1 placing him seventh based on available statistics. He is surrounded by Hall of Famers, and everyone in the top 13 are in Cooperstown besides him. He spent over 20 seasons in both Cuba and the U.S., primarily pitching with the Cuban Stars (West). While he was primarily a pitcher, he led the Cuban League in hitting in 1915-1916. He tossed a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in 1909, and also defeated the New York Giants on two occasions in the winter of 1911. 

The Baseball Hall of Fame is my favorite place in the world, and it will continue to be. However, for the institution to completely cease to consider an entire era of baseball as long and complex and the Negro Leagues isn't fair to history. I hope they someday reconsider. 

Future Candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Pre-Integration Committee, Part II

Part 1 of my analysis of future candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Pre-Integration Committee detailed 20 of the most deserving players from baseball's first several decades. Now, I will take a look at some overlooked executives, pioneers and umpires from this era. Many of these names have been relegated to brief mentions in books, and I'm sure some have never been seriously been considered for Hall of Fame election before. However, baseball's long history has seen its fair share of legends fall through the cracks, and the Hall of Fame should continue its' mission to honor the game's greatest figures. Honoring some of these figures would certainly help with that.

I previously detailed the major qualifications for baseball pioneer Doc Adams and St. Louis Cardinals owner Samuel Breadon, both of whom were on this past year's Pre-Integration Committee ballot. I support both Adams and Breadons' elections. The other two executives on that ballot, Gary Herrmann, owner of the Cincinnati Reds and president of the National Commission, and Chris von der Ahe, longtime owner of the St. Louis Browns (now the Cardinals), have interesting candidacies, though I have not yet decided on them.

Instead, here is a look into 10 pioneers, executives, and umpires, excluding Adams, Breadon, Herrmann and von der Ahe, who should seriously be considered for future election for the Baseball Hall of Fame:

Henry Killilea

Henry Killilea: Hall of Famer Ban Johnson often gets most of the credit for his role in building the American League into a Major League at the turn of the 20th century, and he should. Johnson is one of the most influential executives in baseball history. However, several other individuals were responsible for the rise of the Junior Circuit. One is Charles Somers, who will be addressed later in this post. Another is Henry Killilea.

Killilea accomplished many things in a relativity short period of time. An investor in the Milwaukee Brewers club of Ban Johnson's Western League in the 1890s, Killilea was at the forefront in the leagues' transition into the American League in 1900. In fact, it was at his Milwaukee home that Johnson, Connie Mack, and Charles Comiskey began to plan to enter the Chicago market, in the form of the White Sox, and arrange their assault on the National League. Killilea ran the Brewers during their lone major league season in the AL in 1901, before the franchise shifted to St. Louis to become the Browns. He later purchased the Boston Americans from Charles Somers, and was their owner when the team won the 1903 World Series. Earlier that year, he was the main negotiator in the peace agreements between the two leagues, which set the stage for stability, and the annual World Series. He later worked with the National Commission, the ancestor of the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, and was a close confidant of Ban Johnson until Johnson's retirement in 1927.

Charles Somers: We've already addressed Henry Killilea, one of the forgotten builders of the American League. Now it's Charles Somers' time. His SABR biography starts off like this:

"Charles Somers was much more than one of the league’s founding members; he was also its principal financier. A shy, unassuming man who made his fortune in the coal business, Somers brought major-league baseball back to Cleveland in 1901, and also helped the junior circuit establish clubs in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston."

That seems mighty impressive. Somers was a key financial backer of several of the American League's early clubs, and served as the first owner of the Boston Americans and Cleveland Blues/Bluebirds/Naps/Indians. He loaned or spent about $1 million on other American League teams, and helped Connie Mack and Ben Shibe build the Philadelphia Athletics. The AL didn't just need great baseball to succeed, it needed great baseball men, and Charles Somers worked to make the AL thrive. Although he later gained a less than flattering reputation for his handling of the Cleveland club, ultimately selling his shares, he was an important cog in the emergence of the American League. Ban Johnson once said that Somers helped make “the American League’s ambitious dreams become actual realities." Perhaps it's time for Killilea and Somers' roles to be recognized in Cooperstown.

Al Reach

Al Reach: Reach, like the previously chronicled Dickey Pearce, played over 10 years before the National Association's first year. However, his playing career is not the main source of his Cooperstown candidacy. The founder and longtime owner of the Philadelphia Quakers/Phillies, Reach also created the A. J. Reach Company in Philadelphia. A.J. Reach and Co. made the official baseball of the American Association, along with the Reach Guide, a baseball booklet which existed for decades. His business eventually merged with A. G. Spalding's company, which still exists today.

Cy Rigler: Umpire Hank O'Day's Hall of Fame induction in 2013 may bode well for someone like Cy Rigler. A professional football player early in his life, Rigler became a National League umpire in 1906, despite never playing pro baseball. He would rank among the greatest umpires of his era, working in 10 World Series over a 29 year career. In fact, he is tied with O'Day for most Fall Classic assignments, behind only Bill Klem and his outrageous 18 World Series. Rigler's 62 World Series games are second most, behind Klem, and he worked in the first All-Star Game in 1933. Most accounts indicate that Rigler was a well-respected arbiter, who should someday join O'Day, Klem, and eight other umpires in Cooperstown.

The next four men were early pioneers of baseball, and by early, I mean pretty much as early as it gets. All were associated with the Knickerbocker Baseball Club, the most important of all the early baseball clubs during the middle of the 19th century. Hall of Famer Alexander Cartwright is in the Hall of Fame as a Knickerbocker, and Doc Adams (covered in part I), will hopefully join him soon. There are several other important figures from this era, and four I will address are Duncan Curry, William H. Tucker, Louis F. Wadsworth, and William Wheaton. Much of their accomplishments can be found in the work of Major League Baseball's official historian, John Thorn. That includes work on his "Our Game" blog, and his book Baseball in the Garden of Eden. 

A 1862 reunion photo of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club. Included here is Duncan Curry (top row, far left), William H. Tucker (top row, far right) and Doc Adams (bottom row, second from left).

Duncan Curry was the first president of the Knickerbockers, and was key member of their rules committee.

William H. Tucker also worked with the rules committee, and was the club's first secretary.

Louis F. Wadsworth played a major role in establishing nine players per team, and nine innings per game during his tenure with the Knicks.

William Wheaton was a member of both the Gotham Club of New York and the Knickerbockers, who helped formulate rules.

According to John Thorn, the official historian of Major League Baseball, this picture from the mid-1870s is the only known image of baseball pioneer Louis F. Wadsworth. He appears to be the tall man standing on the porch. 

It can be argued that many of the game's early players and figures deserve the title "Father of Baseball," with that fictional crown already handed out to figures like Abner Doubleday (who had nothing to do with baseball), Alexander Cartwright, and Doc Adams. Curry, Tucker, Wadsworth, and Wheaton all helped develop baseball into America's pastime, and should all be celebrated for their various contributions.


The final two men on the list split their careers as great pitchers and then accomplished umpires. This makes their elections unlikely, as the Hall of Fame requires inductees to have only one primary position or role. When Joe Torre was elected a few years ago, it was based entirely on his managerial career, which was legendary in its self, but no emphasis was placed on his successful playing career. This black and white approach to inductees over complicates things unnecessarily. A person should be a Hall of Famer based on what they did over their entire career in baseball. If someone was a great player, and then later a great manager or executive or umpire, the totality of their accomplishments should be judged, not just one segment of their career.

Someone like Hughie Jennings is in the Hall of Fame, and I have no problem with it. Jennings was a very good player, who from 1894 to 1898 was perhaps the best player in the game. He also notability holds the record for most career hits by a pitch. His playing career is short on totals like at bats and hits, because while he played in parts of 18 seasons, he only had seven seasons in which he played in over 100 games. It is because of this that he probably had a borderline Hall of Fame playing career. Jennings, however, managed the Detroit Tigers for 14 years, winning three American League pennants in a row. This managerial stint bumps him comfortably above the Hall of Fame standard. That is why I believe Jennings is a legitimate Hall of Famer. The problem is that he is in the Hall of Fame as a shortstop, not as a shortstop/manager. This distinction clouds history. Jennings is just one example.

Frank Chance is in the Hall of Fame as a first baseman. Was Frank Chance a good player? Yes. In fact, he was even great for few years, as one of the best handful of National League players from 1903 to 1907. Chance should be in the Hall of Fame, but not solely on his playing career. His 11 seasons as a player/manager or full-time manager with two World Series titles, along with his playing career, is what makes him a legitimate Hall of Famer. The same goes for Charles Comiskey and Clark Griffith, who are both in the Hall of Fame as executives, but who both had long careers as players and managers. Just get rid of the positional designations.

It is time for the Hall of Fame to take the totality of a person's accomplishments into consideration. Success at multiple positions or roles should be taken into account. That would certainly help many figures, especially Bill Dinneen and Eddie Rommel.

Bill Dinneen

Bill Dinneen: Bill Dinneen began his playing career in 1898 as a pitcher with the National League's Washington Senators. After moving to the Boston Beaneaters in 1900, he became one of the premier pitchers in the game, winning 20 games for the first time. It was only after he jumped to the American League's Boston club in 1903 did he truly become a star. After a stellar regular season, he pitched four games in the first ever World Series of 1903, twirling two shutouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and striking out 20 hitters in 35 innings, and winning three games overall. He finished his playing career with the St. Louis Browns in 1909, ending with a 170-177 win-loss record, a 3.01 ERA, and a 41.1 career WAR, ranking in the top seven in pitching WAR in five years. A good playing career, one better than some actual Hall of Famers, but not worthy of enshrinement by itself.

Dinneen's baseball life didn't stop after he stopped playing, however. In fact, his second career began even before his final game on the mound. For three games in September 1907, Dinneen worked as a substitute American League umpire. Two years later, following his final career game as a pitcher on August 26, 1909, he umpired 20 more games. Beginning the following season, he would join the AL umpiring staff full time, remaining there until 1937. He was assigned eight World Series, becoming the first person to play and umpire in the Fall Classic. He also worked the inaugural All-Star Game in 1933, umpiring behind home plate at Comiskey Park.

Eddie Rommel

Eddie Rommel: Rommel, like Dinneen, began his Major League career as a successful pitcher. Spending his entire 13 year playing career with the Philadelphia Athletics, Rommel was among the better pitchers in the American League for the first seven years of his career. His best year was 1922, when he led the league with 27 wins, and finished second in the MVP voting, behind George Sisler, who hit .420 with 246 hits. Rommel won 171 games, one more than Dinneen, with a .590 winning percentage, and earned a World Series title with the 1929 A's. Like Jim McCormick before him, Rommel was hurt by bad teams. For the first four years of his career, the Athletics were abysmal, finishing 8th, 8th, 6th, and 6th in the American League. This is why he twice led the league in losses, while remaining one of the best pitchers in the game. He also was one of the first pitchers to regularly throw a knuckleball.

His final season was 1932, but he transitioned into umpiring in the minor leagues a few years later. By 1938, he had made the American League staff, where he would stay until 1959. He called World Series games in 1943 and 1947, and worked six All-Star games, working three as the home plate umpire.

Rommel may have not have had as celebrated an umpiring career as Dinneen, but it can be argued that he was the better pitcher. Neither belongs in the Hall based on their playing career alone, both their work as longtime umpires should help their cases significantly. It would be a great display of recognition for two men who devoted much of their lives to the game.

Part III will address the Hall of Fame's decision to hold off on not just electing, but considering, any players, managers or executives from the Negro Leagues, and will cover several figures still waiting on recognition from Cooperstown.

Future Candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Pre-Integration Committee, Part I

The 2016 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on July 24, 2016 in Cooperstown. The event will be a much-deserved celebration of two of the greatest stars of recent memory, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Mike Piazza.

However, last December 7, the Pre-Integration Committee, meeting for the first time in three years, selected no new inductees for figures whose contributions took place primarily before 1947. Griffey and Piazza's election brings the total number of Hall of Famers to 312, and that amount may seem too large for some. Over the years, dozens of questionable figures have squeezed their way into Cooperstown, usually through the various incarnations of the Veterans Committee.

The first time the committee met, in December 2012, they selected three new Hall of Famers, each of whom were long overdue inductees. Deacon White, one of the premier catchers and third basemen of the first few decades of professional baseball, Hank O'Day, the first great umpire of the 20th century, and Jacob Ruppert, the owner responsible for building the Yankees into a dynasty in the 1920s and 1930s.

In 2015, the Pre-Integration Committee passed on 10 candidates who all had varying levels of fame, success, and Hall of Fame worthiness. 5 of those on the ballot are in my own personal Hall of Fame, Doc Adams, Samuel Breadon, Bill Dahlen, Wes Ferell and Harry Stovey. I might even come around on one of two others in the future, especially Gary Herrmann and Chris von der Ahe.


Doc Adams was instrumental in the foundations of baseball, serving as vice-president, and later president, of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club from the 1840s to the 1860s. He helped establish many of the rules of the game which remain to this day, and was instrumental in the creation of the shortstop position. Named the Society for American Baseball Research's 2014 Overlooked 19th Century Legend, Adams' mere appearance on the ballot was looked at as a victory for historians, as the man who perhaps has the best claim to the title "Father of Baseball" was lost to history for years. Alexander Cartwright, a fellow member of the Knickerbocker's, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1938, and was declared the inventor of baseball by the U.S. Congress in 1953. However, his actual contributions dwarf those of Adams, along with other key Knick's figures like Louis F. Wadsworth, William Wheaton, William H. Tucker, and Duncan Curry. The later four will be addresses in part II of this post.

Bill Dahlen, sabermetrically, has one of the strongest Hall candidacies of any player in history. Playing mostly shortstop from 1891 to 1911, Dahlen accumulated 2461 hits and 1234 RBI, while playing sparkling defense for the Cubs, Brooklyn Superbas, Giants, and Boston Doves. His 75.2 career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is the most among eligible shortstops, and the third-most among eligible position players, behind only Barry Bonds and Jeff Bagwell.

Harry Stovey's case looks promising, with the outfielder leading the league in runs scored, triples, and home runs four times. In fact, Stovey passed Charley Jones in 1885 to become the all-time home run leader. Dan Brouthers overcame Stovey in 1887 and 1888, before Stovey reclaimed the crown in 1889, holding the record until 1894. His main obstacle has been that seven years of his 14 year career was spent in the American Association, which although was a Major League at the time, has been regarded as inferior to the National League for much of its existence. Only Bid McPhee made the Hall of Fame after spending significant time in the AA, finally gaining entrance in 2000.

On the surface, Wes Ferrell looks like a borderline candidate at best. The owner of a respectable 193-128 win-loss record, Ferrell's main downside would be his 4.04 ERA, which would be the highest of any Hall of Fame pitcher. However, further inspection into his career paints Wesley Cheek Ferrell as a hidden gem among non-Hall of Famers. From 1929 to 1936, Ferrell was one of the two best pitchers in baseball, along with the legendary Lefty Grove. Winning 20 games six times, he finished just behind Grove in WAR during that time. Ferrell's secret weapon was his hitting ability. Unbelievable for a pitcher, he hit over .290 three times, including a .347 season in 1935. His combined WAR of 61.6 is 163rd all time. Wes is almost certainly a more deserving inductee than his brother, actual Hall of Fame catcher, Rick Ferrell. Wes had 31.8 more wins above replacement than Rick, and even had a comparable batting average (hitting .280 lifetime compared to Rick's .281). Not bad for a pitcher.

Sam Breadon became the principal owner of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1920. From 1920 until he sold his shares in 1947, the Cardinals compiled a .570 winning percentage, nine NL pennants, and six World Series championships. Though the presence of executives, specifically team owners, has been questioned by many, Breadon's accomplishments stack up or exceed many of execs already in Cooperstown. In fact, Breadon is comparable in many ways with Jacob Ruppert, who was one of three elected in 2012. Ruppert built the New York Yankees into a dynasty, winning the team's first seven titles. Breadon's Cardinals became the most successful National League franchise, and the team still has the most World Series crowns in the NL.

Adams, Dahlen and Stovey all received the most votes, with Adams falling short of election by two votes. Hopefully, the next time the committee meets, in December 2018, some of these worthy legends receive their due.

However, I believe there are several more worthy candidates from the pre-1947 era.

Here are 15 of the most deserving players who should appear on future ballots from the Pre-Integration Committee:

Ross Barnes in 1874

Ross Barnes: The premier position player of baseball's first professional league, the National Association, Barnes won three batting titles in the early 1870s, and was the most valuable player by WAR five times. Starting with Rockford in the 1860s, Barnes was the star of the Boston Red Stockings' four NA title winning teams. He joined the jump-start National League and the Chicago White Stockings in 1876, and became the league's best hitter as well. Four times batting over .400, his career .360 batting average jumps off the page coming from any era. Though he only played in nine professional seasons, his career began years before any professional leagues. Factoring in his role as pro ball's first great player, Barnes would be a worthy recipient of a Cooperstown induction.

Charlie Bennett: Catcher Charlie Bennett lacks many traditional career numbers that may have kept him from Cooperstown. With only 978 hits and a .256 average, his case, along with many on this list, requires a closer look. Bennett led the league in catcher's fielding percentage seven times, and his WAR of 39.1 ranks just behind Hall of Famer Buck Ewing among catchers during his career. His career was cut short by tragedy, as his legs were crushed by a train in early 1894. It's hard to tell how much he had left in the tank anyway, as he was already 38 at the time.

Pete Browning: Named SABR's first Overlooked 19th Century Legend in 2009, "The Gladiator" has been faced with the same issue plaguing Harry Stovey, spending eight years in the American Association from 1882 to 1889. A three-time batting champion, Browning's .341 batting average, .403 on-base percentage and  163 adjusted OPS+ (tied for 10th all time) all some of his major qualifications. Spending 10 seasons in Louisville, Browning is perhaps most famous for the claim that he was the first "Louisville Slugger" and received the first custom made baseball bat from Hillerich & Bradsby.

Bob Caruthers: "Parisian Bob" Caruthers' qualifications combine the best of the candidacies of Harry Stovey, Pete Browning and Wes Ferrell. Playing in just 10 seasons, and pitching in only nine of them, Caruthers went a crazy 218-99 with a 2.83 ERA from 1884 to 1892. Pitching with the St. Louis Browns of the American Association, he helped the club win three AA titles, and then won two more championships with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. Among the top handful of pitchers in his era, Caruthers' hitting helps propel his Hall of Fame case. A career .282 hitter, he batted .347 from 1886 to 1887, leading the AA in OBP and OPS in 1886. His career 60.6 WAR placed him right near the aforementioned Wes Ferrell, and is good for 172 all time.

Jack Glasscock: Possibly the best bet to make his Pre-Integration Committee ballot debut in 2018, "Pebbly Jack" Glasscock is right up there with Bill Dahlen among underrated infielders from the dead-ball era. Shorter seasons in the 19th century make his 2041 career hits seem less impressive than they actually are, and his .290 batting average shows his skill at the plate. A standout defensive star, Glasscock topped the NL in shortstop fielding percentage six times, shortstop range factor per nine innings five times, and defensive WAR three times. He retired in 1895 while holding many defensive records.

Stan Hack: Third base is the most underrepresented position in Cooperstown, with players like Stan Hack being left out. Hack was the premier third baseman in baseball from 1932 to 1947, and it's really not even a competition. Hack blows away complimentary third basemen during that time period. Boasting a .301 career average, 2193 hits, solid defensive numbers, and a .347 batting average in 18 World Series games, "Smiling Stan" is one of the few deserving players from the 1930s who remain outside of the Hall.

1887 Old Judge Paul Hines cigarette card

Paul Hines: A consistent outfielder during pro baseball's first two decades, Hines racked up 2133 hits and a .302 average. He batted .358 in 1878 to lead to league, and practically delivered the same numbers again in 1879. He helped Old Hoss Radbourn and the rest of the Providence Grays win the 1884 championship, batting .302 with a .360 on-base percentage. He had the second-best WAR of any outfielder during his career, falling just short of Hall of Famer Jim O'Rourke.

Bob Johnson: The best left fielder in the league from 1933 to 1945, "Indian Bob" Johnson became famous with the Philadelphia Athletics as one of the few bright spots during a long stretch of losing seasons under Connie Mack. Once Mack traded Jimmie Foxx to the Red Sox, Johnson stood out as their best player, until he himself was shipped to the Washington Senators in 1943. A seven-time all-star, Johnson constantly ranked among league leaders in slugging percentage, OBP+ and home runs.

Sherry Magee: Just like Bob Johnson, Sherry Magee stands out as the most valuable left fielder of his era. Putting up strong offensive numbers with the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 20th century, Magee probably would have won the NL MVP had it been awarded that season. He topped the circuit in average, OBP, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, total bases, RBI, runs scored and  offensive WAR that year. Hovering around 60 career WAR, Magee has been overlooked, while inferior outfielders from his era, such as Edd Roush, Elmer Flick and Ross Youngs have been in Cooperstown for decades.

Jim McCormick with the Chicago White Stockings

Jim McCormick: In my opinion, there are four pitchers from the 1870s and 1880s who have legitimate Hall of Fame candidacies. We have already addressed one, Bob Caruthers, who has his outstanding offensive numbers to consider. Second is Tony Mullane, who appeared on the Pre-Integration Committee's ballot in 2012. Mullane has an interesting candidacy, with his 284 wins ranking fourth most among eligible Hall candidates, behind only Roger Clemens, Bobby Mathews (who we'll get to in a moment), and Tommy John. Mullane would almost certainly have won over 300 games had he pitched in 1885, but he was suspended for attempting to jump to Cincinnati. This probably cost him a plaque in Cooperstown decades ago, as he had won 30 or more games in each of the previous three seasons, and would win 33 and 31 more in 1886 and 1887. The problem with 19th century pitchers is that their insane workloads and high inning counts skew their career totals in wins and WAR, and it becomes complicated to truly separate dominance and greatness from simply being a compiler and a product of the era. Not much separates Mullane from Hall of Famer Mickey Welch, who won over 300 games, and Charlie Buffinton, who won 233 games over 11 seasons. All three have a WAR between 60.3 and 63.8, meaning probably that either all three should be in the Hall of Fame, or none of them should be.

Third, is the aforementioned Bobby Mathews, who has a fascinating candidacy. The main thing Mathews has going for him is his career win total, sitting at 297. It's a bit surprising that an overly generous Veterans Committee didn't elect Matthews back in the 1960s or 1970s. However, a problem for Mathews is that his prime years were spent in the National Association, which has never officially been given Major League status by MLB. Taking only his National League and American Association numbers, Mathews' career record of 166-136 looks unremarkable. Mathews pitched two years before the NA's first year of 1871, so taking those non-official numbers from 1869 and 1870 into account would easily push him over the 300 win marker. However, with the emergence of advanced sabermetrics denouncing the pitcher win stat in recent years, Mathews' case faces more scrutiny. 62.2 is his career WAR, which is good, but much like Mullane, Welch and Buffinton, it is hard to say how much of that value came from simply pitching hundreds of innings for a decade and and half. There is just too much of a discrepancy between this group of pitchers and the top-tier hurlers of the era, Old Hoss Radbourn, Tim Keefe, John Clarkson and Pud Galvin, who displayed more dominance over longer periods of time.

The best non-Hall of Fame pitcher from 19th century is Jim McCormick, who at first glance, appears to be in the same boat as Mathews and Mullane. His 265 wins are impressive, but unremarkable for the era. He never led the league in strikeouts, and only led in wins and ERA twice. Plus, he only played 10 years, which is never a good indicator of longevity or greatness. McCormick, however, was perhaps the single most valuable pitcher in baseball during the entire length of his career.

The 12 best pitchers, by Wins Above Replacement, from 1878-1887. (Courtesy of Seamheads.com)

The chart above lists the top-12 pitchers ranked by WAR from 1878-1887, the years that Jim McCormick played. In between those years were outstanding seasons by Hall of Famers Keefe, Galvin, Radbourn, John Montgomery Ward, Welch and Clarkson, and a couple names already mentioned here in Tony Mullane and Bob Caruthers.

So why has there been no love for McCormick? I think it's mainly because his prime years were spent with the Cleveland Blues of the National Leagues. Here is Cleveland's final standings in the eight-team National League from 1879 through 1884: 6th, 3rd, 7th, 5th, 4th and 7th. In 1879, they went 27-55 and in 1884, the team finished at 35-77. McCormick was the best player on his team every season, and his teammates didn't help him very much at racking up the most important statistic for a pitcher at the time, wins. He was the second most valuable player in the entire league in 1879, behind only Boston's Tommy Bond, yet lost a league-leading 40 games.

By the time he joined the powerhouse Chicago White Stockings in 1885, he only had three years left in his arm. Had he spent more time with respectable clubs, he would be in the same category as the Hall of Fame pitchers of his era.

Cal McVey with the Boston Red Stockings

Cal McVey: Joining Ross Barnes on the list is his longtime teammate Cal McVey. Playing a variety of positions in the 1860s and 1870s, McVey played on the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869 and 1870 before moving to the National Association with the Boston Red Stockings in 1871. Among the top handful of players in the country, McVey batted .346 in his professional career, hitting .431 in 29 games in 1871, and .380 in 1873. He had the highest WAR in the NA in 1874 among position players, and led the Association in doubles, RBI, slugging percentage, OPS and total bases in 1875. He would spend parts of three seasons as player manager with the Baltimore Canaries and Cincinnati Reds before his final season in 1879. McVey was a pioneering professional player on four early championship-winning clubs.

Dickey Pearce: One of the first successful ballplayers in history, Pearce began his long career in the mid-to-late 1850s, playing for the Brooklyn Atlantics. He helped turn shortstop into a key defensive position and popularized place-hitting and bunting. A smart, pioneering defensive player, Pearce's lack of complete statistics over his career create a complicated legacy, as it's not possible to truly judge everything he accomplished in the game. However, the shear length of his career, along with his innovating tactics and ideas, should help bring him back into the minds of baseball historians and fans.

1921 Wally Schang Exhibits baseball card

Wally Schang: Schang seems like the type of player who would have been elected years ago. A fine-hitting, sound-defensive catcher from 1913 to 1931, Schang played in six World Series, winning three, one each with the Philadelphia Athletics. Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. A .284 career batting average, .393 on-base percentage, 1506 hits, and a legitimate claim as the best catcher throughout the entirety of his career make Schang one of the most underrated players of the early 20th century.

Urban Shocker: Similar to Charlie Bennett, Urban Shocker's career ended abruptly, though unlike Bennett, so did his life. Debuting with the Yankees in 1916, Shocker eventually moved to the St. Louis Browns were he became one of the best pitchers in baseball. Seven times he finished in the top eight in pitcher WAR, eight times in the top 10 in ERA, and nine times in the top nine in WHIP. Traded back to the Yankees for 1925, he helped them reach the 1926 World Series. Heart failure led to his release in 1928, and he died that September at the age of 37.


Joe Start: Last on our list is "Old Reliable" Joe Start. A baseball veteran for 10 years before the first pro season of 1871, Start hit .360 that season. He would play another 15 seasons, hitting .299 with 1417 hits and two National League pennants with the Providence Grays. Start earned his nickname, as he was the oldest player in the league every season from 1878 to 1886. He should someday join Cap Anson, Dan Brouthers and Roger Connor, the three other premier first basemen of the time, in Cooperstown.



Part II will discuss more possible Pre-Integration Committee candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame, with a look into worthy executives, pioneers and umpires.

Plently Room in Monument Park: Yankee Legends In Need of Recognition

On February 11, the New York Yankees announced that they would honor Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in baseball history, with a plaque in Monument Park. The ceremony will take place before a Aug. 14 game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Rivera was previously honored in 2013, when he was still an active player, when his number 42 was retired. Also on tap this summer is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 1996 World Championship club. The Yankees have been on the best franchises in all of sports when it comes to honoring their legends. The memories of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra are all well-preserved at Yankee Stadium. Monument Park is home to all these names, and many more, with retired numbers, plaques, and monuments all located in a cave-like space behind the center field wall. While the Yankees have honored almost 40 of their greatest players, managers, and executives, many more names are deserving.

2014 saw Goose Gossage, Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neil, and Joe Torre all enter Monument Park, with Torre's number 6 officially being retired. In 2015, Willie Randolph, Mel Stottlemyre, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte all received plaques, with the later three having their numbers retired.

2016 should see a continuation of the Yankees recent trend of trying to fill up Monument Park. The past two seasons have seen 10 new plaques. This is the same number that was honored from the entire period between 1988 and 2010, not including Jackie Robinson's plaque from 2007.

First and foremost, this season the Yankees should honor the recently deceased Yogi Berra, by replacing his plaque with a monument, a posthumous honor only received thus far by Miller Huggins, Gehrig, Ruth, Mantle, and DiMaggio.

Next, in correspondence with Rivera's plaque dedication, two past Yankee relievers should also receive plaques this season, Dave Righetti and Sparky Lyle.

 Lyle was acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox before the 1972 season, and would proceed to lead the league in saves twice, with a remarkable 1977 season, which saw him go 13-5 with a 2.17 ERA and 26 saves en route to the Cy Young Award and the 1977 World Series title. When the Yankees signed former White Sox and Pirates reliever Goose Gossage in November of '77, Lyle lost his closers role, and was traded to the Texas Rangers in November of 1978. His 141 saves were a Yankees franchise record, until the emergence of Dave Righetti.

Righetti pitched parts of 11 years with the Yankees, in 1979, and from 1981 to  1990. He was named Rookie of Year in 1981, and made two American League all-star teams. Initially a starter, he pitched a no-hitter in 1983, before transitioning to the bullpen, where he saved 224 games, including 46 saves in 1986. Both were franchise records, until they were broken by Mariano Rivera. Righetti has served as the pitching coach of the San Francisco Giants since 2000, and the Giants coming to the Bronx from July 22-24 would provide the perfect opportunity for him to receive his plaque in person.

Why stop at 2016? The Yankees lack no shortage of names worth recognizing in Monument Park. One of the most peculiar facts about the park is it's lack of any real guidelines or regulations for who should be honored. Plaques for Allie Reynolds, a good pitcher but no Hall of Famer, and Tino Martinez, again a fine ballplayer, but not legendary by any means, have seemingly lowered the standards of what it takes to make Monument Park. Especially while many names, and several Hall of Famers, remain on the outside looking in.

I understand the Yankees problem with honoring long-dead ballplayers, as the prospect of having a "Jack Chesbro Day" or "Gil McDougald Day" will not sell tickets, or resonate with most fans, outside of diehard historians or the player's families. That is why for this to work, old-time ballplayers need to be juxtaposed with more recent names, to keep an interest in the ceremony.

So for 2017, why not honor living former third baseman and borderline Hall of Famer Graig Nettles, along side fellow Yankees infielders and actual Hall of Famers Tony Lazzeri and Joe Gordon? Nettles was a vital member of Yankees teams from 1973 to 1983, winning two World Series, making 5 All-Star teams, and providing both great power and defense. Lazzeri, the second baseman on the legendary 1927 "Murder's Row" team, hit .293 in 12 years with the Yankees, and is still ninth in franchise history in RBI (1157), and tied with Jorge Posada for 10th in offensive Wins Above Replacement (48.4). He was named to the Hall of Fame in 1991. Joe Gordon was Lazzeri's heir apparent at second base, debuting in 1938, and playing seven years for the Yankees, missing 1944 and 1945 due to military service in World War II. Gordon famously won the MVP Award in 1942, besting Ted Williams, who won the triple crown. A six-time All Star with the Yankees, Gordon was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. All three, especially Lazzeri, are all long deserving of a place in Monument Park.

1933 Goudey baseball card of Tony Lazzeri (Wikimedia Commons)

2018 could see some pitchers honored. At this point, Mike Mussina's momentum on the Hall of Fame ballot should continue to grow, with his percentages increasing from 24.6% to 43.0% from the 2015 to the 2016 election. Mussina could conceivably be hovering around the 75% range by 2018, and what better way to further help his cause then honoring him with a plaque in Monument Park. While arguably a better pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, Mussina nonetheless provided the Yankees with eight years of consistency in the starting rotation. He won 123 games from 2001-2008, culminating in his only 20 win season in his final year. By the end of the 2015 season, he is sixth in franchise history in strikeouts (1278) and 10th in pitching Wins Above Replacement (35.1).

Mike Mussina in 2007. (Photo from Keith Allison via Flickr and Wikimedia Commons) 

Joining Mussina could be two Hall of Fame hurlers from the 1920s, Waite Hoyt and Herb Pennock. Hoyt spent 10 years with the Yankees from 1921 to 1930 winning 16 or more games seven times. He also helped the team in three World Series, pitching two complete game victories in the 1928 series against the Cardinals. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1969. Pennock pitched 11 years with the Yankees from 1923 to 1933, winning 162 games and, like Hoyt, three World Series. In 10 career World Series games, he had a 1.95 ERA in 55.1 innings. After his playing career, he became general manager of the Phillies, a role he might best be remembered for. As documented in the 2013 film 42, In 1947, Pennock (played by actor Mark Harelik), voices his displeasure with Dodgers' GM Branch Rickey's (Harrison Ford) plan for Jackie Robinson to play against the Phillies in Philadelphia. Pennock died the following year, the same year he was named to the Hall of Fame. Pennock would perhaps be the most controversial figure in Monument Park, though controversies surrounding George Steinbrenner and Mickey Mantle, two figures both banned from baseball for a time, certainly did not prevent their inclusion in Monument Park.

1933 Goudey baseball card of Herb Pennock (Wikimedia Commons)

The Yankees should continue to honor figures from their illustrious history. A list of possibilities beyond 2018 could be:
2019 - Beloved player and broadcaster Bobby Murcer, overlooked World Series winning manager Ralph Houk, and Ford C. Frick Award winning broadcaster Red Barber.
2020 - Hall of Fame outfielders Dave Winfield and Earle Combs, and Roy White, who spent 15 years as a Yankee outfielder, and five more as a coach. 
2021 - Former player and longtime executive Gene Michael, Hall of Fame general manager George Weiss, and Frankie Crosetti, who won a record 17 World Series as both a player and coach from 1932 to 1962.

Maybe down the road, contemporary Yankees like Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia will find a place in Monument Park as well, perhaps paired with the likes of Charlie Keller and Bob Shawkey.

One last name must be mentioned here as well, Derek Jeter. It is unknown when the Yankees plan to honor their legendary shortstop. He receive another grand celebration, like the one at the end of the 2014 season, where both his number is retired and a plaque is hung beyond center field. Or the Yankees could space out his plaque and number dedications, much like their handling of Mariano Rivera. No matter when or what the Yankees decide to do with Jeter, his presence in Monument Park is simply a matter of time, time which hopefully can be granted to some other forgotten Yankees legends as well.