Mlb Vote Leaders
Research finds 1961 AL, Maris -1 RBI, Mantle -1 run; should MVP, Hall voting be revisited?
Baseball Reference.com, which is nothing official to MLB but sure knows its stuff, has accepted vetted research by SABR that inaccurate record keeping in 1961 gave Roger Maris one extra RBI (this does NOT affect his 61 HR total) and Mickey Mantle one extra run (which properly belongs to Moose Skowron).
These changes result in Maris now co-leading the AL in RBI with Jim Gentile (141 each), and drops Mantle from co-leading in runs scored (with Maris, at 132) to finishing second.
Should the BBWAA re-visit its Most Valuable Player voting from the 1961 season?
Should the Hall re-consider either man as a candidate? (BASED UPON THIS INFORMATION. Maris still has his 61 HR, so if that is anyone’s full basis of support for him as a Hall candidate, nothing need be reconsidered.)
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/mickey-mantle-is-no-longer-the-leader-in-runs-scored-for-1961.php
No.
Baseball Reference has the updated information on its site, and it still lists Maris’s Hall of Fame Monitor score as 85. That’s decent, but not overwhelming – a likely HOFer is a player with a score of 100 or better.
Maris’s HOF argument is based completely upon one amazing season (1961) and one very good one (1960). He lacked the longevity required for true HOF consideration. After his age 29 season (1964), Maris never again hit 20 HRs or posted a batting averge greater than .261. He was out of baseball entirely by age 33. What’s more, his .260/.345/.476 career line is hardly impressive for a power hitter. Thus, Maris lacks the impressive career necessary for enshrinement.
True, Maris did have a legendary season in 1961, and his succesful pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record will always be remembered in baseball lore. But I’m sure the HOF already has plenty of memorabilia from that season – that season alone has received all of the recognition it deserves.
In short, Maris was a one hit wonder. Putting him in the Baseball Hall of Fame would be like putting Right Said Fred in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Domo Arigato Vote Joey Votto