Hall to consider 39 negro, pre negro leaguers

[Stocking]

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Minnie Minoso and Buck O'Neil were among 39 candidates selected by a screening committee to appear on special Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues ballots for election to the Hall of Fame.

 

The Hall said Monday that a 12-man selection committee will meet Feb. 27 in Tampa, Fla. Thirty people will be on the Negro Leagues ballot and nine on the pre-Negro Leagues ballot, and to gain election a candidate must receive at least 75 percent of the ballots cast.

 

The screening committee considered 94 candidates recommended by Hall of Famers, historians and fans. Former commissioner Fay Vincent chaired the screening committee but did not vote, leaving the selections to specialists Adrian Burgos, Dick Clark, Larry Hogan, Larry Lester and Jim Overmyer, who were appointed by the Hall's board of directors in July.

 

"The final ballots represent players, managers, executives and builders who are top-tier candidates and worthy of review for consideration for election to the Hall of Fame," Vincent said in a statement.

 

After his Negro Leagues career, Minoso played in the majors from 1949-64, making brief comebacks in 1976 and 1980. He hit .298 in the majors with 186 homers and 1,023 RBI.

 

O'Neil did not play in the major leagues.

 

The nine pre-Negro Leagues candidates are Frank Grant, Pete Hill, Home Run Johnson, Jose Mendez, Spot Poles, Dick Redding, Louis Santop, Ben Taylor and Sol White.

 

The 30 Negro Leagues candidates are Newt Allen, John Beckwith, William Bell, Chet Brewer, Ray Brown, Willard Brown, Bill Byrd, Andy Cooper, Rap Dixon, John Donaldson, Sammy Hughes, Fats Jenkins, Dick Lundy, Biz Mackey, Effa Manley, Oliver Marcell, Minoso, Dobie Moore, Alejandro Oms, O'Neil, Red Parnell, Alex Pompez, Cum Posey, George Scales, Mile Suttles, Candy Jim Taylor, C.I. Taylor, Cristobal Torriente, JL Wilkinson and Jud Wilson.

 

The selection committee that will vote includes Todd Bolton (Latin America), Greg Bond (19th century), Adrian Burgos (Latin America), Dick Clark (Negro Leagues), Ray Doswell (overall knowledge) Leslie Heaphy (women's history, Negro Leagues), Larry Hogan (overall knowledge), Neil Lanctot (Negro Leagues eastern teams), Larry Lester (Negro Leagues), Sammy Miller (Eastern and Western teams), Overmyer (Eastern teams and 19th century) and Robert Peterson (overall knowledge).

 

Each of the voters will select "yes" or "no" for each candidate, a different procedure than used in the regular Hall ballot, in which eligible members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America can select up to 10 players.

 

The commissioner's office gave the Hall a $250,000 grant in July 2000 to start a study on the history of blacks in baseball from 1860-1960.

 

The Negro Leagues committee and the old veterans committee elected 18 men from the Negro Leagues from 1971 until the old veterans committee was abolished after the 2001 vote: Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, Martin DiHigo, Bill Foster, Rube Foster, Josh Gibson, Monte Irvin, Judy Johnson, Buck Leonard, Pop Lloyd, Satchel Paige, "Bullet" Joe Rogan, Turkey Stearnes, Hilton Smith, Willie Wells and "Smokey" Joe Williams.

 

The 2006 BBWAA ballot will be announced Nov. 29 and results on Jan. 10

 

[Al Lopez Ghost (old)]

Bill James has long ago stated that Minoso belongs in the Hall. In his book the Politics of Glory, he wrote "What many people don't recognize about Minoso is that although he has substantial HOF credentials as is , he is missing probably his best years due to his race. His career inside organized ball started late in 1948; he was already 25. James went on to write "If Minoso had been white, he might well have gotten started early enough to have 3000 hits."

 

Some by now view Minnie as sort of a joke....played all those once a decade games, but Minnie is truly a deserving candidate for the Hall, and has always comported himself with dignity. I hope he makes it.

[heavyduty]

If anybody ever has the chance, you should go see Buck O'Neil speak. He gave a lecture here at Ball State University about three years ago and it was probably the most interesting speech on baseball I have ever heard. He told great stories about himself and Satchel Paige in the Negro Leagues and how honored he was to be one of the first black coaches in the majors. He spoke with such energy and enthusiasm that I was surprised to find out later that he was 92 at the time.

 

After the speech, he signed autographs for every person there. I was one of the first in line and I made sure to bring a Sharpie. He asked if he could borrow it and said I should hang around til he was done with it. After everyone got their autograph, he talked to myself and a couple of friends of mine about baseball and school for another half an hour.

 

It's great to see that a player who was never really recognized for his skills get a chance at an honor like going to the Hall of Fame.

 

It also means I can charge a bunch for that autograph

[SoCalSouthSider59]

As well they should be, and much too long overdue..........