Will Shoeless Joe Jackson Ever get into the HOF?

[FirstTimer]

The more time that goes by the more comes out pointing to the idea/fact/theory that he wasn't involved with the WS fix of 1919.

Will Shoeless Joe ever be re-instated and put into the HOF?

[Warner2BruceTD]

I believe he'll get in.

First of all, I don't believe he was implicitly involved. He was a dumb southern rube who could barely read, and while he may have known what was going on and may have even received money, I think he was just trying to avoid rocking the boat by 'going along with it' but was giving real effort anyway.

Secondly, betting in baseball was a lot like steroids in the 90's. They were all doing it. OK, maybe not all. Maybe not even as many players as were on PED's, which I believe are closer to the Canseco & Caminiti estimates than anyone wants to admit, but I can assure you that there are probably dozens of pre 1940's gamblers already in the hall, some of which have really strong evidence working against them (Ty Cobb, Frank Chance) that everybody ignores, and in the case of Cobb, it's part of his 'charm' (for lack of a better term).

[Leftwich]

I think it'll be years before he ever gets in but I also think this will bring up the debate of Pete Rose as well. A very slippery slope letting Jackson in.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Ty Cobb & Tris Speaker were making bets and fixing games under the bleachers, and the commish let them walk because of the PR nightmare. Something tells me that wasn't the first time for either man.

Fixing games was common practice, especially when teams were out of contention. It's something nobody wants to talk about, and like to pretend it was just the 1919 WS.

Considering that, it seems odd to keep Jackson off the ballot, especially 100 years later. Time to let it go, its a dumb plaque on the wall. Same for Rose. He never bet against the Reds, and the argument of sandbagging to lower the odds is something I don't buy either, because Rose was hyper competitive and I can't see him doing that.

Banned from baseball, fine. Banned from inclusion from a museum, petty. Don't come at me with character, otherwise the Hall of Fame would consist of Ernie Banks, Christy Mathewson, and about a dozen other players.

[FirstTimer]

Ty Cobb: In HOF despite attacking a cripple in the stands Ron Artest style..among other ridiculous things.

Shoeless Joe: May have fixed games(found innocent at trial)..banned for life/ever

[Warner2BruceTD]

Cobb also assaulted umpires, attacked teammates, held out every year, blew off games, nearly pistol whipped a butcher to death over a $.50 piece of fish, and was a notorious gambler who we are supposed to believe never bet on games. He also hated his teammates and was manager of the team for a few years, so its incredibly plausible and widely speculated that he threw games to screw over pitchers on order to avoid giving them raises the next season.

Welcome to turn of the century baseball.

[Bigpapa42]

Love me some Ty Cobb. An asshole of the highest order. Helluva player.

[mgoblue2290]

Guy hit 375 during the 1919 World Series and committed no errors. He obviously didn't contribute to throwing the games. He should be let in.

[EmpireWF]

Eventually, Jackson will get in.

I'm of the belief Rose will only get in after he's dead and buried.

[West]

This Pete Rose talk reminds me, I was at the Mall of America on Sunday and saw this in a sports memorabilia store. It made me lol so I snapped a pic

 

[jms493]

He needs more superbowl ringz

[EmpireWF]

This Pete Rose talk reminds me, I was at the Mall of America on Sunday and saw this in a sports memorabilia store. It made me lol so I snapped a pic

 

that's so messed up lol

[NAHSTE]

Cobb also assaulted umpires, attacked teammates, held out every year, blew off games, nearly pistol whipped a butcher to death over a $.50 piece of fish, and was a notorious gambler who we are supposed to believe never bet on games. He also hated his teammates and was manager of the team for a few years, so its incredibly plausible and widely speculated that he threw games to screw over pitchers on order to avoid giving them raises the next season.

Welcome to turn of the century baseball.

*insert obligatory Wildcard joke here*