The Hall of Fame

Yesterday the Hall of Fame inducted the 2025 Class. As I collect---sometimes reluctantly these days---the last base Topps cards of Hall of Famer players, I acquire them as soon as the announcement is made in January. We are in a period where, on average, the cost of these cards is about .08 cents. Just kidding, maybe it is twenty cents. And this year's questionable class is included such cheapness.

The three modern players to get in based on the BBWAA ballot voting were: 

Ichiro Suzuki (a Marlins legend)

It is really a shame that Ichiro's entire MLB career was not part of the overly designed card back for 2017.

CC Sabathia

Billy Wagner 

The only good thing about Wagner getting into the Hall of Fame is the chance to show off a 2011 card. Gorgeous. 

Of course there are other ways of getting into the Hall of Fame and that is how Dick Allen and Dave Parker did so. 

These players were not worthy of the recognition in the immediate aftermath of their playing days. That, to me, is all that matters. It speaks volumes. 

The Hall of Fame is hardly that any longer. It is a museum, so, fine, exhibit whatever. Or, it might be that the definition of Hall of Fame is different nowadays. We all have opinions and this is mine. My feelings on these two players, Allen and Parker, being enshrined into the Hall of Fame are mixed. One of the major things I think a player must have achieved in their career is an MVP award (or, if they are a pitcher, a Cy Young Award). Now, you win multiple MVPs or Cy Youngs, it is a different conversation. 

I also feel like a player should have one and only one opportunity to appear on the ballot. You get in, or you do not. Giving players ten years is stupid; but at least it is less stupid than formerly when it was 15 years. Do not take into consideration the things that modern life has retroactively assigned to historical players. (I am looking at you, Wins Above Replacement!) You have to judge them solely on what they did in their playing days and against the people they played against. 

Both of these guys had that one great year to win the MVP award. But that being said, I am still on the side of the fence that would not have put them in, which I believe is an unpopular opinion But, all that said, they are in and their final base Topps cards are now part of my collection with other unworthy players such as Harold Baines, Ted Simmons, and Tigers teammates Jack Morris and Alan Trammell. While I am at it ("at it" being probably pissing you off) Reese's peanut butter cups are overrated.

I have been organizing my collection recently and have everyone from the class of 1976 forward to this year. Before the class of 1976, I have a lot of them but there are some doozies in there that are out there and only one of them may be relatively affordable. The Class of 1975 is a particular conundrum because it is Ralph Kiner's class but his last year's card was 1955 Bowman. I have a more modern Topps Archives card for him as a place holder.  For a couple of other guys I have reprints. This may be what I do for some of the super expensive cards. The earliest players in the Hall of Fame with Topps cards as their final cards are Phil Rizzuto, Jackie Robinson, and Bob Feller for 1956. The latter two are 1956 (Class of 1962); Rizzuto was Class of 1994.

Thanks for stopping by.