If Manny Ramirez had gone blind in 2008, would he be in the HOF?

dunquixote1 · Yesterday, 10:49 PM

I fell down a rabbit hole of 90s and early 2000’s hitters. Who was in the HOF (Kirby Puckett), who wasn’t (Manny, Albert Belle), etc etc. Manny was an absolute force behind the plate for a solid 10 year stretch. Was he a clown in the outfield? Sometimes. But some of that was ESPN making him the butt of jokes at times. And the stereotypes stuck.

Meanwhile, I look at the career of Kirby Puckett. Puckett was first ballot despite Manny being a significantly a more potent hitter in a similar timeframe that Kirby played.

I’m not sure if my point is that Manny should be in the HOF. He maybe shouldn’t be. But if Kirby basically got a pass for going blind when he was in his early/mid 30s, would Manny be in if he had gone blind at 34?

It seems weird that a full career arc handicaps Manny while a shortened arc may have benefited Kirby.

Maybe this is kind of like the Kurt Cobain effect. Where dying young made him a legend. We never got to see Kurt finish the arc where he got clean, found God, and joined Alter Bridge. I mean that jokingly. lol. But you get the point.

Are there any other weird scenarios with a guy getting in, partially, because their career was cut short from non professional forces?

Biohazarddfl · Yesterday, 10:55 PM

Yes. But he did PEDs and he deserves to be out.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

ThoseBackPages · Yesterday, 11:28 PM

He belongs in for sure

Noles939913 · Yesterday, 11:59 PM

Puckett shouldn’t be in either if the so called “character clause” was adhered to.

coltsnsox07 · Today, 12:22 AM

I can still see Manny and his beat up pine tar covered batting helmet creating all sorts of havoc in the 2004 and 2007 playoffs.
Love him for that, and that walk off homer vs K Rod and the Angels was epic.

fabiani12333 · Today, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biohazarddfl

Yes. But he did PEDs and he deserves to be out.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

He got busted after the league implemented testing and punishment -- others from his era used prior to testing and still got in. There is no Hall of Fame eligibility rule that says you're disqualified for using PEDs, but he got officially punished by MLB for it and it makes it hard for voters to justify voting for him.

Yesterday, 10:49 PM	#1
dunquixote1 Member Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 461	If Manny Ramirez had gone blind in 2008, would he be in the HOF? I fell down a rabbit hole of 90s and early 2000’s hitters. Who was in the HOF (Kirby Puckett), who wasn’t (Manny, Albert Belle), etc etc. Manny was an absolute force behind the plate for a solid 10 year stretch. Was he a clown in the outfield? Sometimes. But some of that was ESPN making him the butt of jokes at times. And the stereotypes stuck. Meanwhile, I look at the career of Kirby Puckett. Puckett was first ballot despite Manny being a significantly a more potent hitter in a similar timeframe that Kirby played. I’m not sure if my point is that Manny should be in the HOF. He maybe shouldn’t be. But if Kirby basically got a pass for going blind when he was in his early/mid 30s, would Manny be in if he had gone blind at 34? It seems weird that a full career arc handicaps Manny while a shortened arc may have benefited Kirby. Maybe this is kind of like the Kurt Cobain effect. Where dying young made him a legend. We never got to see Kurt finish the arc where he got clean, found God, and joined Alter Bridge. I mean that jokingly. lol. But you get the point. Are there any other weird scenarios with a guy getting in, partially, because their career was cut short from non professional forces?

Yesterday, 11:28 PM	#3
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 90,674 ThoseBackPages	He belongs in for sure __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

Yesterday, 11:59 PM	#4
Noles939913 Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 7,212	Puckett shouldn’t be in either if the so called “character clause” was adhered to. __________________ “Mr. Phillips found old Johnny Cash and he was high High before he ever took those pills and he's still too proud to die Mr. Phillips never said anything behind nobody's back Like, "Dammit Elvis, don't he know, he ain't no Johnny Cash"

Yesterday, 10:55 PM	#2
Biohazarddfl Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,326 chrisfl_cards_on_ig	Yes. But he did PEDs and he deserves to be out. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Today, 12:22 AM	#5
coltsnsox07 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 22,376	I can still see Manny and his beat up pine tar covered batting helmet creating all sorts of havoc in the 2004 and 2007 playoffs. Love him for that, and that walk off homer vs K Rod and the Angels was epic.