Should Sadaharu Oh be in the Hall of Fame?

[mfw13]

Now that MLB has added Negro League stats, it raises the question of how the Hall of Fame should treat Japanese players.

On the one hand, it's the Baseball Hall of Fame (not the MLB Hall of Fame). On the other hand, nobody has yet been elected who spent their entire career outside of the United States.

That said, Oh is technically the all-time home run leader, with 868, and is undoubtedly the greatest power hitter in the history of Japanese baseball.

Discuss....

[oldgoldy97]

Baseball HOF should also include little league? That’s baseball, too.

[oldgoldy97]

Badnews Bears should be in. Best fictional baseball team.

[awz50]

Well Japanese baseball has been considered a class below the mlb and the negro leagues were on the same level talent wise so that does open up discussion that

[smanzari]

FWIW, last time I went there was a good bit of Sadaharu Oh stuff on display but that was a good while ago (10-15 years ago)

[80s Kid]

3. Eligible Candidates -- Candidates to be eligible must meet the following requirements:

B. Player must have played in each of ten (10) Major League championship seasons, some part of which must have been within the period described in 3(A).

Japan has their own hall of fame. The Negro Leagues were domestic to the United States which makes the Hall of Fame located in the United States a good place to recognize them.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Baseball HOF should also include little league? That’s baseball, too.

Danny Almonte definitely makes it.

[Chris Lyle]

I don't think that just because Negro Leagues are being put into the stats should suddenly mean that Japanese players, etc. should be in the Hall of Fame. It's an apples and oranges comparison. The Negro Leagues were because of segregation in the same country. Japan has it own leagues, Hall of Fame, etc.

[Asian62150]

HOFs are basically museums that tell the story of their sports.

Oh was a definitely a key figure in the game of baseball. I don't think you can fully tell the story of baseball without including him. So yes, he should be in the HOF in some form or another.

And in that same vein, I think Pete Rose should be in, not as an individual, but as part of baseball's story for someone that was banned for breaking the rules.

[EBCollectibles]

It's getting so watered down now put everyone in it.

[EBCollectibles]

Originally Posted by Chris Lyle

I don't think that just because Negro Leagues are being put into the stats should suddenly mean that Japanese players, etc. should be in the Hall of Fame. It's an apples and oranges comparison. The Negro Leagues were because of segregation in the same country. Japan has it own leagues, Hall of Fame, etc.

Both are comparing apples to oranges and if you say neither should go then you are deemed a racist or whatever they want to call you. Everyone these days can't have have a opinion.

[Skipscards]

No. Not even close to the same thing.

First, the Negro League players have been getting inducted into the Hall of Fame for over 50 years. Their stats being made official, have no bearing on their Hall of Fame eligibility.

Second, the Japanese League that Oh played in isn't anywhere near the same level as the Japanese League today.

Third, Japanese League players have an opportunity to play in the MLB, the Negro League players did not.

Fourth, the MLB recognizing the Negro League statistics as official is no different to what they did in 1969 when they decided to include the Federal League, Union Association, etc into the official record. They likely would have done the same thing with the Negro Leagues back then had they had any semblance of statistics available. This is not some alteration to the baseball landscape, it's simply something that became possible because of research. That doesn't elevate Oh or Japanese baseball from the 1960s and 70s.

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

HOFs are basically museums that tell the story of their sports.

Oh was a definitely a key figure in the game of baseball. I don't think you can fully tell the story of baseball without including him. So yes, he should be in the HOF in some form or another.

And in that same vein, I think Pete Rose should be in, not as an individual, but as part of baseball's story for someone that was banned for breaking the rules.

So are you saying Oh should be put in as a "contributor" or something? I don't get what he did for American baseball. Seems like watering down an already watered down Hall.

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by EBCollectibles

Both are comparing apples to oranges and if you say neither should go then you are deemed a racist or whatever they want to call you. Everyone these days can't have have a opinion.

Negro Leagues guys were put in years ago. Baseball just decided to recognize the stats that got them there?

[80s Kid]

Originally Posted by Chris Lyle

So are you saying Oh should be put in as a "contributor" or something? I don't get what he did for American baseball. Seems like watering down an already watered down Hall.

Its also a museum so no reason not to include objects from Japan, which they already do.

Still, its the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Not the International Baseball Hall of Fame so it makes since to keep the current rules requiring 10 years playing in the MLB.

[80s Kid]

Originally Posted by EBCollectibles

Both are comparing apples to oranges and if you say neither should go then you are deemed a racist or whatever they want to call you. Everyone these days can't have have a opinion.

Everyone is free to have an opinion. Everyone else is also free to respond to that opinion when it is posted in a public space.

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by 80s Kid

Its also a museum so no reason not to include objects from Japan, which they already do.

Still, its the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Not the International Baseball Hall of Fame so it makes since to keep the current rules requiring 10 years playing in the MLB.

I'm not suggesting that you don't mention someone like Oh in the Hall. The question was should he be in the Hall, to me that means elected to the Hall of Fame

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

HOFs are basically museums that tell the story of their sports.

Oh was a definitely a key figure in the game of baseball. I don't think you can fully tell the story of baseball without including him. So yes, he should be in the HOF in some form or another.

And in that same vein, I think Pete Rose should be in, not as an individual, but as part of baseball's story for someone that was banned for breaking the rules.

To that end, Oh and Rose are already in the Hall of Fame. You can go to Cooperstown and you'll see displays of both of them. They just don't have a plaque. Also, Oh is already inducted into the Hall of Fame...the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

[awz50]

Originally Posted by EBCollectibles

It's getting so watered down now put everyone in it.

Lame statement that isn't true

[ScooterD]

Pretty sure that Oh and players from other “foreign leagues” are mentioned, pictured, and otherwise documented in Cooperstown. Just not inducted

[awz50]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

Pretty sure that Oh and players from other “foreign leagues” are mentioned, pictured, and otherwise documented in Cooperstown. Just not inducted

This.

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

Pretty sure that Oh and players from other “foreign leagues” are mentioned, pictured, and otherwise documented in Cooperstown. Just not inducted

I don't think anyone is denying this. I think there are some that think somehow they should be able to be elected in to the Hall

[Triple B]

It’s the Baseball Hall of Fame. Not the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s pretty weird how many people don’t get that (even though MLB has infiltrated the Hall and made it its own). Sadaharu Oh’s legend is well known. He absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame.

[80s Kid]

Originally Posted by Chris Lyle

I don't think anyone is denying this. I think there are some that think somehow they should be able to be elected in to the Hall

I don't think anyone is actually arguing that in good faith. More of a slippery slope argument to complain about Negro League stats being added.

Everyone else has clearly been saying no.

Originally Posted by Triple B

It’s the Baseball Hall of Fame. Not the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s pretty weird how many people don’t get that (even though MLB has infiltrated the Hall and made it its own). Sadaharu Oh’s legend is well known. He absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame.

Apparently someone does want to argue that. Its the National Baseball Hall of Fame, not the Global or International Baseball Hall of Fame. The requirements for being inducted specifically include playing MLB for a decade.

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by Triple B

It’s the Baseball Hall of Fame. Not the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s pretty weird how many people don’t get that (even though MLB has infiltrated the Hall and made it its own). Sadaharu Oh’s legend is well known. He absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame.

Elected into the Hall of Fame? It's not an international hall of fame