Survey of Old-Timers for the Hall of Fame

Amos Rusie and Addie Joss, two short-service but highly effective hurlers, scored high in different parts of a survey of old-time candidates for the Hall of Fame conducted in December by the Society for American Baseball Research. Rusie was subsequently elected to the Hall.

The primary purpose of the survey was to determine if there were additional players of the 1871-1911 period, which is not in the memory range of most members of the Veterans Committee, deserving of enshrinement. Society members were asked to vote for up to five players in order of rank who they thought should be elected.

There also were two other parts of the ballot: One, to indicate a belief that “there already are enough players selected from this period (1871-1911)”; two, a place to indicate a preference for Addie Joss if he were eligible; and three, a place also to indicate a preference for some other ineligible player of the period.

There were 162 ballots returned. Seventeen members did not vote for any players and indicated their feelings that enough players had already been selected from this period. There were 122 ballots checked to indicate that “If Addie Joss were eligible, I would have voted for him.” Among the other ineligible players mentioned, Bill Lange and Ross Barnes each received five votes. Neither had 10 years in the majors, including the National Association, 1871-75.

Among the many eligible performers of the 1871-1911 period, 54 different players received at least one vote. Rusie was on 74 ballots and Pete Browning on 47. A first place vote counted 10 points; second 9 points, etc. On that basis, here are the rankings for the first 36 players.

 

1	Amos Rusie	622		19	George Mullin	96
2	Pete Browning	415		20	Jim McCormick	90
3	Geo. Van Haltren	301		21	Herman Long	84
4	Tony Mullane	233		22	Fred Tenney	84
5	Harry Stovey	207		23	Tommy Leach	84
6	Vic Willis	198		24	Sam Leever	77
7	Johnny Kling	183		25	Mike Tiernan	73
8	Jimmy Ryan	177		26	Doc White	70
9	Deacon White	141		27	Bobby Mathews	61
10	George Davis	137		28	Cy Seymour	56
11	Tip O’Neill	134		29	Deacon McGuire	52
12	Deacon Phillippe	129		30	Jess Tannehil	50
13	Bill Dahlen	125		31	Ed McKean	48
14	Mike Dorilin	122		32	George Gore	46
15	Biddy McPhee	120		33	Bill Bradley	45
16	Lave Cross	115		34	Gus Weyhing	43
17	Bobby Caruthers	111		35	Tommy Bond	41
18	Ginger Beaumont	99		36	Cupid Childs	37

 

The outpouring of votes for Rusie, above, and the sentiment expressed for Joss highlight an interesting situation regarding the 10-year rule on eligibility. Rusie just barely qualified for 10 years when he came back in 1901 after a 2-year layoff. He pitched in only three games for the Reds in his 10th year. He had lost his stuff and that was the end of his career. In 1911 Joss was preparing for his 10th campaign but got sick just before the season opened. He died on April 14. Rusie is eligible because of three poorly pitched games in 1901, but Joss is ineligible because he did not make it into a regulation contest in his final year. Obviously, SABR members were not adversely influenced by Rusie’s short career, and also feel that Joss belongs in the Hall of Fame.