Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Jack Morris

The Hall of Fame SS That was Nearly a Met

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

The terms “Cincinnati legend” and “lifetime Cincinnati Red” were used to describe Barry Larkin yesterday after his election into the Hall of Fame. He also became the 48th member of the Hall to spend his entire career with one team. Born in Cincinnati, Larkin won the 1990 World Series, MVP in 1995, and become the first shortstop […]

Vote: NYBD 2012 Hall of Fame Ballot

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

We are a little over a week away from the Baseball Hall of Fame announcing its 2012 selection. Each year, I give the readers of NYBD an opportunity to cast their own BBWAA-style ballot. Last year Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar garnered the most fan support, but not the requisite 75% needed for induction. In December, Gil Hodges received the most […]

Pete Abe Speaks Out Against Baseball “McCarthyism”

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Back in the 40s and 50s the United States was facing a huge threat - communism. During this era, thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before government. Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy led the brigade with the “Hollywood Blacklist” and investigations by the House […]

BBWAA Will Not Induct Anyone Until 2014

Monday, December 19th, 2011

It’s been nearly 15 years since the BBWAA elected to not enshrine someone in Cooperstown. During the 1996 election, Phil Niekro received 68.3% of the vote, followed by Tony Perez (65.7%), and Don Sutton (63.8%). Ironically, all three would be enshrined by 2000.  I believe there is a good chance no one will be inducted by the […]

Where Does the ’11 World Series Rank For You?

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

Ranking all-time World Series is an impossible task. How do I rank the ’75 Series between the Reds and Red Sox when I wasn’t born yet? How do you go back in time and read box scores from the early 20th century and make an assertion about the drama? All I can do is provide […]

Looking Back at the Northern League

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Every Friday we look at Independent Baseball. Today, I take a look at the now defunct Northern League, which is arguably where independent baseball began. Both the Northern and Frontier Leagues were born in 1993, but it was the success of the Northern League that paved the way for other independent leagues to crop up […]

Is Pettitte the Next Jack Morris?

Sunday, February 6th, 2011

Just 48 hour after Andy Pettitte announced his retirement, the internet has been ablaze debating his Hall of Fame candidacy that is five years away. The dialogue is predictably taking a stats vs. eye test position. The pro Pettitte supporters point out his wins and postseason success. The detractors point to his ERA, advanced metrics, […]

Early Look at the 2012 HOF Candidates

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

To wrap up this 24 hours of Hall of Fame, I decided to take an early look at the 2012 ballot, and perhaps project who I would support, and maybe lay out some questions that could be answered over the next twelve months. It appears that Barry Larkin might have the best shot for induction […]

HOF Prediction: Alomar In, Blyleven Short, Palmeiro Goodbye

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Later today the BBWAA will announce the latest member(s) to join the Baseball Hall of Fame. A year ago everyone assumed Roberto Alomar would be a shoo-in his first time on the ballot. Instead, the BBWAA threw everyone a curve and only elected Andre Dawson. As a matter of fact, Alomar got a lower percentage […]

Finall NYBD HOF Ballot Tallies

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

Over the past week I created a survey so we could conduct a BBWAA style ballot for the readers of NYBD. Last year, you elected both Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven to the Hall of Fame. The BBWAA disagreed and elected only Andre Dawson. This year we had greater participation in the vote, and the […]

NYBD Hall of Fame Vote

Monday, December 27th, 2010

In addition to voting for our “Man of the Year,” I want to gather an unscientific Hall of Fame vote from the NYBD community. Last year NYBD readers selected Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven for the 2010 class. The BBWAA disagreed and only elected Andre Dawson. This year I will be using Survey Monkey to […]

My 2011 Hall of Fame Ballot

Monday, December 27th, 2010

December 27th Updated Version Each year I discussed who I believe should be elected into the Hall of Fame. Although I don’t have a vote, it’s fun to submit a ballot just like the writers of the BBWAA for discussion purposes. Last year I voted for Robert Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, and Edgar Martinez. […]

James: Gooden, Cone, and Guidry Belong in HOF

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Bill James is at it again, this time stirring debate on a new way of evaluating pitchers in the Hall of Fame. The Bill James Gold Mine 2010 compares starting pitchers across history. I won’t get into the nuts and bolts of it, you can read it for yourself, but essentially its system that measures […]

NYBD Fans Elect Alomar and Blyleven

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

In a very unscientific poll, NYBD readers elected Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven to the Hall of Fame. No other got the necessary support (75%) needed to gain election. Both Barry Larkin and Tim Raines had strong showings with around 70% support, Edgar Martinez was in the low sixties, while Mark McGwire, Dawson, and Trammell were […]

Prediction: Alomar Will Be Only One Elected to HOF

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Tomorrow the 2010 Hall of Fame will be announced. If you haven’t been following BBTF HOF Ballot Gathering Machine, head over there and check it out. Each year, Repoz tabulates writer’s ballots that are made public in order to predict who the next class will be. As of this writing (Jan 5) it appears there […]