In the coming weeks, One More Dying Quail will be profiling the
182 current members of the Bizarro Hall of Fame, an organization that
currently exists only in my mind. It was created in the wake of Major
League Baseball’s infamous Steroid Era as a way of honoring those
players whose careers were perfectly mediocre: the only requirement is
that a candidate be listed on the official Baseball Hall of Fame ballot
and receive zero votes.
Class of 2001
Howard Johnson
– Even after a fourteen-year major league career, there are two things
for which I will always remember Howard Johnson: one, he had one of the
greatest names in baseball history (to this day, whenever my mother
hears his name, she replies, “His parents must have hated him.”) and
two, he was only the second player to have more than two seasons
with 30 homeruns and 30 stolen bases. He did it three times, all in odd
numbered seasons between 1987 and 1991, making two All-Star game
appearances and finishing in the top ten in the Most Valuable Player
voting three times. His career numbers were probably worthy of at least a
couple Hall of Fame votes, but his steep decline following the 1991
season didn’t help his chances.
Andy Van Slyke – Van Slyke was “known for being loquacious and a good quote,”
two qualities that helped him make three National League All-Star teams
and twice finish fourth in the MVP voting but couldn’t garner him a
Hall of Fame vote in 2001. An excellent defensive outfielder, he won
five consecutive Gold Gloves playing alongside Barry Bonds in Pittsburgh
from 1988-92. Van Slyke made waves in 2004 when he said of Bonds and
steroids, “Unequivocally he’s taken them, without equivocation he’s
taken them. I can say that with utmost certainty.” (Note: It mostly
deals with the pain and misery that comes from being a Pittsburgh
Pirates fan, but there is an exceptional blog out there called Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke?. Even if you don’t follow the Pirates, it’s worth heading over there to poke around a bit.)
Coming soon: The Bizarro Hall of Fame Class of 2000.
(All Hall of Fame voting results were obtained from the official web site of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Statistical information included in postings for the Bizarro Hall of Fame was, unless otherwise noted, originally compiled by Baseball-Reference.com.)
Sunday, March 1, 2015
The Bizarro Hall of Fame: Introducing the Class of 2001
Posted by One More Dying Quail at 11:43 AM
Labels: Andy Van Slyke, Class of 2001, Howard Johnson
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