David N. Townsend
Baseball Journal

August 20, 1990
Hall of Fame Watch, 1990.

Note, 1997:  This is a summary of the 1990 Hall of Fame Watch, the first in the series, without the analysis that accompanied the lists.  What's interesting is how certain several players seemed (Strawberry, Canseco) who in later years moved to the Highly Doubtful category, mostly due to injuries and the like.  Over the years, the shoo-in category has grown, with more new members than retirees, as the money players can make, plus the DH (and the juiced ball), are keeping stars around longer than they used to last.

1.  Absolutely definitely positively for sure:

R. Henderson               G. Brett
C. Fisk                         N. Ryan
R. Yount                       W. Boggs

2.  Highly probable, would take a major disaster or total collapse to keep him out:

D. Mattingly                  R. Clemens
C. Ripken                     J. Reardon
D. Strawberry               J. Canseco

3.  The Borderline Banditos, the So-So- Six, the Maybe Mob:

A. Dawson                   Dw. Evans
D. Murphy                    E. Murray
D. Parker                     D. Winfield

4.  Very good chance, but needs to keep it up a few more years:

K. Puckett                    T. Gwynn
R. Sandberg                  P. Molitor
E. Davis                        W. Clark
G. Bell                           K. Hrbek
A. Trammell                   T. Raines
W. McGee                    J. Carter
F. Viola                         D. Gooden
B. Saberhagen               D. Righetti
D. Eckersley

5.  Borderline candidate now, but little change to improve, will be touch and go:

O. Smith                       G. Carter
J. Clark                         W. Wilson
B. Blyleven                    L. Smith

6.  Exciting little hints at the future:

R. Sierra                       E. Burks
F. McGriff                    M. McGwire
K. Griffey                     G. Sheffield
B. Bonilla                      B. Bonds
M. Williams                  M. Grace
B. McDonald                B. Thigpen
R. Martinez

More Hall of Fame Watch

Comments? Questions? Impassioned, hyperbolic overreaction?
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DNT@DNTownsend.com

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