...and during those 12 years he average less than 100 games per year. ...Mattingly played 14 years and was a much better player and he's been shut out of the HOF.
__________________________ I don't want you to think I believe Aaron Boone is in any way shape or form a borderline HOFer..... I was being sarcastic (thinking about guys like Bert Blyleven , Andre Dawson and Tony Perez) who made the cut. This is probably going to be an unpopular view but I have a hard time thinking of Carlton Fisk as a HOFer.
You'll get no argument from me on that. I mean the guy never won an MVP or a GG. As a matter of fact he never led the league in ANYTHING & was a career 269 hitter. So yeah, beats me.
Boones bomb was one of those "halo effect" things that stand out forever, but don't qualify him for the HOF. There were quite a few names on that list that don't stand a China Mans chance of getting in.
__________________________ I've never forgotten an article I read - I think it was the Sporting News - many years ago where Fisk said something along the lines of: "I'm not going to block homeplate anymore" - This was after he recovered from a broken leg or something, so I'll cut him slack for that...but, I realize he WAS an oustanding(?) all-around catcher for most of his career yet he wasn't Johnny Bench-like, or Yogi, Campy, Bill Dickey-ish (lol)....I thought Gary Carter was considerably better and he is in HOF. Something about Fisk....he played over 20 yrs, I understand some awards can be questioned when voting is involved but just one gold glove in all those years?, below average career throwing out SB/ATT, only two 100 RBI seasons and 80 RBI on two other occasions....for his 21 full seasons, he averaged 18 HRs and 63 RBI per season with a .269 career BA. Maybe I'm grading him too roughly. I never thought of Fisk when he was playing as an all time great catcher. I guess AS A CATCHER, those numbers are acceptable to be a HOFer.
as a non-PED catcher who got beat up a TON (only 150+ games in 3 years of 21 and only above 130 in 11), I think the fact that a) he stuck around for 21 years and b) gave his team a .270 with some pop when he was in the lineup is more than just about any other catcher could boast.
___________________________________________________ Okay- fair enough. As I said - I guess AS A CATCHER, those numbers are acceptable to be a HOFer.
Can you prove he was a non-PED catcher? Some might argue that 21 years at the most demanding position is suspicious.
The guy missed a shit-load of games. And like I said, never won any awards & never led the league in ANYTHING! Sorry but position or not I just don't see what he's done that warrants his induction. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fiskca01.shtml
____________________________ Thank you Rick. I tend to agree, his total offensive numbers are good/very good for the catcher's position but behind the plate he was known more for his constant slow trips to the pitcher's mound than for his defense..... He certainly wasn't a BAD defensive catcher, but he wasn't one of the best (of his time). Fisk belongs in the compiler category. He averaged 18 HRs/ 65 RBI/.270 BA per season, full season (1972-91) over a LONG career. Good enough for the HOF (as a catcher) ? Or is it an indictment of his peers and contemporaries?
No I can't. I saw him eat Jelly Beans and Gummy Bears, tootsie rolls, and laced gum; more than a few times, when everyone else was chewing sunflower seeds, or chomping on tobacco..... Yet, he caught more games as a Catcher, a very close look deserved. I mean 21 years as a Catcher of All Positions, it just doesn't make sense. Yet, I gotta' say in my earlier years, I loved nothing more than the Munson-Fisk power struggles, and pure hatred for each other......I don't think any other 2 Catchers hated each other this much.... I have no say either way tho' on his HOF numbers, either way, I refrain. Other than to hunt down those PED candy wrappers, a great way to hide his PED Use.......
