We have to admit that this is one of our favorite weekends of the year. This is the weekend where the Football Hall of Fame enshrines their latest class and the NFL pre-season begins. The emotional festivities have already begun as the worthy collective of Willie Roaf, Dermontti Dawson, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Jack Butler and Chris Doleman enter Canton, Ohio’s hallowed grounds.

We are a little more prepared than last year as we are already prepared with our revamped list for who we think you should headline next year’s Hall of Fame Class with our new 100, which is again led by Jerry Kramer who for reasons we will never understand is continuously ignored by the Hall. Hopefully…2013 will be his year!

One of the most enduring franchises in professional sports, the Boston Red Sox has added to their Hall of Fame. Formed in 1995, the Sox HOF has a long list of inductees, which includes sixteen men who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. To be eligible for the Red Sox Hall, a player must be retired for at least three years and have been a member of the Boston squad for three seasons.

This year’s class is headlined by Curt Schilling, who has unfortunately been in the news for financial issues, rather than baseball related ones. Schilling is a strong candidate for Cooperstown and was one of the pitchers responsible for bringing the World Series to Fenway after a lengthy absence.

Schilling is joined by Marty Barrett, who was Second Basemen for much of the 80’s for Boston. His best season was 1986, where he had career highs in hits and OPS and captured the 1986 ALCS MVP. Outfielder, Ellis Burks was also inducted. Burks spent his first six season in Boston and won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove while playing there. He did have more productive seasons after in Colorado, though the Coors Field effect may have assisted in that regard.

Going old school, 1940’s Pitcher, Joe Dobson was also named to the Red Sox Hall of Fame. Prior to and after World War II, Dobson won over 100 games while with Boston. Dutch Leonard posted 90 wins for Boston in the 1910’s including a league leading ERA of 0.96 in 1914.

They are joined by Joe Mooney, who has been employed by the Red Sox since 1970 and John Taylor who owned the franchise from 1904 to 1911.

We congratulate all of the new inductees to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.

At some point we plan to look at every franchise in the big four sports and look at their respective Halls of Fame and their retired numbers. As such, we would like to officially congratulate Randy Johnson and Dan Wilson who have been named to the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame.

          The Mariners have always been an intriguing team to us, as despite the vast talent that has passed through the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has never been to the World Series. Johnson is a legitimate Cooperstown Hall of Famer and spent seasons in Seattle where he won a Cy Young and 130 wins. He is joined by Dan Wilson, who likely won’t be entering the Baseball Hall. The long time Catcher was a very popular player for Seattle, and likely is their best player at that position.

          We again congratulate them both and look forward to working on each franchises “not in hall” list.