There is always one player on these top 50 lists that seems impossible to lock down.  For the Dodgers, that man is Roy Campanella, a three-time MVP, but had they been judged by current metrics, he likely would not have won any.

Roy Campanella joined Brooklyn in 1948 after playing in the Negro Leagues. He was a stocky catcher with a unique combination of agility and power. Although Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, Campanella joined him a year later to form a resilient and emotional pairing on the team, known as the "Boys of Summer.” By 1949, Campanella showed an impressive ability to control the running game, starting an incredible run of eight straight All-Star selections. He quickly became a key player, setting a high standard for catchers in baseball history.

During the early 1950s, Campanella won three National League MVP Awards in 1951, 1953, and 1955. His 1953 campaign remains a standout outlier for catchers; he belted a personal-best 41 home runs, led the league with 142 RBIs, and batted .312. He showcased total mastery of the "triple threat" for catchers: elite power, high average, and high-caliber defense. While modern metrics sometimes debate the value of those MVP votes, his specialized influence on the game’s best pitching staff was undeniable, as he led the league in caught-stealing percentage five times, once reaching a staggering 69.4% in 1951.

Campy anchored five different pennant-winning teams. In the 1955 World Series, he was a high-stakes contributor to the franchise's only title in Brooklyn, batting .318 during the regular season and outdueling teammate Duke Snider for his third MVP.  It was a phenomenal run in Brooklyn, but tragedy reared its ugly head.

Just as the team was getting ready to move to Los Angeles, a devastating accident involving a flipped rental car caused a broken neck and left him permanently paralyzed. This injury abruptly ended a distinguished career, denying West Coast fans the chance to see a legend in his final years. Campanella was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, in his seventh year of eligibility.  His number 39 would also be retired by the team. Campanella compiled a .276 average, 242 home runs with the team.

Again, if this rank does seem a little low, remember that the Dodgers ahead of him have much longer tenures than Campanella, though not all of them were as important.  Seriously, the Dodgers are the hardest to rank!

Orel Hershiser debuted in Los Angeles in 1983 as a 17th-round pick who was never supposed to be the "Bulldog" of a major league rotation. Initially viewed as a lean, cerebral pitcher with limited upside, he underwent a physical and mental transformation under the guidance of Tommy Lasorda, who demanded he pitch with a more aggressive, high-stakes intensity.

By 1985, Hershiser posted a 19-3 record, a 2.03 ERA, and finished third in Cy Young voting. He became a key player, surpassing Valenzuela as the Dodgers' go-to in high-pressure situations.

In 1988, Hershiser crafted a season that remains legendary in baseball history. He topped the league with 23 wins, pitched 267 innings, and achieved 8 shutouts. His most notable feat was setting a Major League record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings to close out the regular season. This exceptional performance made him a national star, earning him the Cy Young Award unanimously and a Gold Glove. He continued this winning streak into October, becoming the only player to win both NLCS MVP and World Series MVP in the same year, famously closing the Fall Classic with the final out to clinch the championship.  It was an incredible peak, but many great careers have to overcome an injury.  Hershiser was no different.

After a torn labrum and rotator cuff surgery in 1990, a radical procedure at the time, he showed the organization a specialized determination during a grueling rehabilitation. While he never quite reclaimed the high-frequency dominance he had in 1988, he remained a professional mainstay and a high-stakes veteran leader.  There was one final chapter in Los Angeles, as he enjoyed a sentimental return to the Dodgers in 2000. While he mentored younger arms, his effectiveness on the mound had finally waned, leading to his release that summer.

Overall, Hershiser compiled a 135-107 record, a 3.12 ERA, and 1,455 strikeouts.

Different countries have varying gambling laws. For some, gambling is totally prohibited, while in others, bettors have different levels of freedom. In countries where gambling is permitted, the sector has thrived, while in those with stringent regulations, it has lagged. Kate Richardson, a sports betting expert who has been providing insights and tips and exploring different gambling markets, observes that even in countries where wagering is allowed, some aspects are not permitted. 

not collide with the authority. In her scrutiny of the gambling laws and the list of online UK bookmakers, Kate observes that UK betting laws are relatively permissive compared to most western countries. She concludes that operators and punters find it easy to engage in gambling activities in the UK than in any other country in the Western sphere. In this article, we focus on UK gambling laws and compare them with regulations in other western countries.

The UK Gambling Commission

Kate Richardson observes that different forms of gambling have enjoyed massive popularity over the years in the United Kingdom. Any person who is over 18 years is eligible for gambling. However, one must gamble on a platform licensed by the gambling authority. The body that is charged with regulating and licensing all gambling activities is the UK Gambling Commission. The regulatory body was founded in 2007. The commission offers licenses to operators and advises the authorities on gambling-related matters. It works together with the police department to curb illegal gambling in the country.

In her review of UK gambling, Kate Richardson states that the commission is not only about licensing and regulating; it also offers guidance to people and businesses interested in offering gambling in the country. It does this by providing the interested parties with information to help establish a successful establishment. She has been instrumental to the sports betting fraternity in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions. Her insights and tips on sports betting have helped beginners and established bettors. To access her profile and some of the articles she has written on sports betting, click here.

Operators find the UK market easy to penetrate compared to other jurisdictions in Europe and the whole of the western sphere. Analysts observe that the licensing process in the UK is straightforward while also listing the transparency that characterizes the market and the policies and standards that guarantee the player protection. 

Any company ready to adhere to the set rules and regulations in the United Kingdom will find it easy to establish its base in the market. For this reason, analysts view the United Kingdom gambling market as welcoming and its laws more permissive than other western countries such as Germany, Australia, Austria, France, Japan, the USA, and Canada, among others. For instance, compared with Austria, UK gambling laws are quite permissive.

Although gambling is allowed in Austria, authorities have stringent online and land-based gambling regulations. For a player looking to wager in such a market, it is advisable to familiarize themself with all the laws governing gambling in the country. Through this, a player can decide on what to venture into, as each gambling platform has its benefits.

France

Like most countries in the western sphere, all forms of gambling in France are highly regulated. For players looking to play in brick-and-mortar platforms, most forms of gambling are available. Online operators are also allowed to offer the same, with the exception of casino games. Generally, France is a gambling-friendly nation, but operators and players are burdened by taxes on their winnings.

• Spain has the Spanish Gambling Act, which regulates all gaming activities in the country. The law stipulates that only regional players can play on licensed platforms.
• Italy, which is home to Baccarat, has a gambling law that regulates sports betting, lotteries, and other games of chance.
• New Zealand does not allow any gambling and betting activities unless they are established in accordance with the NZ Gambling Act 2003. Gambling activities are classified into levels 1-4. Remote gambling remains prohibited in the country.
• The current laws in Canada prohibit all forms of gaming, with the exception of the provincial government, which is allowed to conduct and manage gambling in their jurisdictions.
• Germany only passed a law allowing for partial liberalization of gambling in 2021. The law allows private operators to offer gambling services but to the extent of the licensing and regulatory standards.
• In the United States of America, gambling largely remains legal per federal law, but each state has its own rules and standards.

Although the United Kingdom has similar laws where operators are guided on how to conduct their business, the country has the most permissive gambling regulations.

Some say that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.  For us at Notinhalloffame.com, it is the month after, where “Hall of Fame Season” is in its apex, with the announcement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists.

We at Notinhalloffame.com, held our mock committee meeting last month, where we pushed through our 15, which differs from the actual Hall (as expected).

The 15 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists of 2023 are:

Jared Allen: Defensive End.  2004-07 KC, 2008-13 MIN, 2014-15 CHI, 2015 CAR.  Allen advances for the third straight year, and has been a Finalist in all three of his eligible years.  A two-time Sack leader with 136 career Sacks, Allen also has 171 Tackles for Loss.  A five-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Allen is ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Willie Anderson: Offensive Tackle.  1996-2007 CIN, 2008 BAL.  Anderson was eligible for the first time in 2013, and eight years later, he was a Semi-Finalist for the first time.  Big Willie is now on a two-year streak as a Finalist.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls, was a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber: Cornerback & Safety.  1997-2002 TB.  Barber has been on the ballot for six years and is now a three-time Finalist.  A member of Tampa’s first Super Bowl Title, Barber has 47 Interceptions, 20 Sacks and went to five Pro Bowls as well as earning three First Team All-Pros.  Barber is ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dwight Freeney: Defensive End.  2002-12 IND, 2013-14 SD, AZ 2015, 2016 ATL, 2017 SEA, 2017 DET.  Freeney was one of the five first year eligible players to make the Semi-Finals, and he is now a first-year Finalist; a huge accomplishment for a Hall of Fame path.  Freeney won a Super Bowl with the Colts, had 125.5 Sacks and went to seven Pro Bowls earning three First Team All-Pros.  Freeney is ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Devin Hester: Punt Returner, Kick Returner & Wide Receiver.  2006-13 CHI, 2014-15 ATL, 2016 BAL.  Hester is a Finalist in his first two years of eligibility.  A three-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Hester is a member of the 100^th Anniversary Team.  Hester is ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Torry Holt: Wide Receiver.  1999-08 STL, 2009 JAX.  A nine-time Semi-Finalist, Holt is no a four-time Finalist.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls, and was a two-time Receiving Yards leader.  Holt is ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Andre Johnson: Wide Receiver.  2003-14 HOU, 2015 IND, 2016 TEN.  Johnson is a two-time Finalist, which is the same number of years he has been eligible.  Named to seven Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros, Johnson had well over 14,000 Receiving Yards and twice led the league in that category.  Johnson is ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Albert Lewis: Cornerback.  1983-93 KC, 1994-98 LA/OAK.  Lewis makes the Finals on his last year of eligibility, and was only a Semi-Finalist once before, in 2013.  He was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Darrelle Revis: Cornerback.  2007-12 NYJ, 2013 TB, 2014 NE, NYJ 2015-16, KC 2017.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots in the lone year he was there, Revis is best known for his time with the Jets.  Revis went to seven Pro Bowls, had four First Team All-Pros and is the 2009 leader in Approximate Value.  This is his first year on the ballot.  Revis is ranked #5 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Joe Thomas: Offensive Tackle.  2007-17 CLE.  Thomas is without a doubt the best player in the second wave of the Cleveland Browns, but he did not have a lot of help.  This is his first year on the ballot, and he was pegged to be a first-year Finalist by EVERYONE!  The Lineman was a six-time First Team All-Pro, and went to ten Pro Bowls.  Thomas is ranked #1on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Zach Thomas: Linebacker.  1997-2007 MIA, 2008 DAL.  Thomas is now on a four-year streak of Finalist Selections.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, earned five First Team All-Pros and was a two-time leader in Combined Tackles.  Thomas is ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

DeMarcus Ware: Linebacker & Defensive End.  2005-13 DAL, 2014-16 DEN.  Ware is on his second year of eligibility has been a Finalist both years.  A nine-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Ware twice led the NFL in Sacks, with 138.5 in total.  Ware is ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Reggie Wayne: Wide Receiver.  2001-14 IND.  Wayne won a Super Bowl with the Colts and this marks the fourth consecutive trip to the Finalist round.  A former Receiving Yard leader and six-time Pro Bowler, Wayne is ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Patrick Willis: Linebacker.  2007-14 SF.  Willis adds a second straight Finalist to his resume, and with teammate, Bryant Young out of the way, there should be less obstruction.  Willis only played eight years but was a Pro Bowl in seven and a First Team All-Pro in five of them.  He is ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Darren Woodson: Safety.  1992-03 DAL.  Woodson, who was a six-time Semi-Finalist, is finally a Finalist.  He was a three-time Super Bowl winner, a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #90 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Semi-Finalists who did not advance are Anquan Boldin, Henry Ellard, Jahri Evans, London Fletcher, James Harrison, Rodney Harrison, Robert Mathis, Steve Smith, Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Ricky Watters and Vince Wilfork.

It should be noted that we will be holding our Mock Committee meeting on January 17, 9:30 EST, and we will be combining the official Finalists with ours.

This means we will be adding Randall Cunningham, Henry Ellard, Tom Nalen, Leslie O’Neal, Pat Swilling, and Richmond Webb. 

So, who is going to get in!!! 

You know that we will be paying attention, and we are excited to see how this pans out.