Committee Chairman

The Padres unveil Bud Selig Hall of Fame Park

Aug 30, 2014

We needed a few days to truly digest this. The San Diego Padres have announced that they are renaming Palm Court Plaza, the Bud Selig Hall of Fame Plaza, which is located outside of Left Field, near the busiest entrance in the park. The name change is to coincide with a relaunch of their own Hall of Fame, and a celebration of Padres history.

To date, with the addition of Relief Pitcher Trevor Hoffman last year, the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame includes nine men. The other eight who have been previously inducted are Buzzie Bavasi, Nate Colbert, Jerry Coleman, Tony Gwynn, Randy Jones, Ray Kroc, Dick Williams and Dave Winfield. The Padres, have been to two World Series, though have yet to hold the championship trophy in triumph.

Although San Diego has yet to win Baseball’s Holy Grail, the renaming of Palm Court Plaza to Selig Hall of Fame Plaza is a real headscratcher. Selig, has not exactly been a popular commissioner, and there is really no tie between him and the Padres organization. The intention was to honor Selig, who is leaving his post as the Major League Baseball Commissioner this year, though again, his tenure has been associated with only controversy.

With the death this past of year of Tony Gwynn, the Hall of Fame player and arguably the greatest San Diego Padre of all time, it is difficult to imagine that anyone other than the former multi-time Batting Champion as the man whom a Padres Hall of Fame is named after. If they were not going to select Gwynn, than at the very least they could have chosen who has had a positive affect on the franchise. This is not something that is usually attributed with Bud Selig.

Although we were happy to see the San Diego Padres attempt to celebrate their past history with a greater zeal, could they not have chosen to rename with it at least one hundred better choices than this?

College Football HOF relaunches

Aug 24, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

The transfer from South Bend, Indiana to Atlanta, Georgia is complete.

This weekend, the College Football Hall of Fame has officially opened up embracing the old (many artifacts in the Hall are over 100 years old) and the new with a virtual presence unseen in any other North American Sporting Hall of Fame to date.

The three story facility features a chance for NCAA fans to pick their favorite collegiate team and have multiple exhibits display interactive components of their respective team. Multiple videos are also available at the simple touch of a screen, making this Hall of Fame more unique than anything else that exists in the marketplace.

This new structure looks to increase tourism to Atlanta, which is already the Sports Mecca of the American South. The new Hall of Fame, located in the heart of Atlanta’s downtown is a place where we will be going soon in the next few years. Based on what we have heard so far, so should you!

Joe Torre's Number 6 retired today

Aug 23, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

It was made official today as the New York Yankees have officially put the number 6 of former Manager Joe Torre out to pasture, marking the 17^th time that the Bronx Bombers have retired a number from the organization.

Torre, a former MVP himself as a player was a fringe candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame, remaining on the ballot all fifteen years of eligibility. This Summer, he entered Cooperstown via the Veteran’s Committee for his work as a Manager, predominantly with the Yankees. He would join two other legendary Managers into the Hall this year with Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa also receiving the nod.

Torre arrived in New York in 1996 with an overall losing record as a Manager prompting many Yankees fans to wonder why he was hired. Their fears were quickly dispelled when his calm demeanor and ability to manage stars (and their egos) were shown by winning the World Series and the American League Manager of the Year Award in his debut campaign in New York.

Torre would go on to win the American League Pennant five more times and the World Series three more times as the Yankees’ skipper posting a Winning Percentage over .600 while there and cementing himself as one of the best Managers the game has ever had.

We are expecting that once Derek Jeter retires at the end of this season, that his number 2 will become the 18^th number retired by the Yankees.

We would like to congratulate Joe Torre for receiving the ultimate honor that can be bestowed by the New York Yankees, and the Yankees themselves for having the most elite group of retired numbers in the sport.

Jean-Sebastian Giguere Retires

Aug 23, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

It happened quietly but a former NHL Conn Smythe Trophy has called it a career today.

Jean-Sebastian Giguere has officially announced his retirement from the National Hockey League after a successful career that saw him win the Conn Smythe (2003) and the Stanley Cup in 2007. Giguere had his best seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim/Anaheim Ducks, specifically the Conn Smythe season where he may not have won the Stanley Cup, but became a star posting a sub 1.75 Goals Against Average in the Playoffs.

In 2007, with a more loaded offence, he hoisted the Stanley Cup, again posting a Goals Against Average of 1.97, which was one of the best of the Playoffs. Giguere would play in one All Star Game (2009), record 262 Wins and a career Goals Against Average of 2.53.

Giguere would be reduced to journeyman status and realistically does not have a real chance to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame, which he will become eligible for in three years. He probably won’t make out top one hundred of those to consider either. With all of that being said, there is a secure place for him in the history of Hockey, especially in Anaheim as what he did in two different springs will grant him a legacy that few netminders ever have.