Top Ten Hall of Famers Inducted by the Veterans Committee

The Veterans Committee was founded in 1953 to honor Hall of Fame candidates overlooked by the Old Timers Committee and the BBWAA. The idea was that players of the past would be more likely to remember, and better able to assess, their contemporaries who played decades before. However, players sometimes have their biases, being more likely to remember players with whom they had closer encounters, and made a series of bad selections in the 1970's, which led to revisions to the Committee and eventually its termination in 2013 in favor of Eras Committees. 

    Despite their mistakes, the Veterans Committee did a positive service to baseball by recognizing dozens of all-time greats who would otherwise be forgotten. Here is a list of the ten best Hall of Famers inducted by the VC. 

Honorable mentions: Billy Hamilton, Chief Bender, Frank "Home Run" Baker, Sam Rice, Joe Sewell, Joe Gordon 

10. Goose Goslin (1968) 

Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin played leftfield from 1921 through 1938 for the Senators, Browns, and Tigers. He batted .316 in his career, winning the AL Batting Title in 1924, and had eleven seasons with 100 RBI's. Goslin's candidacy gained a boost after he was interviewed for Lawrence Ritter's 1966 bestseller The Glory of Their Times, and he was inducted by the Veterans Committee two years later. 

9. John Clarkson (1963) 

John Clarkson was a dominant pitcher in the 1880's, leading the league three times in wins, three times in strikeouts, and four times in innings, topping out at 623 in 1884. He finished playing in 1894 with 328 career wins, third on the all-time list at the time. 

8. Richie Ashurn (1995) 

Although he was overshadowed by Willie, Mickey, and the Duke in centerfield, Richie Ashburn was a top player in the 1950's, capturing two Batting Titles during the decade. In addition to his hitting, Ashburn was a marvelous defensive outfielder, leading in putouts a stunning eight times. 

7. Arky Vaughan (1985) 

Floyd Ellis "Arky" Vaughan was an all-star for nine consecutive seasons between 1934 and 1942, establishing himself as a premier shortstop in the NL. A .318 career hitter, he led the league three times each in runs scored, walks, OBP, and triples, and captured a Batting Title in 1935 with a .385 mark. 

6. Ron Santo (2012) 

The last player ever elected by the traditional Veterans Committee, Santo was a nine-time all-star, five-time Gold Glove winner at third, and four-time leader in walks. Santo hit 342 home runs from 1960 through 1974, including four straight seasons with 30 or more. 

5. Tim Keefe (1964) 

Tim Keefe was probably the best pitcher of the 19th century, winning 342 games and three ERA Titles between 1880 and 1893. He also achieved fame as an umpire. 

4. Johnny Mize (1981) 

Johnny Mize led the NL once in batting, four times in homers, and three times in RBI's, yet never won a Triple Crown. The owner of a .312 / .397 / .562 career slash line, Mize hit 51 homers in 1947 at age 34, making him one of the oldest men ever to hit 50 home runs. He had 359 longballs in his career and could have had 100 more if not for three seasons lost to military service. 

3. Jake Beckley (1971) 

First baseman Jake Beckley was one of the top sluggers of the 19th century, banging out 244 triples and 87 home runs between 1888 and 1907. A .308 career hitter, Beckley compiled nearly 3,000 hits in his twenty seasons (2,938), but was largely forgotten until the Veterans Committee rediscovered him in the early 1970's. 

2. Roger Connor (1976) 

Roger Connor was best known as baseball's all-time home run king prior to Babe Ruth, slugging 138 longballs between 1880 and 1897. As of this writing, he currently ranks in a tie for 681st in career homers. Connor batted .316 and collected 2,467 hits in his career. 

1. Sam Crawford (1957) 

"Wahoo Sam" Crawford was one of the greatest hitters of the deadball era. The first man ever to lead both the AL and NL in home runs, Crawford also led his league in triples six times, contributing to his record total of 309 career three-baggers. Crawford batted .309 over 19 seasons and finished his career just 39 hits shy of 3,000. 

Bill White Receives 2026 Buck O'Neil Award

Today, Bill White, 92, received the 2026 Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award is given to honor an individual "for extraordinary efforts to enhance baseball's positive impact on society." 

White's career as a player spanned from 1956 through 1969, although he missed all of 1957 and most of 1958 in military service. A first baseman for the Giants, Cardinals, and Phillies, White had seven 20-homer seasons, won seven Gold Gloves, and played in eight all-star games. He finished his career with a .286 batting average and 202 homers. 

In 1971, White became a broadcaster for the Yankees, a position he would hold for 18 years. In 1989, he left the broadcast booth to become NL President, which he was voted for unanimously. He served as president for five years, presiding over expansion in 1993. He later became a member of the Veterans Committee. 

Bill White served baseball for over 40 years in various capacities. His impact on the game was monumental and brought genuine improvements to our National Pastime. Congratulations to White for a well-deserved award. 

Evaluating Minor League Feats

While the minor leagues today exist solely to feed the Majors, that was not always the case. From the dawn of the 20th century until the 1950's, the quality of play in the high minor leagues, particularly the Pacific Coast League, was comparable with the Major Leagues. Many high-profile MLB players, including Ed Konetchy and Del Pratt, chose to play in these leagues for a number of reasons, including better location, competitive pay, or a longer season, when they were still quite productive in the Majors. Despite continuing their highly successful careers against quality competition, these years in the minors are often forgotten by history and the common fan. 

    This all begs the question: how important are minor league achievements in the Hall of Fame discussion? As I recently wrote in my piece on Konetchy, I don't believe these feats should count for nothing. For one thing, they provide evidence that these players could still play at a high level, and for another, the players were still helping their teams win, even if they were not Major League teams. Local leagues had pride, and players genuinely cared about representing their local clubs and helping them win (unlike today, when any players of meaningful talent use collegiate and minor league teams merely as a path to the high-paying Majors). After all, the shrine at Cooperstown is the National Baseball Hall of Fame, not the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, and leagues like the Pacific Coast League and the Texas League used to be a major part of baseball in America (especially considering that there were no MLB clubs West of St. Louis until 1957). If baseball back then were what it is today, then very few, if any, Major League stars would jump to rival leagues, but would instead compile their career statistics in the Majors, where the Hall of Fame would pay attention to them. 

    When evaluating Hall of Fame candidates who continued playing well in the high minors, I tend to use their Major League records as the baseline for their cases and look to their minor league numbers to fill in the cracks. For example, I would not advocate for Johnny Bassler due to a short MLB career, but Konetchy and Pratt could be considered borderline candidates for their Major League achievements alone, and their minor league feats can provide an extra boost to their cases. Although I give precedence to MLB statistics, being more mainstream and of somewhat higher quality, the records of the minor league stars are truly significant, both historically and statistically, and they should be recognized as such by the Hall of Fame. 

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Every baseball fan has a favorite player, but not everyone has the chance to write about them. Indeed, many outstanding players have largely been forgotten, which is a main theme of this blog. 

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WHY I THINK ED KONETCHY SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK ED KONETCHY SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

While first base is an offensive position today, that was not always the case. Up until around 1920 (the start of the live-ball era), ground balls, bunts, and trick plays like the Baltimore Chop were far more common than they are today, requiring the first baseman to work as hard as any other infielder. A first sacker who played from 1907 through 1921, Ed Konetchy was a strong hitter and an outstanding fielder at one of the most important positions on the diamond. Considering the hard work required to play first base in Konetchy’s era, it makes his batting feats even more impressive. 

Edward Joseph Konetchy was born on September 3, 1885, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He was one of seven children to Bohemian immigrant parents. As a child he worked for a candy factory, and at age 16 he joined the factory’s baseball team. At 19 he was playing for the local professional team, the La Crosse Pinks (named after manager Pink Hawley), and after three seasons in the minors, he was ready for the Big Leagues. 

Konetchy made his MLB debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on June 29, 1907. After a strong all-around season, he locked down the Cards’ first base job. On a lackluster team with few bright spots, Konetchy was St. Louis’s hero for years. Not only was he developing into a top-notch defender, but he was also establishing himself as a top hitter, consistently finishing in the NL’s top ten in batting, home runs, and RBI’s. His power hitting feats earned him the nickname “Big Ed.” 

Konetchy led the league with 38 doubles in 1912 and batted .314 in 1913, sparking a thunderstorm of trade rumors. “I’m the most traded man in baseball without getting anywhere,” he once remarked. John McGraw made frequent attempts to get him, and Fred Clarke of the Pirates even considered trading an older Honus Wagner for him. Konetchy eventually went to Pittsburgh in an eight player deal (which did not include Wagner) on December 13, 1913. After an off year, he jumped to the Federal League’s Pittsburgh Rebels, where he batted .314 with 10 homers, 93 RBI’s, and led the league in total bases and extra-base hits. After the Federal League folded, Konetchy returned to the NL, playing all 158 of the Boston Braves’ games in 1916 and providing the best bat in their lineup. 

Konetchy played in the Majors until 1921, his age-36 season. He was still a productive player, batting .308 in 1920 and reaching his career high in homers in 1921. Despite playing his final MLB game, Konetchy’s career was far from over, as he spent six seasons in the minor leagues. The high minors in those days were comparable, if not equivalent, to the quality of the Major Leagues, and they sported many MLB stars still at the top of their game. Konetchy spent four of his final six seasons in class-A ball, including 1923, when he batted .307 with 50 doubles and 22 home runs, and 1925, when he hit .345 and led the Texas League in homers (41) and RBI’s (166) in 155 games. Konetchy had one more productive season in 1926 (.325 average, 21 homers) and hung up his spikes for good after a short stint in 1927. He had played 23 seasons in organized ball, collecting over 3,000 hits and 500 doubles. 

Ed Konetchy was one of the best players of his era and has a strong case for the Hall of Fame. WAR is relatively tough on him because he was a first baseman, but WAR makes the assumption that first base is a premium offensive position, whereas in Konetchy’s time that was simply not the case. In reality, he was a premier defender at a defense-first position, leading his league in fielding eight times, putouts five times, and assists five times. Konetchy was also a talented hitter with a career OPS+ of 123, a remarkable number for a defensive player. In addition to his power, Konetchy was known for his speed, stealing 255 bases and rapping 182 career triples, the most of any player outside of Cooperstown. He even tried his hand at pitching, earning a win in 1913 and throwing a complete game in 1918. And while his minor league statistics should not be counted with his MLB stats, they shouldn’t count for nothing, as they provide evidence that he could still clearly play at a high level. 

Ed Konetchy was a complete player with a long career in a pitcher-friendly era. He was consistently one of the league’s best players, both offensively and defensively, and never had a declining phase. He would be a worthy pick for the Hall of Fame. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,085 season high: 158 in 1911 and 1916 led NL: 158 in 1911 and 1916 

At Bats career: 7,649 season high: 576 in 1909 and 1915 

Hits career: 2,150 season high: 181 in 1915 

Doubles career: 344 season high: 38 in 1911 led NL: 38 in 1911 

Triples career: 182 season high: 18 in 1915 

Home Runs career: 74 season high: 11 in 1921 

Runs Scored career: 972 season high: 90 in 1911 

Runs Batted In career: 992 season high: 93 in 1915 

Stolen Bases career: 255 season high: 27 in 1911, 1913, and 1915 

Walks career: 689 season high: 81 in 1911 

Strikeouts career: 719 season high: 69 in 1908 

Batting Average career: .281 season high: .314 in 1912 and 1915 

On Base Percentage career: .346 season high: .397 in 1910 

Slugging Percentage career: .403 season high: .483 in 1915 

Total Bases career: 3,080 season high: 278 in 1915 led FL: 278 in 1915 

Sacrifice Hits career: 253 season high: 25 in 1908 and 1914 

Fielding Percentage career: .990 season high: .995 in 1913 and 1914 led NL 1B: .991 in 1910 and 1911, .995 in 1913 and 1914, .994 in 1917 and 1919, .992 in 1918 led FL 1B: .994 in 1915 

Double Plays career: 1,094 season high: 96 in 1916 led NL 1B: 96 in 1916 

Putouts career: 21,378 season high: 1,652 in 1911 led NL 1B: 1,584 in 1909, 1,499 in 1910, 1,652 in 1911, 1,576 in 1914, 1,626 in 1916 

Assists career: 1,297 season high: 122 in 1908 led NL 1B: 122 in 1908, 97 in 1909, 98 in 1910, 93 in 1914, 96 in 1916 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-Stole home twice in one game on September 30, 1907 

-Had a 20-game hitting streak from August 27 through September 22, 1910 

-Hit two inside-the-park home runs in one game on August 5, 1912 

-Tied a record with 10 consecutive hits from June 28 through July 1, 1919 

-Earned MVP votes in 1911 (22nd) and 1912 (12th) 

-Ranks 15th in career triples and 39th in sacrifice hits 

-Among MLB first baseman, he ranks third in career putouts, 15th in games, and 28th in assists 

Ferris Fain

    It's a shame that hardly anyone remembers Ferris Fain anymore. He was a truly incredible first baseman with an extraordinary batting eye, but his career lasted only nine seasons due to various injuries. While his career was too short to merit Hall of Fame consideration, Fain was a truly remarkable player who ought not to be forgotten. 

    Ferris Fain started his professional career with the San Francisco Seals in 1939, playing twelve games under manager Lefty O'Doul. He played with the Seals until 1942, when he enlisted in the service during World War II. When he returned in 1946, Fain batted .301 and led the PCL with 112 RBI's, resulting in his promotion to the Majors in 1947. 

    As a 26-year-old rookie for the Philadelphia Athletics, Fain batted .291 and drew 95 walks, giving him an on-base percentage of .414. He drew 113 walks in 1948 and had 100 or more walks in five different seasons, including two with over 130. Fain also won Batting Titles in 1952 and 1953, contributing to a lifetime OBP of .424, which is the 15th highest mark of all time (minimum 3,000 plate appearances). 

    In addition to his on-base skills, Fain developed a reputation as a brilliant defensive first baseman, particularly on bunt plays. An extremely aggressive fielder, Fain would often field bunts on the third base side of the field and throw out the lead runner, leaving his opponents in disbelief. Onlookers swore he was the best first baseman they had ever seen, and the statistics back him up. In 1949, despite playing a 154-game season, Fain turned 194 double plays, the most of any first baseman in history, topping the previous record by 31. The very next year, Fain turned 192 twin-killings, to this day the second most in history and ten more than the third-place finisher. If Gold Gloves existed back then, Fain would have been a perennial winner. 
    Unfortunately, knee troubles took their toll on Fain, and he was limited to 65 games in 1954. However, he still managed to make his fifth consecutive all-star team, combining with White Sox teammates Nellie Fox, Chico Carrasquel, and George Kell to form the first starting all-star infield from one team. Fain finished the season batting .302 and played one last season in 1955, drawing 94 walks in 114 games between the Tigers and the Indians. 

    Ferris Fain was a great player whose abilities on both offense and defense were simply magnificent. If his career were longer, he would have been a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate. Nonetheless, Fain made his mark on baseball history and ought to be remembered today. 

Lucky Hall of Famer Number 66 - Bowie Kuhn

Bowie Kuhn was the Commissioner of Baseball from 1969 through 1984 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007. As I wrote in December of 2022, most commissioners do not deserve a spot in the Hall, but Kuhn was especially dubious. 

    During his time as commissioner, baseball underwent a period of great turmoil. The first-ever player strike occurred in 1972 and the umpires struck in 1979. In 1981, the season was torn apart by the worst player strike in history to that point. Over Kuhn's 16 seasons as commissioner, MLB was faced by no less than eight work stoppages of varying significance. 

    Other than the changes to the reserve clause during his tenure, on which I have no comment, Kuhn's most controversial decision as commissioner was to ban Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle from baseball due to their employment at casinos. However, neither Mays nor Mantle promoted sports betting, much less betting on baseball, but worked as greeters and autograph signers. While Kuhn meant to disassociate from any kind of gambling "in the best interests of the game," banning two of the most famous players in history wasn't exactly in the game's best interest. The bans were lifted almost immediately by Kuhn's successor Peter Ueberroth in 1985. 

One last note: Kuhn's Hall of Fame plaque mentions that he tripled MLB attendance. As a matter of fact, even with the expansion of the league, attendance did not come close to tripling between 1968 and 1985. 

My opinion: Bowie Kuhn is not a Hall of Famer.