Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 2 - Candy Cummings

    Candy Cummings is only in the Hall of Fame for inventing the curveball. However, whether he did or not is a subject of great disagreement among historians, and in one book, I read that he admitted that he was not the first to make a pitch break. Some sources say that he wasn't even the first to throw a breaking pitch in an MLB game, instead crediting Bobby Mathews with the distinction. I don't think that Cummings should have been elected unless there was suitable proof that he invented the curveball, and there simply is none. 

    As a pitcher, Cummings was very good, but lasted just six years in the Majors, and was through after his age 28 season, when he had a 4.34 ERA in 155 2/3 innings. He certainly was not good enough to be elected as a player. 

    Cummings's plaque reads, "Pitched first curve ball in baseball history. Invented curve as amateur ace of Brooklyn Stars in 1867. Ended long career as Hartford pitcher in National League's first year 1876." 

    There are a number of things wrong with this. First of all, nobody really knows if Cummings really had anything to do with the first curveball. Secondly, Cummings did not have a long career. Finally, the plaque writer made a simple mistake in saying that Cummings finished his career in 1876. He had that 4.34 ERA season in 1877. 

 

My opinion: Candy Cummings should not have been elected because there is no proof that he invented the curveball.