Does Trevor Hoffman deserve to get into thie Hall of Fame first ballot?

Question

I know Mariano has his rings, bit doesn't Trevor have 500 saves!!!

Answer 1

Absolutely. One of the best relievers ever.

I personally think they both do.

Just b/c this is a relatively new art doesn't mean these aren't great pitchers.

Answer 2

For the moment, Hoffman is the all-time saves leader. He has won a Pennant and was the difference between that Pennant and the 1998 Padres being out of contention entirely.

That he gave up a 420-foot home run to Scott Brosius to lose a World Series game at home should not be counted against him. Dennis Eckersley, another candidate for greatest reliever of all time, gave up a Series game-losing homer to Kirk Gibson, and he got in on his first time on the ballot. Mariano Rivera fell apart in a Series Game 7, and he's an easy first-year-of-eligibility choice. Hoffman rebounded from his big mistake to be great again. This is not Armando Benitez or Brad Lidge we're talking about here.

A case can be made, with Dave Winfield having split his career between San Diego and the Yankees, that Hoffman is right behind Tony Gwynn as the greatest player in Padre history. He should go in.

Answer 3

Of Course! 500 Saves is an amazing accomplishment and there should be no doubt he'll get in the first time! Mariano has a bunch of saves but he plays for the Yankees and has choked in some huge games!! Can you imagine how many more saves Hoffman would have if he played for the Yanks for 10 years??

Answer 4

Hoffman has been a league leading, extremely effective closer, and continued in that role for an extraordinarily long time. The 500 saves merely validate his excellence.

Hall? Yes.

First ballot? I dunno; I consider that an aritificial distinction. It's something only the voting writers can control, and some of them have amusing albeit utterly outdated or misdirected notions of what Hall-class performance is, especially wrt relievers.

Answer 5

yes trevor will get in but maybe not first ballot 500 saves that a great accomplishment good for trever hofff man i think rivera will get 500 saves some day

Answer 6

500 saves. Hell Yes. I'm a life long Giants fan. And have seen what he has done to my team over the years. I went to Pet Co for the 1st time last night when I was in SD. What a game to go to. To see him get 500 was cool.

Answer 7

Teddy Pendergrass!!! He's been eligible since 2002. I am SOOOO mad, because as great of an artist as he is and as much as he's paved the way for so many of these young artists today...he's one of the few R&B legends still around who have actually used their celebrity for GOOD CAUSE by giving back to his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and to millions of people with spinal disabilities by creating the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance {TPA} many years ago. As I looked down the list and noticed many other of my favorite artists who are eligible and haven't been chosen, this one probably hurt me the most. I saw that Teddy's been "previously considered" for an induction, but yet only 60 people have voted for him! 57% voted FOR his induction, and 43% voted AGAINST it. I don't understand it. But aside from that, I don't understand how these judges can just pick people who don't even deserve to be inducted and leave out tons of others who have paid their dues and THEN some. I would love more than ANYTHING to have a discussion with the people on their panel, and really have a meeting of the minds. I'm talking a real DEBATE. Because the way they conduct their inductions are just total BULL. I saw that my other favorite artist of all time, Marvin Gaye, was inducted in 1987, just three years after his death. I knew he had been inducted, but I just wasn't sure when. Now here's what I don't get. I'm willing to bet ANYONE that had he still been alive today, Marvin would NOT have even been inducted. Why did he have to get acknowledged AFTER his death, and not when he was alive? I can't help but feel like the same is going to hold true for Teddy. Despite his car accident in 1982, he continued to put out tons of music. And like I mentioned above, he's done ALOT to give back to his community and others around the world by creating the TPA. He's getting up there in age now {he'll be 59 on March 26, 2009}, so unfortunately, anything could happen and his life could be cut short just like that. Is that what it's going to take for these stupid a**hole people over at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to realize that he's MORE than worthy of an induction? They make me sick. But kudos to you for the question. It was a very good one! I like it. :)

Answer 8

He's one save shy of 500 saves...I'd say that's enough for a first ballott entry into the hall!

Answer 9

500 saves speaks for itself. And he did this playing on some mediocre teams.

Answer 10

Yes, he is the all-time saves leader. No Doubt.