Should Hideo Nomo be a Hall of Famer ala the way Monte Irvin and Satchel Paige did based on non MLB services?

Answer 1

No. Nomo may be a nice guy but he is not hall of fame material. If it was up to me nobody else would be inducted until Rose is in.

Answer 2

Oh, look, we've found the sole member of the Hideo Nomo fan club. You can sit over there next to the "Fernandomania" section.

I know he had a swell career in the MLB, and he probably played fantastic in a Korean or Japanese league, but I don't see how he would be even close to the elite status of a Hall of Fame pitcher. Think about it one of a few ways, was he easily in the top-5 in his league for an entire decade? No, there are many better pitchers before him. Do any of his stats compare to any HoF-canditate, no. His numbers are closer to Steve Avery (amazing pitcher who burnt out quickly) than to a Maddux, Glavine, or Smoltz. Oh, look I just named 3 of the 1990's best pitchers. Add Clemens, Johnson, and Martinez and you've got yourself a plethera of pitchers who would blow Nomo away on any given night.

Sorry man, but you almost do a disservice by comparing Nomo to Satchel Paige and the rest of the ***** League players who were barred from playing in the Major Leagues for as long as they were. Nomo had options, those players did not. Its no wonder that he dominated the white All-Stars when they played interleague games. Don't confuse the two. All-in-all, I'm sure you will find a reason to justify your cause. I know my father will always plead for Harold Bains to make the Hall. Execpt, Bains is only 120 hits away from 3000, has about 400 home runs, and is a .300 hitter. You tell me who is more qualified.

Answer 3

No. As noted, he was not a worthy player in his own right in MLB, nor were his Japanese so outstanding as to merit consideration.
I cannot recall the player's name, but I am fairly certain there was a Japanese pitcher in the majors for a long cup of coffee well before Nomo. So Nomo would not get that nod.
Ichiro is the one who really began to open the eyes of scouts and offices to position players. If anyone gets a little bonus for "non MLB service," it is him. He was also a multiple MVP in Japan.
But it may be moot with him. Even in what will be a somewhat short career, he looks like he is headed for the Hall.

Answer 4

Absolutely not ! The abuse that Paige and Irvin had to endure is beyond comprehension. Hideo Nomo Is average at best and in no way belongs in the Hall.

Answer 5

No, for several reasons.
Satchel Paige and Monte Irvin (as well as many other great ***** Leaguers) were denied access to the major leagues based on race, Nomo was never denied access, although many scouts were wary to take Japanese pitchers he still could have come over. Several times managers or others with a team tried to sneak ***** players into MLB (as Cubans etc.) but MLB denied them enterance.
Second, Nomo was not a HOF caliber player. I know most of the ***** League knowledge that is out there is anecdotal but push through that and you find a good number of HOF players who were deserving, many are there now. Nom is not of this quality.
Also if you were to do this think of all the other players you could make an argument for (Sadahara Oh for instance). You'd end up diluting the HOF with players who put up stats in Japan; hell look at the basketball HOF, they put in guys who put up moster stats in Europe and turn out to be just good players in the NBA.
Keep it North American, Japan has its own HOF. Other than the handful of ***** Leaguers, and the players/federal/etc. leagues it shoudl remain MLB Hof.

Answer 6

This is going to be a tough issue for the voters in years to come.

Pretty clearly, baseball has not embraced the international game in terms of its Hall. Otherwise, Japan's great stars would be considered. Conversely, basketball has several international figures, while hockey has stuck its toe in the pool a few times.

I would think Ichiro will get some credit for his Japanese career if he plays in enough games here to get on the ballot. Nomo wasn't an overwhelming star in the U.S., although he did have some very good seasons. I would think he would stay on the outside. But it's going to be fun to watch this one.

Answer 7

Nomo had a no-hitter, is that a "non-MLB service"...

Answer 8

No way.