Should Sadaharu Oh be in the Hall of Fame?

Question

Before you say yes or no please take a look at this web site.
http://baseballguru.com/ctomarkin/analysisctomarkin07.html

Mattapan: take a look at (2) on the attached web site, Oh was banned from MLB, just like players from the old ***** leagues, and therefore could not have played in MLB.

Chipmaker: You are correct as the by-laws stand now. Should the HOF change it's by-laws to include international players that never played MLB but made a significant contribution to the game for the benefit of MLB?

Josh_huth: I would venture to guess that the same little leaguers that have never heard of Oh have also never heard of Cap Anson, Frank Baker, or Earl Averill and they are all in the HOF.

Answer 1

The Hall in Cooperstown is chartered to recognize and honor those who made exceptional contributions to baseball as played in selected leagues in North America.

Oh never played here, so -- no. His career in baseball is beyond the Hall's purview.

The analogue Hall in Japan, though, has taken care of him: http://english.baseball-museum.or.jp/baseball_hallo/detail/detail_111.html

(Wish the plaque pictures were larger.)

Answer 2

I would say yes and no. First of all, Japanese players were playing in the MLB while Oh was playing, so I really don't think that the fact that he was banned is completely true. If the first was in 1964, and you wait ten years, that's still six years he could've played.

In terms of his 800+ homeruns: Oh used a composite bat, which of course gives him an advantage over the MLB bats. Factor in slower pitching, less games, and smaller fences. Sometimes I think he would've hit 500 homeruns easily because of his durability, but then I remember that in Japan they played 20 less games or so at the time.

However, in his 338 AB against Major Leaguers, he hit 25 home runs (13 AB / H) with a .400+ OBP, but only a .260 avg. or so and 81 strikeouts. Which is pretty impressive still.

I think the reason this differs from the ***** Leagues is because the color barrier had been broken 12 years before Oh even started to play - in fact, the last team to integrate integrated in the year Oh started to play. I think if Oh had at least attempted to enter the MLB at some point in his career he'd be given consideration, but because he didn't, he probably won't get in.

He certainly has the stats to get in, deceptive as they may be.

Answer 3

josh_huh - so Oh doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame because you've never heard of him? No offense, but you're not Peter Gammons, your josh_huh. Your knowledge of a certain player means nothing when it comes to discussions about the HOF.

I believe baseball should take a page from the Basketball Hall of Fame, have a separate wing for international players that make significant contributions to the game of baseball abroad.

Oh would obviously be in the first class.

I do not believe he should be enshrined aside greats like Ruth, Mays, DiMaggio, given the fact he played against different competition.
.

Answer 4

He is in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. The Hall in Cooperstown is the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the nation in question being the United States. Since Oh never played in the U.S. (apart from a few exhibitions), he doesn't belong in the American Hall.

Answer 5

i'm limiting the 1st component of this to eligible payers. this is all people who performed for no less than 10 finished seasons, has been retired for no less than a minimum of five years, and is not under an entire life suspension. those are the guidelines of eligibility, and that i'm not right here to communicate them. Kim Kaat Andre Dawson Jack Morris Dave Concepcion Ron Santo - please, on the same time as there remains adequate of him left to work out and take exhilaration in it Bert Blyleven dollar O'Neill And in upcoming years, those 3: Rickey Henderson (2009) Roberto Alomar (2010) Barry Larkin (2010) i could additionally create a classification for gamers who made considerable off-field contributions to the interest, and the 1st participant i could induct in that type could be Curt Flood.

Answer 6

No. He did not play American baseball. We have no idea whether he would have hit 1,000 home runs or not. Rex Hudler of the Angels broadcasting crew says the stadiums are smaller in Japan. Unlike players in the ***** leagues before 1947, Oh could conceivably have played here, but did not.

Answer 7

As the Hall of Fame exists now? No more then Joe Montana belongs in the USC Trojan Hall of Fame. If the Hall changed its' requirements and recognized players internationally? Yes, Oh should not only be in, but he should be the first one inducted.

Answer 8

Through its mission, the Museum is committed to:

Collecting, through donation, baseball artifacts, works of art, literature, photographs, memorabilia and related materials which focus on the history of the game over time, its players, and those elected to the Hall of Fame.

Preserving the collections by adhering to professional museum standards with respect to conservation and maintaining a permanent record of holdings through documentation, study, research, cataloging and publication.

Exhibiting material in permanent gallery space, organizing on-site changing exhibitions on various themes, with works from the Hall of Fame collections or other sources, working with other individuals or organizations to exhibit loaned material of significance to baseball and providing related research facilities.

Interpreting artifacts through its exhibition and education programs to enhance awareness, understanding and appreciation of the game for a diverse audience.

Honoring, by enshrinement, those individuals who had exceptional careers, and recognizing others for their significant achievements.

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He qualifies.

Answer 9

Oh.....no. He was good, but I still think Ichiro shouldnt have won rookie of the year. He was a pro for 9 years already. I guess whatever. I never heard of the guy and I love baseball. So I am guessing there are a million little leaguers out there who have no clue who Oh is.

Answer 10

after all the Black from the ***** leagues are allowed to enter the hall