The Accidental Hall of Famer | Baseball Bits

The accidental Hall of Famer is a player by the name of Bobby Wallace. Bobby Wallace was a MLB Hall of Fame shortstop from the dead ball era who most baseball fans aren't familiar with. That's where I come in. In this episode of Baseball Bits, a Foolish Baseball production, we explore Wallace's unlikely path to Cooperstown. It involves a Hall of Fame Veteran's committee, comparisons to Dave Concepcion and Omar Vizquel, and Branch Rickey.

One reason why I was so excited to make this video is the fact that Wallace began his career with the Cleveland Spiders, before moving on to St. Louis Cardinals baseball and St. Louis Browns baseball. Ultimately, this episode will seek to show some of the worst MLB Hall of Famers, but also decide if Bobby Wallace is among them. Either way, the BBWAA isn't responsible. He topped out at 2.7% with them. I hope you enjoy this video about MLB Hall of Fame voting.

[petethedutch]

Jack Glasscock's problem was that people could always see him coming.

[nb_nic]

We've all been wrong this whole time. The BBWAA is actually the BoBby WAllace Association

[theblacksheep]

Bobby Wallace clearly made a lot of friends throughout his career, just about everyone who played in St Louis. But his defensive prowess was more impressive in an era where gloves weren't much more than padding over the immediate hand. Plus batters weren't swinging for the fences then, he'd have had tens of thousands of plays to make at shortstop. There is some merit for being elected to the HOF as a superb defensive shortstop in the deadball era.

[ralphlongo]

My guess is that even though those metrics didn't exist on paper, they were understood by the people around baseball at the time. He played for 25 years, he had to be seen as a better option than the short stops of the era.

[dingersdays]

I remember writing an article about Glasscock and Dahlen. Definitely two of the best players to have been snubbed by the HOF for non-character reasons

[barackhussainobama]

“Ah dang it, I’m in the hall of fame” - Bobby Wallace

[atthebridge]

Rey Schalk is regarded as the man who set the standard for defensive catchers. I believe he was the first to back up plays at other bases and other stuff now routine.
And he was also one of the 'Clean Sox' in 1919 which probably earned him brownie points.

PS in the 1919 series he threw out 10 Reds baserunners, a record that still stands.

[JasonKim-uxdq]

Ah yes the Spiders. The one and only Cleveland Baseball Team

[ajwootz]

I was too busy staring at Mike trout's baseball reference page I missed the notification.

[knocturna]

The ending was so sweet. I’m glad he got to see himself inducted. How can you not be romantic about baseball?

[samgreenberg]

bruh that Houston drumroll killed me lol. please keep that in

(and elect Don Mattingly and Bernie Williams)

[ScottSweeney]

Can you really say Bobby Wallace is near the top in playing 25 years without a World Series appearance when 9 of those years the World Series didn't exist?

[cayorne]

Great work as always, I normally have BBRef open in another tab when watching these videos but I thought the mystery made it much more engaging.

[MrLeoni]

I'd liked the fact that you'd mentioned the recently passed Dick Allen. Nice touch. ;)

[ramirorybczuk]

This is a case where we can say, with no doubt, that for Bobby Wallace, the hall of fame was the friends he made along the way

[beeorsomething]

YO NEW FOOLISH BASEBALL VIDEO POG! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

[MasterShake]

The only thing I want more than more Foolish Bits videos is a retro 8-bit baseball game with deadball-era rosters.

[jurado]

Make sure you add your second channel to the “channels” tab so people can find it there too

[medalkingslime]

One thing I love about your videos is that they’re entirely things you want to focus on and aren’t ever just what people request. No one would request this video and it’s one of your best

[cedricgist]

This kind of report is why I subscribed. You do your homework, dig deep, and make surprising connections. Saving this to my favorites list. Really well done!