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I have taken the liberty of selecting ten of the least deserving members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. As perhaps you are unfamiliar with a great many of them, I have presented some basic information on each courtesy of the Hall of Fame's website.
Rick Ferrell
Catcher - St. Louis Browns, inducted by Veterans Committee (1984)
A strong and durable receiver, Rick Ferrell retired having caught more games than any other American Leaguer (1,806), a record that lasted over 40 years. A defensive standout with a strong throwing arm, he had a knack for handling the knuckler, which was the out-pitch of four Senators starters. The North Carolina farm boy hit .281 lifetime and better than .300 four times during his 18-year career. Connie Mack's respect for him was so great that Ferrell caught all nine innings of the first All-Star game in 1933.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ri01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Ferrell
Chick Hafey
Left Fielder - St. Louis Cardinals, inducted by Veterans Committee (1971)
Although shy and reserved, Chick Hafey spoke loudly with his bat, overcoming several beanings, weak eyes and severe sinus problems to become an outstanding line-drive hitter for the Cardinals and Reds. When failing vision threatened his career, he resorted to eyeglasses and continued to hit at a torrid level, leading the National League with a .349 average in 1931. He strung together six straight years in which he batted .329 or better and equaled a National League record with 10 straight hits during the 1929 season.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ch01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Hafey
Jesse Haines
Pitcher - St. Louis Cardinals, inducted by Veterans Committee (1970)
Jesse Haines was a durable right-hander and tough competitor who won 210 games during his 18 years with the Cardinals. By adding a knuckleball to his pitching repertoire, he became an ace, achieving 20 victories on three occasions and helping the Cardinals win five pennants from 1926-34. He authored a no-hitter against Boston in 1924, and two years later he defeated the Yankees twice in the World Series, tossing a shutout and the series-clincher.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... je01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Haines
George Kelly
1st Baseman - New York Giants, inducted by Veterans Committee (1973)
George Highpockets Kelly was a slick-fielding first baseman who was credited by Giants manager John McGraw with "making more important hits for me than any player I ever had." Kelly enjoyed six consecutive .300 seasons and four straight years with over 100 RBIs while establishing single-season league records for chances, putouts, assists and double plays by a first baseman. Kelly helped lead the Giants to four consecutive pennants from 1921-24.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ge01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Kelly_(baseball)
Freddie Lindstrom
3rd Baseman - New York Giants, inducted by Veterans Committee (1976)
Although only 16 years old, Fred Lindstrom hit .304 in 18 games at Toledo in 1922, and two years later became the youngest player to appear in a World Series game while with the Giants. Although he had a powerful arm and good range, hitting was always his forte. Lindstrom had seven .300 seasons and twice garnered 231 hits. Lindy's lifetime batting mark was an impressive .311.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... fr01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Lindstrom
Rube Marquard
Pitcher - New York Giants, inducted by Veterans Committee (1971)
In 1908, the New York Giants paid a then-unheard-of price of $11,000 for Minor League southpaw Richard Rube Marquard. He eventually proved his worth by leading the team to three straight pennants (1911-13), during which he won 24, 26 and 23 games, respectively. In 1912, he earned victories in his first 19 decisions. Marquard no-hit the Brooklyn Robins in 1915, then was later sold to the Robins, helping them win the pennant the following year.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ru01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Marquard
Bill Mazeroski
2nd Baseman - Pittsburgh Pirates, inducted by Veterans Committee (2001)
In 1954, 17-year-old Bill Mazeroski signed with Pittsburgh as a shortstop and was promptly moved to second base by the Pirates' Branch Rickey. Mazeroski eventually became one of the best defensive second baseman in history with a lifetime .983 fielding percentage. The 10-time National League All-Star led the league in assists nine times, fielding percentage three times and double plays eight times. A consistent batter, with 2,016 career hits, Maz achieved hero status in Pittsburgh's 1960 Fall Classic against the Yankees, when he became the first player ever to end the World Series with a home run.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... bi01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mazeroski
Tommy McCarthy
Right Fielder - Boston Beaneaters, inducted by Veterans Committee (1946)
Tommy McCarthy teamed with Hugh Duffy to form the Heavenly Twins duo in the Boston Beaneaters outfield of the 1890s. In addition to being a fine hitter with exceptional speed, McCarthy was a clever, daring and intelligent player who originated many tricks, such as trapping fly balls to fool opposing baserunners. A lifetime .294 hitter, he stole 109 bases in 1888 to help the St. Louis Browns capture the pennant.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... to01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_McCarthy
Ray Schalk
Catcher - Chicago White Sox, inducted by Veterans Committee (1955)
A symbol of toughness and durability, diminutive Ray Schalk was among the first players to consistently catch 100 games per season. A defensive star, he led the league in fielding percentage eight times and putouts nine times, retiring with Major League records for games caught, putouts and double plays. He was also a superb handler of pitchers and was the first to catch four no-hit games. Schalk was also one of the swiftest catchers in history, stealing 30 bases in 1916 and 24 in '14.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ra01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Schalk
Lloyd Waner
Center Fielder - Pittsburgh Pirates, inducted by Veterans Committee (1967)
Although Lloyd Waner weighed only 150 pounds, he was an all-around player who could hit, field, throw, steal and beat opponents in countless ways. Little Poison batted .355 in his National League debut while garnering 223 hits, the latter figure establishing a National League rookie record that wasn't broken until the 21st century. The Pirates legend hit over .300 in 10 of his first 12 seasons, compiled a career mark of .316 and accumulated 2,459 hits, striking out just 173 times in 18 seasons. A pesky slap-hitter, Waner was one of the fastest runners of his era in going from home to first.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ll01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Waner
Rick Ferrell
Catcher - St. Louis Browns, inducted by Veterans Committee (1984)
A strong and durable receiver, Rick Ferrell retired having caught more games than any other American Leaguer (1,806), a record that lasted over 40 years. A defensive standout with a strong throwing arm, he had a knack for handling the knuckler, which was the out-pitch of four Senators starters. The North Carolina farm boy hit .281 lifetime and better than .300 four times during his 18-year career. Connie Mack's respect for him was so great that Ferrell caught all nine innings of the first All-Star game in 1933.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ri01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Ferrell
Chick Hafey
Left Fielder - St. Louis Cardinals, inducted by Veterans Committee (1971)
Although shy and reserved, Chick Hafey spoke loudly with his bat, overcoming several beanings, weak eyes and severe sinus problems to become an outstanding line-drive hitter for the Cardinals and Reds. When failing vision threatened his career, he resorted to eyeglasses and continued to hit at a torrid level, leading the National League with a .349 average in 1931. He strung together six straight years in which he batted .329 or better and equaled a National League record with 10 straight hits during the 1929 season.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ch01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Hafey
Jesse Haines
Pitcher - St. Louis Cardinals, inducted by Veterans Committee (1970)
Jesse Haines was a durable right-hander and tough competitor who won 210 games during his 18 years with the Cardinals. By adding a knuckleball to his pitching repertoire, he became an ace, achieving 20 victories on three occasions and helping the Cardinals win five pennants from 1926-34. He authored a no-hitter against Boston in 1924, and two years later he defeated the Yankees twice in the World Series, tossing a shutout and the series-clincher.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... je01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Haines
George Kelly
1st Baseman - New York Giants, inducted by Veterans Committee (1973)
George Highpockets Kelly was a slick-fielding first baseman who was credited by Giants manager John McGraw with "making more important hits for me than any player I ever had." Kelly enjoyed six consecutive .300 seasons and four straight years with over 100 RBIs while establishing single-season league records for chances, putouts, assists and double plays by a first baseman. Kelly helped lead the Giants to four consecutive pennants from 1921-24.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ge01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Kelly_(baseball)
Freddie Lindstrom
3rd Baseman - New York Giants, inducted by Veterans Committee (1976)
Although only 16 years old, Fred Lindstrom hit .304 in 18 games at Toledo in 1922, and two years later became the youngest player to appear in a World Series game while with the Giants. Although he had a powerful arm and good range, hitting was always his forte. Lindstrom had seven .300 seasons and twice garnered 231 hits. Lindy's lifetime batting mark was an impressive .311.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... fr01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Lindstrom
Rube Marquard
Pitcher - New York Giants, inducted by Veterans Committee (1971)
In 1908, the New York Giants paid a then-unheard-of price of $11,000 for Minor League southpaw Richard Rube Marquard. He eventually proved his worth by leading the team to three straight pennants (1911-13), during which he won 24, 26 and 23 games, respectively. In 1912, he earned victories in his first 19 decisions. Marquard no-hit the Brooklyn Robins in 1915, then was later sold to the Robins, helping them win the pennant the following year.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ru01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Marquard
Bill Mazeroski
2nd Baseman - Pittsburgh Pirates, inducted by Veterans Committee (2001)
In 1954, 17-year-old Bill Mazeroski signed with Pittsburgh as a shortstop and was promptly moved to second base by the Pirates' Branch Rickey. Mazeroski eventually became one of the best defensive second baseman in history with a lifetime .983 fielding percentage. The 10-time National League All-Star led the league in assists nine times, fielding percentage three times and double plays eight times. A consistent batter, with 2,016 career hits, Maz achieved hero status in Pittsburgh's 1960 Fall Classic against the Yankees, when he became the first player ever to end the World Series with a home run.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... bi01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mazeroski
Tommy McCarthy
Right Fielder - Boston Beaneaters, inducted by Veterans Committee (1946)
Tommy McCarthy teamed with Hugh Duffy to form the Heavenly Twins duo in the Boston Beaneaters outfield of the 1890s. In addition to being a fine hitter with exceptional speed, McCarthy was a clever, daring and intelligent player who originated many tricks, such as trapping fly balls to fool opposing baserunners. A lifetime .294 hitter, he stole 109 bases in 1888 to help the St. Louis Browns capture the pennant.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... to01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_McCarthy
Ray Schalk
Catcher - Chicago White Sox, inducted by Veterans Committee (1955)
A symbol of toughness and durability, diminutive Ray Schalk was among the first players to consistently catch 100 games per season. A defensive star, he led the league in fielding percentage eight times and putouts nine times, retiring with Major League records for games caught, putouts and double plays. He was also a superb handler of pitchers and was the first to catch four no-hit games. Schalk was also one of the swiftest catchers in history, stealing 30 bases in 1916 and 24 in '14.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ra01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Schalk
Lloyd Waner
Center Fielder - Pittsburgh Pirates, inducted by Veterans Committee (1967)
Although Lloyd Waner weighed only 150 pounds, he was an all-around player who could hit, field, throw, steal and beat opponents in countless ways. Little Poison batted .355 in his National League debut while garnering 223 hits, the latter figure establishing a National League rookie record that wasn't broken until the 21st century. The Pirates legend hit over .300 in 10 of his first 12 seasons, compiled a career mark of .316 and accumulated 2,459 hits, striking out just 173 times in 18 seasons. A pesky slap-hitter, Waner was one of the fastest runners of his era in going from home to first.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ll01.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Waner
