Barry Larkin > Ozzie Smith but why did Smith get 1st ballot?

[championMan]

Larkin were the better offensive player than Ozzie Smith but somehow it took 3x before Larkin get in.
I know Ozzie is superior defensive SS but Larkin were also great with his glove. Love to hear some of u guys opinions.

 

[isotopes4]

Ozzie smith was a HUGE figure and fan favorite in St Louis. Barry Larkin...not so much

 

[ThoseBackPages]

one word:

Backflips

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

An Ozzie in the Hall thread? On FCB?

 

[fengzhang]

It's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Better Statistics. Sometimes players get in because they're more famous, whether their on-the-field play actually justifies it or not.

 

[markakis8]

An Ozzie in the Hall thread? On FCB?

It's not just people on FCB that disagree with it, trust me.

 

[hive17]

Ozzie may have been the greatest defensive player ever. Even if not, as far as his perception in the game, he is.

 

[George_Calfas]

one word:

Backflips

Don't break Rule #1

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

My mom knows who Ozzie Smith is. She doesn't know who Barry Larkin is.

 

[matfanofold]

Ozzie smith was a HUGE figure and fan favorite in St Louis. Barry Larkin...not so much

Quite right.

Smith was simply the more favorably popular player, and obviously this matters when voting for the Hall of Fame.

 

[George_Calfas]

Ozzie smith was a HUGE figure and fan favorite in St Louis. Barry Larkin...not so much

Quite right.

Smith was simply the more favorably popular player, and obviously this matters when voting for the Hall of Fame.

Do well informed people vote for the HOF or the general public?

 

[matfanofold]

Ozzie smith was a HUGE figure and fan favorite in St Louis. Barry Larkin...not so much

Quite right.

Smith was simply the more favorably popular player, and obviously this matters when voting for the Hall of Fame.

Do well informed people vote for the HOF or the general public?

Whats the difference? Are not well informed people part of the general public? You think it would have made a difference?

 

[isotopes4]

hell im a baseball fan and i cant tell you off the top of my head what team or teams larkin was with. when i think st louis baseball....i think of musial, ozzie and pujols (sore subject for some on here i know)

 

[DRav87]

hell im a baseball fan and i cant tell you off the top of my head what team or teams larkin was with. when i think st louis baseball....i think of musial, ozzie and pujols (sore subject for some on here i know)

Really? You can not name what team Barry Larkin played for?? :?

 

[Super Mario]

Ozzie may have been the greatest defensive player ever. Even if not, as far as his perception in the game, he is.

And Larkin's never going to ever be considered the greatest at anything. There's your answer.


Better answer, is people like to bitch.

 

[George_Calfas]

Ozzie smith was a HUGE figure and fan favorite in St Louis. Barry Larkin...not so much

Quite right.

Smith was simply the more favorably popular player, and obviously this matters when voting for the Hall of Fame.

Do well informed people vote for the HOF or the general public?

Whats the difference? Are not well informed people part of the general public? You think it would have made a difference?

People within the general ***** are well informed but the casual person not so much when it comes to sport specifics. Sports writers make their living digesting sports, the stats, etc. Sports writers know and seen both players, Smith's HOF voting (and Larkin) was based on play and little to do with popularity........yes I know I am in the minority here.

 

[jeff550]

I still dont know why it matters if your first ballot or not. Your in or your not IMO

 

[PujolsCollector]

Ozzie Smith deserved every single bit of his HOF nomination. That man won 13 Gold Gloves and was one of the greatest shortstops of all time. He was a fan favorite, he had one of the most memorable plays in Cardinals history... "Smith...Corks one into right down the line it may go....GO CRAZY FOLKS GO CRAZY" he is a super nice person to meet, you can watch highlights as a fan of baseball and not know anything else about Ozzie Smith and you would say that man deserves to be in the hall of fame.

 

[elmalo]

Ozzie may have been the greatest defensive player ever. Even if not, as far as his perception in the game, he is.

Thanked.

 

[bowmanchromeandorr]

hell im a baseball fan and i cant tell you off the top of my head what team or teams larkin was with. when i think st louis baseball....i think of musial, ozzie and pujols (sore subject for some on here i know)

he only played for one team, it's not that difficult to figure out. he is from cincy and played for his hometown team