A few days ago, we ran the Hall of Names All-Birthday June 6 (6/6/6) edition, appropriately entitled Aw, Hell. The only Hall of Fame player born on that day was noted Yankee backstop Bill Dickey.
Oddly, though, then starts an unlikely run of four straight days, June 7-10, on the calendar on which NO Hall of Famer has ever been born. (Someone want to calculate the odds of that?) That's right, the very best players born on those dates are, in this writer's view, Thurman Munson (June 7), Van Lingle Mungo (June 8), Dave Parker (June 9) and Ken Singleton (June 10). Fine players, all -- but not a Cooperstown denizen among them.
Which leads us to this reader's challenge ...
We all know about the exhaustive research done, led by Bill James, regarding those who are IN the Hall of Fame who at least arguably should NOT be. Let's take a slightly different angle on that ... what's the best possible team of players from major league history who are NOT in the Hall of Fame? A few rules ...
That clear? So, is Maury Wills your shortstop? Or Dave Concepcion? Someone else? Does Parker hold down the RF job, and is he joined in the OF by Andre Dawson? Do you dare hand the ball to Doc Gooden, or go with Dave Steib ... or Jim Kaat or Tommy John or Ron Guidry or ... ?
Who's up? No need to provide an entire lineup -- just defend your candidate of choice.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060609140801201