Why isn't Thurman Munson in the Hall of Fame?

Question

I think it is absurd that he is not.

Answer 1

You say it's "absurd" but you don't tell us why it's "absurd."

He's not in the HOF because he doesn't have the stats. Had he played another 5 years he probably would have made it and it's sad he died but you don't get into the Hall on what you might have done - otherwise the Hall would be filled with "Hall of Good" players.

Answer 2

Just another instance where the HOF voters get it wrong.

Answer 3

he was a good player, with a few very good years, but not enough stuff there to get serious consideration.  He died prematurely? So, what does that prove.  It's not like he was Roberto Clemente on a New Year's Eve mission of mercy.  He practicing landing his p-lane.  I guess he really did need that practice.

Answer 4

ARE U ******** SERIOUS I THOUGHT HE WAS IM GONNA FLIP A ****

woah why is not therman munson in the HOF check your grammer,lol i just noticed that if you say isnt it really doesnt make sense in a lot of sentences

Answer 5

Bottom line: he doesn't have the stats.  

Answer 6

Short career, and toward the end he was fading very badly. Check his 1979 stats -- ugly, even allowing that he was a catcher. He had a very good peak, earned a few All-Star selections and an AL MVP. Along with his AL ROY, that's the right amount of honoraria from baseball at large. The Yankees have laded on some additional tributes -- number retired, certainly.

It's enough. It really is. It's a d**n shame he died, but (a) that really is no different than suffering a career-ending injury (it just so happened to be a fatal injury) and (b) even if he played a few more seasons (which he did not, and which we cannot credit him), even shifting to DH or 1B, he wasn't going to put up a significantly better career, not a Hall-class one.

The voters got right his candidacy. His first year on the ballot was his best return, and from there it dwindled for the next fourteen. It wasn't close, and this was the correct outcome.

Answer 7

The only reason why he isn't in the Hall of Fame is because his tragic death cut his career short.  He was a tremendous catcher for the Yankees without a doubt. He played 11 seasons with a .292 average, 113 homers and over 1500 hits and was well on his way to enshrinement when he died.  Another 4-5 years and he would have made it without a doubt.

Answer 8

This is the single-greatest injustice in all of professional sports, there is only one simple reason why the The Captain is not in the hall of shame, and that is that the asinine baseball writers hold a grudge against Thurm for his attitude towards them during his playing days, and those who do should long ago have had their right to vote for players rescinded. Yes, clearly Bench, and Fisk had longer playing careers but that has nothing to do with why they are in and Munson isn't--simply stated they kissed sportswriters as* and Munson never would.

Answer 9

Yes, it is true. He doesn't have the stats. Not because of injury, drugs, or a bad temper. BUT BECAUSE HE DIED. It is a crime that he isn't in.

The writers are in love with big numbers and white guys who look like dentists. No way they would vote for one of the three great catchers from the age of great catchers (Bench, Fisk, Munson) because the Hall of Fame isn't about greatness or anything like that. It's about what a bunch of old lady crack-pots who think they are high-priests of the game think.