When Fanboys Vote.

First of all, if you're going to vote for the Hall of Fame, don't admit to this oh-so diligent decision-making criteria:

"But in the end, for me, it comes down, as always in these considerations, to a gut feeling."

Because lots of fanboys have a "gut feeling" that Willie Randolph or Mickey Rivers belong in the Hall of Fame.


Secondly, when it's finally time to actually look at the stats, please don't hit us with some flattering combo stat package like this:

"He is one of 17 players in history with at least a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage. Thirteen of the 14 retired players in that category — all but the banned Shoeless Joe Jackson — are in the Hall."

Which completely ignores the Inflated Stats of the era and also doesn't match up Edgar with his peers, which might be the most important criteria.

Do you know where Edgar's .525 career slugging percentage places him on the all-time list? Is it in the top 17? Or top 14? Was he better than Shoeless Joe Jackson?

Try 52nd. Ahead of Kevin Mitchell, but way behind Chipper Jones. Big whoop.


Come on, we know what stats matter. .312, 305, 1244.

You could throw in an impressive 500 doubles, 1200 runs, a ton of walks.

But this was also a guy who basically never played the field. Basically didn't contribute at all to the defensive side. Cracked the top ten in MVP voting only twice, cracked the top five only once. Those wacko MVP voters might not know what they're talking about either, but it does not suggest one of the dominant players of his era.

Edgar had a great career. Just not a HOF career. Even if you had his poster on your wall when you were a kid.