We often discuss the candidacy of players for the Hall of Fame. There are also managers, umpires, executives, and pioneers in the Hall, but we never seem to debate those folks as much—particularly the pioneers. A recent Rob Neyer article on Marvin Miller got me thinking... what pioneers are worth fighting the good fight for, like we have done for Bert Blyleven and will do for Edgar Martinez?
Refresher course: Here's the most recent Executive/Pioneer results:
Results of the 2009 Executives/Pioneers Ballot (9 votes needed for election): John Fetzer (8 votes, 66.7%), Marvin Miller (7 votes, 58.3%), Jacob Ruppert (7 votes, 58.3%), Ewing Kauffman (6 votes, 50 percent). Gene Autry, Sam Breadon, Bob Howsam, John McHale, Gabe Paul and Bill White each received less than 3 votes.
I see a whole bunch of guys who fit under the "Executive" category, but just one "Pioneer"—and that's Marvin Miller. He came two votes shy and there have been many articles in the past who make a good case for his induction. I agree with them.
So, who else has a good case? Neyer discusses both Bill James and Buck O'Neil. I've written in the past about Dr. Frank Jobe deserving a spot in the Hall of Fame. What do you think?