How are NFL teams represented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Which franchises have the most inductees. What criteria determine a player’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame. How does the selection process work for inducting new members each year.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame: A Shrine to Gridiron Greatness
The Pro Football Hall of Fame stands as the ultimate recognition of excellence in the National Football League. Located in Canton, Ohio, this hallowed institution honors the greatest players, coaches, and contributors who have shaped the sport of professional football. Each year, a select few are enshrined, their legacies immortalized for generations to come.
Do you know how many players are currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? As of 2024, there are 362 individuals enshrined, representing the very best from over a century of professional football history. These elite members come from all 32 current NFL franchises, as well as defunct teams and early pioneers of the game.
Hall of Fame Representation: Breaking Down the Numbers by Team
While every NFL team has at least one representative in the Hall of Fame, some franchises boast a significantly larger presence than others. This disparity often reflects a team’s historical success, longevity, and ability to attract and develop elite talent over the decades.
Top 5 Teams with the Most Hall of Fame Inductees
- Chicago Bears: 30 inductees
- Green Bay Packers: 25 inductees
- New York Giants: 20 inductees
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 18 inductees
- Dallas Cowboys: 17 inductees
Is there a correlation between Hall of Fame inductees and championship success? In many cases, yes. The teams with the most Hall of Famers tend to be those with rich histories and multiple championships. However, it’s important to note that individual greatness doesn’t always translate to team success, and some franchises with fewer inductees have still achieved significant on-field accomplishments.
The Path to Canton: Eligibility and Selection Process
Gaining entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is no easy feat. The selection process is rigorous, ensuring that only the truly exceptional are enshrined. But what exactly are the criteria for eligibility?
- Players and coaches must be retired for at least five years before becoming eligible.
- Contributors (such as owners or executives) may be considered while still active in their roles.
- Candidates must have made significant contributions to professional football.
- The selection committee considers on-field performance, leadership, and impact on the game.
How does the actual selection process work? Each year, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of media representatives from NFL cities, meets to debate and vote on candidates. The process includes several rounds of voting, with a final class of typically 4-8 new inductees chosen annually.
Franchise Spotlight: The Chicago Bears’ Hall of Fame Legacy
With 30 inductees, the Chicago Bears lead all NFL franchises in Hall of Fame representation. This storied franchise, one of the founding members of the NFL, has a rich history dating back to 1920.
Who are some of the most notable Bears enshrined in Canton? The list reads like a who’s who of football legends:
- Walter Payton – “Sweetness” himself, considered one of the greatest running backs of all time.
- Dick Butkus – A ferocious linebacker who defined the position for a generation.
- Gale Sayers – “The Kansas Comet” dazzled fans with his elusive running style.
- Mike Ditka – Enshrined as a player, but also led the Bears to a Super Bowl victory as head coach.
- George Halas – “Papa Bear” was a founding father of the NFL and the Bears’ patriarch for decades.
The Bears’ Hall of Fame dominance reflects their status as one of the NFL’s flagship franchises and their consistent ability to field legendary talent throughout the league’s history.
Rising Stars: Recent Inductees and Future Candidates
The Pro Football Hall of Fame continues to grow each year, with new legends taking their place among the all-time greats. Recent inductees have included modern-era stars who dominated the game in the 21st century.
Which players were part of the most recent Hall of Fame class? The Class of 2023 featured:
- Ronde Barber (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Darrelle Revis (New York Jets)
- Joe Thomas (Cleveland Browns)
- Zach Thomas (Miami Dolphins)
- DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys/Denver Broncos)
Looking ahead, who are some strong candidates for future induction? While predicting Hall of Fame selections is never an exact science, players like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and J.J. Watt are virtual locks once they become eligible. Other strong contenders in the coming years may include Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Peterson, and Rob Gronkowski.
The Hall of Fame’s Impact on NFL Culture and Legacy
The Pro Football Hall of Fame serves as more than just a museum or a list of great players. It plays a crucial role in preserving the history and culture of professional football in America. The Hall’s mission extends beyond honoring past greats to educating future generations about the sport’s rich heritage.
How does the Hall of Fame contribute to football education and preservation? Through various initiatives and programs, including:
- The Hall of Fame Experience: An interactive museum showcasing artifacts, multimedia exhibits, and immersive experiences for visitors.
- Youth and education programs: Outreach efforts designed to teach young people about football history and values.
- Research and archival services: Maintaining extensive records and resources for historians, journalists, and football enthusiasts.
- Annual enshrinement ceremony: A celebration of the game’s greatest figures that draws national attention each summer.
By maintaining this connection between past and present, the Hall of Fame ensures that the legends of yesteryear continue to inspire current and future generations of football players and fans.
Controversies and Debates Surrounding Hall of Fame Selection
While the Pro Football Hall of Fame is revered by most, it’s not without its share of controversies and ongoing debates. The selection process, criteria for induction, and representation of certain eras or positions have all faced scrutiny over the years.
What are some of the main points of contention regarding Hall of Fame selection? Several issues frequently arise:
- Modern vs. Legacy Candidates: Balancing the induction of recent retirees with overlooked players from earlier eras.
- Positional Bias: Some argue that certain positions (like offensive linemen or special teams players) are underrepresented.
- Off-Field Conduct: Debates over how a player’s behavior outside of football should impact their Hall of Fame candidacy.
- Statistical vs. Intangible Contributions: Weighing measurable on-field production against less quantifiable factors like leadership and impact on the game.
These ongoing discussions highlight the complexity of evaluating football greatness and ensure that the Hall of Fame remains a topic of passionate debate among fans and experts alike.
The Future of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
As the NFL continues to evolve, so too does the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The institution faces the challenge of staying relevant in a rapidly changing sports landscape while maintaining its commitment to honoring the game’s history.
How is the Hall of Fame adapting to the modern era of football? Several initiatives and changes are underway:
- Expanding digital presence: Increasing online access to Hall of Fame resources and virtual experiences.
- Addressing health and safety: Incorporating education about player safety and advancements in the sport’s approach to health issues.
- Diversity and inclusion efforts: Working to ensure better representation of minorities in both the selection process and among inductees.
- Embracing analytics: Considering how to integrate advanced statistics and modern performance metrics into the evaluation of candidates.
As football continues to grow globally, will the Pro Football Hall of Fame expand its focus beyond the NFL? While the Hall primarily celebrates the American professional game, there’s increasing recognition of football’s international reach. Future developments may see more acknowledgment of global contributions to the sport, potentially including standout players from other professional leagues or international competitions.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame stands as a testament to the enduring appeal and rich history of America’s most popular sport. From the early pioneers who shaped the game to the modern-day superstars who continue to push its boundaries, the Hall ensures that the legacy of football’s greatest figures will be preserved for generations to come. As the sport evolves, so too will this hallowed institution, adapting to new challenges while remaining true to its core mission of honoring excellence in professional football.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Arizona Cardinals
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Atlanta Falcons
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Baltimore Ravens
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Buffalo Bills
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Carolina Panthers
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Chicago Bears
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Cincinnati Bengals
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Cleveland Browns
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Dallas Cowboys
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Denver Broncos
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Detroit Lions
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Green Bay Packers
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Houston Texans
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Indianapolis Colts
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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Kansas City Chiefs
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Miami Dolphins
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Minnesota Vikings
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New England Patriots
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New Orleans Saints
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New York Giants
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New York Jets
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Las Vegas Raiders
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Philadelphia Eagles
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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Los Angeles Rams
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Los Angeles Chargers
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San Francisco 49ers
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Seattle Seahawks
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Tennessee Titans
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Washington Commanders
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National Football League
Hall of Famers broken down by MLB team
When Induction Day rolls around in Cooperstown, the biggest thrill for a fanbase (outside of celebrating the actual player, of course) might be seeing its team’s logo ensconced on the bronze plaque.
The designation typically means that the player defined his career in that city — or perhaps even led that club to World Series titles — and signifies that a legend will be remembered hand-in-hand with that team in perpetuity.
These decisions used to be solely up to the player, but the Hall now works in conjunction with inductees to determine the club with which he made his greatest impact on the game. Players whose careers spread across multiple clubs can enter without a cap logo, as is the case with 2023 inductee Fred McGriff.
Below are the Hall of Fame’s official cap logo designations for the hundreds of players and managers in the Plaque Gallery, along with a guess at who could be the next representative for each club. This list excludes Hall of Famers who wouldn’t don a Major League team logo, including executives, umpires and Negro League legends like Cool Papa Bell or Josh Gibson. At the bottom of the list are dozens of Hall of Famers who do not have a team designation for a variety of reasons, including a cap in profile that doesn’t feature a logo, a blank cap or a lack of a cap altogether (as could often be the case with old-time players).
With that in mind, here’s who dons your favorite team’s cap on his Hall of Fame plaque:
Angels
Vladimir Guerrero (2018)
Guerrero had a tough choice to make between the Halos and the Expos, but chose the team with whom he won his lone MVP Award.
Next up? Another No. 27, Mike Trout, is the obvious choice.
Astros
Jeff Bagwell (2017)
Craig Biggio (2015)
Nolan Ryan could have very well been the first Astro, but he opted for the Rangers instead. Cooperstown had a decidedly orange feel when Astros lifers Biggio and then Bagwell ushered Houston into the Plaque Gallery for the first time.
Next up? Houston has a few candidates. José Altuve, who already has three batting titles, two World Series championships and an American League MVP Award under his belt, is atop that list. Closer Billy Wagner has a good chance as he appeared on 68.1% of the ballots in 2023, his eighth year on the ballot.
Athletics
Dennis Eckersley (2004)
Rollie Fingers (1992)
Rickey Henderson (2009)
Al Simmons (1953)
Dick Williams (2008)
This is a franchise that feels like it should have more representatives, considering it boasts two early dynasties in Philadelphia and one of just two modern-era three-peat clubs in the 1972-74 A’s. Catfish Hunter was the ace of those teams, but his later success with the Yankees kept him from choosing a club. The same logic applied to Tony La Russa, who won more titles later with the Cardinals. Many of the early Philly stars either have blank caps or no caps at all on their plaques.
Next up? Stars of the “Moneyball” A’s such as Tim Hudson, Miguel Tejada and Barry Zito have all fallen off the BBWAA ballot. That means the baton could be passed to a former Oakland player such as Matt Chapman.
Blue Jays
Roberto Alomar (2011)
Alomar came to Toronto alongside Joe Carter in a famous trade involving Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff, and helped make the Blue Jays into a two-time World Series champion powerhouse.
Next up? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a fun name to throw out there.
Braves
Hank Aaron (1982)
Bobby Cox (2014)
Tom Glavine (2014)
Billy Hamilton (1961)
Chipper Jones (2018)
Rabbit Maranville (1954)
Eddie Mathews (1978)
Tommy McCarthy (1946)
Phil Niekro (1997)
John Smoltz (2015)
Warren Spahn (1973)
Atlanta fans have enjoyed one heck of a run recently as the stars of the dynastic 1990s Braves teams have made their way to Cooperstown. Greg Maddux is the notable exception, as he chose to go sans logo after pitching half of his career with the Cubs.
Next up? Andruw Jones has seen his voting percentages triple over the past few years, up to 58.1% in 2023, his sixth year on the ballot.
Brewers
Paul Molitor (2004)
Robin Yount (1999)
Yount was a no-brainer as a lifelong Brewer beginning with his debut at age 18. His longtime teammate, Molitor, could have very well worn a Blue Jays cap after finally winning a World Series with Toronto in 1993, but he wound up representing the club with which he recorded roughly two-thirds of 3,319 hits.
Next up? If Gary Sheffield somehow finds his way into Cooperstown (it would likely need to be through the Veterans Committee), there’s a chance he could make a sentimental choice with his original club in Milwaukee. Ryan Braun will face some of the same roadblocks as Sheffield when he goes in front of the BBWAA, but figures to have somewhere close to 400 homers, a high average and his 2011 NL MVP in tow.
Cardinals
Lou Brock (1985)
Dizzy Dean (1953)
Bob Gibson (1981)
Whitey Herzog (2010)
Stan Musial (1969)
Scott Rolen (2023)
Red Schoendienst (1989)
Ted Simmons (2020)
Enos Slaughter (1985)
Ozzie Smith (2002)
Billy Southworth (2008)
Bruce Sutter (2006)
Tony La Russa’s three NL pennants and two World Series titles in a Cardinals uniform made him a likely candidate, but he went in without a logo due to his early success in Chicago and Oakland. The Cardinals still boast plenty of iconic inductees, of course, from Stan “The Man,” to Gibson, to “The Wizard of Oz.
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Next up? There’s no question that Albert Pujols, who retired following the 2022 season, will go in with a St. Louis cap.
Cubs
Ernie Banks (1977)
Frank Chance (1946)
Kiki Cuyler (1968)
Gabby Hartnett (1955)
Billy Herman (1975)
Ferguson Jenkins (1991)
Ryne Sandberg (2005)
Ron Santo (2012)
Lee Smith (2019)
Billy Williams (1987)
Hack Wilson (1979)
Plenty of Cubs caps are in the Plaque Gallery despite the franchise’s 108-year title drought between 1908 and 2016, but a few old-timer exceptions like Three-Fingered Brown, Johnny Evers, and Joe Tinker are not on the list simply on account of their logo-less heydays.
Next up? Perhaps the Veterans Committee will be more forgiving to Sammy Sosa as opinions continue to evolve on baseball’s “Steroid Era.
” If Sosa is kept out, the baton would probably be passed to Jon Lester (who would have a tough decision to make) or Anthony Rizzo.
D-backs
Randy Johnson (2015)
The D-backs franchise enjoyed pretty quick success when it won a World Series title in its fourth year of existence, and Johnson’s induction gave them a Hall of Famer in short order, too. While the Big Unit had his share of success in Seattle, his four consecutive Cy Young Awards in the desert made his cap logo a pretty easy choice.
Next up? One can’t tell the D-backs’ history to this point without Curt Schilling, who became an October legend with the Red Sox, too. His Cooperstown case has been contentious, and he ran out of eligibility with the BBWAA voters in 2022.
Dodgers
Walter Alston (1983)
Roy Campanella (1969)
Don Drysdale (1984)
Leo Durocher (1994)
Burleigh Grimes (1964)
Gil Hodges (2022)
Wee Willie Keeler (1939)
Sandy Koufax (1972)
Tommy Lasorda (1997)
Pee Wee Reese (1984)
Jackie Robinson (1962)
Duke Snider (1980)
Don Sutton (1998)
Dazzy Vance (1955)
Zack Wheat (1959)
It’s strange to note how many years have passed since Sutton most recently went in with a Dodgers cap.
Mike Piazza could have easily gone in as a Dodger, but his star burned brighter in Queens.
Next up? There are some very remote possibilities with fringe candidates such as Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield, but Dodger fans might as well start planning five years from whenever Clayton Kershaw hangs up his spikes. The southpaw would probably be a first-ballot Hall of Famer if he retired tomorrow.
Expos
Gary Carter (2003)
Andre Dawson (2010)
Tim Raines (2017)
Vladimir Guerrero was probably the last viable Expos candidate, but he chose to enter the Hall representing the Angels. But never say never: If a Major League team winds up back in Montreal, perhaps another Expos Hall of Famer is in the offing decades from now.
Giants
Orlando Cepeda (1999)
Carl Hubbell (1947)
Monte Irvin (1973)
Travis Jackson (1982)
George “High Pockets” Kelly (1973)
Freddie Lindstrom (1976)
Juan Marichal (1983)
Willie Mays (1979)
Willie McCovey (1986)
Christy Mathewson (1936)
John McGraw (1937)
Gaylord Perry (1991)
Bill Terry (1954)
Hoyt Wilhelm (1985)
Ross Youngs (1972)
The Giants have played more modern-era baseball in San Francisco than they did in upper Manhattan, and both eras of the franchise are amply represented.
The biggest omission here is probably Mel Ott, who is capless on his Hall plaque.
Next up? There’s a slugger named Barry Bonds who dominates a fair amount of the conversation each voting season. But Bonds ran out of BBWAA eligibility in 2022 — the same year that two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum went one-and-done on the ballot. Jeff Kent fell off the ballot in ’23, so his candidacy also moves to the Era Committee.
Indians/Guardians
Earl Averill (1975)
Lou Boudreau (1970)
Stan Coveleski (1969)
Larry Doby (1998)
Bob Feller (1962)
Addie Joss (1978)
Nap Lajoie (1937)
Bob Lemon (1976)
Al Lopez (1977)
Joe Sewell (1977)
Tris Speaker (1937)
Jim Thome (2018)
Early Wynn (1972)
Thome hit 275 of his homers for teams not based in Cleveland, but his cap choice still seemed fairly straightforward. Lajoie’s popularity caused the Cleveland franchise to be known as the ‘Naps’ for a brief period in time.
Next up? Manny Ramirez could go with his original club, but his Hall case looks like a longshot. The Guardians’ best hope may be a current star such as José Ramírez or Shane Bieber.
Mariners
Ken Griffey Jr. (2016)
Edgar Martinez (2019)
The only way Griffey wasn’t going to don a Mariners logo was if his plaque had him wearing a backwards cap. Johnson won his first Cy Young with Seattle, but unquestionably reached his peak with the D-backs. Martinez’s candidacy made Seattle fans hold their breath for a full decade, but the sweet-swinging DH finally got in on his last year of BBWAA eligibility.
Next up? Ichiro Suzuki will be a slam-dunk first-ballot choice.
Marlins
Miami fans’ best hopes for now rest with Sheffield, who hit 122 homers in teal and helped the Marlins capture their first World Series title in 1997. Giancarlo Stanton nearly hit 60 homers in his MVP season in a Miami uniform, but if he wins a ring, it will be with the Yankees (or another club down the line).
Mets
Mike Piazza (2016)
Tom Seaver (1992)
Seaver is the most obvious Met in the Hall, while there was some consideration of Piazza wearing a Dodgers cap on his plaque. Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan and Gary Carter are among the notable Mets who are in the Hall with a different cap.
Next up? David Wright was on a Hall track until injuries derailed his candidacy. Maybe Carlos Beltrán dons a Mets cap, but his BBWAA candidacy is now complicated by the sign-stealing investigation that cost him his managerial job in Queens before he ever won or lost a game. He received 46.5% of the vote when he debuted on the ballot in 2023. Jacob deGrom or Pete Alonso would seemingly have the best chance among the franchise’s more recent stars.
Nationals
The Nationals, who relocated to D.C. in 2005, are still looking for their first Hall of Famer.
Next up? Injuries kept Ryan Zimmerman from putting up Hall of Fame numbers, and Bryce Harper is no longer in a Nationals uniform.
Neither is Max Scherzer, but he is a possibility after winning a pair of Cy Young Awards and a World Series title in D.C.
Orioles
Eddie Murray (2003)
Jim Palmer (1990)
Cal Ripken Jr. (2007)
Brooks Robinson (1983)
Frank Robinson (1982)
Earl Weaver (1996)
Ripken’s popularity, combined with Gwynn’s, made his Induction the biggest in Cooperstown history in 2007. Frank Robinson’s early success with the Reds made him the only moderately tough decision on this list, but he undoubtedly blossomed as a star in Baltimore. Mike Mussina pitched two more seasons and won 24 more games with the Orioles than he did with the Yankees but opted to enter the Hall with no log on his cap.
Next up? Adam Jones might be next, but his candidacy could be described as a longshot at best. Manny Machado is another candidate.
Padres
Tony Gwynn (2007)
Trevor Hoffman (2018)
Dave Winfield (2001)
Gwynn and Hoffman are San Diego icons, while Winfield surprised many when he chose his original club, the Padres, over the Yankees squad with whom he enjoyed a more successful — but also contentious — tenure.
Next up? Adrián González likely won’t stay on the ballot for long, and Jake Peavy fell off it in 2022. The Padres’ best hope among current players may be Fernando Tatis Jr., but a PED suspension clouds his candidacy.
Phillies
Richie Ashburn (1995)
Jim Bunning (1996)
Steve Carlton (1994)
Chuck Klein (1980)
Robin Roberts (1976)
Mike Schmidt (1995)
Iconic Phillies are listed above, with a notable exception in Grover Cleveland Alexander, whose plaque features a blank cap. Bunning threw a no-hitter in both leagues and won far more games with the Tigers, but the righty went in as a Phillie.
Next up? Curt Schilling, now eligible for the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot, won far more games in Philly than with any other club. Jimmy Rollins could fall short after being listed on about 13% of ballots in 2023, his second year on the ballot. Chase Utley could be a bigger hit with the sabermetric crowd when he lands on voters’ ballots in 2024.
Pirates
Max Carey (1961)
Fred Clarke (1945)
Roberto Clemente (1973)
Ralph Kiner (1975)
Bill Mazeroski (2001)
Willie Stargell (1988)
Pie Traynor (1948)
Arky Vaughan (1985)
Lloyd Waner (1967)
Paul Waner (1952)
You might notice that one of baseball’s best all-time shortstops, Honus Wagner, is not listed above. Wagner played 18 of his 21 seasons in Pittsburgh, but his cap (depicted in profile on his plaque) is blank nonetheless.
Next up? Pittsburgh fans might have to wait until Andrew McCutchen becomes Hall-eligible — though McCutchen still has to improve his Cooperstown case.
Rangers
Ivan Rodriguez (2017)
Nolan Ryan (1999)
Ryan’s choice was an unexpected one, seeing as he threw four no-hitters with the Angels and pitched many of his best seasons in Houston. But the righty did rack up his 300th win and 5,000th strikeout in a Rangers uniform.
Next up? Michael Young probably represented the franchise’s best candidate for the immediate future, but the countdown is already on for Adrián Beltré, who will almost undoubtedly go in as a Ranger if he’s voted in on the first ballot in 2024.
Rays
Evan Longoria is a potential candidate, though he needs to pad his case. David Price might wind up being the Rays’ best shot, but he captured his first World Series title in a different uniform.
Red Sox
Wade Boggs (2005)
Joe Cronin (1956)
Bobby Doerr (1986)
Rick Ferrell (1984)
Carlton Fisk (2000)
Jimmie Foxx (1951)
Lefty Grove (1947)
Pedro Martinez (2015)
David Ortiz (2022)
Jim Rice (2009)
Ted Williams (1966)
Carl Yastrzemski (1989)
There’s a mix of slam-dunk choices like Williams and Yastrzemski, along with a few legends like Cronin, Foxx and Grove who could have just easily worn a different club’s cap.
Next up? Roger Clemens’ case, like that of Bonds, will be decided by the Era Committee. It’s not a stretch to envision Schilling in a Red Sox cap if he makes it in.
Reds
Sparky Anderson (2000)
Johnny Bench (1989)
Barry Larkin (2012)
Ernie Lombardi (1986)
Bill McKechnie (1962)
Joe Morgan (1990)
Tony Perez (2000)
Eppa Rixey (1963)
Edd Roush (1962)
Seaver finally got his no-hitter in a Reds uniform, but he simply meant too much to the Mets not to go in with a New York cap.
Morgan actually played nearly as many games in Houston as Cincinnati, but his peak years with the Reds rank alongside the best by any middle infielder in history.
Next up? Pete Rose isn’t going into the Hall anytime soon, and so Cincinnati’s next hope is probably Joey Votto. His merits have already sparked debate while he’s still on the field, but the electorate should be much more sabermetrically inclined once Votto reaches the ballot.
Rockies
Larry Walker (2020)
Walker finally broke through in his 10th and final season on the ballot, giving the Rockies their first Hall of Famer. Walker spent his first six seasons in Montreal and finished his career with St. Louis, but the bulk of his production came during the decade he spent in Colorado. He clubbed 258 of his 383 career homers with the Rockies, while also winning the 1997 NL MVP Award after hitting a league-leading 49 homers.
Next up? Todd Helton has faced the same Coors Field bias that kept Walker waiting until his final year to gain election.
However, Helton’s chances at election in 2024, his sixth year on the ballot, seem strong after he appeared on 72.2% of ballots in ’23.
Royals
George Brett (1999)
Brett’s name is pretty much synonymous with the Royals franchise, and there was never a doubt about either his election or his cap choice.
Next up? Would Carlos Beltrán go in with his original club, even if he found more acclaim and October success with other teams down the line? Salvador Perez might have the best shot, particularly if he stays a Royal for the rest of his career.
Senators
Goose Goslin (1968)
Bucky Harris (1975)
Walter Johnson (1936)
Sam Rice (1963)
The Senators may have been “first in war and last in the American League,” but these four legends represent a pretty decent crop for a franchise that lost as much as Washington did. All four were major contributors to the Senators’ only World Series title in 1924, with Harris leading the club as a 27-year-old player-manager.
Cleveland Spiders (defunct)
Cy Young (1937)
How much did Young mean to the Spiders franchise? After he left following the 1898 season, Cleveland went 20-134 (the worst record in NL history) and folded at year’s end.
Tigers
Ty Cobb (1936)
Mickey Cochrane (1947)
Sam Crawford (1957)
Hank Greenberg (1956)
Harry Heilmann (1952)
Hughie Jennings (1945)
Al Kaline (1980)
George Kell (1983)
Heinie Manush (1964)
Jack Morris (2018)
Hal Newhouser (1992)
Alan Trammell (2018)
All the Tigers one would expect are listed above, except perhaps second baseman Charlie Gehringer, whose cap is depicted in profile on his plaque.
Next up? Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander should go in as Tigers. Lou Whitaker remains a sentimental favorite in the Motor City, but hasn’t found luck with the Era Committee to this point.
Twins
Bert Blyleven (2011)
Rod Carew (1991)
Jim Kaat (2022)
Harmon Killebrew (1984)
Tony Oliva (2022)
Kirby Puckett (2001)
Killebrew and Puckett were no-brainers, and Carew logged five more seasons (and 1,117 more hits) with the Twins than he did with the Angels.
Blyleven pitched for five MLB clubs, but began his career with the Twins and came back to help the franchise win its first World Series title in Minneapolis.
Next up? Joe Mauer could be a first-ballot selection when he reaches the ballot in ’24.
White Sox
Luis Aparicio (1984)
Luke Appling (1964)
Harold Baines (2019)
Red Faber (1964)
Nellie Fox (1997)
Ted Lyons (1955)
Minnie Miñoso (2022)
Frank Thomas (2014)
Eddie Collins and all-time ERA leader Ed Walsh were both White Sox legends, but each player dons a blank cap from a time before logos were prevalent. Hall of Fame manager Al Lopez helped transform the “Go Go Sox” into an AL powerhouse, but went into the Plaque Gallery with an Indians cap.
Next up? Mark Buehrle hasn’t found much support from the BBWAA. In 2023, his third year on the ballot, he received 10.8% of the vote. José Abreu and current star Tim Anderson may have a case down the road.
Yankees
Earle Combs (1970)
Bill Dickey (1954)
Joe DiMaggio (1955)
Whitey Ford (1974)
Lou Gehrig (1939)
Lefty Gomez (1972)
Joe Gordon (2009)
Goose Gossage (2008)
Waite Hoyt (1969)
Miller Huggins (1964)
Reggie Jackson (1993)
Derek Jeter (2020)
Tony Lazzeri (1991)
Mickey Mantle (1974)
Joe McCarthy (1957)
Mariano Rivera (2019)
Phil Rizzuto (1994)
Red Ruffing (1967)
Babe Ruth (1936)
Casey Stengel (1966)
Joe Torre (2014)
Jeter is the latest Yankee legend to go into the Hall after spending his entire 20-year career in the Bronx. However, look closely at the list above and you’ll recognize one glaring omission. Yogi Berra played 18 of his 19 seasons in the Bronx and was one of the most famous ballplayers on the planet while he wore pinstripes, but the profile view on his plaque leaves no room for the famous “NY” logo.
Next up? The Yankees might have to wait a while before sending their next member to Cooperstown.
Alex Rodriguez was on 35.7% of the ballots in 2023, his second voting cycle.
Hall of Fame players/managers with no cap logo
Grover Cleveland Alexander (1938)
Cap Anson (1939)
Frank “Home Run” Baker (1955)
Dave Bancroft (1971)
Jake Beckley (1971)
Chief Bender (1953)
Yogi Berra (1972)
Jim Bottomley (1974)
Roger Bresnahan (1945)
Dan Brouthers (1945)
Mordecai Brown (1949)
Jesse Burkett (1946)
Jack Chesbro (1946)
John Clarkson (1963)
Eddie Collins (1939)
Jimmy Collins (1945)
Roger Connor (1976)
Ed Delahanty (1945)
Hugh Duffy (1945)
Johnny Evers (1946)
Buck Ewing (1939)
Elmer Flick (1963)
Bud Fowler (2022)
Frankie Frisch (1947)
Pud Galvin (1965)
Charlie Gehringer (1949)
Chick Hafey (1971)
Jesse Haines (1970)
Roy Halladay (2019)
Harry Hooper (1971)
Rogers Hornsby (1942)
Catfish Hunter (1987)
Tim Keefe (1964)
Joe Kelley (1971)
King Kelly (1945)
Tony La Russa (2014)
Greg Maddux (2014)
Rube Marquard (1971)
Joe McGinnity (1946)
Fred McGriff (2023)
Bid McPhee (2000)
Joe Medwick (1968)
Johnny Mize (1981)
Mike Mussina (2019)
Kid Nichols (1949)
Buck O’Neil (2022)
Jim O’Rourke (1945)
Mel Ott (1951)
Herb Pennock (1948)
Eddie Plank (1946)
“Old Hoss” Radbourn (1939)
Wilbert Robinson (1945)
Amos Rusie (1977)
Ray Schalk (1955)
Frank Selee (1999)
George Sisler (1939)
Sam Thompson (1974)
Joe Tinker (1946)
Rube Waddell (1946)
Honus Wagner (1936)
Bobby Wallace (1953)
Ed Walsh (1946)
John Montgomery Ward (1964)
Mickey Welch (1973)
Deacon White (2013)
Vic Willis (1995)
Hall of Fame: Buddy Jeannette – Blogg on the Floor – Blogs
Photo: Fotobank/Getty Images/NBAPhotos/NBAE
we remember the centers – George Mikan, who won almost everything in the world with the Lakers; Bill Russell, who took 14 titles in 15 years: eleven in the NBA, two in the NCAA and Olympic gold; Lew Elsindora, who lost only two games in high school, two games in college, and in his second season in the NBA received a ring (but under the name “Karim Abdul-Jabbar” was no longer so invincible).
Harry Jeannette, whom everyone knew by the nickname “Buddy”, was not only less than 7 feet, but even up to six. He was a defender, a back-line player, he was so far from the ring and had no opportunity to break goalscoring records. But at the same time, in the second half of the 1940s, any team from any league that had Buddy in its roster was counting on the title. He ended up becoming a five-time champion for three different teams in three different leagues between 1943 and 1948, missing out on the title only in 1946.
In 1948, he became the first U.S. player-coach to win a major league title: his Baltimore Bullets received the Basketball Association of America championship rings in what would soon become the NBA. Like King Midas, Jeannette covered with gold everything he touched – but only this story turned out to have a happy ending: the best defender of his era was included in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame during his lifetime.
And today it’s our humble Hall of Fame’s turn to honor Harry Jeannette.
NBA Hall of Fame Calculation: 1942 – Buddy Jeannette
Excerpted from Robert Peterson’s Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball Early Years that he is closer to the ring. Despite this, few professional basketball pioneers have been known for their extraordinary heights. Joe Lapchik, the center of the most famous team of the first half of the last century, the Original Celtics, was considered a giant, although he was less than two meters.
By the end of the 1930s, the situation began to change. It was no longer so unusual to see two or three tall basketball players on each team on the floor. The age of big players was coming, and it came in the mid-1940s with George Mikan, who showed that a tall athlete could dribble, pass, shoot, rebound – dominate basketball.
After that, the demand for players like Harry “Buddy” Jeannette began to fall. Jeannette was one of the brightest stars in basketball history before Mikan came along. He was a prolific scorer, a tenacious defender and rebounder, and was excellent with the ball.
But with a height of 180 cm, he could no longer oppose anything to the giants under the ring. But at one time, Jeannette won three times the elite World Professional Basketball Tournament, which brought together top teams from different leagues by invitation, and found out who is the best US basketball team.
And by 1948, when Jeannette was already playing coach of the Baltimore Bullets, champions of the Basketball Association of America, he was the highest paid basketball player in the world, receiving 15,000 a year.
He started his professional basketball career in 1938 in Warren, Pennsylvania with the Penns of the NBL. This career – first as a player, then as a coach and general manager – lasted almost forty years, and in these forty years, basketball turned from outlandish fun into a beloved sport in front of Jeannette.
This is how Buddy himself described what basketball was like at the time of his debut and what he would have looked like if he were in a different era:
“When I got into basketball, there were no big ones.
Hell, if in those years you were six feet tall, your parents hid you in the closet, they were ashamed of you! It wasn’t until the 1940s that tall players began to emerge. […] George Mikan was the first big man to dominate, he was tall and strong. But when he came to the league, I was already leaving it.
High players will always have an advantage over low ones. Can you imagine me playing in the NBA today? Hell, I only get them to the navel. No matter what, I couldn’t. I didn’t know how to shoot from afar, I scored my points by breaking through under the basket. […] Few basketball players my size play in the league now—and if they do, they can jump the damn basket. Of course, I also jumped well for my era, but not so high.
Could I count on my throw today? Have you seen Larry Bird quit? It’s unrealistic. You know how we threw – if at least a third hit, it was considered “great”. Today basketball players are much better. They are taller, faster, tougher” .
* * *
But Buddy could have missed professional basketball altogether. After all, when he graduated from the College of Washington and Jefferson in Pennsylvania in 1938, Jeannette was only vaguely aware of the existence of professional basketball leagues. After three years of playing in college, he expected to move into coaching.
“I was sure that everything was settled and got a job as a coach and teacher in the small town of Claysville. Well, the school year started, and another guy got the seat. I had to move out of my college dorm. Then a friend came up to me and said, “Why don’t you go to Warren and play basketball there?”
So me and another player, Bill Laughlin, went to Warren and met with team owner Jerry Archibald. He told us to come back by Thanksgiving, because the season started only then. That’s how I got into professional sports.
I got $100 a month and did nothing but basketball during the season. During the summer, Archibald got me a job with a trucking company for $15 a week.
It was the most difficult job in my life. Warren was an oil city, and you had to drive around the wells and fill tanks with oil. I had to really work to get those 15 bucks. Basketball can’t be compared to this” .
From that moment on, Buddy’s long career in basketball began, from player to coach, from coach to manager, all because he failed to get a job as a gym teacher in Claysville, Pennsylvania. “ Now, every time I drive past Claysville, I stop and say the prayer,” Jeannette said.
* * *
By the middle of the season, team owner Jerry Archibald decided that the team needed to be relocated or it would not survive. He arranged a sponsorship with a car company in Cleveland, rented the largest stadium in the city, and so the Warren Pence became the Cleveland White Horses. 7,500 people came to the first game, and the spectators were entertained before the match with a parade led by two basketball players – naturally, riding white horses.
There were only 28 games in the NBL season, so in order to sell more tickets, Archibald needed to organize exhibition games for his team, which did not count towards the NBL standings.
The owner found an interesting way out – he entered his players in another league, the New York and Pennsylvania League (NYPL). So for the remainder of the season, the Cleveland White Horses/Elmira Colonels alternated league games on the East Coast with games in the Midwest. Despite this double life, the team took second place in their NBL division and simultaneously became the NYPL champion, but under a different name.
“I remember we had to go to an NYPL game in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. In those years, to find an arena, you just came to the city and looked for the largest building. And now we can’t find a gym in Hazleton. We drove up to some bar, I ran in there and asked the bartender: “Hey, we have to play a basketball game in the city today, can you tell me where the arena is?” – and he answers: “Here.” I look around, and there are only tables around.
Well, we went to change, back to the bar. The tables are shifted, one ring nailed to the wall, the other hanging from the ceiling.
The length of the site is 20 meters. The referee goes to the center and draws a circle, then outlines the lines for the free throw. The net fences off that part of the bar where visitors are still sitting at the tables. And as soon as the game starts, it immediately turns into the most hellish fight you can imagine. That’s what my basketball education was like.”0034 , Buddy Jeannette baited the tales.
The following year, Archibald moved the team again, this time to Detroit. Reinforced by several strong NCAA alumni, the Detroit Eagles and Jeannette made it to the NBL Finals, where they lost to Akron Firestone. But as Archibald continued to lose money—between one thousand and one and a half every season—he decided to sell the team to a Detroit cigar maker. “ But I never sold that experience,” Archibald said. – I would be happy if there were no losses, but I supported the team for the love of the game. I didn’t expect to make money on it.” .
By this time, salaries in the NBL began to grow.
Buddy Jeannette said that by the time the team moved to Detroit, his monthly salary had risen to $300. “And I said to my girlfriend: “My God, let’s get married now! No one earns that much!” And here’s what happens – I come to Detroit, play basketball, and work out for the whole team, and guys with a name get 1,500 bucks a month ”.
* * *
The same year that Jeannette turned pro, the Sheboygan Redskins was born in Wisconsin, specifically for the National Basketball League, which was in its second season. By the mid-40s, Sheboygan passionately wanted to become a champion and collected the best personnel from all over the country. At 1943 Buddy Jeannette was working at a defense plant in Rochester, New York while playing for the independent Rochester Aber-Seagrams (today the Sacramento Kings franchise) when he received a call from team management in Sheboygan.
“They wanted me to come and finish the season for them. They really wanted to. I mumbled for a long time, but still said: “If you pay me $500 for each game.
” Their answer: “Waiting for you here on Saturday.”
Every Friday night at 10 o’clock I boarded the train in Rochester. When I woke up on the train in the morning, I got off at Chicago and ran for a transfer, and the second train took me to Sheboygan by noon. We played there on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, after which I got back on the train, changed in Chicago and drove back to Rochester. And then he worked all weekdays at the factory” .
Jeannette not only earned his $500 a game, which was a huge sum for a basketball player in those days, but he also received five pounds of cheese from a local sponsor for every trip to Sheboygan and back. To keep the cheese from spoiling during trips, Buddy asked the conductor to keep it in the vestibule, where it was not so hot, but the cheese had time to ripen and become soft.
In a short time at Sheboygan, Jeannette helped the Redskins win their first NBL championship. In doing so, he won recognition (as well as a new contract) from the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, who were preparing to become the dominant team in the NBL and all of professional basketball.
The Pistons were the pride of the automobile piston factory and its owner, Fred Zollner, an avid basketball fan.
In the eyes of the players, Zollner was the first owner to turn professional basketball into a profitable business. As with Akron’s Goodyear and Firestone factory teams, Zollner gave his players jobs at the factory, but he also collected a “common fund” from the money he received from basketball tickets. At the end of the season, this amount was divided among all the players, and so everyone received a bonus of several thousand. « In an era when basketball players were getting between $5 and $50 a game , Jeannette admits, Pistons players were earning 8 or 9 thousand a year. Zollner took us out of the poor league into people .”
With the addition of Jeannette to an already strong team in 1943, the Pistons were nearly undefeated, winning back-to-back NBL titles. In the World Basketball Tournament, the Pistons and Jeannette won three times in a row from 1944 to 1946.
Following the example of the great teams of the past, the Pistons hosted all the best athletes they could afford. During the Second World War, Zollner’s company produced pistons for military aircraft, as well as other military equipment, so the team’s players, as workers in a defense factory, were not called up to the front. Therefore, unlike many other NBL teams that lost basketball players due to the draft, the Pistons remained in the strongest lineup.
* * *
In 1946, Jeannette moved to the Baltimore Bullets from the ABL, where he immediately brought his team to the title – in the role of playing coach. Immediately after that, the ABL ceased to exist, and the Bullets and Buddy moved to the Basketball Association of America, which was in its second season.
The BAA differed from other leagues in that the teams played in major cities – New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and so on. The owners of the teams were the owners of the NHL clubs in the same cities, they also had large arenas.
The problem was that basketball players were forced to share almost all of these arenas with hockey players. The methods of pouring ice were then primitive, so if a basketball game was scheduled the day after hockey, the parquet was laid directly on top of the frozen ice. When the arena filled up and the air warmed up, the ice began to melt, and the floor became covered with puddles, and basketball players on the slippery floor fell much more often than hockey players on ice.
Buddy recalled another problem arising from such a combination: “In those years, no one thought about laying insulation between the ice and the parquet. The fog was rising on the site so that nothing could be seen. It was terrible. It was also damn cold. I remember in Providence they gave us blankets and turned on the heater at the bench, and still we were freezing! I told my guys – I don’t know about you, but I’m playing 48 minutes today. I’m not going to sit on that bench!”
The Baltimores were invited to the BAA only because of the 11 founding teams, only 7 remained alive by the second season.
The Bullets were eighth. The schedule was reduced from 60 to 48 games, the application – from 12 to 10 people. The level of the teams leveled off, the fans liked the stubborn struggle, and the champion turned out to be the most unexpected – the Bullets rookies managed to beat both last season finalists in turn in the playoffs – both Chicago and Philadelphia with the formidable Joe Fulks in the Finals! On the way to the final series, the Knicks still had to beat the Knicks, and they led 8 points with 2 minutes left in the decisive match, but Buddy – who else – managed to intercept the ball three times during this time, or rather snatch it from the opponent’s hands, and brought the team much-needed points.
* * *
The following year, the strongest teams in the NBL defected to the BAA, including the Minneapolis Lakers and Mikan. The era of the big man has now arrived in the BAA. Buddy Jeannette was already in his thirties. He played two more years with the Bullets and then hung up his sneakers.
Ahead was coaching at Georgetown University and the Bullets (already others, revived in 1963 with the direct participation of Jeannette), the work of the GM, which included the draft of Wes Unseld and Earl Monroe, inclusion in the Hall of Fame.
At the induction ceremony, Buddy said that he had recently seen an old newspaper that talked about a game where he scored 27 points. He didn’t remember that game. « Twenty-seven points from me? The opponents must have just left for the dressing room ahead of time .”
Buddy Jeannette was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994 .
Buddy Jeannette’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech:
Hall of Famer Trophy / Cars 3: Driven to Win Hall of Fame Winner
Here’s a great video guide for all the medals!
Some useful information.
I recommend that you first get the Solid Stars trophy – earn a star in each race.
Many medals will come by themselves. Only then purposefully finish off the medals for the “Hall of Fame Laureate” trophy.
There are 136 medals in the game divided into 9 classes.
1. Driving skill (32 blue medals).
Medals are awarded for driving skills and possession of weapons. You will receive most of the simple medals automatically. Other medals with strange requirements can be knocked out quickly with 2 gamepads. Main Menu -> Tournaments -> Create Tournament -> Private Tournament 1. The main thing is to set in the settings – Rivals: Human only. You can always put any type of races and weapons.
2. Mastery of aerial stunts (8 light green medals).
Almost everything drops out automatically when it knocks out stars in the “Dashing Race” section.
3. Weapon mastery (16 pink medals).
You will receive most of the simple medals automatically. Other medals with strange requirements can be knocked out quickly with 2 gamepads.
Main Menu -> Tournaments -> Create Tournament -> Private Tournament 1. The main thing is to set in the settings – Rivals: Only a person and the right weapon for a medal.
4. Mastery in races (40 orange medals).
Almost everything is given automatically as long as you knock out stars in races such as Race, Battle Race, Dashing Race, Race to the Knockout, Best Lap and Master races.
5. Network game (8 turquoise medals).
Attention! You need 2 gamepads. Medals can only be knocked out in the “Playing in a team with a sponsor” -> Official tournament. In the “Create Tournament” mode, medals DO NOT GIVE.
In order to unlock tournaments in the “Playing in a team with a sponsor” mode, you first have to play them solo from the Tournaments -> Official Tournaments section. In total, you need to go through 15 tournaments. After that, the 16th Dinoko tournament will open – in any case, it must be knocked out for other medals.
6. Long term (8 red medals).
