Hat Talk

[Guest Edgy DC]

Toronto, Cleveland, and Baltimore all have a claim on Alomar.

Blyleven is almost certainly Minnesota, but he kicked some ass with Cleveland too.

[Benjamin Grimm]

My guess is he'll wear a Toronto cap.

[Gwreck]

Alomar will get Toronto because:

1. 5 seasons. Only 3 each in Cleveland and Baltimore.
2. 2 World Series championships

[Valadius]

Alomar gets the classic Blue Jay logo, while Blyleven gets "TC".

[Ceetar]

you mean it won't be the Mets?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Baseball-Reference WARs:

Toronto: 20.1
Baltimore: 12.1
Cleveland: 20.6 (!)

(Mets: 0.3)

[Valadius]

He's talking to MLB Network from Toronto, in front of his Blue Jays uniform.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah it should be a black Met cap with thick drop-shadow lettering.

[Gwreck]

Alomar played for seven different franchises during his career. That's a lot, but not the record for the Hall of Fame.

By my calculations, there are 4 Hall of Famers who played for more. Who are they?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Not counting Negro League teams?

Gaylord Perry.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Rich Gossage.

Joe Morgan.

[Ceetar]

Valadius wrote: He's talking to MLB Network from Toronto, in front of his Blue Jays uniform.

personal preference plays a large part right? (Piazza has stated he'd prefer the Mets)

[Guest Edgy DC]

I wouldn't say "large."

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: Valadius wrote: He's talking to MLB Network from Toronto, in front of his Blue Jays uniform. personal preference plays a large part right? (Piazza has stated he'd prefer the Mets)

The player's personal preference plays no part at all unless the choice is what the HOF considers a close call. Thus, for example, Roberto Alomar will not get to choose to be enshrined in a Mets cap, no matter how strongly he might want to go in as a Met.

My hunch is that, on the other hand, Piazza's preference will be considered in choosing between the Mets and Dodgers. The Hall makes the final call, though.

[Gwreck]

Yes, not counting Negro league teams. Gossage (9) and Perry (8) are correct. Morgan (5) is not.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Rickey Being Rickey.

[Gwreck]

Rickey says he played for 9 clubs, leaving one more correct answer out there.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Ceetar wrote: Valadius wrote: He's talking to MLB Network from Toronto, in front of his Blue Jays uniform. personal preference plays a large part right? (Piazza has stated he'd prefer the Mets) The player's personal preference plays no part at all unless the choice is what the HOF considers a close call. Thus, for example, Roberto Alomar will not get to choose to be enshrined in a Mets cap, no matter how strongly he might want to go in as a Met. My hunch is that, on the other hand, Piazza's preference will be considered in choosing between the Mets and Dodgers. The Hall makes the final call, though.

That's what I meant. With Piazza's preference, and the Mets "claiming" him with the closing Shea opening of Citi thing I imagine it'll be a pretty easy decision.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Winfield?

[Gwreck]

Only 6.

[HahnSolo]

Alomar only a handful of hits away from having 500 hits with four teams:

SD - 497
Tor - 832
Bal - 496
Cle - 564

[Guest Edgy DC]

"Too bad, Spitboy."

[Centerfield]

Ryan?

[Gwreck]

Only 4 for Nolan.

[metsmarathon]

i did some digging and i think i found a guy who played for 8 franchises (or maybe 7).

since i dug him up, i won't hazard a guess. but did our many-hatted man finish his career with a 0.310 batting average?

[Gwreck]

Do you mean this guy? If so, nice pickup. I assure you he wasn't who I was thinking of. The one remaining correct answer played entirely in the 20th century.

[Frayed Knot]

FWIW, the HoF claims it's always been their call as to what insignia goes on the plaque although there were years where they were obviously lax in enforcing that. At the same time they do say they take a players preference into consideration if there's any questions while still retaining final say.

In Piazza's case, he has more games & ABs as a Met than in any other uniform which, when combined with his stated choice to represent the NYM, pretty much seals the deal IMO.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Seriously better seasons in LA, though. His 1997 was as good as it gets. It's still an open question from my seat.

[Benjamin Grimm]

His one World Series appearance came as a Met, which, I think, can also be a factor.

I think he'll have a Mets cap on his plaque, but the Dodgers do have a shot. I'll say he has a 70% chance of an "NY".

[Guest Edgy DC]

Baseball-Reference Win Shares:
34.3 as a Dodger
24.6 as a Metzkovich