Mind you, as a Boston fan, I wouldn't want Clemens in there wearing a Red Sox hat. I just think he's an arrogant putz. I believe the canonical Boston fan opinion is that he should wear a Blue Jays cap, so you can tell we're just bitter.
As a Yankee fan I like the Yankees, of course, but the logic still says Boston. however, it's hard to fault his reasoning, he felt like he got booted out of Boston and of course he holds a grudge. The fact that he gets booed like crazy there can't help either... his "Boston is still home to me" attempt before win 299 didn't really help his image there, and if he goes in to the Hall he's still going to get booed in Boston, Sox hat or not. Might as well do the Yankee one. I wouldn't want to wear a hat only to be booed by fans of that team. (I still tend to agree with the idea that if he had gotten his way in Boston in 97, he never would have worked as hard as he did, and would not have had the same success that he has had since, and Duquette did actually make a reasonable decision, especially since CLemens didn't even try that hard in his contract year, when greedy players traditionally crank it up. I think either way, that decision would have bitten Duquette in the ass.) Outlawing those clauses won't help change their minds. If Boggs asked to have it in there then maybe he would have made that same dumb decision anyway. And there were rumors that this was a major side discussion when the Yankees resigned Clemens for this year...
if they are going to associate/induct hall of famers as a member of a specifc team (something they don't do at the NHL hall of fame) then there has to be something in place to prevent those Boggsian sell offs of allegiance. the baseball hall of fame is known as one of the toughest to get into, no? certainly not like the NHL which inducts a few question marks now and then. they have to protect the value of what it means to be a hall of famer and it is best to have an across the board rule that the hall of fame decides what team the player is associated with. such a move prevents the obvious wrong doings of a wade boggs sell off though it might also catch a few cases where one could conceivably sit on the fence. of course, they could put the decision into the hands of science. can sabermetrics decide? boo hoo roger, rules are rules. lots of guys don't make the hall of fame. it could be worse. campaign for your position but don't sulk about it. sure he has pride and a case to make but i guess i don't have much sympathy for someone receiving an honour like that.
As for McGriff, I think he's a good candidate for entering with a logo-free cap like Catfish Hunter. Granted, the story is a little different from McGriff's in that Hunter only split time between two teams, but still there is a modern day precedent. In addition, Clemens is not the first person to not want a particular cap on his plaque due to differences with management. Didn't the same thing happen with Yogi Berra?
The thought occurs to me that the HOF may be out of line by attempting to ban Boggs-like clauses. Baseball is, after all, all about the money and so why shouldn't the player make a little extra cash if he can? Oh the horror of diluting the purity! Talk to me again when ballparks stop selling naming rights and the owners lower ticket prices next time they get a bigger TV contract.
I wouldn't say the Baseball HOF is any more exclusive than other sports... they (er, the Veterans committee) have let in some question marks too. I wouldn't be surprised if the media was making a bigger deal out of this than Roger is, but I don't know so I should shut up. I tend to think it's not that big a deal. I'd be interested to know more about the Boggs clause. Was he mad at Boston or mostly just desperate to sign somewhere? Was it his idea or did they say "fine, we'll let you get 3000 here and hang on, but you have to go intot he Hall in a Rays hat" and he reluctantly agreed? I don't remember anything about this...
9 seasons in Oakland. 4 seasons in New York. And still, Reggie Jackson was allowed to go in as a Yankee. Why not The Rocket?
The HOF is a museum, and museums are run by their curators, not by fiat of their subjects. It would suit me just as well if they never put that scumbag in there.
Thank you Scotty! This is just another case of the inmates attempting to run the asylum. If Roger wants to build his own Hall with his own rules, let him. Let's see the Rocket build one with 20 plaques of himself wearing all different kind of hats! A sombrero! A pillbox! A derby! We can also have a monument to his stupidity (getting kicked out of that playoff game, throwing the bat at Piazza) and a separate wing for his wife's breasts (which are amazing man-made structures all their own)! Jackass.
Reggie Jackson was allowed to go in as a Yankee. Why not The Rocket? When Jackson was selected to the hall, the policy was that the players could pick their cap. Jackson was all set to go in as an Athletic, but just before that he felt he was snubbed by them for a coaching job (or maybe he was fired or something, I don't remember exactly) -- so he went in as a Yankee. Since the HOF only recently changed its policy, it's no suprise that some sure-fire first ballot candidates who have switched teams feel like they're getting a raw deal. Personally, I say the Hall should avoid the issue entirely by putting him in profile or giving him an upturned cap like Satchel Paige.
I just want to mention something that someone pointed out to me: When Roger Clemens held his press conference for the 300th win, he wasn't wearing a Yankees cap. He was wearing an Adidas cap. Just a couple more drops of fuel to add to the fire.
My girlfriend (from Toronto) introduced me to this word, and never has it been more appropriate. Asshat.
...he wasn't wearing a Yankees cap. He was wearing an Adidas cap. reason #126 not to ever watch another baseball game.
reason #1 of course, is the cancelled series. you don't think i'll ever forget, do you?
