Kirby PuckettClass of 2001A favorite among his teammates for his personality and play, Puckett truly made the most of his injury-shortened Major League career. Peak ability comparable to Kobe, the pre-cursor to LeBron and a likely Hall of Famer just six seasons in Grant Hill, take a bow. By comparison, Anthony Davis just finished his sixth season and if his career ended today, would have a 53% chance of making it based solely on this model. He piled up 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds and 2,720 assists in the first six seasons of his career. Tom SeaverClass of 1992Seaver played 20 seasons in the big leagues, with his most notable turn coming with the Mets from 1967-77, during which he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award, three Cy Young Awards and a World Series title ('69). Step 2 - Read local news sources: If you're unable to find information about a Christy MathewsonClass of 1936The two-time Triple Crown winner and his famous "fadeaway" screwball baffled hitters throughout a 17-year career that set the standard for pitching excellence, during which he won at least 30 games four times and collected 373 career wins -- still the NL record in the Modern Era. We see a lot of young players like that these days, guys who see LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the players they want to model their games after, the guys they want to play like. A 12-time All-Star, Winfield hit 465 home runs and is a member of the 3,000-hit club. Scan this QR code to download the app now. For me actually, when I retired and people start talking about where you fit and the Hall of Fame and things like that, you slow down a little bit and contemplate your basketball life, so to speak. Among the tens of thousands of players, managers, owners, executives and other personnel that have made their marks on baseball, only a select 340 are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including 268 former Major League players. Hall of Fame Heres the thing, though: Hill was every bit as productive as Kobe. He was enshrined to the Hall with a 98.5 percent vote. LOS ANGELES - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today, at NBA All-StarWeekend, eight phenomenal players, three standout coaches, one exceptional referee, and one record-setting team as finalists from the North American and Womens committees to be considered for election in 2018. Walter JohnsonClass of 1936Baseball's all-time leader in shutouts (110) and runner-up in wins (417), Johnson was the only member of the 3,000-strikeout club for nearly 51 years after amassing a then-record 3,508 during his 21-year career, winning three Triple Crowns and two MVP Awards. A typical Hall of Famer was dominant at their position during their playing career, but First Ballot Hall of Famers separated themselves into the conversation for the best of all-time. Martinez's .687 winning percentage trails Whitey Ford for the highest in the Modern Era (since 1900). Willie McCoveyClass of 1986McCovey terrorized the NL for the majority of 22 seasons, leading the Senior Circuit in homers three times and winning the 1969 NL MVP Award. With a variety of college and professional experiences, both on and off the court, Grant was named Managing Director of the USA Basketball Mens National Team in 2021. A finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2007, the same probably could have been said about Orlando Magic small forward Grant Hill. Ive tended to focus on the struggle. Ryan received 98.8 percent of the votes during his first year on the ballot. The son of former NFL Pro Bowl running back Calvin Hill and Janet Hill, Grant Hill insists hes best known to the new generation of basketball fans for his work as an analyst for Turner Sports NBA and March Madness coverage. Athletics Here's a look at every first-ballot Hall of Famer in baseball history. These young guys werent born when we did what we did at Duke, but the impact is still felt and theres certainly a healthy respect for what we were able to accomplish as a group. Tickets for the various Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Enshrinement events are on sale atwww.hoophall.com. Joe MorganClass of 1990Morgan won his first NL MVP Award in 1975 after hitting .327 with 17 homers, 67 steals and 132 walks -- and only got better the following season, when he won the NL MVP Award again. Though the MVP voting for the 1996-97 season is most remembered for Karl Malone controversially edging Michael Jordan, Hill quietly finished third while averaging 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. A little more than five years after authoring a record-breaking final season, Ortiz punched his ticket to Cooperstown. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. I didnt get a chance to see it through, to see what could have been. Before diving in, heres video of Hill dropping a buzzer-beater to force OT against Kobe Bryants Lakers in their second overall matchup, a game in which Hill finished with 34 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists while playing all 53 minutes. Carl YastrzemskiClass of 1989A young Yastrzemski had huge shoes to fill, stepping into left field as a 21-year-old rookie the season after Ted Williams' retirement. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I happened to be at Duke last year and gave a speech and had a couple of speaking engagements during homecoming. He was widely regarded for revolutionizing the closer's role. Had it not been for the three seasons he spent overseas, Spahn -- the winningest left-handed pitcher of all time (363), a 17-time All-Star and a 13-time 20-game winner -- might have joined Cy Young and Walter Johnson in the 400-win club. 19 (John Riggins), 21 (O.J. I dont know, some of these kids were born after I was healthy in Detroit, and its crazy. The 10-time All-Star launched 541 home runs, plus 17 more in the postseason, and posted a ridiculous 1.372 World Series OPS during three Red Sox championship runs. Wisconsins Joe Thomas was 33 , but he stayed at left tackle and become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. My first memories watching Grant Hill was back in 1991, as a very young and talented member of the Duke Blue Devils. 7/2/2021 12:30:00 PM. The complete list of nine finalists from the North American Screening Committee includes: players Ray Allen, Maurice Cheeks, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and Chris Webber; coaches Charles Lefty Driesell and Rudy Tomjanovich; and referee Hugh Evans. He stopped playing the what if game years ago. But perhaps his most prominent milestone was helping the Red Sox snap the 86-year Curse of the Bambino with their World Series title in 2004. So when celebrating Hill this weekend, remember to partake in more than playing what if games. Wir verwenden Cookies um Inhalte und Anzeigen zu personalisieren, um Social-Media-Funktionen zur Verfgung zu stellen und unseren Traffic zu analysieren. And my dad had always been a fan of Dean Smith really based on a lot of what he did in the 1970s, integrating the ACC and just his stance on a lot of social issues more than just what hed done as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. Manning's Hall of Fame case - Could he make During his senior season he crushed the course record at Herring Run Hall of He was a stellar role player, great in every locker room he set foot in and one of the leagues best ambassadors off the court. If you played out Grant Hills career 100 times, theres a world that exists where Kobe or Hill dominates the debate landscape. Announced in December, two distinct modifications have been made to the election process. He spent four years playing for the Blue Devils and was inducted into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2016 for his contributions to the program. Grant was named the 2017 recipient of the NCAA Presidents Gerald R. Ford Award, recognizing his significant leadership as an advocate for college sports. I was recently with [Jason] Kidd and we had a chance to talk and reflect on our respective careers. Unfortunately he never again made it out of the first round, and only made one more playoff appearance, one game with the Los Angeles Clipper in 2013. Hill: You know, thats a really good question. Is it difficult for you as well to get a grasp on what you and your career might mean to the outside world until you get the proper distance and a different perspective? In 2010, Halladay threw a perfect game on May 29 at the Marlins. Pistons Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas sees the comparison as well and said as much back when Hill was announced as one of the members of the Class of 2018. Hall of Fame The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Grant Hill is in the Hall of Fame because of the Phoenix To fully articulate Hills dominance at his zenith, well play a different what if game. Your mom wanted you to go to Georgetown and your dad wanted you to go to North Carolina. Herrin native Steve Fisher up for Naismith Basketball Prior to the NBA, Grant was two-time national champion at Duke University. With Jimmy Butler hobbled late by an ankle injury, Miami gets big performances from Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love to take the series opener in New York. Hill: The context of why my parents felt that way is pretty interesting. Willie MaysClass of 1979Perhaps the greatest five-tool player in the history of baseball, the Say Hey Kid dazzled with his personality and excelled in every facet of the game, hitting 660 homers (sixth all-time), stealing 338 bases, hitting .302 for his career and playing in a record-tying 24 All-Star Games. WebHill played college ball at Duke University where he was the NABC Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 as well as a Second Team All-America that same year, and a unanimous Hills popularity was immediate, as he landed endorsement deals off the court with the likes of Fila and Sprite, and he was one dubbed by many to be one of the players to take Jordans place at the time (along with Penny Hardaway and later Jerry Stackhouse). Not just overall accomplishment, but also simply ability. For such a formerly huge star, the 2010 playoff run was the one and only time that Hill made it out of the first round of the playoffs. Bob FellerClass of 1962Feller blew away Major League hitters starting at the young age of 17, threw a no-hitter and tallied three 20-win seasons and a Triple Crown before giving up nearly four years of his prime to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Unmasking the Next Generation's Hall of Fame. Hill had a squeaky clean background to go with a flawless game. Up until high school I played soccer, basketball and whatever and I was a fan, more a fan of college basketball. Where that comparison falls short comes when realizing that James ranks fourth in all-time scoring average and poured in over 27 a night by just his second season. When the Pistons drafted him in 1994, it marked a new era in Motown, and the re-branding of a franchise. When the Phoenix Suns signed Grant Hill, he was washed up, broken down, and fading away. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. WebList of first ballot hall of famers (NBA players only) George Mikan Ed Macauley Andy Phillip Bob Cousy Bob Pettit Bill Russell Elgin Baylor Wilt Chamberlain Jerry Lucas Oscar Robertson Jerry West Bill Bradley John Havlicek Elvin Hayes Julius Erving Bill Walton Ive said this before, but if he and Penny Hardaway hadnt gotten hurt and had to deal with the injuries they did during their careers, the bar for imagery, in terms of the player you wanted to be like if you were 6-7 or 6-8, it would have been those two guys, Thomas said. And playing on that stage in St. Louis, and [Chris] Webber and [Alan] Henderson and [Jamal] Mashburn were all there representing their teams, and even at that point, even though I was really young, I held my own. Mike SchmidtClass of 1995Schmidt excelled with both his bat -- he led the NL in home runs eight times -- and his glove -- he won 10 Gold Glove Awards -- during his Hall of Fame career. He was able to see it through. While that latter number may not seem significant on its own, its nearly identical to the career-best mark for Bryant who clocked in at .224 in 2005-06. When describing LeBron James, those are the words that noted NBA commentator Michael Wilbon has expressed time and again. first And then Michael Jackson, who went to Georgetown, he went to my local high school and lived a couple streets down from me, so I started watching him when he was in high school. The longtime Phillie won a World Series with the club in 1980. ), (For fun: Hill earned $456,000 per regular season appearance in Orlando. Hill was instrumental in replacing Shawn Marion after Marion was traded for Shaquille ONeal, and a key figure in Phoenixs surprising run to the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. WebSo, you are eligible for the Hall of Fame 5 seasons after you retire. I started getting letters from colleges and that summer and then my sophomore year is when things really took off. In 2000, Hill had signed a seven-year, $93 million contract with the Magic as part of a sign-and-trade (he was to be paired up with Tracy McGrady who too signed a seven-year $93 million deal). What if instead of Magic and Michael, we looked to Grant Hill, a 68 wing with point guard skills that could also go and get his. Jeter's trophy case also includes five Gold Glove Awards, five Silver Sluggers, the 2000 World Series MVP Award and the 1996 AL Rookie of the Year Award. Chipper JonesClass of 2018Arguably the most decorated player in Braves history, and one who rivals Mickey Mantle as possibly the best switch-hitter ever, Jones became just the second No. The first time Hodges was on the BBWAA ballot was for the 1969 Hall of Fame class. Back in the day youd go to the local high school and watch the game and he was like this amazing player. After injuries forced him to the bullpen midway through his career, the 1996 NL Cy Young Award winner -- who twice led the NL in innings pitched -- went on to wow as Atlanta's closer for three and a half seasons, setting an NL record with 55 saves in 2002. I mean, particularly when youre in your late 30s, its like, wow, Ive been going at this for a while. But then you look back when you retire and now five years removed and you kind of reflect on it all, it does seem like it all went by pretty fast. List of first ballot hall of famers (NBA players only) : r/nba Theres a decent chance hed in the Hall of Fame, anyways. MC5, a six-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee, revs up for first album in 51 years and new tour Guitarist Wayne Kramer, who leads the new edition of the band, likens its mission to Paul Reveres. But immediately injuries took their toll on Hill, and after seven incredibly unsuccessful (and highly expensive) seasons with the Orlando Magic, in which he had played: 2000-01: 4 games2001-02: 142002-03: 292003-04: 02004-05: 672005-06: 212006-07: 65, it was time for Hill to move on. Tony GwynnClass of 2007In terms of pure hitting acumen and ability, Gwynn is recognized as perhaps the greatest ever. I think when I was in the midst of it, fighting the injuries in Orlando and then went to Phoenix, youre just so caught up in the moment and looking forward. You are up and you cant run anymore and youre middle aged, and its like what happened? 1 ace for a Braves rotation that housed two other Cy Young Award winners in the 1990s and is considered the greatest starting staff of all time. Hall of Fame Cookie Notice Ty CobbClass of 1936Often described as the greatest hitter of all time, the ferociously competitive Cobb received the most Hall of Fame votes of the five enshrined in the inaugural ballot after winning 12 batting titles and hitting .366 in his career -- both still Major League records. Looking back, that looked like a one sided deal back then, but the Pistons wound up winning a title and went to the Finals twice due to Ben Wallaces play. As you might guess, big name offensive superstars get more attention than other positions. If Hill had been healthy during his Orlando years, he and T-Mac could have won a championship or two. For some, first-ballot votes are reserved for the truly special players, a sign of respect. He and Pete Rose are the only members of the 4,000-hit club, and Cobb's 897 steals are fourth in MLB history. Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird and LeBron James are the only three players in league history to eclipse those numbers after their first six seasons. Grant Hill - Basketball-Reference.com The 2018 Hall of Fame inductee has continued to shine since retirement. Grant H. Hill T'94 | Board of Trustees The two-time Cy Young Award winner and the '68 NL MVP Award winner quite literally changed the game. Well over half of our list of the Top 100 Legends were enshrined on the first ballot (including the entire top 20, assuming Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are First Ballot). The outstanding numbers he put up in Detroit were far in the rear-view mirror for many fans, and eventually Hills run in Orlando would be labeled a disappointment. It doesnt seem like I just started playing varsity at [South Lakes High in Reston, Va.] over 30 years ago. Hall of Fame A winner of four straight Cy Young Awards and a finalist three other times, Maddux was the No. That game with Patrick Ewing and Sleepy Floyd for Georgetown and James Worthy and of course Michael Jordan as a freshman hitting that shot to win the game. 28 Apr 2023 02:49:38 So those were the two schools I had grown up watching and they both had their own opinions as to what was best. Archived post. The promise and optimism that surrounded Hill when he arrived in the league 14-years ago is gone, and even if he does win a NBA title this season, Grant will come up just short of a Hall of Fame career. His 24 All-Star Game appearances are tied for the MLB record. The following is a little bit about Scott Rolens chances of being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Most notably, potential honorees are eligible on the ballot for Hall of Fame enshrinement after three full seasons of retirement, starting with the Class of 2018. NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 28: Steve Nash #13 and Grant Hill #33 of the Phoenix Suns stay focused during the game against the New Jersey Nets on October 31, 2010 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. And he was going to Georgetown, so my mom ending up getting season tickets and my mom and I, we had two tickets, and we would go to all these games at the [Capital] Center and she became a huge Georgetown fan. Tightwad Hill on Twitter: "RT @CalFootball: In honor of I kind of convinced myself in a way that, and maybe it was a way to protect myself if none of this [Hall of Fame] ever happened, that I didnt need that stuff because I know what I overcame and what I had to fight through just to get back and play in my final years. An All-American and two-time national champion at Duke, Hill continued his dominance in the early years of his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons. Things like All-Star selections, championships and league-wide finishes on various stat leaderboards all factor into the equation. But I want to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Ramsey said. I took one visit, one official visit, and when I came back from it I knew thats where I wanted to be. I wanted to play with my friends but my varsity coach asked me to play and my dad told me to play, and keep in mind I started high school when I was 13 so I was young. Three batting titles, a Triple Crown, an AL MVP Award and 18 All-Star appearances helped Yaz earn a place beside Williams in Red Sox lore. Micah Adams is an Assistant Managing Editor at The Sporting News. WebRT @CalFootball: In honor of this years NFL Draft in Kansas City, lets throw it back to 1997 when our first-ballot Hall of Famer @TonyGonzalez88 was selected 13th overall by the @Chiefs #ProBears . When reminiscing about Nash, well always remember the summer of 2004 as the moment the stars aligned to transform a very good, All-Star caliber point guard into a first-ballot Hall of Famer. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. If Penny (Hardaway) and Grant don't get hurt, those are the two guys back in their day that everyone wants to play like.". NBA.com: So like all good, obedient children, you chose Duke? Breaking down the Golden State-Los Angeles matchup with 3 things to watch, 1 X-factor and a series prediction. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. a first One of Basketball-Reference.coms most unique features is a Hall of Fame probability calculator which considers the statistics, accolades and awards most correlated with getting selected into the Hall of Fame. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. the first Curley cross country runner to win the MSA individual title in the fall of 1984. But then when this all came about and I got that call (from the Hall of Fame), you realize that you might have suppressed some things. Willie StargellClass of 1988Stargell spent his entire 21-year career in Pittsburgh, topping 20 homers in 13 straight seasons and winning a pair of home run crowns after the Pirates moved to Three Rivers Stadium in 1971. Hall of Fame ballot first The 1977 AL MVP Award winner was a seven-time batting champion. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter. Simpson) and 34 (Joe Perry) are also enshrined. He was maybe around older guys and guys who had been in the league, but you just didnt think about the league when you were at those camps and tournaments with the other elite high school players. From that moment on I followed those two teams. This years list includes six first-time finalists: two-time NBA ChampionRay Allen, two-time NCAA ChampionGrant Hill, 10-time NBA All-StarJason Kidd, two-time NBA MVPSteve Nash,three-time Olympic gold medalistKatie Smithand four-time WNBA ChampionTina Thompson. Grant Hill | ACG Atlanta The seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NCAA Champion has made the successful transition from 19 years as a professional athlete to ownership, member of corporate boards, leadership in business along with several television broadcasting roles. And he never played a day in the Minors, going straight to the big leagues in 1973 after he was drafted by the Padres. That was the most important thing for me. The "Big Red Machine" won the World Series in both of those seasons, keyed by the 10-time All-Star second baseman and all-time hit king Pete Rose atop the lineup. Hill: Its crazy. And I dont remember it the same way. He won the AL MVP Award in '80 and was part of the Royals' first championship team in '85. The Phoenix Suns shouldnt trade a first for a point guard, Phoenix Suns: A tribute to Steve Nashs Hall of Fame career, Ranking the Phoenix Suns best top-5 picks, Top 10 highest individual scoring games in team history, Hill had signed a seven-year, $93 million contract with the Magic, The Phoenix Suns should consider trading for T.J. McConnell, Tobin Heath, USWNT Beat Chile in Friendly as Carli Lloyd Scores 2 Goals, Phoenix Suns: A tribute to Steve Nash's Hall of Fame career, The Phoenix Suns shouldn't trade a first for a point guard, The Phoenix Suns are becoming the Houston Rockets West.