percyhoward
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The Hall of Fame just announced their preliminary list of 2007 nominees. Jerry Jones actually made the list for the first time. Too Tall and Drew Pearson also made the list, but there's a man who is probably more deserving than any of them who did not. Nowhere to be found on the preliminary list of 111 players, coaches, and contributors is the late Harvey Martin.
If you look at the All-Decade Team of the 1970's, as selected by the HOF selection Committee in 1980. It was comprised of 45 position players. Of those, 34 are already in the Hall of Fame. Six who aren't showed up on this latest preliminary list (players like Drew Pearson), three are no longer eligible because they retired prior to 1982 (Cliff Harris is one of those), and the 45th and last player who isn't in any of those categories is Martin.
Martin did not make the preliminary list, although he is still eligible for regular selection to the hall, and although he was named one of the 45 best players of a 10-year period (the 70's). When you count the 100+ players on this preliminary list and the 50 or so players from Martin's era that have gone into the HOF since his retirement, this means he's no longer considered even one of the 150 best players of his era.
To give an idea of the enormity of the change in perception about Harvey Martin that has occurred over the last 25 years, consider that, in addition to making the All-Decade Team, he went to four Pro Bowls, was the co-MVP of Super Bowl XII, and in 1977, had 23 sacks (which would've been a record if sacks had been an official stat back then), and was named AP Defensive Player of the Year. You could make a very strong argument that Martin deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer Dan Hampton went to the same number of Pro Bowls, won the same number of rings, but was never SBMVP or Player of the Year, and Harvey Martin was both.
Players play their careers, and that's their statement for history to judge. The people who watched them and played with them at the time know them best. What is it that voters think they know about Harvey now that nobody else knew when he was playing?
If Harvey were still around today he might be asking what he did to slip so far in 25 years. I don't know if Jerry has given the media his reaction to being named to this preliminary list, but when he does, he'd better mention #79.
If you look at the All-Decade Team of the 1970's, as selected by the HOF selection Committee in 1980. It was comprised of 45 position players. Of those, 34 are already in the Hall of Fame. Six who aren't showed up on this latest preliminary list (players like Drew Pearson), three are no longer eligible because they retired prior to 1982 (Cliff Harris is one of those), and the 45th and last player who isn't in any of those categories is Martin.
Martin did not make the preliminary list, although he is still eligible for regular selection to the hall, and although he was named one of the 45 best players of a 10-year period (the 70's). When you count the 100+ players on this preliminary list and the 50 or so players from Martin's era that have gone into the HOF since his retirement, this means he's no longer considered even one of the 150 best players of his era.
To give an idea of the enormity of the change in perception about Harvey Martin that has occurred over the last 25 years, consider that, in addition to making the All-Decade Team, he went to four Pro Bowls, was the co-MVP of Super Bowl XII, and in 1977, had 23 sacks (which would've been a record if sacks had been an official stat back then), and was named AP Defensive Player of the Year. You could make a very strong argument that Martin deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer Dan Hampton went to the same number of Pro Bowls, won the same number of rings, but was never SBMVP or Player of the Year, and Harvey Martin was both.
Players play their careers, and that's their statement for history to judge. The people who watched them and played with them at the time know them best. What is it that voters think they know about Harvey now that nobody else knew when he was playing?
If Harvey were still around today he might be asking what he did to slip so far in 25 years. I don't know if Jerry has given the media his reaction to being named to this preliminary list, but when he does, he'd better mention #79.
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