THE MICHIGAN DAILY PA(E ThF1E . . .... ....... ................................................... . ...... . ....... . ......... . . ..... . ...... SPORTS NEWS+ VIEWS + COMMENT By BILL MULLENDORE, Sports Editor FOR TWO YEARS NOW, the Baseball Writers' Association of America} has failed to get together on new additions to baseball's Hall of Fame. Looking over the system of voting in operation for Hall of Fame selec- tions, the reason for failure is apparent. The wonder is that any ball players have their names inscribed in the Cooperstown shrine. To be selected, the candidate must be named on 75 per cent of thek ballots cast by the 263 voters. Each writer lists ten nominees on his ballot. Differences of opinion being what they are in the baseball world, it is probably a little too much to expect 75 per cent of the baseball writers to agree on any one choice. Once the dozen or so acknowledged all-time greats have been disposed of, the opportunities for disagreement are legion. That does not mean no players outside the Hall of Fame are unworthy of admittance. Consider the list up for consideration at the recent voting for a moment.° Topping the vote, but still well below the required 75 per cent mark, was Frank Chance, old-time first baseman of the Chicago Cubs and perhaps the greatest initial sacker of all time. Running second was Johnny Evers, who, with Chance and Joe Tinker, formed the legendary Tinker to Evers to Chance doubleplay combination., Tinker was fifteenth in the voting. MILLER HUGGINS,, ranked as one of the all-time managerial greats for his work with the 1921-28 New York Yankees, and Ed Walsh, base- ball's most outstanding iron man on the pitchitng mound, tied for third. Rube Waddell, Clark Griffith, and Carl Hubbell came next in line. All three were great pitchers, and Griffith has been one of the game's foremost executives as well. Rounding out the list of 21 were Frank Frisch, Mickey Cochrane, Lefty Grove, Pie Traynor, Mordecai Brown, Joe McGinnity, Dizzy Dean, Tinker, Frank Baker, Chief Bender, Bill Dickey, Rabbit Maranville, Charlie Gehr- inger, and Herb Pennock. Looking the selectees over, the fan is struck by the fact that any or all of these men belong in any compiled enumeration of baseball's immortals. Every man nominated was a star withi a long record of contributions to th;, game, contributions meriting the honor of Hall of Fame mention. Yet, through an impossibly complicated voting system, constructed as if by design to take maximum account of local rivalries, prejudices, and individualism of the voters, these men are denied recognition. Obviously, it would be unwise to place all 21 in the Hall of Fame in a single year. But we see no reason why at least three, and possibly five or more men should not be named each year, at least until the list of un- recognized stars has been exhausted to a far greater degree than it now is. As a start, we would suggest a system whereby the three highest, or five highest, names on the list were accorded Hall of Fame honors, regardless of percentage requirements. Further, we pass along a suggestion that some effort be made to strike a balance between the old-timers and the moderns. Lastly, we would cast one small personal vote for. Abner Doubleday, the guy who, according to legend, did nothing more nor less than invent the game of baseball. Though his claim has been disputed, its acceptance by a majority of the baseball world indicates his worthiness for any and all honors the national pastime can bestow.' Cage Coach at Purdue Resigns Lambert Succeeded by Mel Taube BACK IN FORM-Dave Strack, starting guard on Michigan's basket- ball team and only two-year veteran on the cage squad, displayed the same all-around ability in his last two games that won him the nom- ination as the outstanding basketball player in the state in 1943. Strack scored 25 points in his last two contests, leading both teams with 14 points in the Michigan-Northwestern engagement. Ile also turned in an outstanding defensive job against the Wildcats, holding Max Morris, last year's Big Ten scoring leader, to five points and only one field goal. Morris brought an average of 15 points per game into the fray. Inexperienced Matmen Prove To Be No Match for Indiana Swim Team Sees Buckeyes Menacimg Title Althougth playing host to Purdue Saturday afternoon, Michigan's, swimming team will have its sights trained on Columbus, O., where Ohio Etate's challengers for the Confer- ence crown take on Great Lakes'I strong tank squad. The Bluejackets have already faced' the Wolverines twice and Saturday's clash with the Bucks may well prove a yardstick for some long-range gueing on the Big Ten meet in March. At any rate the comparative times will probably give Coach Matt( Mann's natators a lot to think about. Ohio State opened its season lastI week as expected by submerging an outclassed Oberlin College team, 70-14. The Buckeyes finished one- two in all events and copped both the medley and freestyle relays. Their times were little short of spectacular for this early in the season. Halo Hirose, Coach Mike Peppe's ;uccessor to Keo Nakama, and Bill Smith, and Jack Hill both scored double wins to pace the Ohio State outfit. Hirose churned to :23.4 in the 50- and :52.4 in the 100-yard free- style events while his teammate splashed to triumphs in the other two freestyle races, the 220 and A40-yard distances. Hill's times were 2:13.4 for the 220 and 4:58.8 for the 440. If these times don't mean much, consider that in last year's Confer- ence meet, Wolverine Mert Church won the 50 and 100 in :23.8 and :52.5 respectively and that Buckeye Keo Nakama took the 220 and 440 in 2:14 and 4:59.4 respectively. All of which goes to show that competition this year is going to be hot in the free- style division. Buckeye Captain Jim Counsil- man appears to be the cuass of the Conference in the breast stroke. His 2:26.5 against Oberlin was some nine seconds better than the winning time turned in by Big Ten co-champs, Heini Kessler of Michigan and Vern Ojampa of Minnesota, in last year's meet. Ohio State didn't exhibit its crack divers against Oberlin nor did the Buckeyes show their strength in the relay events. But with the above- mentioned swimmers, and divers like ex-National champp Miller Anderson and Ted Cristakos, Coach Peppe's boys are loaded for Michigan. I-il Cage Results Class A Allen Rumsey A 31, Fletcher A 30 Lockwood A 2, Tyler Houes A 0 Green House A 2, Baldwin A 0 Class B Green House B 44, Fletcher B 22 Allen Rumsey B 28, Tyler B 20 Three more records fell in the Minnesota series, making seven new marks in all that the Wolverines have established this season. Other records are almost certain to fall.I By scoring 14 goals in the two games with the Gophers, Michigan's