Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, and Cy Young are in everyone’s Hall of Fame. It’s not the game’s greatest players who define the institution. It’s the questionable inductees like those selected on Frankie Frisch’s watch on the Veterans Committee. Indeed the players of more modest performance provide a low bar that ignites many an argument of who belongs and who does not.

In that way, Frisch’s influence on the committee’s choices have helped define and damage the Hall of Fame.

His five most glaring selections were George Kelly, Jesse Haines, Dave Bancroft, Ross Youngs, and Chick Hafey. Lowering the bar for admission creates problems. Here’s why: Imagine if your favorite player is Keith Hernandez and you think he should be in Cooperstown. He’s flat out a better first baseman than already-inducted George Kelly. Hernandez was in fact a better player than any of the five Frisch selections. There are likely hundreds of players better than the Frisch Five. If they’re all in, how can Hernandez be left out?

Please enjoy this video from CooperstownExpert.com that explains how and why Frisch was able to do what he did. Visit CooperstownExpert.com to see more videos like this as well as autographs and memorabilia on every member of the Hall of Fame and many shining stars.

Reach Jim Smiley, the author of this story, [email protected]

Be sure to check out CooperstownExpert.com, the internet’s leading website for the display of museum-quality baseball autographs.