Effa Manley: The Worst Person in the Hall

Recently reading the the book "Veracruz Blues" by Mark Winegardner (an excellent read, btw), I came across the following quote, based upon a reputed conversation between Hall of Famer Ray Dandridge + Ex-Negro Leaguers' Burnis Wright & Theolic "Fireball" Smith:
"'I'm thinkin maybe I'll go back to Newark,' Ray said.  Burnis replied 'You won't make ten cents more playin for Effa Manley than you will down here.  Unless you Terris McDuffie.'  We had a good laugh.  Manley owned the Newark Eagles.  She was a sharp businesswoman, I'll give her that.  The crack about McDuffie, who used to be with the Eagles but who played for Torreon now--well, he used to do Effa Manley.  Don't be shocked, Frank: Owners doin it to players for years, only not so literal." (See Winegardner, 1996, p. 72).

This recalls an excerpt from a report I am preparing on the Baseball Hall (stay tuned here), subtitled "Effa Manley: The Worst Person in the Hall."  Note: Links will open up a new pop-up window, it is recommended that you close the window upon reading.

In 2006, the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues met for a one-time election.  This body of 12 eminent African-American baseball historians considered legends and pioneers of the Negro Leagues, an “Old-Timer's Committee for Negro Leaguers,” if you will.  It was expected that 4-5 members were going to be elected.  "That would be cool," I thought at the time, "I would like to know the results of such historical research when I visit the Hall."  One problem: They forgot to limit the vote. “Vote for as many as you want,” the Hall was essentially saying to the Negro League Old-Timers Committee.  The result?  17 new members.  And not to sound racist (or sexist), but several of these inductees were highly questionable.

One particular watered-down selection from 2006, Effa Manley, really bothers me.  Effa Manley was a (presumed white) team “co-owner” of the Newark Eagles.   Her husband bought the team and she served as business manager for 13 years and sole owner for less than a year after he passed (ala Georgia Frontiere).  She performed some innovative community relations in the Newark area, such as letting kids in free to games - she probably knew they wouldn't sell the seats and made money off the sale of sodas, peanuts, and Cracker Jacks. 

She was known for favoring the younger players on her team and had amorous affairs with several of them.   She would parade the players around in her ladies club.  Pitcher Terris McDuffie was a particular favorite and when her husband Abe found out he traded McDuffie to the New York Black Yankees for "two old bats and a pair of used sliding pads" (See Negro League Baseball Museum).  IMHO the bats and sliding pads deserve to be in the Baseball Hall more than Effa Manley.  The players viewed her as a distraction in the clubhouse.  She sold her team in 1949 from this sentiment – there's no whoring in baseball.

But I really have one major problem with Effa Manley.  When her players started to integrate to the Major Leagues, she opposed it.  She wanted money for her players.  And maybe she deserved that - Bill Veeck did compensate her for Larry Doby, but she got nothing for Don Newcombe (Dodgers) and Monte Irvin (Giants).  But I can't get over the fact that she obstructed in any way the integration of baseball, which set the tone for the entire country.  Effa Manley was critical of Branch Rickey (for “stealing” Newcombe) and Jackie Robinson (for forgetting his roots) – and to me that's sacrilege (btw: I loved the movie “42”).  No, I don't rightly see how Effa Manley did anything for Major League Baseball - in fact, I view her as an antagonist (and a harlot).

Jim Kaat has 283 wins and won 14 Gold Gloves [3rd all-time behind only Greg Maddux (18) and Brooks Robinson (16)].  He is not in the Hall, like Effa Manley.  Kaat has more Gold Gloves than Manley had seasons in baseball – and she only served as sole owner for less than a year.  George Steinbrenner (as much as I hate to say it as an Oriole fan), Marvin Miller, Buck O' Neil: All deserve to be in the hall more than Effa Manley – this I know for sure.  But, then again, this is what happens when you institute an unlimited vote.  Let's not learn that same lesson again, Keith Olbermann. 

This last reference is to Keith Olbermann's perceived ringleader role in issuing an unlimited vote in future BBWAA Hall elections (See Olbermann Show 1/8/14 - 6:02 Video).  Veteran BBWAA Writer Ken Rosenthal supports an increase to 15 or so votes (See Rosenthal on the Hall: It Ain't Broke, But I Can Fix It).  Current BBWAA President Le Velle E. Neal III has publicly shown support for "increasing the vote" (See Minneapolis Star-Tribune - 1/8/14 - 2:57 Video). Increasing the vote, however, is a profoundly bad idea in light of baseball history and group decision-making research.

Unlimited voting power has caused problems in the past for baseball on at least three other occasions: (1)  The 1958 All-Star Game, where Reds' fans stuffed the ballot box (and, hence, removed the fan vote for 13 years); (2) The 1944-5 Veterans Committee, who inducted 21 in two years (the so-called "dying wish" of Ex-Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis); (3) The 1971-77 Veterans Committee, who "shepherded" in seven Ex-Giant/Cardinal teammates of Members Frankie Frisch & Bill Terry (as "cronyism," or group invulnerability as a symptom of Groupthink) (See Janis, 1972).  

Applying past group decision research, there are five issues associated with instituting an increased or unlimited vote: (1) watering-down the entry pool with many more finalists ( = double?); (2) rendering moot the minimum 5% carrover rule (and what do you tell previous players not qualifying in earlier years?); (3) produce a glut of mediocre finalists on every ballot (presumably not close to being elected); (4) further marginalizing selective electors (as they watch their colleagues vote for, say, 25 players); and, thus, (5) increasing Votes per Ballot variation among voters.  This last issue is the biggest problem, based upon my research.  Stay Tuned Here...I have discovered the real flaw in the voting system and how to easily fix it.