The Hall of Fame is not only a monument to celebrate the greatest of the greats, but it serves as a chronicle of the history of baseball through the times. It recognizes personalities, perhaps unworthy of being enshrined as a member of the Hall, who have had a consequential or curious impact on the game.

There is ample evidence that Cicotte and Joe Jackson, great players of their time, conspired for profit to fix the outcome of the 1919 World Series. Accordingly, I don't believe they should be honored as members. Ted Williams was the biggest proponent of admitting Jackson, citing his 1919 postseason stats, but in the particular games that were thrown Jackson did not produce and neither did Cicotte. These players were undoubtedly treated unfairly by ownership, but that does not excuse their desecration of the game.

Another more recent time where ownership acted outrageously and unfairly against players happened in the mid-1980s when all of the owners colluded to ignore talented free agents and reduce their salaries far below market value. Fortunately the PA sued and recouped some of the money for the players, but the relationship between the union and the owners has never been fully repaired.