# Gale Sayers, Why in HOF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382 "2006-12-16T06:38:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/1 "2006-12-16T06:38:04Z")
Here’s a [link](http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SAYERGAL01) to his stats, of course, stats aren’t everything, but surely a guy needs more than this to get in a HOF? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/2 "2006-12-16T07:02:18Z")
Well, the numbers are actually pretty spectacular in the proper context. 23 touchdowns in his rookie season (six in one game, I think) was a pretty stupendous achievement. I think it’s just a case where everybody sort of agreed that, given what he did in the short time he was able to play, he deserved to be recognized. I guess maybe a decent comparison would be if Lebron James tore up his legs and could only limp around for the rest of the season and then retired. On the one hand, it’s certainly not the body of work you’d expect from a Hall of Famer, but on the other, he was obviously headed in that direction, and it’s not like the abrupt end to his career was self-induced. He was really a sensation before the injuries; maybe the greatest return man ever. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/3 "2006-12-16T08:38:46Z")
Football players are held to a much different standard than other sports (especially baseball) when it comes to the Hall of Fame regarding longevity. You have to look at Sayers’ stats in context to the era he played in. He’s sort of a Sandy Koufax type. Sayers was widely regarded as the best running back of his era, albeit for a brief time. His speed and cutback ability are legendary. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/4 "2006-12-16T15:26:38Z")
Plus he was in the only [movie](http://imdb.com/title/tt0068315/) that straight men are allowed to cry while watching. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/5 "2006-12-16T15:43:42Z")
Everything I was going to say has already been said, so I’m here for support. Also, because of his short career and because the Bears won the Super Bowl after his career was over with Walter Payton, people tend to remember that instead. They’re still behind Barry Sanders, though. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/6 "2006-12-16T18:35:56Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Plus he was in the only [movie](http://imdb.com/title/tt0068315/) that straight men are allowed to cry while watching. [/QUOTE] One of only two, actually, though the [other one](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050798/) doesn’t involve football. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/7 "2006-12-16T18:56:51Z")
_Here’s a Byrd’s-eye view of Sayers Off to a touchdown for the Bears._ Ogden Nash, writing captions in a Baltimore-area periodical that covered the (mis)fortunes of the Colts. I may not be remembering the correct spelling of Byrd’s name. The above pretty much summarizes my knowledge of football. Except for the fact that Roman Gabriel is the quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, and his favorite receiver is Jack Snow. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/8 "2006-12-16T19:46:36Z")
At the time Sayers played, he was the top running back in the NFL. 800 yards was a lot back in the 60s and he was among the top five in rushing yards his entire career (he only had five full seasons), and finishing fifth in 1968 despite missing five games. He was a pro bowler every year (except '68, when he was injured, and probably would have been one that year if healthy). This for some pretty terrible teams, where he was the entire offense. Of course he deserved to be in the HOF. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/9 "2006-12-16T20:51:01Z")
Even if you don’t like football, you should watch films of him running. His grace, agility and speed are astounding. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/10 "2006-12-17T03:17:09Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Even if you don’t like football, you should watch films of him running. His grace, agility and speed are astounding. [/QUOTE] Ditto. Watch some old NFL Films footage of him and you will be absolutely amazed. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/11 "2006-12-17T05:53:18Z")
So, arguably, Bo Jackson has an argument then for HOF admission? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/12 "2006-12-17T05:56:09Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] So, arguably, Bo Jackson has an argument then for HOF admission? :dubious: [/QUOTE] Bo never played a full season, never led the league in rushing and wasn’t the game-breaking player that Sayers was. And guys: when did it become NOT okay to cry at the end of **Field of Dreams**? Did I miss that memo? ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/13 "2006-12-17T06:06:57Z")
[QUOTE=brianjedi] wasn’t the game-breaking player that Sayers was [/QUOTE] Pfft, purely subjective. How about [Terrell Owens](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/DaviTe00.htm) then, he’s even got a couple Super Bowl victories, but really only played four full seasons. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/14 "2006-12-17T06:24:26Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Pfft, purely subjective. How about [Terrell Owens](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/DaviTe00.htm) then, he’s even got a couple Super Bowl victories, but really only played four full seasons. [/QUOTE] Terrell DAVIS has a borderline Hall of Fame case, but I would vote against him simply because it’s not that difficult to put up good numbers as a running back in Denver’s offense. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/15 "2006-12-17T06:26:17Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] He was a pro bowler every year (except '68, when he was injured, and probably would have been one that year if healthy). [/QUOTE] You know, though, when you get right down to it, bowling isn’t really _that_ taxing an activity, even at the professional level. I mean it’s really mpressive that he was able to compete professionally in two different sports, years before anybody had ever heard of Bo Jackson, but if he was healthy enough to play pro football in '68, he was probably healthy enough to bowl. Still, full props to a man, who, four years out of five, both played professional football, and bowled at an elite level. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/16 "2006-12-17T06:37:36Z")
[QUOTE=brianjedi] And guys: when did it become NOT okay to cry at the end of **Field of Dreams**? Did I miss that memo? [/QUOTE] I love your dress. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/17 "2006-12-17T06:43:00Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Still, full props to a man, who, four years out of five, both played professional football, and bowled at an elite level. [/QUOTE] That wasn’t the sort of [Pro Bowl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Bowl) he meant. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/18 "2006-12-17T09:12:41Z")
Bo Jackson played in just 38 regular season games in the NFL and scored 18 TDs. In 1969, Sayers rushed for over 1000 for a Bears team that went 1-13. He was the only player in the NFL or AFL to top 1000 yards that season. The Pro Football Hall of Fame had a much smaller group of electors than other sports. There are just 40 voters and they meet in a caucus. It’s not like baseball where there are hundreds of voters all over the country and they just mail the ballots in. The football HOF electors get together and discuss the candidates and it’s possible to lobby for or against a particular candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/19 "2006-12-17T16:29:31Z")
Billy Sims has similar stats over a similar period, and has no chance for the HOF. Sayers is more in due to the Brian’s Song thing and other media related things than acutal stats, because if he is a valid entry then so is Sims, Bo Jackson, and dozens of players who had three or four good years. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382/20 "2006-12-17T16:49:38Z")
[QUOTE=brianjedi] Terrell DAVIS [/QUOTE] Wow, when I was typing this, going though the stats and everything, I thought “Heh, don’t type Owens by accident,” and I frakkin’ did. :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gale-sayers-why-in-hof/384382.md?page=2)