Who Makes Your Chicago Hall of Fame?

Michael Jordan at his 2009 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame; AP Photo/Stephan Savoia

ESPN Chicago is asking for sports fans to help elect the first class for the Chicago Hall of Fame. 20 players from Our Town's five pro sports teams have been nominated; five will be enshrined.

A couple legends are locks. We imagine that Michael Jordan will be a unanimous selection, as should be the case for Walter Payton. After that, it gets a bit trickier. Only three more from a list of 17 that includes the likes of The Big Hurt and Ryno, Pippen and Phil, Hull, Halas and Ditka? How do we weigh individual achievements versus team success? Stars of the past to more recent stars? And how do we compare the popularity of the particular sports over the years? All are tough questions to consider.

ESPN had a number of their local and national experts share their votes. We voted the exact same ballot as Melissa Isaacson: Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, Ernie Banks, Bobby Hull, Frank Thomas. Who do you think is worthy of enshrinement? Cast your vote and share here in the comments.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@chicagoist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Benjy Lipsman in News on August 11, 2011 10:00 AM

Comments [rss]

sat3911

Esposito.

One per major sport, per pro team.

Plus one for the Cubs...

Joseph

Also, no Joe Jackson or Buck Weaver? Seems kind of silly.

Joseph

My class:

Michael Jordan
Luis Aparicio
Ernie Banks
Walter Payton
Frank Thomas

But man, there are some seriously deserving people on this list (sorry, but I can't go with a first class having non-players (at least in Chicago, so sorry Ditka and Jackson) on it, and Harry Carey, really?)

spudart

Does Frank Thomas deserve to be in the Chicago Hall of Fame? Yes. The inaugural class. A definite NO.

blipsman

I also think that Frank Thomas' numbers were more impressive than at first glance because so many of his peers who put up similar numbers did so with the help of PEDs. Thomas would've been the most dominant hitter of his generation if Bonds, Sosa, McGwire etc. didn't enhance their numbers with 'roids.

ChicagoD

Big Frank had a tremendous career for a right-handed hitter. Somehow Sox fans tend to diminish his achievements, but he really was a spectacular player.

Ryno should also be first ballot. His individual achievements were tremendous, and he played in more playoff games than any Cub from 1946 to 1984. That is mostly a function of the playoff system, but if you want to talk team accomplishment it is still true.