
Elitism and snobbery are not confined to the political class.
It also exists in other venues, including sports. Every year the baseball writers vote on candidates to the Baseball Hall of Fame. If a player languishes for ten years without getting 75 percent of the vote, they fall off the ballot. Some of these players are later recognized by Hall members (players, managers, and executives) who have formed era committees to consider the candidacies of exceptional players not confirmed by the writers. Yesterday this committee voted to select All-Star relief ace and one time all-time saves leader Lee Smith and All-Star Hitter Harold Baines to the Hall of Fame in 2019. While the selection of Smith was unquestioned, the selection of Baines was.