Question 1: May we rule out that the player was enshrined more for his executive or managerial accomplishments than for his on-field skills?
Answer: Yes, you may. The Hall is largely, but not exclusively, a shrine for MLB players. Throughout the game’s history, individuals have been recognized for their accomplishments to the game both on and off the field.
This includes 34 persons honored for their executive contributions. A handful – Cum Posey, Clark Griffith – also had substantial playing careers, but were not enshrined for that reason. The only female Hall of Famer – Negro Leagues team owner Effa Manley – also fits in this category.
Another 23 were recognized for their record as managers. Again the group is littered with fellows who had good – in some cases very good – playing careers, but not good enough to get them elected on that basis. John McGraw and Joe Torre are examples.
Ten more have been enshrined as umpires. A couple of arbiters – Hank O’Day and Jocko Conlan – had brief, unremarkable on-field careers, but as a group, these 10 tried to be inconspicuous on the field.
And a final two – Henry Chadwick and Alexander Cartwright – were enshrined for their pioneering role in the game’s development. Chadwick was a sports writer largely credited with developing the concept of a “box score.” Cartwright was one of the chief architects of baseball in its infancy.
That eliminates 69 possibilities and reduces the field of candidates substantially. But there remain 262 immortals to be considered. So let’s moved on to question 2.