The Baseball Writers Association of America has been out of touch at times. Eleven esteemed members weren’t quite convinced by Babe Ruth’s hall of fame candidacy. It was not until 2007 that the organization begrudgingly acknowledged this Internet fad. However, even by BBWAA standards, the initial Bill Conlin press release was incredible.

Conlin has been accused of molesting multiple children. This puts the BBWAA in a sticky wicket, since the organization awarded Conlin the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, enshrining him in the hall of fame placing him in a marked off section of the hall of fame, in 2011. Here was the response from BBWAA secretary/treasurer Jack O’Connell.

“Bill Conlin has been a member in good standing of the BBWAA since 1966. The allegations have no bearing on his winning the 2011 J.G. Taylor Spink Award, which was in recognition of his notable career as a baseball writer.”

So, as far as the BBWAA is concerned, a woman should be censured for exposing her thighs, while a man (allegedly) placing his hands on the thighs and vaginas of defenseless young girls is not a matter for their concern.

No acknowledgement of the disturbing nature of the allegations. Trotting out 45 years of “good standing” BBWAA membership as though that’s a definitive character assessment. Not so well played. Enough BBWAA members expressed displeasure for the organization to release take two, acknowledging that, yes, child molestation is a serious matter.