Vets Ballot: The Candidates, Please
The Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee is getting ready to report on its most recent work – evaluating 20 retired players for possible inclusion in the Hall. Some musings on a few of the candidates:
Vern Stephens, SS
As a history-minded fan, I’m excited to see Stephens’ name on the ballot. It’s overdue credit for the best power-hitting shortstop before the likes of Ernie Banks and Cal Ripken, Jr. How good was Stephens? From 1948-1950, he posted seasons of 137, 155 and 144 RBI, averaging more than 30 HRs a year (in hitter-friendly Fenway, admittedly). Before that, however, he was a perennial MVP candidate on the backwater St. Louis Browns. It’s amazing that he never received any serious consideration from writers after his retirement in 1955. Still, his career totals fall a little short of Hall caliber. Like many very good actors who finally get an Oscar nod but don’t win, Stephens’ nomination this year is the award.
Gil Hodges, 1B / Mgr.
An eight-time All Star as a player and the manager of the ’69 Miracle Mets, Hodges has strong credentials so it’s curious that he never gained entrance in the past. His power numbers (370 HR, 1,274 RBI) are strong but not dazzling, especially with so many at-bats in cozy Ebbets Field. His overall record as a manager is sub-.500, but he had some tough assignments (Washington Senators and the Mets of the 1960s). What’s interesting is that his woeful Senators’ teams always showed improvement from year to year, and the Mets’ title remains a miracle given their offense. Still, I think he falls a little short of the honor.
Allie Reynolds, P
A well-known pitcher on many high-profile Yankee teams, Reynolds won 182 regular season games plus 7 more in the World Series. But like popular TV star James Garner’s 1985 Best Actor nod for the movie Murphy’s Romance, the nomination is the award (see Stephens, above).
Ron Santo, 3B
OK, this is the guy who should get in. Voters are notoriously stingy about placing third basemen in the Hall of Fame, while they always seem overly generous with shortstops, outfielders and first basemen. For those who played since the Great Depression, it seems third basemen need 500 HRs (Mathews and Schmidt), 3,000 hits (Boggs and Brett) or record-breaking defense (Brooks Robinson) to make the Hall. There's simply no nuance there for guys who are just short of those very high standards (with the curious exception of George Kell, a Vet Committee choice). Santo's 342 HRs, 1,300+ RBIs, nine All-Star games and 5 Gold Gloves at a demanding position -- most of it during the pitching-friendly 1960s -- are worthy of the game's highest honor. The fact that he accomplished this in 15 seasons while battling diabetes makes it all the more impressive.
Keeping track of the game's past -- and the Hall of Fame's future
1 comment:
It's fascinating that Allie Reynolds missed his time by one vote this year. That tells me that he will eventually get in. He was part of 6 World Series champs and had a .630 winning percentage. He also pitched in an era when a 20 game winner also had a handful of saves (6 of them in 1952). My ONLY problems with Allie are: short career and a lot of walks.
Jim Rice cheapens the Hall, plain and simple. With him in, you have to consider Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Andres Galarraga and Ellis Burks, none of which should get in (except MAYBE Murphy). Sorry Pirates fans, Dave Parker is NOT a Hall of Famer. We have to get out of this "he has almost 400 homers, so that's a HOFer" mentality.
Vada Pison and Al Oliver's numbers are decent, too, but not Hall of Fame caliber. If 2700 hits is the new "3000," put both in. Until then, sorry.
Mickey Vernon, the old first baseman for the Washington Senators, was a hell of a player. This guy missed two years in his prime due to World War II. His nearly 2500 hits likely would have been AT LEAST 2800, possibly 2900 had he not played in the war. 1311 RBI could have been 1500. Unfortunately, he played for the Senators.
Santo probably belongs. The guy was a 9 time All Star and was the best 3B in the league for 10 years. Had he played WELL beyond 34, he would be in without question.
Maury Wills is tough for me, because he was one of the best shortstops during his days. With his speed, I'd probably tend to say he goes in. He was a better SS than Jim Rice was an OF.
Marty Marion is an old shortstop that was as good (or better) than Phil Rizzuto. His problem was he wasn't a Yankee, but a Cardinal. Cecil Travis is another victim of WWII, but one of the finest shortstops ever. Terry Moore was one of the best outfielders in the league until going to WWII.
Great blog. I enjoyed it.
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