Vets Tap Gordon for Honor

The Hall’s Veterans Committee took a step back in time this week when it honored the ‘other Joe’ from the 2nd Yankee dynasty (1930s-early 40s). Not talking about DiMaggio, of course, but about the committee’s selection of 2B Joe Gordon for 2009.

The recent vets’ ballot had 20 former players, and only Gordon made the cut. He has some impressive accomplishments: 1942 AL MVP and a leader on many championship teams, though he never gained election from the baseball writers. Still, his path to Cooperstown was probably inevitable once the veterans elected his chief competitor for 2B glory, Bobby Doerr, in 1986.

Doerr and Gordon were the best AL second basemen of the 1940s. Though both played in the shadow of superstars (Ted Williams in Boston and DiMaggio in New York), each made nine appearances on the All-Star team. Playing half his games at Fenway, the Red Sox’ Doerr had a distinct edge in batting average and RBIs. But it’s clear that on several key markers, Gordon had an advantage:

MVP vote: Gordon finished in the top 10 five times, winning in 1942. Doerr was in the top 10 twice but never won the award.

Power: Both had strong HR power for their position. But Gordon hit 30 more dingers in about 1,400 fewer at-bats.

Championships: Gordon was a key player on 5 World Champions (4 in N.Y. and 1 in Cleveland), while Doerr’s Sox lost in his only visit to the Series.

Are their infielders with better numbers than Gordon who aren’t in the Hall? Yes. But in an often subjective veterans’ voting system over many decades, it’s no surprise that Gordon finally got his due.

As for Ron Santo, this blogger's choice among those on the latest ballot, it's still a waiting game.