Unlike the 2007 Ballot on which there were 2 classy and incomparable candidates who were shoo-ins, guarantees and assurances are things that cannot be promised for the ‘08 HOF election. Writers have to think about it extra hard this time around.
At this point in the game’s history, a shameful steroid crisis is occurring and needless to say, makes even the most veteran writers dubious when it comes to checking off debatable names. As one voting member puts it: “For me, the ballot is a year-round brain-buster; the drug questions turn it into a migraine.” He’s right. At what point in time and to what level of certainty can you differ right from wrong when it comes to the “drug question”? Baseball might have seen a record year in revenue, attendance and milestones but sadly, the bar of integrity and passion in the game have been slapped down so hard and so low, it has almost disappeared.
I don’t consider a man like Mark McGwire cheaters because technically, he broke zero rules and zero laws. I’m not going to make judgments solely based on a third-party report. However, the fact he didn’t do anything illegal doesn’t mean his actions were exemplary. Then again, even before the “steroid issue” entered the baseball dictionary, Mark McGwire was already one of the most feared sluggers in the game. On the contrary of that, he lacks the role model character that also plays a part in determining electability. This dilemma is going to give me nightmares!
Fortunately, the ballot does not consist entirely of names like Mark McGwire. Last year, I checked 10 names on the facile ballot. Now, more arduously, here are my pondered picks for the toilsome 2008 ballot:
1. Bert Blyleven-Hands down, Blyleven belongs in the Hall. The man is fifth all time in strikeouts (3701), had 22 years of domination under his belt with his knee-buckling curveball, a career total of 13 wins short of 300, and a dazzling postseason ERA of 2.47. His induction is long overdue!
2. Harold Baines-I’m checking off this respected name because he was incredibly consistent, having logged 8 seasons batting above .300 and not to mention coming up big when it was crucial (.324 in playoff). He was one of the prime batters of the 80’s and early 90’s. Anyway, how can you not enshrine a man whose 1628 RBIs is 10th in AL history?
3. Mark McGwire-The affirmative side won in this self-debate of “Big Mac Enshrinement”. I don’t see why McGwire should be held back from being enshrined when technically, no rules were broken by him in the process of an illustrious career. It was Major League Baseball who lacked action. It was Big Mac who touched a fan base that went beyond the Missouri stateline. He clobbered 583 homers (most not on roids if he even did them), and was a good sport. This is not an integrity argument, but an obligation to send Big Mac to Cooperstown because of all he’s done for the game.
4. Rich Gossage-Just 21 votes shy last year, “Goose” deserves a plaque in the hall as he was one of the pioneer dominating closers in baseball, having garnered 310 saves in his career which is tremendous for his era. Of course, that seemingly supersonic fastball adds to the impressive resume. Bruce Sutter’s in, Eck’s in, Fingers’ in, it’s time the writers showed some appreciation for Gossage as well.
5. Jim Rice-No reason to be pessimistic about the charitable #14. This may be his 14th year on the ballot but I can see him at the induction ceremony at the end of July. One of the best all-around hitters on the 70’s and 80’s, Rice also excelled with the leather and his defensive stats are comparable to that of the great Ted Williams. Only 9 other players rank above him in terms of both lifetime home runs and batting average, and all 9 are in Cooperstown. That stat alone should be enough to book him a ticket there this summer.
6. Andre Dawson-I think “the Hawk” is worthy of a vote. Why? Well, look at the 2774 hits, the 438 home runs (29th all time), the 1591 RBIs (28th all time), the 8 all-star berths, the 8 gold gloves, the Rookie of the Year and the MVP year (for a last place team). Dawson had a cannon for an arm and was one of the hardest workers in the entire league.
7. Chuck Finley-A southpaw with 200 wins, 2610 K’s, 5 all-start trips, and a devastating forkball, perhaps one of the best in the 90’s. Extraordinarily, Finley struck out 4 batters in one inning more than once. Finley accomplished this feat thrice! He deserves some appreciation for his workhorse career.
8. Lee Smith-I think 478 saves is enough to justify his deserving plaque. There aren’t many closers who are 7 time all stars. He re-defined the term closer in baseball with his sheer dominance and it is only fit that he is recognized for the new path Smith carved out for the generation of specialized closers that followed.
Tim Raines was left off the list because I just don’t see him as a first-ballot candidate. I like his numbers and probably will vote for him in the future. Raines was one of the most talented base stealers in the game, but that alone is short of first ballot material.
With the aid of this negatively political Mitchell Report, Hall of Fame voting has gotten to a point of complexity never before witnessed in baseball history and as far as I know, it is perhaps the most contentious in sports history. It is no longer just making the distinction between the heroes and the legends. It is no longer picking the great out of the good. It has gotten to a point so disputable we may have to build another wing in the Hall just for the “Steroid Era”.
-D
*****At 2 PM this afternoon, Baseball Hall of Fame President Dale Petrosky announced that on this ballot, Goose Gossage and Gossage's name only, will be inscripted into one of the plaques at Cooperstown later this summer. Having garnered 85.8 % of the 543 ballots cast, this looks like a repeat of the 2006 HOF Elections when closer Bruce Sutter and Sutter only, was let in to the hallowed castle.
Here's a video highlight of Goose Gossage from MLB.com: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?video=200612261767733
Later tonight or tomorrow, I will post up a detailed chart of how the voting panned out and some more thoughts on this election! (Talking about elections, New Hampshire primaries are today.)
-D
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