Rickey, Rice Head to Cooperstown

As expected, Rickey Henderson was a first ballot selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame in voting announced a short time ago. But Jim Rice is the man who really has to be ecstatic today. After unjustly failing to get in for several years, the Red Sox slugger and non-friend to the media received 76.4% of the vote to enter the halls of Cooperstown.

Henderson, the game's all time stolen base king (he'll be the first to remind you) was an easy choice. He's also the top run scorer of all time and second in walks to Barry Bonds, and stroked 3,055 hits. The only thing keeping him out of the hall, was his continual desire to play well into his forties.

Rice put up the numbers, but never got along with reporters, and it took it's toll in his post-career life as he snubbed time and time again for the Hall. As someone we watched in our teens, we knew that Rice deserved to be in the Hall. He was one of the most terrifying sluggers in the game, more so than Big Papi or even Manny Ramirez. We congratulate him on finally getting his due.

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Looking Ahead: January

Here's what's on tap this month as we are just a month and a half from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training.

The new MLB Newtork premiered yesterday, kicking things off with the first showing of Don Larsen's perfect game, complete with original commercials. This month also includes the 2004 World, gag, Series, gag, this past season's series, the 1946 series between the Cards and Red Sox (you know who won that one, heh heh), the '96 Series (yessss), and more.

Jan 5-15 is the period for filing salary arbitration. In between on the 12th, this year Hall of Fame (Rickey Henderson and ?) class will be announced. The two arbitration sides exchange figures on the 19th.

Morristown Green magazine, which may or may not be affiliated with NJ.com had a sit down with Michael Kay in this month's issue. The only problem you may have is finding a copy of it.

The Baseball Assistance Team annual dinner is January 27 at New York City's Marriott Marquis. The following former players are expected to attend the dinner which is open to the public (but not a cheap night out) - Wally Backman, Jim Bouton, Orlando Cepeda, Chris Chambliss, Whitey Ford, George Foster, Steve Garvey, Bob Gibson, Cleon Jones, Al Kaline, Ed Kranepool, Lee Mazzilli, Joe Morgan, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Robin Roberts, Rusty Staub, Roy White, Randy Winn.

In case you missed it yesterday, the Detroit Red Wings topped the Chicago Black Hawks 6-4 in Wrigley Field. The outdoor game in freezing temperatures was very entertaining as the two "Original Six" teams wore throwback uniforms. Hopefully the Rangers play the Bruins in the new Yankee Stadium. It would be awesome.

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Gorden Selected for Hall; Santo, Hodges Snubbed Again

The Hall of Fame Veterans Committee selected Joe Gordon, and only Joe Gordon, to be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame this coming August. Long time hopefuls Ron Santo and Gil Hodges were among those overlooked once again.

Gordon played 11 seasons at second base for the Yankees and won the AL MVP award in 1942. he was also a member of 5 World Championship teams in 6 tries. In his MVP season, Gordon hit .322-18-103, with 29 doubles, 4 triples, 79 walks, and 88 runs scored. He finished in the top 10 in MVP voting 5 other times and was selected to the All-Star team in 9 seasons.

Gordon was traded by the Yankees after the 1946 season for pitcher Allie Reynolds, who would go on to star in New York. Gordon retired after the Indians released him in 1950.

Gordon passed away on April 14, 1978 at age 63.

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Breaking News: Piazza Calls it a Career

Mike Piazza announced this afternoon that he has officially called it a day in Major League baseball. The 16-yr veteran hoped to play this season, but found no takers. The 12-time All-Star finishes with a .308 career average, 427 home runs, including the record for catchers, and 1,335 RBI.

Piazza made the post-season twice with the Dodgers and 3 times with the Mets, including the 2000 World Series, where he was final out in the Yankees clinching Game 5. Piazza was poor at throwing out base runners, but had a reputation as a good game caller and boy could he hit before injuries wore him down. He's sure to be a first ballot Hall of Fame entrant.

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Breaking News: Goose Gets in the Hall

Rich "Goose" Gossage's days of whine and groussing are over. The reliever has made it into the baseball Hall of Fame with 86% of the vote. It was Gossage's 9th attempt at entry.

Jim Rice has to wait yet again as he came up 14 votes short.

Complete vote results from mlb.com:

Player	Total Votes	Percentage
Rich Gossage	466	85.8%
Jim Rice	392	72.2%
Andre Dawson	358	65.9%
Bert Blyleven	336	61.9%
Lee Smith	235	43.3%
Jack Morris	233	42.9%
Tommy John	158	29.1%
Tim Raines	132	24.3%
Mark McGwire	128	23.6%
Alan Trammell	99	18.2%
Dave Concepcion	88	16.2%
Don Mattingly	86	15.8%
Dave Parker	82	15.1%
Dale Murphy	75	13.8%
Harold Baines	28	5.2%
Rod Beck	2	0.4%
Travis Fryman	2	0.4%
Robb Nen	2	0.4%
Shawon Dunston	1	0.2%
Chuck Finley	1	0.2%
David Justice	1	0.2%
Chuck Knoblauch	1	0.2%
Todd Stottlemyre	1	0.2%
Jose Rijo	0	0%
Brady Anderson	0	0%

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Time to Finish the Rice

It's easy to talk about players on your own team when it comes to Hall of Fame consideration, but it means a lot more when you feel a player from another team deserves merit. And as much as Goose Gossage can go on talking about being slighted, no one has been more slighted than the Red Sox' Jim Rice.

For those of you too young to remember the career of the Red Sox' left fielder/DH, he was every bit as intimidating as Manny Ramirez or Big Papi. Maybe even more so than the two combined. The look of determination and concentration in Rice's eyes when he stepped to the plate was unmatched. He would unleash his compact swing like a bolt of lightning and more often than not, the ball would disappear over Fenway's green monster or clang off it's body.

In 16 seasons in Boston, Rice compiled a .298 average with 382 HRs and 1,451 RBI. He topped the 100 RBI mark 8 times, and fell 3 short of a 9th season in triple digits. He hit 39 home runs, a remarkable 3 times, and won the MVP award in 1978 when he put up these gaudy numbers- 46 HRs, 139 RBI, 406 total bases, a .907 OPS, and a .315 average.

Unfortunately for Rice, the Red Sox, for the most part, stunk during his career. He missed the '75 post-season, and made it just twice- the infamous '86 team and an '88 team that lost in the ALCS to Oakland. Rice hit just .159 in the playoffs and though he hit .333 in his only World Series, he failed to drive in a run.

Rice worked hard on his defense and was an adequate left-fielder. His surly attitude with reporters has probably cost him more than anything with H of F voters. Some may say his numbers are below more standard credentials - 400 HRS, 1,500 RBI - but he was dominant in his career, and that span lasted more than a decade.

It's time to do what's right, and put Rice in the hall.

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The Daily Yankeeland

MLB.com has a piece on Don Mattingly's Hall of Fame credentials, or lack thereof. The most common argument by Mattingly for the hall supporters, is the inclusion of Kirby Puckett in Cooperstown. But as is always pointed out, Puckett had 2 WS rings. Unfortunately, we have to agree with those who don't feel Donnie Baseball should be in the hall. There was none better for a 6-year stretch, but a bad back ruined what would have been a sure hall career.

Another former Yankee is running out of time to get into the hall in the conventional manner. Tommy John, who won 288 games in his career, is in his 14th year of eligibility. That means if he doesn't get voted in this year or next, he gets kicked over to the veterans committee. We are on the fence on this one. It seems that players sometimes get punished for longevity. "He won 288, but look how many years it took him". But the fact that he was able to pitch at a high level for that many years is what might be his best argument for enshrinement.

Welcome to LA, Joe Torre. The Yankees ex-skip never encountered this in NY. A float in the Rose Bowl Parade. The Dodgers will have a 35-ft float in this year's parade, and its being put together, in part, by Dodger players and their families.

Bob Raissman, who makes a living by ripping people, takes aim at the YES network and David Justice. It's a lot more fun when he's ripping Mike and the Mad Dog, or Sterling and Waldman.

MSNBC takes a look at the endorsement hit Roger Clemens is expected to take.

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A Hall of Fame Moment

No, not for the one in Cooperstown. We're talking Cleveland. No, we really don't believe "Cleveland Rocks", but that is where the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame is. And one of our all time favorites, John Mellencamp, will be inducted there in February. Actually he'll be inducted in New York (makes sense, no?).

Mellencamp, also known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, John Cougar Mellencamp...is long overdue for induction, which will be officially announced in a couple of days. He's also one of Paul O'Neill's faves...Paulie once played drums on stage with Mellencamp.

Here's one of our favorite songs.

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Vets Tab 5 for Fame

The Veterans Committee has spoken, and 5 people have been selected to enter the Hall of Fame this summer. Managers Dick Williams (who nearly became a Yankees manager in the '70s), and Billy Southworth, commissioner Bowie Kuhn (oh, did I loathe him back in the day), and owners Walter O'Malley and Barney Dreyfuss.

Among those passed over were player's union head Marvin Miller, manager Billy Martin, ump Doug Harvey, and general manager Buzzy Bavasi.

Voting Summary:

Managers/Umpires Ballot results (by vote percentage): *Billy Southworth (81.3%), *Dick Williams (81.3%), Doug Harvey (68.8%), Whitey Herzog (68.8%), Danny Murtaugh (37.5%) and Hank O'Day (25%). Davey Johnson, Billy Martin, Gene Mauch and Cy Rigler each received fewer than three votes. (* earned election to the Hall of Fame)

Executives/Pioneers Ballot results (vote percentage): *Barney Dreyfuss (83%), *Bowie Kuhn (83%), *Walter O'Malley (75%), Ewing Kauffman (41.7%), John Fetzer (33.3%), Bob Howsam (25%) and Marvin Miller (25%). Buzzie Bavasi, John McHale and Gabe Paul each received fewer than three votes. (*earned election to the Hall of Fame)

Source

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Separating the Ripkens from the Bonds

Here's a great story to illustrate how a ball player should treat people. Umpire attendant Ernie Tyler has an iron man streak of his own - 3,769 games. But that streak will end this weekend when the 83-yr old Baltimore Orioles employee attends Cal Ripken's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And who is footing the bill? Cal Ripken. He invited Tyler to be his guest.

"I saw him was he was 12 years old. I knew his father well," Tyler said Thursday. "What better time to do it than to go now? When I heard he wanted me to go to Cooperstown, how could I say no? The streak doesn't mean that much when you're thinking about your relationship with the Ripken family."

Source

photo courtesy of mlb.com

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Torre Among Names Considered for Hall

Among this year's names being considered by the Veteran's Committee for induction into the baseball hall of fame is current Yankees manager Joe Torre. Torre played 18 seasons in the majors, compiling a .297 average, 252 home runs, 1,185 RBI, and the 1971 NL MVP award. Torre has an excellent shop at reaching the hall as a manager once he retires, but the former catcher and third baseman is not likely to make it as a player.

The player's portion of this year's ballot includes long-time fan favorite Gil Hodges, non-steroid home run champion Roger Maris. The ballot also includes 15 "composite" candidates, comprised of owners, broadcasters, etc...One of the candidates getting a lot of push to be elected is former player's union head Marvin Miller. Miller is at the forefront of those who helped form today's free agency. Of course free agency may not have happened without the courage of Curt Flood to buck the system. Flood is also on the ballot.

A number of persons associated with the Yankees are also on the ballot. In addition to Torre and Maris, "The Captain", Thurman Munson, former player and manager Billy Martin, former broadcaster Bill White, and former team president Gabe Paul are all on the ballot.

Results of the balloting will be announced on February 27.



Billy Martin and Thurman Munson are among this year's Veterans Committee nominees


2007 Veterans Committee Nominees:

Players
Dick Allen
Bobby Bonds
Ken Boyer
Rocky Colavito
Wes Ferrell
Curt Flood
Joe Gordon
Gil Hodges
Jim Kaat
Mickey Lolich
Sparky Lyle
Marty Marion
Roger Maris
Carl Mays
Minnie Minoso
Thurman Munson
Don Newcome
Lefty O'Doul
Tony Oliva
Al Oliver
Vada Pinson
Ron Santo
Luis Tiant
Joe Torre
Cecil Travis
Mickey Vernon
Maury Wills

Composite
Buzzie Bavasi
August Busch Jr.
Harry Dalton
Charlie Finley
Doug Harvey
Whitey Herzog
Bowie Kuhn
Billy Martin
Marvin Miller
Walter O'Malley
Gabe Paul
Paul Richards
Bill White
Dick Williams
Phil Wrigley

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