Garvey, John and others inch closer to Hall of Fame
Just received this release from the Hall of Fame, which puts Steve Garvey, Tommy John and others closer to enshrinement than they’ve ever really been before.
Expansion Era Committee to Consider 12 Candidates
for Hall of Fame Election at December’s Winter Meetings
— Ballot Features Eight Long-Retired Players, Three Executives and One Manager for Consideration of Careers Whose Greatest Impact Felt from 1973-present —
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Eight former major league players, three executives and one former manager comprise the 12-name Expansion Era ballot for the Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players for Hall of Fame election, to be reviewed and voted upon at the 2010 Baseball Winter Meetings by a 16-member electorate. The results of the Expansion Era vote will be announced on December 6 at 10 a.m. ET from the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.
Every candidate receiving votes on 75 percent of the 16 ballots cast will earn election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be honored during Hall of Fame Weekend 2011, July 22-25 in Cooperstown, New York.
The 12 individuals who will be considered by the Expansion Era Committee in December for Hall of Fame Induction in 2011: Former players Vida Blue, Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Al Oliver, Ted Simmons and Rusty Staub; former manager Billy Martin; and executives Pat Gillick, Marvin Miller and George Steinbrenner. Martin and Steinbrenner are deceased; all other candidates are living.
The 16-member electorate charged with the review of the Expansion Era ballot features: Hall of Fame members Johnny Bench, Whitey Herzog, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Tony Perez, Frank Robinson, Ryne Sandberg and Ozzie Smith; major league executives Bill Giles (Phillies), David Glass (Royals), Andy MacPhail (Orioles) and Jerry Reinsdorf (White Sox); and veteran media members Bob Elliott (Toronto Sun), Tim Kurkjian (ESPN), Ross Newhan (retired, Los Angeles Times) and Tom Verducci (Sports Illustrated).
The Expansion Era ballot was devised by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) appointed Historical Overview Committee, comprised of 11 veteran members: Dave Van Dyck (Chicago Tribune); Bob Elliott (Toronto Sun); Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch); Steve Hirdt (Elias Sports Bureau); Moss Klein (formerly Newark Star-Ledger); Bill Madden (New York Daily News); Ken Nigro, (formerly Baltimore Sun); Jack O’Connell (BBWAA secretary/treasurer); Nick Peters (formerly Sacramento Bee); Tracy Ringolsby (FSN Rocky Mountain); and Mark Whicker (Orange County Register).
The Expansion Era covers candidates among managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players whose most significant career impact was realized during the 1973-present time frame. Eligible candidates include: Players who played in at least 10 major league seasons, who are not on Major League Baseball’s ineligible list, and have been retired for 21 or more seasons (those whose last major league season was no later than 1989); Managers and Umpires with 10 or more years in baseball and retired for at least five years, with any candidates who are 65 years or older first-eligible six months from the date of the election following retirement; and Executives who have been retired for at least five years, with any active executives 65 or older eligible for consideration.
The Expansion Era Committee is the first of a three-year cycle of consideration for Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players by Era, as opposed to the previous consideration by classification, with changes approved and announced by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors at the conclusion of Hall of Fame Weekend 2010.
The changes maintain the high standards for earning election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, with focus on three eras: Expansion (1973-present); Golden (1947-1972) and Pre-Integration (1871-1946), as opposed to the previous four Committees on Baseball Veterans, which considered the four categories of candidates. Three separate electorates will now consider by era a single composite ballot of managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players on an annual basis, with Golden Era Committee candidates to be considered at the 2011 Winter Meetings for Induction in 2012 and the Pre-Integration Era Committee candidates to be considered at the 2012 Winter Meetings for Induction in 2013. The Expansion Era Committee will next meet at the 2013 Winter Meetings for Induction in 2014.
“The procedures to consider the candidacies of managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players have continually evolved since the first Hall of Fame election in 1936,” said Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the board for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Our continual challenge is to provide a structure to ensure that all candidates who are worthy of consideration have a fair system of evaluation. In identifying candidates by era, as opposed to by category, the Board feels this change will allow for an equal review of all eligible candidates, while maintaining the high standards of earning election.”
The 12 candidates for Expansion Era consideration:
Vida Blue spent 17 seasons pitching in the majors with the Oakland A’s, Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants, compiling a 209-161 record, with a 3.27 ERA in 502 major league games/473 starts. Blue, the 1971 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, was named to six All-Star teams, and won at least 18 games five times in his career.
Dave Concepcion spent 19 seasons as the Cincinnati Reds shortstop, compiling a .267 average with 2,326 hits, 321 stolen bases and two Silver Slugger Awards, along five Gold Glove Awards and nine All-Star Game selections.
Steve Garvey compiled a .294 career average over 19 major league seasons with the Dodgers and Padres, amassing 2,599 hits, 272 home runs, 1,308 RBI and 10 All-Star Game selections. He hit .338 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in 11 postseason series, was named the 1978 and 1984 NLCS MVP and won the 1981 Roberto Clemente Award. Garvey won four Gold Glove Awards and played in an N.L. record 1,207 straight games.
Pat Gillick spent 27 years as the general manager for the Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Phillies, winning at every stop along the way, with his teams earning nine post-season berths and three World Series championships. In his 27 years as GM, his teams finished with a winning record 20 times.
Ron Guidry pitched 14 seasons for the New York Yankees, compiling a 170-91 record, a 3.29 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.81-to-1. In 10 postseason starts, Guidry was 5-2 with a 3.02 ERA. Four times he won 18 games or more in a season, including a Cy Young Award winning 1978 season with a 25-3, 1.74 era record.
Tommy John pitched 26 seasons for the Indians, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels and A’s, finishing his career after the 1989 season with a record of 288-231 and 3.34 ERA. His 700 career starts rank eighth on the all-time list and his 4,710.1 innings rank 20th all-time.
Billy Martin spent 16 seasons 1969, 1971-83, 1985, 1988) managing the Twins, Tigers, Rangers, Yankees (five different stints) and A’s, compiling a 1,253-1015 record (.552). Martin’s teams finished in first place five times, winning two American League pennants and one World Series with 1977 Yankees.
Marvin Miller was elected as the head of the Major League Baseball Players Association in 1966 and quickly turned the union into a powerhouse. Within a decade, Miller had secured free agency for the players. By the time he retired in 1982, the average player salary was approximately 10 times what it was when he took over.
Al Oliver compiled 2,743 hits in 18 seasons with the Pirates, Rangers, Expos, Giants, Phillies, Dodgers and Blue Jays. He finished with a .303 career average, 529 doubles and 1,326 RBI, recording 10 seasons with a .300 or higher average, including nine straight from 1976-1984.
Ted Simmons played for 21 seasons, totaling a .285 batting average, 2,472 hits, 483 doubles, 248 home runs and 1,389 RBI for the Cardinals, Brewers and Braves. An 8-time All-Star, he garnered MVP votes six times in his career.
Rusty Staub totaled 2,716 hits in a 23-year major league career, with a .279 average, 292 home runs, 1,466 RBI and six All-Star Game selections. He appeared in at least 150 games in 12 seasons, and his 2,951 big league games rank No. 12 on the all-time list.
George Steinbrenner guided the New York Yankees franchise as principal owner from purchasing the team in 1973 to his death in 2010, with his teams winning 11 American League pennants and seven World Series titles.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Museum observes regular hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. From Memorial Day through the day before Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, visit our Web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.
Inside the Dodgers 
Ned’s busily trying to contact their agents to see if any of these guys are available…
HOF’s now becomming available to all players through lower standards. Sounds like the [current] American way…
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These guys were good, but not Hall of Fame good.
Agreed, let’s not dilute the product. Of all the names, maybe Steinbrenner.
I agree 100%, Enchanted.
Good morning ITD!
I am back in LA! I got out of NH before the snow started!
Wow! Josh! So many new threads you have started! I had lots to catch up!
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Congratulations to Eric on his letter in the LA Times! A well deserved tribute to Sparky Anderson! When I heard the news I was thinking of his visit to Dodger Stadium back in May when the Tigers were in town.
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I love my Dodgers but there is a reason why after all this time they are not in the HOF.
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OK, now if you like to vote for this nomination in Jane Heller MLb blog, go ahead, you don’t have to vote for me. Vote only if you are incline to watch the videos and vote. She does this every year and this time I am one of the nominees. I am awful singing 🙂 http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/11/nominees_for_2010_she-fan_vide.html#comments
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Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
Maybe the HOF should build annexes for also-rans and wannabes . . . . and keep the true HOF for those who really earned and deserved their elections.
Somehow, I don’t think this is the reaction Josh thought he’d get when he posted it.
Somehow I think you are right E!
I was looking at some of the comments from FB regarding this and they are voting there for Garv.
Josh should not be too surprised considering the mood of this blog from time to time and the high expections many of us have (or at least used to have) for the Dodgers as an organization and for the players. Clearly this process of electing long retired player, umps and front office leaders is an attempt to deal with the failure of the so called “old timers” selection process that effectively kept out just about anyone who did not get in during the first round. The players on Josh’s list are an interesting group in that they played at mostly a high level during their careers but did not have outstanding numbers. At their primes they were important part of their respective teams. But were they exceptional?
One criteria I thought was part of the selection process was did that player dominate his position during his best playing years? I think Garvey did. He played his position well and was a pretty good clutch hitter with good post season stats. I think his goodie two shoes don’t mess my hair image hurt him when he first became eligible and may still. His off the field issues certainly won’t endear him to anyone. So I can understand why many would like to see him elected to the HOF. The question reamins, was he a great player? Not so sure but he was to me when he wore Dodger Blue.
M
The Dodgers could sure use some more Hall of Famers.
Sure would like to see Gil Hodges finally make it.
Good news….No more Joe Morgan and Jon Miller on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball…YAY!!!!
I saw that about Miller and Morgan. I didn’t mind Miller so much, other than reminding me of the gnats, but I am soooo glad Morgan is outta there. He really was an idiot for treating the viewers as if they were the idiots.
As for the HOF expansion ballot, it’s all been said, and as a person who has been there, I agree, the HOF needs to stay sacred to those that really deserve it IMO, of course.
I agree, Oldbrooklynfan. I would like to see Gil Hodges in there. He is certainly deserving of the honor.
Wait, without Joe Morgan, who’s going to skew the broadcast against the Dodgers?
Some hotstove reading for you………….
It sure would be nice to read an article where we aren’t looking for a bargain…..
With the signing of Ted Lilly and the large contract Hiroki Kuroda will seek in free agency, it is possible the Dodgers will have to settle for a bargain, and a right-handed pitcher in the back of the rotation.
http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=ulink&fn=Link&ssid=10573&id=5utc0avaib92prei41c5glczi8icv&id2=6aqb44a3256cftg04xylqyxomcsdc&subscriber_id=akwbqsngqagmfafkdentjimkshfrbgk&delivery_id=brxlxdkcbnoxamfvempmgelrrjjybkb&tid=3.KU0.A5cHwg.CC9m.KDlk..Nk7J.b..l.Apst.n.TNoJ4g.TNoJ4g.jK_0Xg
Thanks for the link Nelly.
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Here is another one…
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http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/11/2011-top-50-free-agents.html
Thanks for a thoroughly depressing link Nells. I don’t know which is more horrifying:
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(A) The possibility of acquiring Eric Chavez.
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(B) The assertion that Lilly is one of the top 2 starters
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(C) The thought that acquiring Beltre would bring back memories of happier days.
There is one certainty however:
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Ned has proven time and time again that he has no idea how to put together a ballclub, so no matter who he acquires, no matter who he signs, this club will ALWAYS be lacking something to separate it from the rest of the pretenders.
Enchanted ~ I think Ned’s idea of shopping is WalMart, not Bloomingdales 🙂
You are right, Bear 🙂
I can support Gil Hodges. I am also a Maury Wills fan.
Perhaps the Dodgers should start their own HOF.
Ive seen done at other stadiums.
Funny thing is the other day when I heard that Chavy was released I was going to post sarcastically that Ned should go for him. But #1 I didn’t want to incite a riot and #2 I didn’t want to give Ned any ideas.
You are most welcome enchanted. I am glad to be able to add fuel to the Ned fire, but it really isn’t so hard these days, is it? LOL!!!
messagebear – it depends on the WalMart. There are days when it feels like ours is just a step above a garage sale.
Collie – Juan Uribe and Torrealba – hmmmmmmm! Interesting!
Let me get this straight. So we have a “Hall Of Fame”. Is it a “Hall Of Pretty Good”? No.
Hall of Fame.
F – A – M – E
And now there are all these players who are Pretty Good. Even Famous. They’ve been on the ballot for the Hall for 15 years and never quite got the votes it takes to make it.
It’s not enough that they were playing in the Expansion Era, where the talent was diluted to enable them to compile their numbers. No, now we have to assemble a special committee to take them on as a special task so that we can further dilute the Hall.
“The changes maintain the high standards for earning election….”
“…..while maintaining the high standards of earning election.”
Question: If the MLB is so concerned about maintaining the high standards of earning election, why are they looking to circumvent the system that has been in place for these many years and has not seen fit to elect these 12 players?
Publicity?
Money?
Nah, too crass. Right? Sure.
Looking at the 9 players, they have one thing in common. Long careers. These long careers enabled them to assemble decent, borderline numbers to justify making the Hall. But is that enough? I don’t think so.
Aaron. Ruth. DiMaggio. Mays. Mathewson. Koufax. Players like these who were D-O-M-I-N-A-T-I-N-G. That’s who should make up the Hall. Not mid-level players. OK, that’s probably unfair. Guidry, Garvey, Blue, they were stars.
Not the Stars.
Only the SUPERstars.
Oh yeah. Sell the team, you self-serving *******.
Congratulations to ex-Dodger Franklin Gutierrez for winnng his first gold glove.
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Oh and I did take the 2010 She-fan video MLBBloggie award with the video that Jane took of Yankee fan LadyJane and I signing Happy Birthday to Jeter at Dodger Stadium when the Yankees were in town.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2010/11/source-japanese-infielder-tsuyoshi-nishioka-interested-in-playing-for-the-dodgers.html
Fabulous post Dodgereric!!!!!
Collie – I saw that article last night too. This is will some off-season. That’s for sure!
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.examiner.com/los-angeles-dodgers-in-los-angeles/you-heard-it-here-first-trade-of-gold-glover-gutierrez-was-great-for-dodgers&ct=ga&cad=:s1:f1:v0:d1:i0:lt:e0:p0:t1289355422:&cd=j4mqCaRxov4&usg=AFQjCNEhKwU5eoBVjlIX7lLITX6yADnXhw
When Eric speaks, everybody listen. Well said Eric! and congrats on your letter in the LA Times!
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That reminds me I have not seen a letter from Jeff Calzada of Monterey Park in a long time. He usually sends letters about the Dodgers or Lakers. Hmm..I am going to inquire with friends what happened to him. In the meantime, I am excited I am going to the Laker game this Sunday.
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Hope everyone here is doing well.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
I see Martin’s agent says he’ll be ready for ST.
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Whoopty-freakin-do
OK, here’s a frightening thought – Martin in LF. Sadly, his 5-6 HR’s a year would be 500-600% more than we’d get from Pathednik (C’mon, you KNOW Ned’s wants to sign him bad.) He’ll steal close to as many bases or at least have a better success rate, he can actually can draw a walk now and then, and he has a much better arm. Emergency catcher hmmm? Could even spell Blake at third?
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As much as I dislike Martin, I’m for anyone [or anything] in left other than Pierre Light. Much like I am for anyone else at 2B than Theriot.
Hopefully a very long time since a driver like that crossed the center line and hit and killed my best friend almost
3 years ago. I was states away when it happened, but he killed a big part of me
too that night, my life is forever saddened. Rest in
Peace Kim, love and miss ya dear friend.