Examining the Credentials of the Current and Future Candidates for the Hall of Fame
A player or manager in Major League Baseball for 41 years, Lou Piniella owns one of the most ironic nicknames, Sweet Lou. In 18 years as an outfielder, he was famously hard-nosed, combative, and short-tempered. In 23 years as a manager, Piniella was known for his base-throwing, dirt-kicking, and nose-to-nose arguments with the men in […]
For the third time in four years, Davey Johnson is on a ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for Managers/Executives/Umpires, the modern version of the Veterans Committee, will vote on 8 candidates for the Hall of Fame in early December at the […]
Frank Howard, who at 6’7″ was once the tallest star player in Major League Baseball, has passed away at the age of 87. Howard, who weighed more than 250 pounds in his heyday, was nicknamed “The Washington Monument” during his years with the Washington Senators. Howard hit 40 or more home runs for three consecutive […]
Albert Belle is eligible for the Hall of Fame next month, as one of eight candidates on the Contemporary Baseball Players Committee ballot. If the Hall of Fame were only about fame, there are few players from the 1990s who generated more headlines than the enigmatic Belle. During his brief career, which ended shortly after his […]
Keith Hernandez, first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and (briefly) the Cleveland Indians, was not a prototypical first sacker. Hernandez wasn’t a prolific home run hitter or RBI man. Instead, he was a solid offensive producer and quite possibly the best defensive first baseman in the history of baseball. To young […]
Today is the Hall of Fame induction day for Yankees great Derek Jeter. Sunday will be the 53rd birthday of New York Yankees’ great Bernie Williams. Williams was the center fielder during the height of the Yankees’ dynasty from 1996-2003; the Bronx Bombers won 4 World Championships and 6 pennants during those 8 seasons. Off […]
In February 2008, when the New York Mets traded four players to the Minnesota Twins for Johan Santana, it looked like they were trading for a future Hall of Fame pitcher. Santana had just completed a five-year run with the Twins in which he won two Cy Young Awards while going 82-35 with a 2.92 […]
When the Hall of Fame announced the names of the 10 candidates for the “Modern Baseball” ballot in November 2019, Luis Tiant was not on the list. The colorful Cuban-born right-handed starting pitcher retired after the 1982 season with 229 career wins, four 20-win campaigns, and two ERA titles. Although he considered a solid candidate […]
Thursday night at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, long-time Mariners starting pitcher Félix Hernández made what was likely his final start in the only Major League Baseball uniform he has ever worn. Hernández, who is beloved by Mariners fans at a level only matched by the recently inducted Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez, has made 418 […]
At first glance at his statistics, there is nothing about Bobby Grich that screams “Hall of Fame” in neon lights. He was an excellent defensive second basemen who won 4 Gold Gloves, but five other second basemen have also done that and five others have won more. Some of his basic career totals (.266 BA, […]
Almost. That’s the word that comes to mind when thinking about Dave Stieb, the superb Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher with the wipeout slider who was arguably the best hurler in all of baseball in the 1980’s. In 1985, the Jays almost made the World Series for the first time in franchise history, but lost […]
Tonight in Arlington, Texas, the Rangers will retire the uniform #10, worn for 13 years with distinction by infielder Michael Young. The longtime Ranger, who moved from second base to shortstop to third base to designated hitter to accommodate other players, retired after the 2013 season. Young was on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot […]
Today is the 75th birthday for Graig Nettles, one of the greatest defensive third basemen in the history of baseball. As an 11-year old baseball fan in October 1978, watching Game 3 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, I marveled at the greatest defensive performance I had ever […]
Have you heard the name Jim McCormick? If not, it’s understandable. He was a 19th century pitcher who is not in the Hall of Fame. McCormick, the son of Irish parents, was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1856. His family settled in Paterson, New Jersey in 1865, coming to America after the Civil War. McCormick […]
Today, on his 43rd birthday, I’d like to cast a spotlight on Lance Berkman, the underrated star for the Houston Astros and World Series hero for the St. Louis Cardinals. Berkman was on the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America) ballot for the first time earlier this year and received just 1.2% of the vote, […]
Charlie Manuel, the manager who led the Philadelphia Phillies to five consecutive N.L. East titles from 2007-11, is on the Today’s Game Hall of Fame ballot. Manuel was a somewhat surprising candidate given that his 1,000 managerial wins are just the 64th most on the all-time list. However, even though his time as a MLB […]
Will Clark, first baseman for the Giants, Rangers, Orioles and Cardinals from 1986-2000, is eligible for a second chance at the Hall of Fame via the “Today’s Game” ballot. Will the Thrill, a sweet-swinging left-handed hitter, had the look of a future Hall of Famer from his college years to his early years in Major […]
In the game of baseball, there is nothing more exciting than a walk-off hit. At one moment, the outcome of the contest is in the balance. A moment later, it’s over. In baseball history, few players have participated in a walk-off home run more dramatic than Joe Carter. It was Game 6 of the 1993 […]
In a little over two weeks, there is a possibility that George Steinbrenner, the longtime owner of the New York Yankees, will be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The late Steinbrenner is one of ten candidates on the “Today’s Game” committee, which is tasked with evaluating the Cooperstown credentials of […]
The names of 35 candidates were revealed Yesterday for a potential spot in the Hall of Fame Class of 2019. On Monday, the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America) announced 20 first time candidates who will appear on the writers’ ballot. Each voting member of the BBWAA is allowed to vote for up to 10 […]
The Hall of Fame case for Orel Hershiser is all about his peak and, in particular, two magical months in 1988. Starting with the 6th inning of an August 30th start in Montreal, Hershiser finished the regular season by tossing 59 1/3 scoreless innings. The pitcher dubbed “Bulldog” by Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda then followed […]
Lost among a sea of bigger stars, Johnny Damon has a legitimate case to make for the Hall of Fame but he has virtually no chance, certainly not on the 2018 BBWAA ballot. It’s a near certainty that he will not earn the requisite 5% of the vote to remain on future ballots. Still, Damon had a […]