MLB VET COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON 10 CANDIDATES

[TheSecretsInTheCrust]

Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre and Maury Wills will be considered for election by the Veterans Committee for enshrinement in 2009, with votes to be cast by Hall of Fame members this fall. Any candidate to receive 75% of the vote on all ballots cast will earn election to the Hall of Fame and will be enshrined on July 26, 2009.

[TheSecretsInTheCrust]

My vote is Maury Wills
-was the first person to steal over 100 bases in a season, with 104 in 1962

-was the 1961 & 1962 winner of the Gold Glove Award

-was the 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, & 1965 leader in stolen bases

-was the 1962 National League Most Valuable Player

In 14-seasons career, Wills batted .281 with 20 home runs, 458 runs batted in, 2134 hits, 1067 runs, 177 doubles, 71 triples, and 586 stolen bases in 1942 games

[LIPH]

I don't know if I'd vote for Torre, he'll get in as a manager as soon as he's eligible. Maybe Dick Allen, that guy could hit.

[docandjeanie]

Dick Allen for me, yes, he could hit!!!!!!!!!

[TommyBahama]

i went with Ron Santos!!!

[TheSecretsInTheCrust]

Ron Santo would be my second choice

[spartan1979]

No question - Ron Santo.

Ron Santo was the best all-around third baseman of the 1960's, when baseball was a pitcher’s game.

He was a great hitter during this pitching-friendly era. He smashed 342 home runs and drove in 1,331 runs during his career. Santo's 162 game averages were very impressive, and they far outshine those of Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson:

Santo: .277 BA, 25 HR, 98 RBI, 85 Runs

Robinson: .267 BA, 15 HR, 76 RBI, 69 Runs

Santo is behind only Schmidt and Mathews in career home runs. He ranks behind Schmidt, Mathews, Brett and Robinson in career RBI, but Brett and Robinson each had nearly 2,000 more career at bats than Santo.

If you compare his numbers to the other third basemen in the HOF, he would beat out most of them, besides for the likes of Schmidt, Mathews, Brett, Baker and Boggs (pretty impressive company).

Santo was also a great fielder who won five straight Gold Gloves Awards. He was a nine time all star who finished in the Top 10 in MVP five times.

For these facts alone, Ron Santo should be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

[Frank4]

No contest...Ron Santo...

[Wino you know]

EVERYONE on that list more than deserves to be in.

But, since I could only vote for one, I chose Ron Santo.
It's a friggin' JOKE that he wasn't voted in YEARS ago.

[Lightning Bolt]

While Dick Allen and Maury Wills are deserving and will get in sooner than later IMO,
after much review and reconsideration, I think Ron Santo is overdue

[SMLCHNG]

EVERYONE on that list more than deserves to be in.

But, since I could only vote for one, I chose Ron Santo.
It's a friggin' JOKE that he wasn't voted in YEARS ago.

Yep, exactly what Garry said.

[Staredge]

Roger Maris to the HOF!!!!!

But y'all didn't list him.

Shoulda been put in a long time ago. Still stuck under Mantle's shadow, I guess.


Ron Santo, then. Another journeyman player being left behind.

[RinglingRingling]

Tony Oliva.

[Wino you know]

Roger Maris to the HOF!!!!!

YES, YES, YES!

A GA-ZILLION TIMES YES!

[TheSecretsInTheCrust]

Roger Maris to the HOF!!!!!

YES, YES, YES!

A GA-ZILLION TIMES YES!

The list is MLB's list not mine. I agree that Roger Maris belongs. As does so many others such as Bert Blyleven

[Wino you know]

The list is MLB's list not mine. I agree that Roger Maris belongs. As does so many others such as Bert Blyleven

I know.
I was just venting. (First time for everything).
AND I agree-Bert Blyleven belongs in the Hall of Fame. So does Tommy John.

[LIPH]

I have to disagree with my esteemed colleagues, Roger Maris is not a Hall of Famer. Twelve years in the major leagues, he had less than 75 RBIs 8 times. Of his 851 RBIs, 354 of them came in a 3 year stretch - 1960-1962. Take away the 61 HRs in 1961 and he averaged less than 20 HRs/season in his other 11 years. Only scored 100 runs once, only 1325 hits in a 12 year career, .260 lifetime batting average. Good player? Sure, but not a great player, IMO.

[BottleofRum]

I have to disagree with my esteemed colleagues, Roger Maris is not a Hall of Famer. Twelve years in the major leagues, he had less than 75 RBIs 8 times. Of his 851 RBIs, 354 of them came in a 3 year stretch - 1960-1962. Take away the 61 HRs in 1961 and he averaged less than 20 HRs/season in his other 11 years. Only scored 100 runs once, only 1325 hits in a 12 year career, .260 lifetime batting average. Good player? Sure, but not a great player, IMO.

Well I do agree 100%. People think Roger Maris was a great player but he only had 3 good year's, 60-62. He hit more than 40 HR's once (61) and only cracked the 30 HR and 100 RBI plateau 3 times all during that 3-year stretch. He never hit over .285 in a single season and as noted above his lifetime average is low.

Maris and Tony Armas had very similar careers.

[rumdrinks]

I have to disagree with my esteemed colleagues, Roger Maris is not a Hall of Famer. Twelve years in the major leagues, he had less than 75 RBIs 8 times. Of his 851 RBIs, 354 of them came in a 3 year stretch - 1960-1962. Take away the 61 HRs in 1961 and he averaged less than 20 HRs/season in his other 11 years. Only scored 100 runs once, only 1325 hits in a 12 year career, .260 lifetime batting average. Good player? Sure, but not a great player, IMO.

Well I do agree 100%. People think Roger Maris was a great player but he only had 3 good year's, 60-62. He hit more than 40 HR's once (61) and only cracked the 30 HR and 100 RBI plateau 3 times all during that 3-year stretch. He never hit over .285 in a single season and as noted above his lifetime average is low.

Maris and Tony Armas had very similar careers.

Agree with the above. Maris' career does not warrant Hall of Fame entry. He is already there for his "single season" achievement. But for career numbers, they're just not there.

I voted for Jim Kaat. Very underrated. Pitched 25 years covering four decades 50-60-70-80's. 283 wins 2400+ SO, 190 complete games, 3.45 ERA. 3- 20 win seasons.

On a side vote, it'd be Dick (Richie) Allen. Grew up watching Allen, always my favorite. Could swing that 40-ounce warclub like a toothpick. Was a complete ballplayer. It's a shame he was never treated with respect by Phillies manager Gene Mauch early in his career. NL Rookie of the year and later AL MVP with ChiSox.