Two of the three most prominent Cubs of my youth are in the news this weekend. Andre Dawson will be inducted in the Hall of Fame tomorrow, and my boyhood idol, Ryne Sandberg, is rumored to replace retiring Cubs manager, Lou Piniella, next season.
I almost feel like I’m 10 years old again.
Now if only Mark Grace could start making some headlines.
It’s just a few days until the deadline for the BBWAA members to cast their ballots for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. As I’ve done for the past 2 years, I will offer my opinion on the nominees.
* Denotes first time on the ballot.
Roberto Alomar*: YES. The only player on the ballot that I’m completely sure about.
Kevin Appier*: NO. In their early years, I always linked Appier with Curt Schilling as two great pitchers stuck on bad teams that always seemed to be shopping them at the trade deadline but never pulled the trigger. Schilling eventually got out of Philly and the rest was history. He will go into the Hall someday. Appier remained in KC, and will fall off the ballot after one year.
Harold Baines: NO.
Bert Blyleven: NO. Because I’m stubborn.
Ellis Burks: NO.
Andre Dawson: YES. It may be his time in a bit of a down year. Plus, this year I seem to be on a “80s guys who got downgraded by the excess of the 90s” kick this year. When he was playing, we thought he was a HOFer.
Andres Gallaraga, Ray Lankford, David Segui, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile, Eric Karros: NO. But all players that remind me of my youth.
Pat Hentgen: NO. Had his career been longer, we might have considered him.
Mike Jackson: NO. Who?
Lee Smith: NO. But I’m still not sure why not.
Jack Morris: NO.
Tim Raines: YES.
Mark McGwire: YES.
Barry Larkin: YES.
Edgar Martinez: YES. They named the DH award after him. Maybe he should be the first pure DH elected.
Alan Trammel: NO. But close.
Dave Parker: NO.
Fred McGriff: YES. My annual “No He Doesn’t Quite Belong, But I’m Voting For Him Anyway” guy.
Don Mattingly: NO. Still.
Shane Reynolds: NO.
Dale Murphy: YES. See Dawson.
My votes: Alomar, Dawson, Raines, McGwire, Larkin, McGriff, Murphy
Who gets in: Dawson, Blyleven, Alomar….and MAYBE Larkin.
But it wouldn’t surprise me if no one gets in. Alomar is most deserving, but the spitting at the ump issue turns off a lot of voters even though it shouldn’t.
