Big Orange Guy’s Top 5 Veteran’s Committee Nominees

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It was announced yesterday that 12 people were nominated by the Veteran’s Committee for election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  There is a 16 member committee that will each vote, with the results to be announced at the Winter Meetings on December 6, 2010. In 2010, the 16-member committee is comprised of:

Eight Hall of Famers — Johnny Bench, Whitey Herzog, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Tony Perez, Frank Robinson, Ryne Sandberg and Ozzie Smith; four Major League executives — Bill Giles of the Phillies, David Glass of the Royals, Andy MacPhail of the Orioles and Jerry Reinsdorf of the White Sox — and four veteran media members: Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, Ross Newhan, retired from the Los Angeles Times, and Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated and MLB Network.

The committee covers the Expansion era from 1973 to 1989.  This year, the nominees are:

12 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 M. Steinbrenner.

Similar to the regular Hall of Fame Voting, each nominee must receive 12 votes to be elected by the Veteran’s Committee.    When I look at the names, there are some that deserve and others that do not.  So in this week’s Big Orange Guy’s Top 5, I take a look at the Top 5 Potential Nominees of the Baseball Veteran’s Committee.

#1 – George M. Steinbrenner – The recently departed owner of the New York Yankees purchased the franchise in 1973 and while he was the principal owner the Yankees won Championships in 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009.  They were the American League Champions an additional four other times.  In his 37 years of ownership, the Yankees had a .566 winning percentage and won 3,364 games.  These are the most of any team during this time period.  He had a major impact upon the game by realizing that free agency is a way to build a franchise and through other ways as well.  Although the Yankees were always blamed for increasing player salaries, they also contributed many hundreds of millions to the central fund for payroll taxes, allowing other teams to share in their wealth.  Outside of New York, he may be considered a pariah.  However, when you sit and think about it you do know and understand that the game of baseball is better off for George M. Steinbrenner being part of the game.  George deserves to have a plaque in the Hall of Fame.

#2 – Pat Gillick – Gillick was the general manager for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1978 through 1994, winning two World Series with the franchise, while losing in the ALCS two other years.  He sat out 1995 after leaving the Blue Jays and in 1996 through 1998 he returned to the game with the Baltimore Orioles.  The franchise lost in the ALCS two times.  Gillick sat out 1999 before returning for four years with the Seattle Mariners (losing in the ALCS twice again) and finally winning another World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.  The Blue Jays, Mariners and Orioles have all had no post season appearances since Gillick’s departure.   Some of Gillick’s best known trades include Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez from the Blue Jays to the San Diego Padres for Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar on December 5, 1990.  This was the cornerstone trade for the upcoming World Series for the Jays.  He also received David Cone in 1992 for Jeff Kent and Ryan Thompson.  He traded Kent Mercker for Eddie Murray in 1996 and was the GM that had to trade Ken Griffey Jr. away from Seattle.  In Philadelphia, he brought Brad Lidge to the Phillies for almost no one.  He was responsible for drafting players such as David Wells, Jimmy Key, Jeff Kent, Jason Werth and Adam Jones.   Gillick’s contributions as a front office staff member will have many committee members place him on their ballot.

#3 – Marvin Miller – Miller was the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1966 to 1982.  While Miller was director, he negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement with the team owners in 1968.  He raised player’s salaries, had arbitration decided by an independent arbitrator as opposed to the Commissioner and helped with the introduction of free agency to Major League Baseball.  As an economist, he knew that too many free agents would keep salaries down so he limited free agency to players with six years of experience.   He was the director through three strikes and two lockouts.  Hall of Fame broadcaster is quoted as saying that Miller is one of the three most important men in baseball history, along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson.

Many Hall of Famers have endorsed Miller, including Joe Morgan, Hank Aaron and Tom Seaver.

This may be Miller’s year to be elected.  He has stated in the past during interviews that enshrinement would be nice, but he never fully expected to be elected.  If George Steinbrenner changed the game in one direction, Miller’s career can be credited in changing it along with George in a totally different direction.  If the Hall of Fame will recognize those that have made a significant contribution to the game, then Miller deserves a plaque.

#4 – Steve Garvey – I am on the fence about Garvey.  He was one of the best players at his position for a decade and that is an accomplishment, especially for a first baseman.  However, he was never close to the 75% needed to be elected (he received 42.6% once).

He is a 10-time all-star with the Dodgers and the Padres.  He was the Most Valuable Player in 1974 and finished in the Top 10 voting for that award four other times.  He won the Gold Glove Award four times.  He played in 1,207 games in a row, fourth all-time and most ever in the National League.  He has 2,599 career hits (76th all-time) and has more hits than Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Ernie Banks, Joe Morgan and Mickey Mantle.  He ranks 87th all-time in total bases and hot 272 career home runs.  He is still in the Top 100 all-time in runs batted in and singles.

However, his numbers compared to other Hall of Fame first basemen are not too comparable.  Garvey has very good defense but I think that these numbers were not enough before and just may not be enough now.

#5 – Write-In-Ballot.  I do not see anyone else on the list of 16 that should be elected by the Veteran’s Committee.

There is my list, my “Top 5″.  Okay, I came up with only three but I tried for the sake of the article to give you five.  I know that elections and nominations always have cause for debate.   Let the debate begin and let’s see what happens on December 6.  Have a great week all.  See you on the other sid