National Baseball Hall of Fame.
On Monday (November 4), the Baseball Hall of Fame released its 2019 Modern Baseball (Era) Committee Ballot – listing nine former players and one executive for consideration for the 2020 Hall of Fame Class. The 16-member Modern Baseball Committee considers players and executives active between 1970-87. This election is in addition to the traditional Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) HOF balloting. Era Committee nominees must garner the votes of 12 (75 percent) of committee members for election. Each member of the committee may vote for up to four candidates. The Modern Baseball candidates for 2020 induction are: Dwight Evans; Steve Garvey; Tommy John; Don Mattingly; Marvin Miller (executive); Thurman Munson; Dale Murphy; Dave Parker; Ted Simmons; and Lou Whitaker.
BACKGROUND ON HALL OF FAME ERA COMMITTEE VOTING
The Committees …
Today’s Game (1988-present); Modern Baseball (1970-87); Golden Days (1950-69); Early Baseball (1871-1949). Near-term voting years for each committee:
- Modern Game … meets in 2019, 2020 inductions.
- Golden Days … meets in 2020, 2020 inductions.
- Early Baseball … meets in 2020, 2021 inductions.
- Today’s Game … meets in 2012, 2022 inductions.
To be eligible for the ERA Committees’ ballots: Players must have played in at least ten MLB seasons and have been retired for at least 15 seasons; Managers and Umpires must have ten years in MLB and be retired for at least five seasons if under 65-years-old, six months if 65-or-over; Executives must be retired at least five years or at least 70-years-old. In addition, the nominees must no longer be eligible for the traditional Baseball Writers Association of America balloting (BBWAA).
In this post, Baseball Roundtable will take a look at all ten Modern Game candidates; comment on how BBRT would vote (if I had a ballot); and attempt to predict who the actual Modern Era Committee will select for 2018 Hall of Fame Induction.
___________________________________________
IF BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE HAD A BALLOT …
Let me say first, these were not easy choices – particularly since I was limited to four “votes.” My preferences were based on Game – actual stats and performance; Fame – awards and recognitions; and Character – heart, conduct and contributions to both teams and the game itself. As always, they are up for discussion and debate. (Isn’t that what being a baseball fan is all about?)
Here are the four nominees that would get BBRT’s vote for 2020 induction:
Ted Simmons, C/1B, 1968-1988 … Cardinals, Brewers, Braves
My first Modern Game vote (if I had one) would go to Ted Simmons. To me this one is a no-brainer. What I find most puzzling is that in his first year on the traditional Hall of Fame ballot, Simmons got only 3.7 percent of the vote – dropping him from the BBWAA ballot after just one shot. (Players who gets less than five percent are dropped from the ballot.) I was also surprised just two years ago, when Simmons fell one vote shy of election by the Modern Baseball Committee.
In putting Simmons at the top of my hypothetical ballot, I took into consideration that Simmons played one of the game’s most challenging and wearing positions – and did it for 21 seasons. Several factors drove my decision.
Simmons has more base hits (2,472) than any (primary) catcher in MLB history except Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez. That’s right. More hits than the likes of Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Mike Piazza, Carlton Fisk and Gary Carter (all Hall of Famers) or, going further back, more than Hall of Fame backstops Mickey Cochrane, Bill Dickey and Roger Bresnahan.
Simmons has more career RBI (1,389) than any other primary catcher except Yogi Berra. Right again. More RBI than such backstops as Johnny Bench, Mike Piazza, Carlton Fisk, Ivan Rodriguez. Gary Carter, Bill Dickey and Mickey Cochrane.
Simmons has more doubles (483) than any other primary catcher except Rodriguez.
He also ranks sixth all-time among catchers in runs scored (1,074) and is one of only ten catchers to cross the plate 1,000+ times.
Starting to see the logic behind my vote?
Ted Simmons had a 21-season (15 seasons of 100 or more games) major league career, primarily as a catcher. He was with the Cardinals from 1968 to 1980, the Brewers from 1981 to 1985 and the Braves from 1986 to 1988. He was an eight-time All Star (six times in the decade of the ‘70s) and finished his career with a .285 average, 248 home runs and 1,389 RBI in 2,456 games. He hit over .300 in seven full-time seasons, recorded 20 or more home runs in six campaigns and had 100 or more RBI three times.
Ted Simmons’ Best Campaign
With the Cardinals in 1975, Simmons hit .332 with 18 home runs and 100 RBI.
Although he was not a Gold Glove defender, he was dependable enough to find himself behind the plate defensively in 1,771 games – 15th all-time and ahead of such stars as Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Mike Piazza and five other Hall of Fame backstops. (Ivan Rodriguez leads the way with 2,427 defensive game at catcher.)
All things considered, Ted Simmons would get Baseball Roundtable’s Modern Era vote and I am hopeful the Modern Era Committee will also see it that way this time around.
____________________________________________
Tommy John, LHP, 1963-89 … Indians, White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels, A’s
Tommy John pitched 26 years in the major leagues – and even had a ground-breaking (and game-changing) surgery named after him.
John put up 288 victories (231 losses) and a 3.34 earned run average. All solid numbers. However, there are pros and cons to John’s Hall of Fame candidacy. Let’s start with the pros:
John has 288 victories – that is 26th all-time among starting pitchers – and of the 25 pitches with more wins, all but two (Roger Clemens and Bobby Mathews) are in the Hall of Fame. Fact is, more than half the starting pitchers enshrined have fewer wins than John.
John won 20 or more games in a season three times and twice led the NL in winning percentage.
John’s 46 shutouts are also 26th all-time and all but one (Luis Tiant) of the pitchers with more shutouts than John is in the Hall – and, again, more than half of the pitchers in the Hall of Fame have fewer shutouts than John. He also led his league in shutouts three times. A few HOFers with fewer whitewashes? Whitey Ford (45); Bob Feller (44); Chief Bender (40); Sandy Koufax (40). You get the idea.
John’s 4,710 1/3 innings pitched are 20th all-time and he is one of just eight pitchers with 700 or more starts.
John’s 26 MLB seasons played are third in MLB history behind only Nolan Ryan (27 seasons … 1966-93) and Cap Anson (27 seasons …. 1871-97).
John retired with a .555 winning percentage, ahead of more than a dozen starting pitchers currently in the Hall of Fame. He also had a .667 winning percentage in the post season – going 6-3, 2.65 in 14 games (13 starts), tossing three complete games and one shutout.
There are also some cons:
John’s wins can be attributed to his longevity. His average full season record was 13-11.
Despite a respectable 2,245 career strikeouts, he fanned only 4.3 batters per nine innings – not exactly dominating.
He never won a Cy Young Award and was an All Star only four times in 26 seasons.
In my book, John also deserves “Character” credits for taking on the risk and leaning into the rehab of a new surgical procedure that had a long-term impact not just on his career (he won 164 games after the surgery), but on the game itself.
Ultimately, John was a good enough and dedicated to last 26 seasons in the major leagues – and put up 288 wins. Despite his low strikeouts per nine innings figure, he did what we look for pitchers to do – get outs and produce wins.
ONE FINAL THOUGHT ON TOMMY JOHN
HOF voters put Sandy Koufax in the Hall with just 165 wins – recognizing that injury shortened his career. I think it’s time Tommy John and his 288 wins entered the HOF, recognizing that surgery – and a powerful work ethic – lengthened his career. Side note: Tommy John had just one fewer victory after his historic surgery than Sandy Koufax had in his career.
____________________________________________
Thurman Munson, C, 1969-79 …. Yankees
Before his untimely death (August 2, 1979), at age 32, in a private plane crash, Thurman Munson was on his way to a Hall of Fame career. In 11 MLB seasons, Munson had been a seven-time All Star, three-time Gold Glover, the AL Rookie of the Year (1970) and the 1967 American League MVP.
In his eleven seasons, he hit over .300 five times and collected 1,558 hits in 1,423 games – for a .292 career average – finishing in the top ten (AL) in batting average and hits five times each. He also drove in 100+ runs in three seasons – and 701 for his career. He scored 696 runs and even swiped 48 bases (a high of 14 in 1975). In his 1976 MVP campaign, he hit .302, with 17 home runs, 105 RBI and 14 steals
In 1971, Munson threw out 36 of 59 runners attempting to steal – a 61.0 percent rate. In the last fifty seasons, only four additional catchers (with a qualifying number of chances according to Baseball Reference guidelines) have thrown out at least 60 percent of runners attempting to steal: Ivan Rodriguez (60.4 percent in 2001); Jason LaRue (60.9 percent in 2001); Mike Ryan (61.8 percent in 1971); and Yadier Molina (64.1 percent in 2005).
In the field, Munson led American League catchers in assists three times, caught stealing percentage twice and double plays twice. Durable and dependable, Munson lead AL catcher in games behind the plate in three seasons – and was in the top five in eight campaigns.
A Big Game Player
Thurman Munson was a beast in the post season. In 30 post-season games, he hit .357, with three home runs and 22 RBI (within those numbers is a .373-1-12 line in 16 World Series games).
In a tragically shortened career, Munson (from BBRT’s view) delivered Hall of Fame performance.
__________________________________________
Steve Garvey, 1B/3B, 1969-1987 … Dodgers/Padres
Steve Garvey was selected to 10 All Star squads (eight in a row from 1974-81) and achieved 2,599 hits and a lifetime batting average of .294 – despite playing in notorious “pitchers’ parks” in Los Angeles and San Diego. He hit over .300 in seven full seasons, collected 200 or more hits in a campaign six times (leading the league twice) and 100 or more RBI five times. The level of competition for recognition at his position is reflected by the fact that Garvey does not have a Silver Slugger Award on his resume (approximately half his career was played before the Silver Slugger was established). Still, Garvey had plenty of “Game.”
Garvey also scores well in the Fame department. He was the 1974 NL MVP, the NL Championship Series MVP twice (1978 & 1984) and put up a .338-11-31 line in 55 post-season contests. In addition, he was a two-time All-Star Game MVP (1974 & 1978). He added a little frosting to the cake with four consecutive Gold Gloves (1974-77) and also holds the National League record for consecutive games played at 1,207. A durable performer, Garvey led the National League in games played in six different seasons.
After leaving the playing field, Garvey did face some “character” issues (read paternity suits) – which tarnished his All-American image and may have cost him votes over time. Also working against Garvey is his 272 career home runs from what is traditionally a power position. Garvey, however, did hit 20+ home runs in a season five times, with a high of 33 in 1977. He had several campaigns in the .315-20-100 range, but I would probably rate his best as 1977, when he played in all 162 Dodgers’ games, hit.297, poled 33 home runs, drove in 115 and tossed in a Gold Glove and nine stolen bases. (His career high in steals was 19 in 1976.)
STEVE GARVEY AND THE POST SEASON
For your consideration: Steve Garvey’s post-season batting averages:
- Five NL Division Series games -.368
- 22 NL Championship Series games – .356
- 28 World Series games – .319.
_________________________________________________________________
MODERN GAME COMMITTEE PREDICTION
You’ve seen BBRT’s four Modern Game selections. I think the committee may be less generous (and will split up their support). I expect that the two catchers on the ballot (Ted Simmons and Thurman Munson) to get the necessary votes – and see Tommy John as a dark horse candidate who may fall a little short. Then come Steve Garvey and Lou Whitaker, who should garner some support,but I don’t think it will be enough.
—-THE REMAINING CANDIDATES—-
Now, how about the other candidates? Let’s go alphabetically. (As you will see, there are some solid performers here, but I believe the four BBRT selections have an edge.)
Dwight Evans, OF/1B, 1972-91 … Red Sox, Orioles
Dwight Evans played 19 of his 20 seasons for the Red Sox – earning three All Star Selections and eight Gold Gloves during that time. He led the AL in games played twice, home runs once (the strike-interrupted 1981 season), runs scored once, and walks three times. He hit 30 or more home runs in three seasons and had four campaigns of 100+ RBI.
Dwight Evans’ Best Season
In 1987, at the age of 35, Evans hit .305, with 43 home runs, 123 RBI and 109 runs scored (all career highs). Those numbers put him third in the AL in home runs; second in RBI, fifth in the AL in runs scored; and 15th in batting average. He also led the league in walks with 106, helping him put up a .417 on-base percentage (third in the AL).
Evans also gets credit for solid outfield play (remember eight Gold Gloves) … leading AL right fielders in putouts four times and assists three times and double plays three times.
Dwight Evans’ career stat line (in 2,606 games): 2,445 hits (.272 average); 385 home runs; 483 doubles; 73 triples; 1,470 runs scored; 1,385 RBI. The body of work puts him close to the top four on this ballot (in BBRT’s view).
_____________________________________________
Don Mattingly, 1B/OF, Yankees … 1982-1995
Don Mattingly put up some very nice numbers in a 14-season MLB career – a .307 average, 2,153 hits, 222 home runs, 1,099 RBI. He also was a six-time All Star, nine-time Gold Glover, and the 1985 American League MVP. In addition, he led the AL in hits twice, doubles three times, total bases twice, RBI once and batting average once. So, why is he not in the Hall of Fame? In fact, why was his highest total on the traditional ballot less than 30 percent (29.2 percent)?
Mattingly played a position(s) noted for power and run production – and, due in great part to back issues, he did not put up the career home run and RBI totals that would have opened the doors to the Hall. For example, after hitting .337, belting 119 home runs, driving in 483 runs and making four All Star teams in his first four full major league seasons, Mattingly hit .292, with only 99 home runs, 583 RBI and two All Star selections over his final eight campaigns. Mattingly’s number just don’t seem to put him in one of the four top spots on this ballot.
____________________________________________________________
Marvin Miller, Executive
Marvin Miller (1917-2012) served as the Executive Director of the MLB Players Association from 1966-82 – negotiating the first collective bargaining agreement in professional sports and leading the MLB Players Association to a position as one of the most powerful labor organizations in the country.
Miller led the fight for free agency and arbitration and focused his efforts on enabling players to receive “market value” for their contributions – dramatically altering the balance of power (or perhaps finally creating a balance of power) between owners and players. Late in life, Miller requested not to be included on future Hall of Fame ballots (he had been rejected several times) – quoted as saying “I find myself unwilling to contemplate one more rigged Veterans Committee, whose members are handpicked to reach a particular outcome while offering the pretense of a democratic vote.”
__________________________________________________
Dale Murphy, OF/1B/C, 1976-93 … Braves, Phillies, Rockies
Dale Murphy is a seven-time All Star, five-time Gold Glover, four-time Silver Slugger honoree and a two-time National League MVP (1982-1983). Overall, Murphy played in 2,180 games over 18 seasons, collected 2,111 hits, stroked 398 home runs, drove in 1,266 and stole 161 bases. He also led the NL in home runs twice, RBI twice, total bases once and runs scored once. As a right-fielder, he led the NL in putouts twice, assists once and double plays twice. These all work in his favor as a candidate for a plaque in Cooperstown.
Working against Murphy, however, is a .265 lifetime average – with only two full seasons at .300 or better and four full campaigns under .250. His highest total on the traditional BBWAA ballot was 23.2 percent.
Dale Murphy came up to the major leagues as a catcher. In his first two MLB call ups (1976-77), he appeared in the field in 37 games (34 starts) all at catcher. Murphy played 292 MLB games (C/1B) before his first appearance in the Braves’ outfield.
Murphy’s career can be divided into two eras: 1) 1982-87 and; 2) the rest of his big-league tenure. Murphy was truly a HOF-level player from 1982 to 1987: averaging .289, with 36 home runs, 105 RBI and 19 stolen bases per season and winning his two MVP awards, six of his seven All-Star selections, all five of his Gold Gloves and all four of his Silver Slugger Awards. Now, let’s look at the rest of his career, eliminating those seasons in which he played less than 100 games at the MLB level (his first two and last two MLB seasons). In the remaining eight campaigns, Murphy averaged .247, with 22 home runs, 75 RBI and seven steals. A couple more seasons comparable to his 1982-87 stats would have moved Murphy up the list.
_____________________________________________
Dave Parker, RF, 1973-1991 … Pirates, Reds, A’s Brewers, Angels, Blue Jays
Dave “The Cobra” Parker was a player who surely made an impact – 19 major league seasons, 2,712 hits; .290 career average; 339 long balls, 1,493 RBI and 154 stolen bases. His game also included two NL batting titles, three Gold Gloves, three times leading his league in total bases, and an RBI title.
Parker also earned points on the Fame scale – seven All Star Selections, the 1978 National League MVP and the 1979 All Star game MVP Award. Overall, Parker put up nine seasons of 20 or more home runs (three of those 30+); six qualifying seasons with an average of .300 or better; four seasons of 100+ RBI; three seasons of 100+ runs scored; and one campaign of 200 or more base hits. His best season was 1978, when he won his second consecutive NL batting crown, with a .334 average, hit 30 home runs, drove in 117, scored 102 times, earned a Gold Glove and won the NL MVP Award. Interestingly (at least to BBRT), none of those 1978 offensive numbers ended up being career highs for The Cobra. All that works in Parker’s favor.
Parker, however, scores negative points on the Character scale – drug-related issues (cocaine) that many believed affected his performance mid-career – as well as put him on the stand (with immunity) in federal court and led to the Pirates filing a suit to negate deferred payments called for in Parker’s contract (settled out of court). This character issue comes into play when you only have four votes.
BBRT Note: Parker’s performance (and, in turn, his career numbers) also were impaired by a series of injuries. In the early 1980’s, Parker had to deal with: knee issues (cartilage removal); a torn Achilles tendon; torn cartilage in his right wrist; and a ruptured ligament in his left thumb.
________________________________________________
Lou Whitaker, 2B, 1977-95 … Tigers
Lou Whitaker and Allen Trammell will forever be linked in baseball lore. The 2B/SS combination played more seasons together, more games together and turned more double plays together than any other SS/2B pairing. Trammel was voted in by the Modern Baseball Committee two years ago – and it would be appropriate for Whitaker to join him in the Hall.
Whitaker played 19 MLB season – all with the Tigers – and during that time was Rookie of the Year (1978), a five-time All Star, a three-time Gold Glover and a four-time Silver Slugger.
Overall, he collected 2,389 hits in 2,390 games (.276 average) popped 244 home runs, drove in 1,084 and scored 1,386 runs and stole 143 bases. He hit 20 or more home runs four times and scored 100+ runs twice. All solid numbers, but none that jump off the stat sheet at you.
Lou Whitaker’s best season was 1983, when he hit .320 with 12 home runs, 72 RBI, 94 runs scored and 17 stolen bases – also earning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award.
In the field, Whitaker led AL second baseman in defensive games twice, putouts once, assists twice, double plays once and fielding percentage twice. Overall, he is fourth among MLB second baseman all time in double plays, sixth in assists and eleventh in putouts.
So why is Trammell in and not Whitaker? Good question. There careers were both parallel and similar. Trammel did have a bit of an edge in batting average (.285 to .276) and stolen bases (236 to 143), but Whitaker had the edge in home runs (244 to 185) and RBI (1,084 to 1,003). Trammel accumulated four Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards to Whitaker’s three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. Ultimately, I hope Whitaker will join his double play partner in the Hall, but with just four votes, he falls short on BBRT’s hypothetical Modem Game Ballot.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com
BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST
Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. To see the full list, click here.
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT
Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here. More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
