Ryne Sandberg, longtime 2B for the Chicago Cubs, was elected on his third try by the narrowest of margins.
Among those who did not receive the required 387 votes neccessary for enshrinement were Bruce Sutter (344), Boston LF Jim Rice (307), Goose Gossage (285), Andre Dawson (270) and Don Mattingly (70).
Incredibly, Tom Candiotti, he of the $29.99 phone call, received 2 votes. Dodgers/Padres stalwart Steve Garvey received 123 votes — I would’ve cast a ballot for Cyndy Garvey, but neither I or Marvin Hamlisch were invited to participate by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
(Cyndy G. – deserving of her own special museum)
I’ve seen the ridiculous ESPN @ Disney World advertisement with Peter Gammons telling Cinderella (or a poor girl dressed up like Cinderella), “the ’86 Mets, there was a Cinderella story,” about 30 times in the past 24 hours. Much as I hate to take issue with whatever genius wrote the script for this unfunny commerical, the 1969 Mets could be characterized as a “Cinderella Story”. Certainly the 1973 Mets. The ’86 Mets won 108 games in the regular season. 5 of the ’86 Mets went to that summer’s All-Star Game. Maybe Gammons meant all of the coke snorting and whore mongering that occured that year, because there’s lots of that in “Cinderella”.
Is Wade the first Devil Ray in the Hall? God Bless.
Ryno certainly deserves his entry, although I’m still into the rumor that he “retired” early for that weird year or so just to avoid paying his wife a ton in alimony. Unless Mark Grace somehow makes it for his career .300 batting average, I think Ryno may be the only Cub of his generation who will get in, and I am sad to say I have to agree.
Whups, I forgot Greg Maddux, who’ll surely go in first round, although they’ll probably put him in a Braves hat.
Mark Grace isn’t getting in. Not without buying a ticket.
Steve Garvey should be in the Hall of Fame, according to Jimmy Kimmel: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=kimmel/050104
with all due respect to Mr. Kimmel, that moody motherfucker Jim Rice has as much right to complain as anybody.