No Call To Hall For Torre-Yet

The Hall of Fame Veterans' Committee made their selections for 2009. The only player to be selected: Joe Gordon, a nine time All Star with the Yankees and Indians. Gordon was selected by the 'Pre 1942 Committee.' Among the 'Post 1942 Committee' selections, Ron Santo, Joe Torre and Gil Hodges missed out.

I had a chance to speak with Craig Muder from the Hall of Fame this afternoon. My question: Is the totality of a person's career considered? In other words, do Torre and Hodges gain consideration for their managerial success? Does Santo's years as a popular Cubs' broadcaster get thrown into the mix? Craig's response was that while these elections focused only on playing careers, Santo, Torre and Hodges could certainly be considered for non playing contributions. This is particularly true of Torre, who will definitely get in as a manager. Next year non players will be considered. While Torre could have gotten in today, it looks like the Veterans' Committee decided to stick only among what the nominees did on the diamond. But rest assured, Joe Torre WILL have a plaque in Cooperstown one day.

You could easily make a case for Hodges if you include his time as manager of the Mets. The '69 World Series win was historic. If Hodges had not passed away less than three years later, who knows if the 1972 Mets (who started great but faded) and the '73 club that took the Oakland A's to seven games would have been part of Hodges' legacy? He clearly was a better manager and leader than Yogi Berra. Santo should be considered for the Ford C. Frick broadcaster's award given every year.

My problem with the Vets' Committee is this: Unless it's a horrific oversight, WHY have the committee? The players had 15 years to get in. Did the Baseball Writers Association make a mistake? Phil Rizzuto never had more than 20 percent of the vote as a player. When the Scooter was named, Berra's first words were: 'We got you in, Phil."

I didn't see Joe Gordon play, so I can't fully appreciate his career. But it seems to me the Committee becomes a popularity contest rather than an examination of THE GREATEST players. Santo WAS NOT Schmidt, Boggs, Brett or Matthews. Get him in as a broadcaster. In the meantime, it will be at least another year or two before the man Sal Marchiano calls "Saint Joe" Torre gets the nod for Cooperstown