Yesterday, the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee announced… nothing. After much deliberation, posturing, campaigning and whatever else the baseball folks with their secret ballots do, the Veterans Committee decided to tell good folks like Ron Santo, Marvin Miller, Buck O’Neil, Gil Hodges, Walter O’Malley and Jim Kaat to, well… maybe we shouldn’t rephrase it.
Let’s just say it ends with “… and die.”
Some already have.
Let's start with the fact that the Baseball Hall of Fame is watered down. Based on some invisible criteria that elected borderline players – statistically speaking – it’s a real crime that Santo, O’Neil, Hodges, O’Malley, Don Newcombe and gasp! Marvin Miller can’t get the votes.
Do those electors have a clue as to what their mission is?
So what’s the deal with these folks? Is there anything that can be done about possibly taking the Hall of Fame voting away from the Veterans Committee and some sycophants in the Baseball Writers Association of America?
No. Probably not.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean we can’t pick on them. At least that’s what Keith Olbermann did last night on his show Countdown. In his nightly feature, “Worst Person in the World,” Olbermann awarded the top place to the Veterans Committee (ahead of Anne Coulter and some guy who e-mailed a bomb threat into his school) saying they should do the correct thing and quit.
Here’s Olbermann:
But our winners tonight: The Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Veterans. Given a choice of such overlooked immortals as Gil Hodges and Ron Santo, Jim Kaat and Maury Wills, and such movers-and-shakers as Dodger owner Walter O'Malley, and players' union founder Marvin Miller.
Today, they elected... nobody.
Santo came closest – five votes short of the spot in the Hall of Fame he has long deserved. There will not be another vote until 2009... 2011 for the non-players.
The electors – including 61 current Hall of Famers – should voluntarily resign their positions, or be compelled to. They have made fools of themselves.
Again.
The Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Veterans, Tuesday's Worst Persons In The World!
Here’s an idea for the Hall of Fame – let’s start over. Let’s take everyone out of the Hall of Fame… Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Cy Young, etc., etc. and vote them back in. You know, rebuild it all from scratch. This time contributions to the game, citizenship and playing ability all count.
And let’s get people to vote on them who really care. Olbermann should get a vote. Bob Costas, too. Just not the same old, same old people who have been doing it in the past. The world changes, elements of baseball should as well.
On another note...
Barry Bonds needs bigger shoes.