The Winter Meetings begin on Sunday. And, with the number of free agents that have already been in contact with teams about megadeals, maybe this year we'll actually see some action instead of the tepid markets that we saw at the last two Winter Meetings. But that's all for later in the week. Because the Winter Meetings always start with the announcement of the Hall of Fame Veterans' Committee vote.
There are 10 candidates to join Derek Jeter in Cooperstown come July. This year, the era being voted on is "Modern Baseball," which is basically the 1970s and 80s. Of the nine players on the ballot, I feel stronger about some Hall of Fame candidacies than others, but if we're using Harold Baines as the benchmark, they should all be in. This is the first Era Committee vote since Baines' controversial election last year, so we'll see how much of an impact that vote has. Because many of them are in a similar boat as Baines. Hall of Very Good, but not necessarily Hall of Fame.
One of the 10 candidates shouldn't be on the ballot for a completely different reason. Because Marvin Miller should've been elected to the Hall of Fame a long time ago, and it's beyond a travesty that he isn't in yet. Frankly, it's an embarrassment. Because Marvin Miller meant more to Modern Baseball (which is the name of the freakin' committee!) than anybody! In fact, I'd argue that he might even be the most significant person in the sport of baseball since Jackie Robinson!
Before Marvin Miller, the players had absolutely no power. There was no CBA, no free agency, and salaries were a fraction of what they are now. By the time he retired in 1982, the players had more power than ever, free agency had become the norm, and salaries had increased exponentially.
Without Marvin Miller, Bryce Harper wouldn't have been able to sign for $330 million last winter, and Gerrit Cole wouldn't be in line for a similar payday this offseason. The multi-billion-dollar colossus that baseball has become is due in large part to Marvin Miller. He made a lot of people rich. Not just players, owners too.
Of course, there were several strikes under Miller's leadership, and the things that he got for the players meant that those things were being taken away from the owners. That led to a lot of resentment of Miller from front offices and is probably the reason he still doesn't have a plaque hanging in Cooperstown.
That pettiness needs to stop, though. Because the man has been dead for seven years and there's no non-player in history who had a bigger impact on the game (except for maybe Judge Landis). He should've been voted in while he was alive. If you ask anyone associated with baseball over the last 50 years, they'd all say the same thing. Marvin Miller should be in the Hall of Fame. It's time to right that wrong.
As for the players, you know I've always been a big fan of Steve Garvey. I'm a longtime advocate of his candidacy, and that has only increased now that Jack Morris has finally been voted in (by this same Modern Baseball committee two years ago). Simply put, Garvey's brilliant career is underappreciated. He was the best first baseman in the National League throughout the 70s and was a key member of those excellent Dodger teams of that era. Then he moved south to San Diego and led the Padres to their first-ever pennant in his first season with the team. Garvey ended up playing 19 years, won four Gold Gloves and holds the NL record for longest consecutive games streak. There's something to be said about that.
Miller and Garvey are an easy first two votes. It's the second two where I'm having some trouble. Because I can see the merits for each of them. And it's tough to compare, because the standard changed with Baines' election last year. I can't use that as the benchmark, though. I can only compare them against each other. That's the only way to decide on who will get my other two votes.
And if I'm doing that, I think I have to go with Dale Murphy and Dave Parker. Just like I was a passionate supporter of Jack Morris, Dale Murphy had his passionate faithful throughout his time on the writers' ballot. He was a two-time MVP, yet may still be one of the most underappreciated great players of the 1980s because he was playing on some terrible Braves teams. I never considered him in the same class as the players he was up against for Hall of Fame consideration previously. But the Murphy backers have finally convinced me. His numbers stack up well against anybody else from the 80s who's already in. Time for him to join them.
Dave Parker, meanwhile, I only remember seeing late in his career when he was a DH. So I never got an appreciation for the five-tool player he was in his prime. Then I cued up the video of the 1979 All*Star Game and was truly amazed by what he did in right field. He might've been the greatest defensive right fielder of his day...and he could hit for power from the left side! I just wish I'd been able to see THAT Dave Parker!
I came close to swapping Parker out for one of the three Yankees on the ballot, but I couldn't. Thurman Munson is like Bernie Williams and Andy Pettittte. An all-time great Yankee, but not necessarily an all-time great. And there is a difference. Same goes for Don Mattingly, who I actually "voted" for in his final year on the regular ballot. Although, Mattingly was probably the best AL first baseman of the 80s.
Tommy John, meanwhile, is much more than the guy who has a surgery named after him. He pitched 26 years and had 288 wins...most of which came after he had his eponymous surgery. How many of those 26 years was he among the game's very best pitchers, though? He only made the All*Star team four times. I think a lot of his numbers are really a result of his longevity. Although, the impact of the surgery and what it's done to extend the careers of so many pitchers can't be overlooked.
While I rate him a tick below the others, Ted Simmons was one vote shy of election the last time this group met, so I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up getting in. Fun fact: my very first bat was a Ted Simmons model. And now that Alan Trammell's in, I wouldn't be surprised if his double play partner, Lou Whitaker, garners some newfound support. Whitaker's numbers don't scream "Hall of Famer," though. Especially in this group.
Same goes for Dwight Evans. For years, the Red Sox had that great outfield of Jim Rice in left, Fred Lynn in center and Evans in right. Rice was the best of the three and is already a Hall of Famer. Lynn had a phenomenal few years then tapered off into a very good player. Although, I think his Hall of Fame candidacy needs to be revisited. After that, you can think about putting in Dwight Evans, the third-best of the three.
So, my "ballot" would be Miller, Garvey, Murphy and Parker. Parker's unlikely to get in. Garvey probably is, too. I just hope beyond hope that the grave injustice of Marvin Miller not being in the Hall of Fame is corrected. Because it's absurd that he's been passed over so many times. He shouldn't be passed over again.
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