The Classic Baseball Era Committee ballot was announced recently. “The Committee will meet on Dec. 8 at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Dallas…” These are folks who weren’t selected through other means.
“The Classic Baseball Era ballot includes Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Vic Harris, Tommy John, Dave Parker, and Luis Tiant. Among the candidates, Garvey, John, and Parker are living.”
I immediately recognized the names of all the players, save for Harris and Donaldson, who played and managed in the Negro Leagues. Based on the resumes, I imagine they should be in.
“Donaldson pitched in the Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues for more than 30 years, earning a reputation as one of the best pitchers in the game. Also playing the outfield and managing, Donaldson helped establish the barnstorming business model that was profitable for Black teams for decades.”
“Harris played 18 seasons in the Negro Leagues, primarily as a left fielder for the legendary Homestead Grays. He compiled a .303 career batting average and was known as one of the most aggressive base runners in the Negro National League. Harris also managed the Grays for 11 seasons, winning seven Negro National League pennants and the 1948 World Series.”
But what of the others? Bill James has come up with a series of sabermetric markers.
Dick Allen
Allen “played 15 seasons from 1963 to 77 for five teams, compiling 351 home runs, 1,119 RBIs, and a .292 career average. He was named the 1972 AL Most Valuable Player and the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year, with seven career All-Star selections.” While he never got more than 18.9% of the standard BBWAA path to the Hall, the last two times he received 68.8% of the Veterans Committee, below the 75% threshold.
Allen’s batting – 99 (184th), Likely HOFer ≈ 100, so he’s around that.
Similar batters:
- Ryan Braun (933.6)
- Bryce Harper (906.0)
- Lance Berkman (903.2)
- Reggie Smith (894.0)
- Ellis Burks (890.8)
- Brian Giles (889.9)
- Larry Doby (884.9) *
- Jermaine Dye (880.7)
- George Foster (880.1)
- Mike Trout (877.9)
* – Signifies Hall of Famer
Borderline.
Ken Boyer
“Boyer played 15 seasons as a third baseman…, earning 11 All-Star Game selections and winning the 1964 National Leagu Most Valuable Player Award en route to leading the Cardinals to a World Series championship.”
His high vote count for BBWAA was 25.5% On the Veterans Committee, his high was 18.8%, but he got zero votes the three times he was considered.
Batting – 36 (215th), Average HOFer ≈ 50
However, he won five Gold Gloves.
- Bobby Bonilla (906.7)
- Cy Williams (897.7)
- Reggie Smith (895.5)
- Del Ennis (894.3)
- Paul O’Neill (888.8)
- Robin Ventura (886.2)
- Fred Lynn (885.7)
- George Hendrick (883.7)
- Ron Cey (877.2)
- Ron Santo (874.1) *
* – Signifies Hall of Famer
I wouldn’t vote for him.
Steve Garvey
“Garvey compiled a .294 career average over 19 major league seasons… amassing 2,599 hits, 272 home runs, 1,308 RBI, and 10 All-Star Game selections. He hit .338 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in 11 postseason series… Garvey won four Gold Glove Awards.”
Separately, “Rep. Adam B. Schiff, a Burbank Democrat, defeated former Dodgers All-Star Steve Garvey, a Palm Desert Republican, to represent California in the U.S. Senate. He will serve out the remainder of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s term, which ends in early January, and, separately, serve a subsequent six-year Senate term.”
He reached 42.6% of the vote with the BBWAA, and after being shut out by the Veterans thrice, he got 37.5% of the vote in 2020/
Batting – 131 (115th), Likely HOFer ≈ 100
- Garret Anderson (913.7)
- Al Oliver (889.5)
- John Olerud (865.4)
- Rubén Sierra (859.5)
- Mickey Vernon (857.1)
- Bill Buckner (855.5)
- Cecil Cooper (853.8)
- Orlando Cepeda (853.3) *
- Will Clark (849.4)
- Mark Grace (847.2)
* – Signifies Hall of Famer
Even though he is a fiscal and personal disaster, he’s probably worthy based on his talent.
Tommy John
“John pitched 26 seasons …finishing his career… with a record of 288-231 and 3.34 ERA. His 700 career starts rank eighth on the all-time list, and his 4,710.1 innings rank 20th all-time. A four-time All-Star Game selection – three of which came following his groundbreaking elbow surgery in 1974…”
Tommy John surgery is half a century old. This CBS News story notes that currently, “about 60% of Tommy John surgery recipients are under 19.” which is problematic.
His chase for the Hall peaked at 31.7% in his last year of eligibility. He’s received zero votes from four Veterans Committees.
Pitching – 112 (85th), Likely HOFer ≈ 100
- Jim Kaat (923.3) *
- Robin Roberts (898.2) *
- Bert Blyleven (889.5) *
- Fergie Jenkins (885.4) *
- Early Wynn (869.8) *
- Tom Glavine (865.5) *
- Burleigh Grimes (865.2) *
- Tony Mullane (864.0)
- Don Sutton (861.6) *
- Eppa Rixey (857.3) *
* – Signifies Hall of Famer
Look at those inning-eating pitchers in the Hall. Tommy John belongs.
Dave Parker
“Parker compiled a .290 career average over 19 major league seasons…and amassed 339 home runs, 1,493 RBI, and two batting titles (1977-78). The 1978 NL Most Valuable Player was named to seven All-Star games and won three Gold Glove Awards in right field.” He is in the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame.
His highest BBWAA vote count was 24.5% in his second year of eligibility. But, after being shut out by two Veterans committees, he got 43.8% of their vote in 2020.
Batting – 125 (121st), Likely HOFer ≈ 100
- Luis Gonzalez (907.1)
- Torii Hunter (906.8)
- Tony Pérez (895.7) *
- Billy Williams (883.9) *
- Garret Anderson (874.5)
- Harold Baines (871.6) *
- Andre Dawson (865.2) *
- Al Oliver (862.7)
- Chili Davis (859.1)
- Rusty Staub (857.1)
* – Signifies Hall of Famer
Yes, for Parker.
Luis Tiant
Tiant, who died October 8, 2024, “won at least 20 games in four of his 19 big league seasons… finishing his career with 229 wins and a 3.30 ERA while earning three All-Star Game selections. He won two American League ERA titles, including a 1.60 ERA in 1968, and led the league in shutouts three times.”
After getting 30.9% of the BBWAA in his first year of eligibility, he never got out of the teens thereafter. He received 18-25% of the Veterans vote in his first three tries but zero in the last three.
Pitching – 97 (111th), Likely HOFer ≈ 100
- Catfish Hunter (942.3) *
- Jim Bunning (931.1) *
- Billy Pierce (922.0)
- Vida Blue (921.1)
- Mickey Lolich (913.4)
- Don Drysdale (913.3) *
- Jim Perry (908.6)
- Kevin Brown (903.0)
- Hooks Dauss (900.7)
- Orel Hershiser (898.3)
* – Signifies Hall of Famer
Just shy.
If I could vote, I’d pick Donaldson, Harris, John, and Parker.