The Pilot: Booth: Ruminations on the Hall of Fame

In honor of Pope Benedict XVI shutting down NYC and having Guiding Light blackened…here’s Clark Booth from The Pilot: America’s Oldest Catholic Newspaper.

The supreme example is Cecil Travis, elegant shortstop of the Senators, who lost four full seasons and never recovered from the severe frostbite he experienced at the Bulge. But there’s also Johnny Sain and Dom DiMaggio who gave three prime years to the Navy. Furthermore, Sain was arguably the greatest pitching coach of all time. Shouldn’t that count for something? You can add Gil Hodges, a decorated veteran, to that list. Give him the three seasons he lost doing hard service-time in the Pacific and he would have been elected 30 years ago.

There should be “special consideration” category for chaps like Minnie Minoso, first of the great Latin players. Minnie surmounted two huge barriers simultaneously and did so with panache. In this category of history-makers, Curt Flood is a natural. Talk of your pathfinders! Roger Maris makes it too. In the steroid era, his achievement grows, wouldn’t you say? Doug Harvey speaks for the umpires. And I would add Tommy John; the first of the bionic arms and winner of 287 games.

Jim Rice should be a lock next year. No one has not come so close and not eventually made it. But what of Jack Morris, Bert Blyleven and Looey Tiant who are just as worthy? Can we agree Ron Santo has waited long enough?