This is really disappointing. Not unexpected, but disappointing nonetheless.

In related news, Marvin Miller announces that he refuses to accept any decision by the committee, regardless of the outcome, and he instructs his representatives to not cooperate and to not not cooperate with any future efforts to induct him into the Hall of Fame or not.

I'm a Tiger fan, and it's hard for me to see why John Fetzer belongs in the Hall of Fame. Long-time owner who was among the leaders to broadcast games on radio but among the trailers to embrace racial integration.

Let me weigh in before all the labor activists cry about Miller's exclusion. He does not belong in the BASEBALL Hall of Fame. If there is a labor or union Hall of Fame stick him in it.

Has the Hall of Fame now slipped into total irrelevance? It has not for profit status due to its educational mission. In ignoring Miller for induction, the committee members appointed by the HOF have neglected the mission, so maybe they should have the tax free claim challenged?

Since the HOF appears to be run by owners for owners, perhaps a one year boycott by former players of the HOF weekend would be appropriate in honor of Marvin?

Let me weigh in before all the labor activists cry about Miller's exclusion. He does not belong in the BASEBALL Hall of Fame. If there is a labor or union Hall of Fame stick him in it.

THat would be a decent point if there weren't a committee designated to honor men like Miller and their contributions to the sport. But as long as you're also honoring owners and other executives, then Miller is clearly qualified.

I'm guessing MacPhail and Schuerholz gave him the nod.

Waaaaay too many execs on that committee. Miller was robbed, of course. He remade the history of the game like few others, and that game is better for it. Yes, he belongs in the BASEBALL Hall of Fame.

Selecting Bowie Kuhn and not Marvin Miller is like honoring Wile E. Coyote and not the Roadrunner.

Let's disclose the ballots. I agree with McCoy that MacPhail and Schuerholz probably were the ones who voted for Miller. The MacPhail family has been more enlightened than others and Schuerholz is tough but fair.

The idea that David Glass is allowed to vote for anything above dogcathcer level scares me.

Jerry Crasnick is reporting that Miller got all five votes from the writers (Hummell, Pepe, McCoy) and the two players (Roberts, Seaver), and got just two of seven from the executives on the stacked committee: John Harrington (Red Sox), Jerry Bell (Twins), Bill DeWitt (Cardinals), Bill Giles (Phillies), David Glass (Royals), Andy MacPhail (Orioles) and John Schuerholz (Braves).

Wile E Coyote is first ballot. Roadrunner? Meh. Right place at the right time.

Jerry Crasnick is reporting that Miller got all five votes from the writers (Hummell, Pepe, McCoy) and the two players (Roberts, Seaver), and got just two of seven from the executives on the stacked committee: John Harrington (Red Sox), Jerry Bell (Twins), Bill DeWitt (Cardinals), Bill Giles (Phillies), David Glass (Royals), Andy MacPhail (Orioles) and John Schuerholz (Braves).

You don't say.

The Hall of Fame that should induct Marvin Miller is the Yankee Hall of Fame. He and Fehr have helped immensely to restore Yankee greatness by free agency, arbitration, no amateur draft for international players and no salary cap.

Yeah, before Miller was hired in the mid-60s, the Yankees hadn't achieved anything for eons.

K. M. Landis is in the Hall of Fame. That's precedent right there for a man who has had powerful but mixed effects on the game. If Landis is in, Miller belongs.

The Hall of Fame that should induct Marvin Miller is the Yankee Hall of Fame.

So what do you make of the fact that baseball experienced its greatest period of competitive balance in the 20 years immediately following the Messerschmidt decision?

weigh in before all the labor activists cry about Miller's exclusion. He does not belong in the BASEBALL Hall of Fame. If there is a labor or union Hall of Fame stick him in it.

By that standard no owners should be in the Hall of Fame either. If there is a 'Managing to Make a Handsome Profit From a Legal Monopoly' hall of fame stick them in it.

What a dumb argument.

Messerschmidt decision?

Yes, yes, I can't spell. And decision is the wrong word, isn't it? Or maybe it's not. All told, I'm pretty dumb.

Selecting Bowie Kuhn and not Marvin Miller is like honoring Wile E. Coyote and not the Roadrunner.

This is a really bad analogy. The Roadrunner didn't really DO anything. If you're going to pick a WB analogy pick Elmer Fudd vs Bugs Bunny.

I would also argue that inducting Miller and not Messersmith and McNally (and before them, Flood - not to mention the guys like McCarver and Belanger and the other player leaders who drove the MLBPA) would be something of the same thing.

-- MWE

IF THE OWNERS & EXECUTIVES WON'T VOTE FOR MARVIN MILLER, THE WRITERS & PLAYERS SHOULD NOT VOTE FOR ANY OWNERS, EXECS OR COMMISSIONERS.

It is silly that Miller keeps being kept out. Even sillier is having 1/2 the committee being executives thus locking out anyone who isn't one or friendly to them.

The players clearly should start making noise about having 1/2 the power instead of the owners having it. Won't happen, but it would make more sense. Even more sense would be a panel of experts which includes some who are (or were) 'outside the game'.

Bowie did look a little like Elmer.....and Miller was a brooklyn born and bred guy.

The player's union could simply purchase a parcel of land near the HOF and erect a 100ft bronze statue of Miller striking a heroic pose. The Colossus of Cooperstown - you have to admit, it has a nice ring to it.

15. Walewander Is In College, Hitting Rockets Posted: December 07, 2009 at 12:33 PM (#3405699)
weigh in before all the labor activists cry about Miller's exclusion. He does not belong in the BASEBALL Hall of Fame. If there is a labor or union Hall of Fame stick him in it.

By that standard no owners should be in the Hall of Fame either. If there is a 'Managing to Make a Handsome Profit From a Legal Monopoly' hall of fame stick them in it.

What a dumb argument.

You are assuming something I did not say. I was not arguing for any owners to be enshrined in the the Hall. Miller had no more to do with baseball then a labor lawyer arguing for the UAW has to do with the production of vehicles. His "contributions" or effect on the game could be (and likely already is) displayed in the Hall of Fame. Have a room acknowledging those who fought for more freedom for the players. Founders of the union (Feller and others), those who took risks (Flood, etc) and the likes of Miller could be all be displayed. That is much different from enshrining him. I will be equally opposed to future efforts to enshrine George Steinbrenner, Don Fehr, Kirk Radomski, et al.

You are assuming something I did not say. I was not arguing for any owners to be enshrined in the the Hall. Miller had no more to do with baseball then a labor lawyer arguing for the UAW has to do with the production of vehicles. His "contributions" or effect on the game could be (and likely already is) displayed in the Hall of Fame. Have a room acknowledging those who fought for more freedom for the players. Founders of the union (Feller and others), those who took risks (Flood, etc) and the likes of Miller could be all be displayed. That is much different from enshrining him. I will be equally opposed to future efforts to enshrine George Steinbrenner, Don Fehr, Kirk Radomski, et al.

But you're essentially arguing that the Hall of Fame should be something it isn't (or shouldn't be something that it is). The Hall of Fame has already decided that the Steinbrenners of the world belong. If there weren't already owners and other execs in the game, I doubt any of the labor activists would be pining for Miller to become the first.

What kept baseball balanced in the 1980s was George Steinbrenner was too impetuous..firing managers every other week and continually changing directions. Plus revenues were probably more evenly balanced in the the 1980s..no teams owning cable networks like YES or NESN and less corporate sponsorships (if I ever get liquored up enough, someday I'll listen to an entire Yankee radio broadcast and count how many things are sponsored by someone). Almost certainly there were fewer foreign players in the 1980s and I doubt if too many amateur American players were unsignable (Danny Godwin comes to mind). That changed when Brien Taylor was able to get a $1 million bonus for signing with the Yankees, before that $150,000 had been the standard. Much of the problems smaller teams like Pittsburgh and Kansas City have is they drafted less talented players because they could sign.
Also in the 1980s they Yankees weren't as bad as some have portrayed them. They did win more regular season games than anybody else and also suffered from being in a division with a number of strong teams and no wild card. They easily could have dominated the decade as they did in the late 1970s if a more patient owner had taken advantage of what Miller had given them.


Miller definitely belongs in Cooperstown with his plaque next to Bowie Kuhn's.

Why hasn't there been any kind of effort to get Steinbrenner into the Hall? Regardless of one's personal opinion of him (and I personally think he's pretty close to the antichrist), he obviously belongs in the Hall based on the standards they've established for executives. And as we know from studying the Hall's history, the best way to get elected is to be on your deathbed so you can generate the sympathy vote.

Marvin Miller will live to see himself inducted. He's too stubborn not too. If the Grim Reaper comes to him, he'll bargain his way out of it.

Oh, and I'd like to note God called Steinbrenner the Antichrist.

I'd love to know what effect Miller had on the game of baseball. Obviously he had a big effect on the business known as Major League Baseball. But if I go down to the playground and play baseball, what am I doing differently because of Marvin Miller?

God Posted: December 07, 2009 at 05:57 PM (#3406050)
Why hasn't there been any kind of effort to get Steinbrenner into the Hall? Regardless of one's personal opinion of him (and I personally think he's pretty close to the antichrist)

You would know.

But if I go down to the playground and play baseball, what am I doing differently because of Marvin Miller?

Emulating a player who might have spent his entire career in Baltimore if not for free agency.