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gov135 · 11-30-2003, 08:49 AM

http://sportsnetwork.com/default.asp...AAN2924541.htm

Eckersley among newcomers on Hall of Fame ballot
Cooperstown, NY (Sports Network) - Three former Most Valuable Players - Dennis Eckersley, Kevin Mitchell and Terry Pendleton are among 15 first-year candidates on the 2004 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.

The ballot will go out this week to more than 500 voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. To gain entry into the Hall of Fame, candidates must be named on at least 75 percent of the ballots cast. Results will be announced Tuesday, January 6.

Eckersley, Mitchell and Pendleton will be together on the ballot with eight former MVP winners, who are holdovers on the 32-player ballot. Andre Dawson, Steve Garvey, Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, Dave Parker, Jim Rice, Ryne Sandberg and Dale Murphy are also on the ballot.

Eddie Murray and Gary Carter were elected last year. Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter, who received 53.6-percent support, Rice (52.2) and Dawson (50) were the only other players named on at least half the ballots last year. Sutter came the closest to making the Hall out of that group in last year's voting, appearing on 53.6 percent of the ballots. To be elected, a player must appear on at least 75 percent of the ballots, which are cast by BBWAA members who have been a part of the organization for 10 or more years.

Others on the ballot for the first time are Paul Molitor, Cecil Fielder, Dennis Martinez, Doug Drabek and Joe Carter. Molitor is a member of the 3,000- hit club, while Fielder was a two-time home run and three-time RBI champion. Martinez won 245 games. Drabek is a former Cy Young Award winner, while Carter was the 1993 World Series hero for his walk-off homer against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Eckersley was both the American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner in 1992. He had starting and relieving roles in his career and had 197 wins along with 390 saves.

Mitchell was the NL MVP in 1989 and hit .284 with 234 homers in 13 seasons.

Pendleton was the NL MVP in 1991 and led the league in batting that year. He also won three Gold Gloves and played in five World Series.

Other first-time candidates are infielder Juan Samuel, outfielder Jim Eisenreich and pitchers Danny Darwin, Jimmy Key, Randy Myers, Dave Stieb and Bob Tewksbury.

Here are the names on this year's ballot (x-first time eligible):

Bert Blyleven, x-Joe Carter, Dave Concepcion, x-Danny Darwin, Andre Dawson, x-Doug Drabek, x-Dennis Eckersley, x-Jim Eisenreich, x-Cecil Fielder, Steve Garvey, Rich Gossage, Keith Hernandez, Tommy John, x-Jimmy Key, x-Dennis Martinez, Don Mattingly, x-Kevin Mitchell, x-Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, x-Randy Myers, Dave Parker, x-Terry Pendleton, Jim Rice, x-Juan Samuel, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, x-Dave Stieb, Bruce Sutter, x-Bob Tewksbury, Alan Trammell, Fernando Valenzuela.

____________________________________________________

Entrance in the Baseball Hall of Fame is often the most hotly debated of its breathren. Perhaps its because the NFL runs a "Hall of Good" and noone really knows where the NBA HOF actually is.

If you get into Cooperstown, you are truly elite. But its a pretty darn rigid test to do so.

So, who belongs in Cooperstown this time around? Is the system too harsh on these players (75% vote to get in)? Who doesn't deserve to be recognized?

11-30-2003, 08:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	Baseball HOF Ballots Released http://sportsnetwork.com/default.asp...AAN2924541.htm Eckersley among newcomers on Hall of Fame ballot Cooperstown, NY (Sports Network) - Three former Most Valuable Players - Dennis Eckersley, Kevin Mitchell and Terry Pendleton are among 15 first-year candidates on the 2004 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. The ballot will go out this week to more than 500 voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. To gain entry into the Hall of Fame, candidates must be named on at least 75 percent of the ballots cast. Results will be announced Tuesday, January 6. Eckersley, Mitchell and Pendleton will be together on the ballot with eight former MVP winners, who are holdovers on the 32-player ballot. Andre Dawson, Steve Garvey, Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, Dave Parker, Jim Rice, Ryne Sandberg and Dale Murphy are also on the ballot. Eddie Murray and Gary Carter were elected last year. Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter, who received 53.6-percent support, Rice (52.2) and Dawson (50) were the only other players named on at least half the ballots last year. Sutter came the closest to making the Hall out of that group in last year's voting, appearing on 53.6 percent of the ballots. To be elected, a player must appear on at least 75 percent of the ballots, which are cast by BBWAA members who have been a part of the organization for 10 or more years. Others on the ballot for the first time are Paul Molitor, Cecil Fielder, Dennis Martinez, Doug Drabek and Joe Carter. Molitor is a member of the 3,000- hit club, while Fielder was a two-time home run and three-time RBI champion. Martinez won 245 games. Drabek is a former Cy Young Award winner, while Carter was the 1993 World Series hero for his walk-off homer against the Philadelphia Phillies. Eckersley was both the American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner in 1992. He had starting and relieving roles in his career and had 197 wins along with 390 saves. Mitchell was the NL MVP in 1989 and hit .284 with 234 homers in 13 seasons. Pendleton was the NL MVP in 1991 and led the league in batting that year. He also won three Gold Gloves and played in five World Series. Other first-time candidates are infielder Juan Samuel, outfielder Jim Eisenreich and pitchers Danny Darwin, Jimmy Key, Randy Myers, Dave Stieb and Bob Tewksbury. Here are the names on this year's ballot (x-first time eligible): Bert Blyleven, x-Joe Carter, Dave Concepcion, x-Danny Darwin, Andre Dawson, x-Doug Drabek, x-Dennis Eckersley, x-Jim Eisenreich, x-Cecil Fielder, Steve Garvey, Rich Gossage, Keith Hernandez, Tommy John, x-Jimmy Key, x-Dennis Martinez, Don Mattingly, x-Kevin Mitchell, x-Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, x-Randy Myers, Dave Parker, x-Terry Pendleton, Jim Rice, x-Juan Samuel, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, x-Dave Stieb, Bruce Sutter, x-Bob Tewksbury, Alan Trammell, Fernando Valenzuela. ____________________________________________________ Entrance in the Baseball Hall of Fame is often the most hotly debated of its breathren. Perhaps its because the NFL runs a "Hall of Good" and noone really knows where the NBA HOF actually is. If you get into Cooperstown, you are truly elite. But its a pretty darn rigid test to do so. So, who belongs in Cooperstown this time around? Is the system too harsh on these players (75% vote to get in)? Who doesn't deserve to be recognized?