And now, a look at the ten candidates on the ballot. It turns out that all ten have been on previous Veterans Committee ballots as recently as 2007 (under a differently structured VC), so, since there are likely no reasons for me to deeply reconsider my reviews from then, I expect there won't be much new to say. Links to the 2007 reviews are provided.
I have added one feature -- living Hall Of Fame associates (mostly teammates, but also managers over the candidates or HOFers managed by the candidates, if applicable). Since the voting electorate for this ballot will be the living HOF members (currently 64 in number), it might be interesting to see who among them have direct experience with the candidates, and may automatically have their backs (or, if they didn't get along, may be ready with the long knives).
Last note, an asterisk (*) by one of a candidate's teams is the one I think would be represented on his plaque cap, should he be elected.
1. Dick Allen (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: third base early in his career, first base later.
Playing career: 15 seasons, 1963-77 -- *Philadelphia Phillies 1963-69 & '75-76, St. Louis Cardinals 1970, Los Angeles Dodgers 1971, Chicago White Sox 1972-74, Oakland Athletics 1977.
Standout season: 1972 (.308/.420/.603, 90 runs, 156 hits, 28 doubles, 37 HR, 113 RBI, 19 SB, 199 OPS+.)
Other noteworthy seasons: 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974.
Career highlight stat: 351 HR, 156 OPS+.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: 1972 AL MVP, 1964 NL ROY, seven All-Star selections (five starts), OBP twice, SLG three times, Runs once, HR twice, RBI once, walks once, OPS+ three times.
BBWAA voting: 14 ballots, peaking at 18.9%.
VC voting: 2003, 16.0%; 2005, 15.0%; 2007, 13.4%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (8): Lou Brock (1 season), Jim Bunning (4), Steve Carlton (3), Bob Gibson (1), Goose Gossage (3), Fergie Jenkins (2), Mike Schmidt (2), Don Sutton (1).
Managed by: Red Schoendienst (1 season).
Dick Allen could hit like thunder. That gets my vote.
Chipmaker's vote: Yes.
2. Gil Hodges (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: first base.
Playing career: 18 seasons, 1943 & '47-63 -- *Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers 1943 & '47-61, New York Mets 1962-63.
Standout season: 1954 (.304/.373/.579, 106 runs, 176 hits, 42 HR, 130 RBI, 141 OPS+.)
Other noteworthy seasons: 1951, 1952, 1953.
Career highlight stat: 370 HR.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: eight All-Star selections, three NL Gold Gloves at first base (1957-59), games played twice. Member of two World Series champion teams (1955, 1959) and five other NL champions (1947, '49, '52-53, '56). Jersey #14 retired by the Mets.
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 63.4% (on his final ballot).
VC voting: 2003, 61.7% (highest return); 2005, 65.0% (tied for highest return); 2007, 61.0%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (4): Dick Williams (5 seasons), Sandy Koufax (7), Tommy Lasorda (2), Duke Snider (16).
Managed: Nolan Ryan (4 seasons), Tom Seaver (4).
Baseball bonus points: Hodges was a manager for nine seasons with the Senators and Mets, bringing home the 1969 World Series championship to Queens. Once hit four homers in one game, 1950.
No matter how I look at Hodges, I just cannot see greatness. He's close, yes, but so have been a lot of other guys. The 1969 championship is a huge bonus, but this is a player ballot, so that doesn't really count; and besides, the rest of his managerial career was pedestrian. Granted there's only so much anyone can do with an expansion team, but his other Mets seasons were nothing special -- that 1969 team was lightning in a bottle. I consider Hodges to be, after Santo (whose case may be redressed this time), The Best Player Not In The Hall. It has to be someone, and Hodges is an ideal office-holder.
He likely will get a plaque someday, more on the basis of his entire career and contributions to baseball than for any one role. This happens, and I'm okay with it. But assessing him as a player, for me he falls just short.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
3. Jim Kaat (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: left handed starting pitcher, though moved to reliever late in his career.
Playing career: 25 seasons, 1959-83 -- Washington Senators/*Minnesota Twins 1959-73, Chicago White Sox 1973-75, Philadelphia Phillies 1976-79, New York Yankees 1979-80, St. Louis Cardinals 1980-83.
Standout season: 1966 (25-13, 304.2 IP, 205 K, 2.75 ERA, 131 ERA+).
Other noteworthy seasons: 1962, 1973, 1974.
Career highlight stat: 283 wins.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: three All-Star selections, 1966 The Sporting News AL Pitcher Of The Year, 16 (!) Gold Gloves at pitcher (1962-77, 14 AL, 2 NL), wins once, complete games once, shutouts once. Three 20+ win seasons. Member of the 1982 World Series champion Cardinals, and three other postseason teams (actually a few more, but didn't play in October). If there had been separate Cy Young Awards for each league in 1966, he'd probably have won the AL award (Koufax got the single CYA). His 25 seasons played shared the record for longest career until Ryan surpassed it.
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 29.6%.
VC voting: 2005, 53.8%; 2007, 63.4%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (8): Rod Carew (7 seasons), Carlton (4), Gossage (5), Reggie Jackson (2), Harmon Killebrew (15), Schmidt (4), Ozzie Smith (2), Bruce Sutter (3).
Managed by: Schoendienst (1 season).
Yes, he's got the big wins total, one verging tantalyzingly close to 300, hovering near John and Blyleven. This, however, is the only thing these three men have in common. Kaat never had any great seasons -- some very good ones, some average ones, some weak ones, but no great ones. (Blyleven had several.) And I'm not overlooking the collection of Gold Gloves, but that was never enough to convince the writers (not even 1/3 of them!) to vote for Kitty, so I cannot see that it would be a bigger deal today.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
4. Tony Oliva (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: right field, moving to designated hitter for his last three seasons.
Playing career: 15 seasons, 1962-76 -- *Minnesota Twins 1962-76.
Standout season: 1964 (.323/.359/.557, 109 runs, 217 hits, 43 doubles, 9 triples, 32 HR, 94 RBI, 150 OPS+).
Other noteworthy seasons: 1965, 1968, 1971.
Career highlight stat: 1917 hits.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: 1964 AL ROY, eight All-Star selections, one AL Gold Glove for outfield (1966), three AL batting titles, slugging once, runs once, hits five times (two 200+ seasons), doubles four times. Member of the 1965 AL champion and 1969-70 AL West champion Twins. Jersey #6 retired by the Twins.
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 47.3%.
VC voting: 2003, 59.3% (second highest return); 2005, 56.3%; 2007, 57.3%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (2): Carew (10 seasons), Killebrew (13).
Oliva was always at least very good but rarely great. He peaked early, and injuries wore him down -- which is too bad, but that's part of the game.
I line up Oliva right behind Hodges for being The Best Player Not In The Hall.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
5. Al Oliver (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: center field, then left field, then first base.
Playing career: 18 seasons, 1968-85 -- *Pittsburgh Pirates 1968-77, Texas Rangers 1978-81, Montreal Expos 1982-83, San Francisco Giants 1984, Philadelphia Phillies 1984, Los Angeles Dodgers 1985, Toronto Blue Jays 1985.
Standout season: 1982 (.331/.392/.514, 90 runs, 204 hits, 43 doubles, 22 HR, 109 RBI, 150 OPS+.)
Other noteworthy seasons: 1974, 1976, 1978.
Career highlight stat: 2743 hits.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: seven All-Star selections, three Silver Sluggers (at three different positions – 1980 OF, 1981 DH, 1982 1B), one NL batting title, hits once, doubles twice, RBI once. Two 200+ hit seasons. Member of the 1971 World Series champion Pirates and five other division champion teams.
BBWAA voting: 1 ballot, receiving 4.3%.
VC voting: 2007, 17.1%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (7): Bunning (2 seasons), Carlton (1), Gary Carter (2), Jenkins (4), Bill Mazeroski (5), Gaylord Perry (1), Schmidt (1).
Managed by: Lasorda (1 season), Frank Robinson (1).
Baseball bonus points: after leaving Pittsburgh, Oliver wore jersey number 0 (yep, zero), in tribute to his last initial, for the rest of his career. Zero is quite an uncommon number in baseball, so this is worth mentioning.
Only had the one great season, at positions (outfield, first base) where great seasons really are necessary to be considered a serious candidate. Posted a lot of hits, sure, but so have other players. I really try not to put too much emphasis on career milestone numbers (while recognizing that the actual voters certainly do, in some cases), but for Oliver, even if he had reached 3000 hits (which he did not, note), I'm not sure I'd consider him Hall-class. Good player, but not a great one.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
6. Vada Pinson (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: center field.
Playing career: 18 seasons, 1958-75 -- *Cincinnati Reds 1958-68, St. Louis Cardinals 1969, Cleveland Indians 1970-71, California Angels 1972-73, Kansas City Royals 1974-75.
Standout season: 1963 (.313/.347/.514, 96 runs, 204 hits, 37 doubles, 14 triples, 22 HR, 106 RBI, 27 SB, 142 OPS+.)
Other noteworthy seasons: 1959, 1961.
Career highlight stat: 2757 hits.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: two All-Star selections, one NL Gold Glove for outfield (1961), runs once, hits twice (had four 200+ hit seasons), double twice, triples twice.
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 15.7%.
VC voting: 2003, 25.9%; 2005, 28.8%; 2007, 19.5%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (10): Johnny Bench (2 seasons), George Brett (2), Brock (1), Carlton (1), Orlando Cepeda (1), Robinson (9), Gibson (1), Killebrew (1), Tony Perez (5), Ryan (2).
Managed by: Schoendienst (1 season).
Good but not great outfielder. Good hitting, good defense, good teams, good seasons. All-around good -- but not great.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
7. Ron Santo (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: third base.
Playing career: 15 seasons, 1960-74 -- *Chicago Cubs 1960-73, Chicago White Sox 1974.
Standout season: 1964 (.312/.398/.564, 94 runs, 185 hits, 33 doubles, 13 triples, 30 HR, 114 RBI, 86 walks, 164 OPS+.)
Other noteworthy seasons: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972.
Career highlight stat: 342 HR (28th all-time when he retired).
Honoraria and statistical crowns: nine All-Star selections, five NL Gold Gloves at third base, OBP twice, triples once, walks four times. Jersey #10 retired by the Cubs.
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 43.1% (on his final ballot).
VC voting: 2003, 56.8%; 2005, 65.0% (tied for highest return); 2007, 69.5% (highest return).
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (6): Ernie Banks (12 seasons), Brock (4), Gossage (1), Jenkins (8), Robin Roberts (1), Billy Williams (14).
Great player. Very good hitter with sustained seasons of greatness, excellent defense at a difficult position. Underappreciated in his own time, and still is today, though that iceberg appears slowly to be melting. Santo is, and I have no doubts about this, The Best Player Not In The Hall (eligible or not). And he deserves to lose that title. Just elect the man already.
Chipmaker's vote: Yes, absolutely!
8. Luis Tiant (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: right handed starting pitcher.
Playing career: 19 seasons, 1964-82 -- Cleveland Indians 1964-69, Minnesota Twins 1970, *Boston Red Sox 1971-78, New York Yankees 1979-80, Pittsburgh Pirates 1981, California Angels 1982.
Standout season: 1968 (21-9, 258.1 IP, 264 K, 1.60 ERA, 186 ERA+).
Other noteworthy seasons: 1972, 1974, 1976.
Career highlight stat: 229 wins.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: three All-Star selections, two AL ERA titles, shutouts three times. Four 20+ win seasons. Member of the 1975 AL champion Red Sox and the 1970 AL West champion Twins teams.
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 30.9% (on his first ballot).
VC voting: 2005, 25.0%; 2007, 18.3%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (12): Luis Aparicio (3 seasons), Carew (2), Cepeda (1), Dennis Eckersley (1), Carlton Fisk (8), Gossage (2), Jackson (3), Jenkins (2), Killebrew (1), Juan Marichal (1), Perry (1), Carl Yastrzemski (8).
Two genuinely great seasons and a bunch of above-average ones. A truly captivating pitcher to watch, no matter what he threw or whatever happened. If entertainment value was part of the Hall's criteria, he'd have been in long ago.
Love the man, El Tiante, but he's just not up there.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
9. Joe Torre (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: catcher, third base for a bit, first base.
Playing career: 18 seasons, 1960-77 -- Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves 1960-68, *St. Louis Cardinals 1969-74, New York Mets 1975-77.
Standout season: 1971 (.363/.421/.555, 97 runs, 230 hits, 34 doubles, 24 HR, 137 RBI, 171 OPS+.)
Other noteworthy seasons: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1970.
Career highlight stat: 2342 hits.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: 1971 NL MVP, nine All-Star selections, one NL Gold Glove at catcher (1965), one NL batting title, hits once, RBI once.
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 22.2% (on his final ballot, and right after he led the Yankees to their first championship in 18 years).
VC voting: 2003, 35.8%; 2005, 45.0%; 2007, 31.7%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (7): Hank Aaron (9 seasons), Brock (6), Carlton (3), Gibson (6), Phil Niekro (5), Schoendienst (1), Seaver (3).
Managed by: Yogi Berra (1 season), Schoendienst (6).
Managed: Wade Boggs (2 seasons), Niekro (2), Seaver (1), Smith (6).
Baseball bonus points: Torre is now in his 27th season as a major league manager, with the Mets, Braves, Cardinals, Yankees, and currently the Dodgers. Won one NL West title in Atlanta (1982) and had much more success with the Yankees (four championships, two other AL titles, ten total AL East titles, two AL wildcards) -- and by the time these ballots are voted, we'll know if he got the 2008 Dodgers into October as well. Once hit into four double plays in one game, each time erasing Mets teammate Felix Millan, wasting his four singles.
Quick aside, Torre managed Seaver, but it was very briefly. Torre was named player-manager of the Mets on 31-May-1977, Seaver was traded to Cincinnati on 15-June, and Torre played his last game on 17-June, getting his official release on 18-June. Seaver started three games under Torre. Of course, they had been teammates since 1975.
Torre was a very good player with one unquestionably great season (which was during his brief tenure as a third baseman). Catcher and 3B are tough positions, and that should cut him a little slack -- but I cannot support Torre for two reasons. One, he's not quite there, though if we squint just a bit and vote Yes there'd be little argument. Two, getting elected to the Hall as a player is not Torre's best destiny. As good as his playing career was, his managing career has been measurably better, and whenever he stands on the manager ballot he will be elected. Four championships (at least) will see to that. I cannot support Player Torre because Manager Torre deserves it more.
Chipmaker's vote: No -- but nominate him as a manager candidate, and I'll be foursquare behind him.
10. Maury Wills (reviewed in 2007)
Primary position: shortstop.
Playing career: 14 seasons, 1959-72 -- *Los Angeles Dodgers 1959-66 & '69-72, Pittsburgh Pirates 1967-68, Montreal Expos 1969.
Standout season: 1962 (.299/.347/.373, 130 runs, 208 hits, 13 doubles, 10 triples, 6 HR, 48 RBI, 104 SB, 100 OPS+, 165 games played.)
Other noteworthy seasons: 1963, 1965.
Career highlight stat: 586 stolen bases.
Honoraria and statistical crowns: 1962 NL MVP, five All-Star selections, two NL Gold Gloves at shortstop (1961-62), triples once, stolen bases six times (consecutive), singles four times. Member of three World Series champion teams (1959, '63, '65) and another NL champion (1966). Holds the major league season record for games played with 165, playing the entire 1962 schedule and the three-game playoff against the Giants. Famously held the modern era season record for stolen bases with 104 (since surpassed), breaking Cobb's 47-year-old mark.
BBWAA voting: 15 ballots, peaking at 40.7%.
VC voting: 2003, 29.6%; 2005, 32.5%; 2007, 40.2%.
Living HOF associates:
Player teammates (6): Bunning (2 seasons), Robinson (1), Koufax (8), Mazeroski (2), Snider (4), Sutton (5).
Baseball bonus points: Wills was a manager for parts of two seasons with the Seattle Mariners. Father of former major league player Bump Wills.
Wills revived the stolen base as a valuable offensive weapon, and the austere run-scoring of the 1960s was the perfect environment for such an effort. But his speed didn't boost his doubles or triples, and he wasn't much of a hitter, league average at best. Wills is more than a one-trick pony, but that one trick is most of his value, and that's not what the Hall looks to honor. Pioneer, maybe; player, no.
Chipmaker's vote: No.
Summing up...
My support goes to Allen and Santo, and I decline to support Torre simply because I consider a future manager-recognition plaque a better, and inevitable, honor for him.
If I could vote only for one, that vote goes to Ron Santo, without hesitation.
I'm not going to make any predictions about these candidates because this is the initial cycle of this particular ballot under the current Veterans Committee format. But I will publicly place a hope -- that at least one player gets inducted, and here my preference, clearly, is for Santo. HOFer Ryne Sandberg, at least, has publicly declared his support and his vote for Santo more than once, and his returns have been appealingly high, so maybe this time he finally gets the red carpet, gilded key, and most importantly, the bronze plaque.
This ballot will be voted later this year and results announced in December at the baseball winter meetings. If all 64 HOFers return ballots, 48 votes will be needed for election, and as voters are limited to no more than four candidates, crunching the math tells us that the maximum possible candidates that could be elected is five. I'm not expecting that many; if any do get elected, I'd guess it will be no more than two, and their names will be Santo, Hodges, or Oliva.
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