The Hall's 2010 Veterans Committee Ballots -- The Results

The Hall today announced the results of the 2010 Veterans Committee ballots.

Congratulations to Doug Harvey and Whitey Herzog, worthy electees.


Managers & Umpires ballot (12 of 16, 75%, needed for election)

rank candidate......votes..percentage

1. Doug Harvey (u)* ...... 15 93.8% -- ELECTED
2. Whitey Herzog (m) ..... 14 87.5% -- ELECTED
3t. Danny Murtaugh (m)* ... 8 50.0%
3t. Hank O'Day (u) ........ 8 50.0%
5. Charlie Grimm (m)* ..... 3 18.8%
6t. Davey Johnson (m)* ... <3 ≤12.5%
6t. Tom Kelly (m) ........ <3 ≤12.5%
6t. Billy Martin (m) ..... <3 ≤12.5%
6t. Gene Mauch (m) ....... <3 ≤12.5%
6t. Steve O'Neill (m) .... <3 ≤12.5%

* Candidates for whom I would have voted.

Executives & Pioneers ballot (9 of 12, 75%, needed for election)

rank candidate....votes..percentage

1. John Fetzer ....... 8 66.7%
2t. Marvin Miller* ... 7 58.3%
2t. Jacob Ruppert* ... 7 58.3%
4. Ewing Kauffman* ... 6 50.0%
5t. Gene Autry ...... <3 ≤16.7%
5t. Sam Breadon ..... <3 ≤16.7%
5t. Bob Howsam ...... <3 ≤16.7%
5t. John McHale ..... <3 ≤16.7%
5t. Gabe Paul ....... <3 ≤16.7%
5t. Bill White ...... <3 ≤16.7%

* Candidates for whom I would have voted.

Post-mortem.

I'm pleased for Harvey, whom I supported, but only because many players have endorsed him for years.

I was not in support of Herzog, but expected he would get elected, and am pleased enough that he did. No objection here.

For most of the other candidates I supported -- Grimm, Johnson, Kauffman, Murtaugh, and Ruppert -- I'm not terribly disappointed. I never expected them all to get elected, and none of these results surprised me very much.

I am greatly surprised and expectantly disappointed by the return for Miller. Seven votes was far more than I though he'd collect, but it still wasn't good enough. It's possible that he gained four votes just from the new voters on the committee this time, but I think that's unlikely. More probable is that some of the opinions of the voters turned in his favor. If that happens again in the 2012 Executives voting cycle, he may finally get his overdue plaque -- and may not be here to enjoy it. Miller will turn 93 next year. Maybe the Hall's powers are waiting for him to be gone, so he won't get to give a speech which is probably mortally dreaded in baseball's corridors of power. Oh well... maybe next time. It was a good showing, at least.

Next year, the VC votes only on post-1942 debut players. Maybe it will finally be Santo's turn to shine through.

The BBWAA ballot results will be announced January 6, 2010.