The Hall of Fame's 2014 Expansion Era ballot review -- part 2, the manager & executive candidates

The rest of the present Expansion Era ballot candidates.

The managers (4): Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, Billy Martin, Joe Torre. Only Martin has been here before.

The executives (2): Marvin Miller, George Steinbrenner. Repeating candidates both.


The managers.

7. Bobby Cox (managing career | playing career)

Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: never stood as a player candidate, did not have enough seasons.
VC voting: ballot rookie. 

Seasons: 29 (28 full time, 1 partial) -- Atlanta Braves 1978-81 & 1990-2010, Toronto Blue Jays 1982-85. 

Career W-L record: 2504-2001 (.556).

Best season: (by season record) 1998 Braves, 106-56 (.654), first place by +18 games, NL East champion; (by postseason success) 1995 Braves, 90-54 (.625), first place by +21 games, NL East champion, NL champion, World Series champion.

Worst season: 1979 Braves, 66-94 (.413), 6th place (of 6) by -23.5 games. 

Finishes: first place fifteen times (1985, 1991-93, 1995-2005; since MLB ignores 1994 for place finished streaks, that gives Cox 14 consecutive division championships), second place three times, third place three times. 

Postseason appearances: sixteen (1985, 1991-93, 1995-2005, 2010).

Postseason W-L record: 67-69 (.493).

Postseason series record: 11-16.

Championships: one, 1995 Atlanta Braves.

Great players managed

Hall Of Famers: Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry. Very likely to be a bunch more in the years ahead, including Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Chipper Jones. Perhaps others.

Award winners: 1991 NL MVP Terry Pendleton, 1999 NL MVP Chipper Jones, 1991 & '98 NL CYA Tom Glavine, 1993-95 NL CYA Greg Maddux, 1996 NL CYA & 2002 NL Rolaids Reliever John Smoltz, 1978 NL ROY Bob Horner, 1990 NL ROY Dave Justice, 2000 NL ROY Rafael Furcal. Gave 2011 NL ROY Craig Kimbrel his major league debut in 2010. Broke in Andruw Jones at the age of 18.

Honors: Four time winner of the Manager Of The Year Award (1985 AL, 1991, 2004-05 NL). The Braves have retired Cox's #6 jersey.

Baseball bonus points: Cox was a player for two seasons (1968-69) for the New York Yankees. He played third base, was not very good at hitting, and was not all that at fielding either. His most common spot in the batting order was 8th, which in those pre-designated hitter years meant that he was the worst non-pitcher in the lineup. So this part of his baseball career does nothing to polish his Hall candidacy, not that he needs it. Cox also served as general manager of the Braves from 1986-90, so he was a key builder of the 1990s dynasty teams.

Bobby Cox's career managing the Braves was undoubtedly Hall-class performance. Sure he had massive talent on the roster, but he still had to use it, and he did so brilliantly. Granted there was only one trophy for the Braves' epic run of division titles, but the postseason can be slippery that way. Five trips to the World Series as the NL representative team is impressive by itself (pennants used to be held in higher regard). Cox had a brilliant career, and deserves the plaque. I'm pleased to support him, not that he needs it.

Chipmaker's vote: Yes!


8. Tony LaRussa  (managing career | playing career)

Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: never stood as a player candidate, did not have enough seasons.
VC voting: ballot rookie.

Seasons: 33 (32 full time/majority, one of which was split between teams, 1 partial) -- Chicago White Sox 1979-86, Oakland Athletics 1986-95, St. Louis Cardinals 1996-2011.

Career W-L record: 2728-2365 (.536).

Best season: 2004 Cardinals, 105-57 (.648), first place by +13 games, NL Central champion, NL pennant. LaRussa has three World Series champions, but none of them were as strong as this team. The best of them was the 1989 Athletics.

Worst season: 1993 Athletics, 68-94 (.420), 7th place (of 7) by -26 games. 

Finishes: first place twelve times (1983, 1988-90, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004-06, 2009), second place four times, third place seven and one-half times. 

Postseason appearances: fourteen (1983, 1988-90, 1992, 1996, 2000-02, 2004-06, 2009, 2011).

Postseason W-L record: 70-58 (.547).

Postseason series record: 15-12.

Championships: three -- 1989 Oakland Athletics, 2006 & 2011 St. Louis Cardinals.

Great players managed

Hall Of Famers: Carlton Fisk, Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson, Goose Gossage, Ozzie Smith.

Award winners: 1983 AL CYA LaMarr Hoyt, 1983 AL ROY Ron Kittle, 1985 AL ROY Ozzie Guillen, 1986 AL ROY & 1988 AL MVP Jose Canseco, 1990 AL MVP Rickey Henderson, 1992 AL MVP & CYA Dennis Eckersley (also won the 1988 & 1992 AL Rolaids Reliever Awards), 1990 AL CYA Bob Welch, 1987 AL ROY Mark McGwire, 1988 AL ROY Walt Weiss, 2001 NL ROY & 2005 & '08-09 NL MVP Albert Pujols, 2005 NL CYA Chris Carpenter.

Honors: A four-time winner of the Manager Of The Year Award (AL 1983, '88, '92; NL 2002). The Cardinals have retired LaRussa's #10 jersey.

Baseball bonus points: LaRussa was a player for six seasons (1963, 1968-71, 1973) for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs. He mainly played second base. Couldn't hit. But like Cox, this hardly matters to his baseball credentials or his Hall testimony.

LaRussa, similar to Cox, is ridiculously overqualified for the honor of the Hall. One of the best managers (or most infuriating, if you were rooting for the opposing team) of the past half-century, LaRussa fostered success, got the most out of his players (that's sixteen major awards listed above, earned by his players), and knew how to use everyone to get the most of their abilities. He changed how the bullpen is used -- no longer mop-up guys, while in Oakland he structured the 'pen so middle relievers would get the game to the ninth, where Eck would come in and nail the win shut -- it was all about getting the game to the closer. Some people despise this approach, but it has become the standard, and LaRussa deserves credit for that. He also was not afraid to try experiments when the season was in the drink -- in 1993, he tried using his starting pitchers in three to four inning roles, to see if opposing teams would be unable to adjust to different styles throughout the game. The experiment was unpopular with his own team and ended in less than two weeks -- but LaRussa had the tenacity to give it a try.

This man belongs on a plaque. I don't doubt that. However, this one time, I will not support his candidacy, and here is why:

The BBWAA voters have been callously mistreating player candidates who have been tarnished with even the merest whiff of allegation of involvement with steroids. Some we know were users -- Canseco, McGwire. Others are accused with nothing more than "lookit his arms" (Bagwell). The Hall has set no policy (officially), so the voters are free to do as they wish, and they are, to my eyes, being indefensibly petty. Prior to 2004, no rules were being broken, and given how enjoyable the baseball was in the moment, I'm willing to let any and all infractions, real or (more commonly) imagined, go and disappear into the winds of history. But I'm not a voter, so it is easy to project that the maltreatment of worthy candidates will continue.

LaRussa and his teams benefited from steroids and the men who used them. I don't really care who did or did not. But, as long as the player candidates are being so abused, being denied due votes, I think LaRussa deserves the same. He has claimed ignorance, but c'mon -- LaRussa is long noted for his keen mind and sharp intellect, and he was trained as a lawyer before entering baseball management. "I didn't see anything" is a weak shield here; even lacking knowledge, he must have suspected funny things were ongoing in his locker rooms in Oakland and St. Louis.

With the players being denied, I think, this one time, to make a (likely meaningless) point, LaRussa should as well.

If he's still on the Expansion Era ballot in the 2017 voting cycle, he'll have my support. This time, for the reason given, he does not.

Chipmaker's vote: No. But if he doesn't make it, mission accomplished, and I will support him next time, because he is extremely deserving.


9. Billy Martin  (managing career | playing career | reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)

Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: as a player candidate, 1 ballot, 0.3%.
VC voting: 2003 -- 27.8% (22 of 79 votes), 2007 -- 14.8% (12/81), 2008 -- ≤12.5% (less than 3/16), 2010 -- ≤12.5% (less than 3/16), 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8/16).

Managerial career
 
Seasons: 16 (15 full time/majority, 1 partial) -- Minnesota Twins 1969, Detroit Tigers 1971-73, Texas Rangers 1973-75, New York Yankees 1975-78, '79, '83, '85, '88, Oakland Athletics 1980-82. 

Career W-L record: 1253-1013 (.553). 

Best season: 1977 Yankees, 100-62 (.617), first place by +2.5 games, AL East champion, AL pennant, World Series championship. 

Worst season: 1982 Athletics, 68-94 (.420), 5th place (of 7) by -25 games. 

Finishes: first place five and one-half times (1969, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981), second place four and one-half times, third place three times. 

Postseason appearances: five (1969, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1981), and managed the 1978 Yankees about 60% into the season. 

Postseason W-L record: 15-19 (.441).

Postseason series record: 4-4.

Championships: one, 1977 New York Yankees. Managed the 1978 Yankees for more than the first half of the season but was not with the team when they hoisted the trophy.

Great players managed

Hall Of Famers: Rod Carew, Goose Gossage, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Ferguson Jenkins, Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry, Dave Winfield.

Award winners: 1969 AL MVP Killebrew, 1974 AL MVP Jeff Burroughs, 1974 AL ROY Mike Hargrove, 1976 AL MVP Thurman Munson, 1977 AL CYA Sparky Lyle, 1978 AL CYA Ron Guidry, 1985 AL MVP Don Mattingly.

Honors: The Yankees have retired Martin's #1 jersey.

Baseball bonus points: Martin was a player for 11 seasons (1950-53, '55-61) for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves, and Minnesota Twins. A member of four Yankees championship teams, MVP of the 1953 World Series. One All-Star selection.

Geez, Martin again? He must have some old drinking buddies on the selection committee, because while Martin was an interesting side show during his career, and was a good enough manager -- he did get teams into the postseason -- he had no staying power. He was a short-term fixer, and his fixes did not last, he burned bridges, and he wore out his welcomes speedily. Come on already, Hall of Fame grand poobahs, enact some relegation mechanism that keeps such obvious deadwood -- no matter how popular he might be in certain insider circles -- from getting back on the ballot every single time and clogging the way for better, or at least fresher, candidates.

Martin's career does not have sufficient historical weight, and his name needs to be placed in the back of the bottom drawer for a decade at least. Didn't support him before and won't this time, and the notion of actively campaigning against him is sounding appealing.

Chipmaker's vote: No.


10. Joe Torre  (managing career | playing career)

Previous Hall consideration
BBWAA voting: as a player candidate, 15 ballots, peaking at 22.2% on his final ballot (never broke 15% prior).
VC voting: ballot rookie as a manager. As a player: 2003 -- 35.8% (29 of 81 votes), 2005 -- 45.0% (36/80), 2007 -- 31.7% (26/84), 2009 -- 29.7% (19/64).

Seasons: 29 (26 full time, 3 partial) -- New York Mets 1977-81, Atlanta Braves 1982-84, St. Louis Cardinals 1990-95, New York Yankees 1996-2007, Los Angeles Dodgers 2008-10.

Career W-L record: 2326-1997 (.538). 

Best season: 1998 Yankees, 114-48 (.704), first place by +22 games, AL East champion, AL pennant, World Series championship. 

Worst season: 1979 Mets, 63-99 (.389), 6th place (of 6) by -35 games. 

Finishes: first place thirteen times (1982, 1996, 1998-2006, 2008-09), second place four times, third place four times. 

Postseason appearances: fifteen (1982, 1996-2009). 

Postseason W-L record: 84-58 (.592).

Postseason series record: 19-11.

Championships: four -- 1996 & 1998-2000 Yankees, the first three-consecutive titles since the 1972-74 Athletics.

Great players managed

Hall Of Famers: Tom Seaver (for about two weeks, before he was traded), Phil Niekro, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs. There will be more in time, particularly Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

Award winners: 1982-83 NL MVP Dale Murphy, 1991-92 Rolaids Reliever Lee Smith, 1995 Rolaids Reliever Tom Henke, 1996 AL ROY Derek Jeter, 1996 Rolaids Reliever John Wetteland, 1999, 2001, 2004-05 Rolaids Reliever Mariano Rivera, 2005 & '07 AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, 2001 AL CYA Roger Clemens.

Honors: 1996 & 1998 AL Manager Of The Year Award.

Baseball bonus points: Torre was a player for 18 seasons (1960-77) for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Mets. Won the 1971 NL MVP along with the batting title thanks to 230 hits. Nine All-Star selections, including six starts (four at catcher, two at third base). One Gold Glove at catcher. Was the second-to-last player-manager, serving as such for less than a month with the 1977 Mets before hanging up his bat and glove. Has held various positions with MLB's home office since leaving the Dodgers, futzing around with player relations or field conditions or the next instant replay proposal -- he just won't leave.

Torre was a very good player but not quite Hall measure. His managerial career doesn't need any help, but his playing and managing combined push him way beyond the Hall's thresholds. This is not important, as Torre's years managing, particularly his Yankees tenure, gives him all the testimony he needs. Four championships? No one who wins four trophies is kept out without good reason, and there's no good reasons to keep Torre out. He's in, it just hasn't been announced yet.

Sure, he was blessed with great talent on his teams -- the 1998 Yankees were a juggernaut -- but he's the one who put the guys on the field. Give him due credit, and the Hall plaque.

Chipmaker's vote: Yes!



The executives.

11. Marvin Miller (reviewed on 2011 Expansion Era ballot)

Previous Hall considerationVC voting: 2003 -- 44.3% (35 of 79 votes), 2007 -- 63.0% (51/81), 2008 -- 25.0% (3/12), 2010 58.3% (7/12), 2011 -- 68.8% (11/16).

Claims to fame: executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1966 to 1983. Successfully negotiated increasingly more beneficial Collective Bargaining Agreements with MLB. Planned for and accomplished overturn of the reserve clause, granting the players free agency rights.

Marvin Miller is the most deserving honoree not yet in the Hall. He brought about profound and lasting change, for the better, to how baseball conducts its business. There are few across the long reach of the game's history who have made a contribution even close to the monumental scale of what Miller accomplished. Free agency is the best known part of his legacy, but he had other achievements as well.

He deserves the plaque. He is now deceased, sadly, and if the Hall's or Major League Baseball's powers-that-be feared a ranting diatribe and indictment from a Miller acceptance speech, that is no longer an operative concern, at least not from the man himself. Ah well.

Chipmaker's vote: as always, YES!


12. George Steinbrenner (reviewed on the 2011 Expansion Era ballot)

Previous Hall consideration: 2011 -- ≤43.8% (less than 8/16).

Claims to fame: principal owner of the New York Yankees, from purchase in 1973 through his death in 2010. Kept an active hand involved with team operations for most of that time. One of the first owners to engage free agents, signing Catfish Hunter in 1974 and Reggie Jackson in 1976. Oversaw Yankees teams to 19 postseason appearances, eleven American League pennants, and seven World Series championships (1977, '78, '96, '98, '99, 2000, '09).

I supported The Boss last time, but uncomfortably. If I limit myself to no more than four votes, as the actual electors are constrained, then Steinbrenner would be my fifth, and I toss him overboard easily. I haven't given a lot of thought to reconsidering him as a candidate, but it does not trouble me at all to change my standing to No. The man owned the Yankees, brought about titles, and so forth -- but really, the best things he did was (a) spend money and (b) get out of the way of the smart baseball people. When he did put his hand in, mainly during the first half of his ownership (but after his "nervous rookie" phase, when he was hands-off), he messed things up. He knew business, but he didn't well know baseball. I don't think he belongs in the Hall.

Chipmaker's vote: No.

Summing up the managers and executives: I support Cox, Torre, and Miller. Combined with Simmons, that makes four votes, the maximum. Sorry, other candidates; LaRussa, if you're still here in three years, I've got your back.

Good luck, men.