Three former Twins among ten on Golden Era ballot

[Seth Stohs]

Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva and Luis Tiant are three of ten former Major Leaguers who are candidates for the Golden Era Hall of Fame ballot:

 

According to the Hall of Fame: 

 

 

The 10-person ballot for consideration by this year’s Golden Era Committee consists of Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, Gil Hodges, Bob Howsam, Jim Kaat, Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva, Billy Pierce, Luis Tiant and Maury Wills.

 

In 2012, the 16-person committee got Ron Santo into the hall of fame.

 

Will it help that Hall of Famer and former Twin Rod Carew is on the committee to vote:

 

 

The 16-person Golden Era Committee, which is reconstituted each time it meets, consists of Hall of Famers Jim Bunning, Rod Carew, Pat Gillick, Ferguson Jenkins, Al Kaline, Joe Morgan, Ozzie Smith and Don Sutton; baseball executives Jim Frey, David Glass, Roland Hemond and Bob Watson; and veteran media members Steve Hirdt, Dick Kaegel, Phil Pepe and Tracy Ringolsby.

 

A candidate would need 12 of the 16 votes (75) for induction. Here's how players that were on the previous ballot did in voting in 2011. Jim Kaat got 10 votes. Gil Hodges and Minnie Minosa got 9 votes, and Tony Oliva got eight votes.

[gunnarthor]

That's a pretty solid list of non-HOFers.  I'm a big hall guy so I'd be happy if some got in.  Especially Oliva, who was a clear HOF talent but just had a short peak.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think of that list, I'd vote induction for Boyer, Hodges (player+manager), Kaat (Defense!), Minoso (more for the "fame" part of the equation), and Tony O. 

[Seth Stohs]

I wrote in the past that I didn't think that Oliva and Kaat were Hall of Famers, but I would be thrilled if they made it.

 

I read Kaat's autobiography, Still Pitching, and it was awesome.

[jorgenswest]

Love to see Oliva and Kaat in the Hall of Fame. Both have been great ambassadors for the game. Oliva for his greatness before injury. Kaat for his longevity, short peak and glove. Both would be respected additions whose story can be held with esteem in Cooperstown.

[Steven Buhr]

I would love to see Kaat and Oliva get in. It's a shame they didn't vote Santo in until after he passed away and it would be a shame to see something similar happen to either of these two of my favorite Twins of all time.

[Pius Jefferson]

Kaat should win the Ford Frick award for his broadcasting career.

 

 

I wouldn't be against most the names, but I don't think there's anymore egregious omissions like Ron Santo. 

[Bark's Lounge]

That is a nice list of extremely good baseball players, but to me Kaat stands out a little more than the rest. I know a lot of folks don't believe Kaat should be in the HOF and I get it. I can respect the argument.

 

I know the wins as a pitcher stat are not really valued like in the past, but 283 wins is impressive and 15 Gold Gloves is nothing to sneeze at.

 

Getting into the HOF as a player should be based on performance alone and not for later contributions, but I have to say Jim Kaat has been one hell of an ambassador for the game of baseball. I really enjoy his commentary and insight.

 

I believe Kaat has the stats to get into the Hall of Fame and I truly hope he does. If that happens, it will be a good day in my world.

[stringer bell]

I'm biased I'm sure, but I always thought Tony-O belonged in the Hall. I still do in light of his peak numbers in an extreme pitcher-friendly era. I think Kitty belongs as well--right up to the border as a player and then a fine analyst. I think a case can be made for Hodges, Boyer and Minoso, the others not so much.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think 3B in general has been underrated by HOF voters  - Boyer, to me, was one of the great all-time 3B, and deserves a close look by the veteran's committee.

 

With Kaat, I don't know that his pitching stats alone get him in, but if the voters factor in defense and hitting, I think it really improves his case for induction. He was a great all-around baseball player.

 

Tony O, similar to some of the comments about Kaat, has been an ambassador for the game - even though they've been isolated from each other, the young Cuban players coming up today all know who Oliva is, and talk about him they way Clemente is talked about in Puerto Rico - Tony O is a legend in Cuba, even though he hasn't been back in a long time.

 

I think at some point the vote becomes a subjective, gut feeling thing. Especially if you're comparing players to one another. What are the things that separate the very good from the Hall Of Fame? I think several of the players listed offer those extra intangibles.

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

Like a lot of others, I'm a Tony-O die-hard, impressed by his length of service and allegiance to the community (as others had mentioned a lot of intangibles).

 

What's interesting to me is the politicking involved in this, there's a lot of who knows whom at play in the voting, and much as I keep hoping that there will be a pack of Tony's pals and supporters on the committee, you just never know. (Sure Carew knows and loves Tony, but how would Jim Frey or Ozzie Smith feel?)

 

While induction/non-induction doesn't seem like it would affect the love Tony has in the Twin Cities, it would be great to remind others (and all the generations to come) of the Cuban baseball experience that meant so much to so many, and continues to matter today.

 

While Kaat, Tiant, Wills and Hodges are some favorites, I'm going to be unabashed this year, wear my heart on my sleeve and badger any Veteran committee member I see to Vote Tony O.