I’ve been a fervent supporter of Marvin Miller’s induction into the HOF for as long as I can remember. Few individuals associated with baseball in any capacity had a greater impact in the direction and development of this game. Period. As a pro-labor guy myself, I think Miller’s work on behalf of the players forever changed the game and that’s worth enshrinement. Some might imply that free agency “ruined” the game, but I’d rather see the guys on the field get rich at the expense of the guys in the owner’s boxes.
Miller was in a similar spot in 2009, as I noted back then. Miller needed nine votes for election, but registered only seven. In the HOF press release from 2009, Miller’s career was distilled to the following three sentences:
Marvin Miller was elected as the head of the Major League Baseball Players Association in 1966 and quickly turned the union into a powerhouse. Within a decade, Miller had secured free agency for the players. By the time he retired in 1982, the average player salary was approximately 10 times what it was when he took over.
Jim Bouton’s rant captures the essence of the frustration coming out of the 2007 voting results:
“How did these people vote, and why are their votes kept secret? And why aren’t there more players on that committee? Hank Aaron, Jim Bunning, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins—they’re all on the committee for reviewing the managers and umpires. Essentially, the decision for putting a union leader in the Hall of Fame was handed over to a bunch of executives and former executives. Marvin Miller kicked their butts and took power away from the baseball establishment—do you really think those people are going to vote him in? It’s a joke… I blame the players. It’s their Hall of Fame; it’s their balls and bats that make the hall what it is. Where are the public outcries from Joe Morgan or Reggie Jackson, who was a player rep? Why don’t these guys see that some of their own get on these committees? That’s the least they owe Marvin Miller. Do they think they became millionaires because of the owners’ generosity?”
Others were equally dismayed but less verbose:
- Hank Aaron: “Marvin Miller should be in the Hall of Fame if the players have to break down the doors to get him in.”
- Tom Seaver: “Marvin’s exclusion from the Hall of Fame is a national disgrace.”
- Joe Morgan: “They should vote him in and then apologize for making him wait so long.”
- Bob Costas: “There is no non-player more deserving of the Hall of Fame.”
- Let’s also add this 1992 endorsement from legendary broadcaster Red Barber: “Marvin Miller, along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, is one of the two or three most important men in baseball history.”
- Bill James: “If baseball ever buys itself a mountain and starts carving faces in it, one of the first men to go up is sure to be Marvin Miller.”
- Studs Terkel: “Marvin Miller, I suspect, is the most effective union organizer since John L. Lewis.”
- The late tennis great and historian Arthur Ashe: “Marvin Miller has done more for the welfare of black athletes than anyone else.”
Now, to me, Marvin Miller represents everything the HOF fame should be about: the history of baseball.? The decades of exclusion are a joke and?a travesty. It’s time to fix it.? Then, once Miller’s in, we can consider the others who didn’t play the game but nevertheless had a significant impact on its direction.
Now, since the HOF is a historical museum, it will also not be complete without George M. Steinbrenner. For all of his contradictions, his impact on the game cannot be underestimated. Love ‘em or hate ‘em (the Yanks and/or GMS), denying the impact they have had on MLB since 1973 is foolish. The Yankees have been very, very good to the game, the owners?and the players. The rising tide of the Yankees raised the tide for every other boat in the MLB ocean. Again, hate GMS for his singular focus and his obsession with winning at all costs and expense. Hate him turning the (now) 29 other teams against the Yankees.? Hate him for creating the YES Network/money machine and the New Yankee Stadium.?Hate him for not accepting losing very well. Hate him for his impetuousity, bluster, temper, my-or-the-highway, illegal, callous, Devil-may-care attitudes.? But you cannot deny his place is baseball history.? The HOF is not a club of Dudley Do-Rights. It’s a museum that features the best players to have every played, the best managers and front office leaders, the best commissioners?and the best owners. Steinbrenner belongs in that group.? Love ‘em or hate ‘em.
As noted in the original article above:
In September, Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig said that he believes Steinbrenner belongs in the Hall of Fame.
“I don’t like to comment on these things, but do I think George should be in the Hall of Fame? Of course I do,” Selig said. “The sport has never been as popular as it is today. … I do think [we've] made a lot of adjustments in the last 18 to 20 years, and I give George a lot of credit for that.”
I know Mr. Selig is often painted with the brush of mockery, and I’ve dipped that brush plenty of times.? However, the Commish has done many good things and his comment above is right on. {This isn’t a referendum on Selig; we’ll debate that once he steps aside.}
As for the others, I’m tempted to consider Gillick for his hand in so many successful teams.??If I close my eyes, I think he belongs, but I haven’t done enough research.? But in reading this, I think he’s earned his place in Cooperstown. Tell me, good readers: Does Pat Gillick belong?
Tommy John’s an interesting case.? He’s a classic “compiler” with 288 wins (hey, aren’t wins a bad predictor of talent and success?) but his eponymous career-saving surgery has been as important a development as any in MLB’s history. Without TJS, there is no Mariano Rivera, to name just one.? You can read his stats; they are impressive. TJ has two second place Cy Young voting tallies to his credit as well as a 4th place and an 8th place. Also four times named an All Star. That’s it for 26 years of playing baseball.? That’s troubling. If you’re not one of the best in your era, you’re not a HOF’er.? That being said, there are very few guys who I’d PAY more to listen to talk about pitching and preparing for pitching than Tommy John.? Jim Kaat maybe.? Gibson and Koufax.? Maddux.?
The rest, while distinguished and impressive in their own rights, are just not quite HOF guys.
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