Morris’ & Trammell’s Hall calls show progress made
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — One for the Luddites. One for the geeks. All for Detroit.
And maybe the considerable acrimony surrounding the Baseball Hall of Fame elections is actually leading to some good.
Jack Morris and Alan Trammell will be inducted into baseball’s Valhalla next July 29 after winning election by the Hall’s Modern Baseball Era Committee, covering people who made their biggest impact from 1970 to 1987.
Among a 16-voter committee featuring Mets general manager Sandy Alderson as well as eight current Hall of Famers, with the 75 percent threshold needed to be crossed at 12 votes for enshrinement, the pitcher Morris received 14 votes and the shortstop Trammell 13. Catcher Ted Simmons fell just short with 11 votes, and iconic Players Association leader Marvin Miller got only seven.
Beloved Yankee Don Mattingly joined a group of also-rans featuring Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker and Luis Tiant, all of whom notched fewer than seven votes.
Morris and Trammell, members of the fantastic 1984 Tigers, both prevailed in their f irst shot at being judged at least in part by their peers after falling short in 15 rounds with the Baseball Writers Association of America.
“Time has made this even more special,” Morris said in a conference call. The right-hander’s case for honorary Cooperstown residence took a hit as the analytical era formed after his retirement. His career 105 ERA+ contends that he pitched only 5 percent better than a league-average pitcher, which is not shocking when you consider he recorded a 3.90 ERA during a pitcherfriendly time.
“The world of modern [sabermetrics], analytics, those weren’t a part of the baseball world that I played in,” Morris said. “So now I’m being analyzed by a bunch of numbers that didn’t exist.”
Sort of, but again: 3.90 ERA. His reputation of “pitching to the score,” one that has been undermined by research, as well getting World Series rings with the ’84 Tigers, the 1991 Twins (when he pitched that classic 10-inning shutout of the Braves in Game 7) and 1992 Blue Jays, won the day.
As for Trammell, while his traditional numbers underwhelmed compared to his contemporaries Cal Ripken Jr. and Robin Yount (who served on this committee), his outstanding defensive metrics made him the darling of analytics enthusiasts like myself.
This all works out for the best. I’d like to think all of the discussion surrounding both statistical analysis and illegal performanceenhancing drugs, the latter issue flamed by a nonsensical letter Joe Morgan recently wrote to BBWAA members urging them to shun the illegal PED guys, has prompted these secondary committees to take action.
Before Morris and Trammell, the last living player to get elected by a “Veterans Committee,” as these used to be known, was Bill Mazeroski in 2001.
Keep ‘em coming. Get Miller in there, for crying out loud, and Morris’ and Trammell’s ’84 Tigers teammate Lou Whitaker. And on January 24, the writers probably will elect three or four more.
As long as we’re talking, arguing and electing this loudly, sports’ best Hall of Fame will retain that top perch.