Cooperstown Feels a Lil' Blue Without L.A. Dodger Legend Steve Garvey

Legendary Los Angles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey deserves a look by the Hall of Fame voters of the veterans committee. He became eligible in 1993 to receive votes to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) but never received the 75 percent threshold needed to be inducted in the Hall.

Garvey missed his final chance in 2007, when Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were both inducted. In 2007, Garvey only received 21 percent of the votes needed.

Garvey became known as the Iron Man of the National League while with the Dodgers. He had Popeye-size forearms and his jersey is still worn and sold today in Dodger stadium.

Garvey played his entire career in the National League West for two teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1969 to 1982 and the San Diego Padres 1983-1987. He batted right and threw right. In a 19-year career, Garvey was a .294 hitter with 272 home runs and 1,308 RBI in 2,332 games played.

When playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers under manager Tommy Lasorda, in the break of his career, he joined one of the greatest Dodger infields of all time, with third baseman Ron Cey, shortstop Bill Russell, and second baseman Davey Lopes. In fact, it is the longest-enduring infield in baseball history.

These four infielders stayed together as the Dodgers' starters for eight-and-a-half years.

Garvey is one of only two players to have started an All-Star Game as a write-in vote, doing so in 1974. Garvey set a National League record with 1,207 consecutive played, from Sept. 3, 1975, to July 29, 1983. The streak ended when he broke his thumb in a collision at home plate against the Atlanta Braves.

In the 1978 National League Championship Series, Garvey hit four home runs and added a double for five extra base hits, both marks tying Bob Robertson's 1971 NLCS record.

In 1981, at a point in his career when it looked like he would one day rank among the game's all-time greats, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time.

However, the Dodgers have still not retired his No. 6 jersey. Even though he presently is active with the community in Los Angeles in keeping the exciting true-blue tradition with Dodger club.

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