MLB Hall of Fame: Yankee Greats on Veterans Committee Ballot

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

This year's Veterans Committee ballot has five former Yankees on it. The ballot includes Allie Reynolds, Joe Torre, Jim Kaat, Carl Mays, and Joe Gordon.

Veterans can give Reynolds his due

"Much of Reynolds' appeal to the Veterans Committee will be the fact that during his Yankees tenure, he won six World Series titles in eight seasons—just one fewer than Ruth or Mantle. Add those years to his time in Cleveland, and Reynolds won at least 11 regular-season games for 12 straight years, finishing with 182 victories and a 3.30 ERA."

Torre up for 2009 Hall of Fame Class

"Torre's 18-year career generated 344 doubles and 996 runs scored over 2,209 games. He hit .300 or better five times, notched 200-plus hits twice and 100-plus RBIs five times. In 1965, Torre won a Gold Glove for fielding excellence at catcher, and he twice (1964 and 1968) led NL catchers in fielding percentage."

Kaat looks to Vets Committee for Hall bid

"The left-hander holds a lifetime record of 283-237 with a 3.45 ERA. Over that span, he had three 20-win seasons, which included a career-high 25 victories for Minnesota in 1966. That was the year that Kaat threw 19 complete games and three shutouts, posted a 2.75 ERA and had just 55 walks in more than 300 innings. A three-time All-Star, Kaat earned a World Series ring as a reliever with St. Louis in 1982."

Mays’ feats marred by one fatal pitch

"One of the game's top right-handed pitchers from 1915 through 1929, Mays used a submarine-style delivery to post a 208-126 record with a 2.92 ERA for the Boston Red Sox (1915-19), the New York Yankees (1919-23), the Cincinnati Reds (1924-28) and the New York Giants (1929)."

Gordon a great obscured by giants

"Gordon, who was the 1942 American League Most Valuable Player and was selected to play in the All-Star Game nine times, still holds the AL record for most career homers by a second baseman (246). He hit 20 homers in a single season seven times in his career and 30 homers twice. When he captured the MVP Award in '42, he beat out Triple Crown winner Ted Williams."

Said Yankees shortstop Everett Scott: “Whatever criticism you may make about Mays, he has more guts than any pitcher I ever saw.”

As the late, great Yankees manager Joe McCarthy once remarked: “The greatest all-around ballplayer I ever saw, and I don’t bar any of them, is Joe Gordon.”

Ballots

SINCE 1943

• Dick Allen
• Gil Hodges
• Jim Kaat
• Tony Oliva
• Al Oliver
• Vada Pinson
• Ron Santo
• Luis Tiant
• Joe Torre
• Maury Wills

PRE-1943

• Bill Dahlen
• Wes Ferrell
• Joe Gordon
• Sherry Magee
• Carl Mays
• Allie Reynolds
• Vern Stephens
• Mickey Vernon
• Bucky Walters
• Deacon White

from Jayson Stark’s Blog:

"

There’s increasing buzz about the Yankees’ interest in Ben Sheets, possibly an indication that they’re not confident they’re going to be able to sign Burnett. As this blog noted two weeks ago, the difference between Burnett’s and Sheets’ 2008 and career numbers are smaller than you’d think.

"