Goose Elected to Hall; Rice Left Out Again

Yesterday it was announced that Rich "Goose" Gossage finally made the MLB Hall of Fame. It is a well deserved honor for a pitcher that helped revolutionize the closer position. Gossage finished his career with 310 saves and a 3.01 career ERA. Many of his saves were multiple inning saves, and after Bruce Sutter made the Hall of Fame two years ago it was a matter of when, not if, Goosage would make it.

Jim Rice missed the Hall of Fame once again, and only has one more year left on the writers' ballots. However, he only was 16 votes shy, and considering next year is a weak year (other than Rickey Henderson) he should make it. I didn't see Rice in my lifetime, but he had a .298 career batting average, 382 homeruns in the deadball era, and finished in the top five for the AL MVP six times. Had Rice not been such a pain to the media and his career ending abruptly at the age of 35, he would already be in the Hall of Fame. So, hopefully, Rice will pickup those 16 votes and make it next year.

Other notables that received over 60% of votes were Andre Dawson and Bert Blyleven. I saw Dawson play growing up in Chicago, and the Hawk was a monster with the stick. He did have a lot of non-HOF years intertwined with some epic years. Dawson only had four seasons with 100+ RBI. I like Rice better because he was more consistant. Dawson is definitely borderline, and as a Cubs fan I would love to see him get in. However, I think he should just miss the HOF, and be ranked among the best players not to be in the Hall of Fame.

As far as Blyleven, I think he was a bit of a stat compiler. Somehow he only made the All-Star Game twice and never won a Cy Young. He did have 287 wins, 3,701 strikeouts, and a 3.31 lifetime ERA. It's amazing how a nice, round, sexy number looks in the eye of the voter. Had Blyleven stuck around two more ineffective years to win 300 he would be in already. It is an interesting case, but based on his lack of career achievements I can't say one way or the other. Had I seen him pitch I could make a better judgment.

I will say if Blyleven gets in, Jack Morris better get in first. Morris received 43% of the vote this year. Morris pitched five fewer seasons than Blyleven, his numbers are comparable, and he was a Game 1 World Series starter for three different teams. He was 4-2 with a 2.96 ERA in his World Series starts. Morris pitched the greatest game I've ever seen pitched. His 10-inning, 1-0, Game 7 shutout vs. John Smoltz in the 1991 World Series vs. Atlanta was epic. That start with his stats should put him over the top into the Hall of Fame.

Mark McGwire took a big blow yesterday only receiving 23.6% of the vote. That was no improvement off of his first ballot. Therefore, it is hard to believe McGwire will ever make the Hall of Fame now. McGwire's only chance is if he somehow gets exonerated of steroid use, which will never ever happen. His testimony two years ago in front of Congress has damned him for good in the eyes of the voters.

Class of 2009 Predictions: Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice (I know I'm looking forward to Rickey's speech!)

Pat Morgan