Home Run Derby

So during the opening pomp and circumstance before last night’s All-Star Game, the Living Hall of Famers at each position were in Yankee Stadium to greet the starting 2008 All-Stars as they were introduced to the crowd.

It was a great moment to see living legends from the Hall of Fame out there on the same field with the 2008 All-Stars. 

But there was one glaring omission. 
And it was at second base. 

As Chase Utley and Dustin Pedroia came out during the introductions, they got to meet Hall of Fame Second Basemen Rod Carew, Bill Mazeroski, and Ryne Sandberg. 

But not Joe Morgan. 

Did Morgan develop another flareup of the dreaded disese Ryne-itis (also known as Sandberg Syndrome) wherein those afflicted can’t be anywhere near the man who broke Morgan’s HR record for Second Basemen?  As you’ll recall, Joe Morgan was conspiculously absent at Sandberg’s Hall of Fame induction in 2005. 

It’s not like Joe didn’t know how to get to Yankee Stadium … he was in the building the night before when he announced the 2008 Home Run Derby. 

No, I think this is just another case of Joe Morgan not wanting to share ANY stage with Ryne Sandberg. 

It’s a shame when the Vice-Chairman of the Baseball Hall of Fame doesn’t show up for events like this if Sandberg is there. 

It perpetuates the belief that Morgan’s putting himself before the game for personal reasons … even if that’s not the reason.

Update:  We have learned Joe Morgan was a participant in the All-Star Parade before the Game, so it’s not as if he left New York after the Home Run Derby. 

Parade Hat Tip - the not awful Awful Announcing, who agrees with HRD that Joe Morgan is ducking Sandberg.

Rich “Goose” Gossage was announced as the newest member of the Baseball hall of Fame today.

An eight time All-Star as a reliever (and once as a starter), Gossage compiled a 124-107 record with 310 career saves, 1502 strikeouts, and a 3.01 ERA while mostly playing for the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres.  His 115 wins in relief is third all-time.

He was one of the first dominant closers in baseball, and would often pitch 2-3 innings rather than the one-inning specialists common in baseball today.

So why did it take nine tries for Gossage to get the Call from the Hall?

Well, sportswriters vote players into the Hall of Fame … and there’s lots of speculation that some of those writers might carry a lengthy grudge against a player who was … less than friendly with some of them.

If that’s the case, maybe they hadn’t forgotten this spectacular tirade Gossage launched at them while a Yankee

Warning: bad language not safe for work - no really, there are like 20 F-Bombs in this 70 second clip.

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First and foremost, Home Run Derby thinks Bugs & Cranks is one outstanding blog, written by excellent writers and passionate fans. 

So it is with the utmost respect that I say I must summarily disagree with their call to boycott the Baseball Hall of Fame and anything related to Marc Ecko (the fashion mogul who bought Barry Bonds’ record 756th Home Run ball that he will brand with an asterisk and send to the Hall of Fame).  

David Chalk begins the uprising with a call to boycott the Hall of Fame.  I am not sure I really understand this one.  The Hall of Fame isn’t complicit in the branding of the ball.  They are merely the recipient of a piece of history - baseball history.  And like it or not, the controversy over Bonds and his steroid use (please note the word “alleged” is purposely missing) is a part - no make that a huge part - of the history of the game, this era, and the career Home Run record that Bonds holds (please note that I am not one of the Bonds haters that refuses to acknowledge his record). 

The Hall of Fame, or more appropriately called the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, is in the business of recording the history of the game of Baseball.  Not just the statistics - but the history.  Barry Bonds will forever be known as the man who broke baseball’s most hallowed record with the help of steroids.  That is his history.

And here is the part that of David’s case that I really disagree with:

“This is The United States Of America.  Baseball is the National Pastime of The United States Of America.  If a man declares his innocence, he is considered innocent until he is proven guilty.  We cannot give that precious right away because someone paid money at an auction, or because other people voted on the Internet.”

People in this country have to stop associating the right of presumed innocence afforded to our citizens in a court of law with the nonexistent “right” that extends to arena of public opinion.  Just because Barry Bonds professes his innocence and he has not been convicted of anything doesn’t mean that I have to suspend common sense and buy into his legitimacy. 

The circumstantial evidence is pretty damning. 

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The City of San Diego is getting ready to honor the biggest hitter and the best player in the history of the San Diego Padres.

Tony Gwynn will be inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame this Sunday in Cooperstown, New York.

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3,141 Hits in 9,288 At-Bats in 2,440 Games. That’s a lifetime .338 Average, Folks. 15 All-Star Appearances, 8 NL Batting Titles, 7 Silver Slugger Awards, 5 NL Gold Gloves, and just a class act all around.

A First-Ballot Hall-of Famer.

And he just got put on the Wheaties box.

So how is San Diego going to recognize this great honor?

They’re going to remind everyone that he was a big fatty by putting one of his jerseys up on the side of a building.

Come on … Gwynn was portly, but he was never that big. Thumbs down to San Diego.

Hat Tip: Gas Lamp Ball