Posted on Wed, Sep. 17, 2008
Why the Hall not?
A host of fan favorites from the '60s and '70s were listed on the new Hall of Fame ballot for Veterans Committee voters that was sent out yesterday.
Former Phillies Dick Allen and Jim Kaat were on a list that included two players who gained greater fame as managers: Joe Torre and Gil Hodges.
Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver (also briefly a Phil), Vada Pinson and Maury Wills are the other candidates. The ballot consists of players whose careers began in 1943 or later.
(If you're over 50, you had all of their baseball cards.)
Results will be announced Dec. 8 at baseball's winter meetings in Las Vegas. A player needs 75 percent to be elected by a panel that consists of the Hall's 64 living members. There will be a separate panel for players (such as Mickey Vernon) who started in 1943 or earlier.
Upon further review
Sharp-eyed reader Matthew Coyne of Philadelphia corrected yesterday's comment about teammates never having pitched no-hitters on consecutive days.
Actually, on May 5 and May 6 of 1917, Ernie Koob and Bob Groom of the St. Louis Browns pitched no-hitters against the Chicago White Sox on consecutive days at Sportsman's Park.
Since Groom's no-no came in the second game of a doubleheader, the feats were not in consecutive games.
Making the day more fascinating, however, is this tidbit, typical of the era: Groom had pitched the final two innings of the first game of that doubleheader - and didn't give up a hit in that stint, either.
Selig explains
Bud Selig is taking heat for moving two Houston Astros games against the Chicago Cubs to Milwaukee because of Hurricane Ike.
As if he has to apologize for sending anybody to the home of beer and brats.
"We spent 24 hours examining every alternative," Selig told reporters yesterday. "We had three national weather services. We were very thoughtful in calling other franchises in seeing where we could go. We finally determined - everybody was in on this - the only, safe practical option was Milwaukee."
Chase Field in Phoenix was ruled out because the Diamondbacks were home, and the Metrodome in Minneapolis was unavailable because of football games, Selig said.
Taking the high road
Ned Yost insisted he had no hard feelings toward the Milwaukee Brewers for letting let him go with 12 games remaining while tied for the NL wild-card spot.
"If anybody thinks that I've got sour grapes or I don't want this club to succeed, they're crazy," he said.
Former Phillies infielder Dale Sveum took over after the Phils swept a four-game series from the Brewers.
Noteworthy
Brewers reliever David Riske is scheduled for surgery next Tuesday to remove a bone spur in his right elbow.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
Post a question or comment for staff writer Don McKee at http://go.philly.com/askmckee or by e-mail at dmckee@phillynews.com.
email this
print this
reprint or license this
Buy tickets online
REGIONAL SCOREBOARD
today's