Pete Rose's Chance for Hall Slim and NoneHis eligibility to be
elected by the writers has passed. And that has always been his best chance, as the sportswriters loved Rose. Now he goes to the Veteran's Committee, which has a fair number of Rose detractors.
Something of a lightweight ballot this year:
Rick Aguilera, Albert Belle, Bert Blyleven, Will Clark, Dave Concepcion, Andre Dawson, Gary DiSarcina, Alex Fernandez, Gary Gaetti, Steve Garvey, Dwight Gooden, Rich Gossage, Ozzie Guillen, Orel Hershiser, Gregg Jefferies, Tommy John, Doug Jones, Don Mattingly, Willie McGee, Hal Morris, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Jim Rice, Lee Smith, Bruce Sutter, Alan Trammell, Walt Weiss, John Wetteland. Hmmm. Given those choices I'd vote for Blyleven (most wins by a player born in the 1950s), Jack Morris (2nd most) and Alan Trammell, with Rice, Gossage and John as probably the next best group. Hershiser was a fine player, but 204 wins strikes me as just a little short of the HOF standard. Ditto with Mattingly and Murphy, guys who had great seasons, but just not enough of them. Mattingly from 1983-85 was probably the best hitter in the game.
