On January 10, 2006, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced that only one player -- Bruce Sutter -- had made the Hall of Fame. ESPN was kind enough to share with us how their ten BBWAA members voted. Of specific note is Buster Olney's decision to vote for Jack Morris but omit Bert Blyleven.
On that same day, Olney, on his ESPN.com weblog, explained why he omitted the Angry Dutchman:
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Bert Blyleven was the toughest guy to leave off my ballot, and while I don't know him, it feels like I do, because I see him and listen to him on television three or four times a week. He's insightful, he's direct, he's smart, he's entertaining. I think he's probably going to be frustrated by today's results, and you can't help but feel for him. But just as I don't believe that a player's personality should be a factor in preventing him from getting votes, I don't think the fact that you like someone should be a reason to vote for him. Blyleven is a borderline candidate, and while others have made a case for him, here is something that gnaws at me, as a voter: In his entire career, he was not a consistent league leader; he never led his league in ERA or in victories. He did lead the American League in strikeouts in 1985, but he wasn't a regular top-three Cy Young Award candidate. In fact, he was named on Cy Young ballots just four times in his career. And despite the fact that he played in 21 seasons, he was named to an All-Star team only twice -- and remember, that's an honor doled out by the managers, not writers or fans. |