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Hall of Fame Thoughts
2005-01-06 10:37
by Scott Long

So the big question after Wade Boggs' election to the Hall is will he wear a Yankees or Red Sox hat? On ESPNews with Brian Kenney, Boggs laid it on the HOF to decide, coyly acting like he didn't care. He did clear up the idea that he had promised the Devil Rays that he would wear their hat in the Hall, as he said that was Jose Canseco's deal. (Hope the D-Rays didn't pay Jose too much for that honor.)
Actually the thing I'm more interested in is his HOF acceptance speech. (Sample)
Boggs: I would like to thank the Tyson Chicken people for all my meals. I would like to thank the Yawkeys and the Steinbrenners. I would like to thank my wife and especially my mistress, Margo Adams. I would like to thank KFC, Boston Market, Kenny Roger's Roasters.....

Besides Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, I would have put Goose Gossage and Alan Trammell on my list. Yes, Trammel was often only the 4th or 5th best shortstop in the game during his career, but he's still one of the 10 best in baseball history. He shouldn't be penalized just because he played in the time of Ripken, Yount, Ozzie, and Larkin. Whenever Trammell is mentioned, Lou Whitaker is brought up also. I would say the difference between the two is that Whitaker was just below HOF level, as Trammell's stats, leadership, and position are slightly better.
The other person on my voting ballot would have been Bert Blyleven. Instead of going into Blyleven's career in further detail, I highly recommend A-B's Rich Lederer's pieces on the subject.

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