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Ringolsby: A relief for some, Hall of Fame makeup could take an unexpected turn in 2006

Published December 30, 2005 at midnight

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Relievers have battled to receive recognition from the veteran members of the Baseball Writers Association of America who vote on each year's inductees to Cooperstown. Of the 195 former major-league players who have been enshrined, only three made a living in the bullpen - Rollie Fingers, who was inducted in 1992, Hoyt Wilhelm, inducted in 1985, and Dennis Eckersley, inducted in 2004.

In 2006, however, things could change.

There are three relievers who have been lurking in the Hall of Fame shadows in recent years, and if ever Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter and Lee Smith are to be enshrined, it will be in July.

There is not a sure-fire Hall of Famer among the 14 first-time candidates on the 2006 ballot, which have to be filled out by today.

Next year, not only are Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn on the ballot for the first time, but voters also will have to begin to make their steroid-tainted decisions with the first-time candidacy of Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco. In three years, Rickey Henderson likely will be a first- ballot inductee.

When Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg were selected for induction in 2005, Sutter finished third, earning votes on 67 percent of the ballots, followed by Jim Rice, who had support from 60 percent of the voters; Gossage, who was listed on 55 percent of the ballots; and Andre Dawson, who was on 52 percent of the ballots. Smith, the game's all-time saves leader, was on only 39 percent of the ballots.

The votes are cast by writers who spent a minimum of 10 years in the BBWAA. Each can vote for up to 10 players. Induction requires 75 percent support. A player can remain on the ballot for up to 15 years as long as he receives at least 5 percent of the votes each year.

Here's one 2006 ballot:

• Gossage. Seventh year of eligibility. Was on 55.23 percent of ballots last year, an increase of nearly 15 percent from 2004. The man created the modern-day closer and did his job by working multiple innings. In his 10 most dominant years, he allowed only 6.1 hits per nine innings and had a 2.03 earned-run average, according to Gossage backer Lenny Mileo.

Don't be misled by his 310 saves. Times have changed. When he led the American League with 26 saves for the 1975 White Sox, he pitched more innings (141) than Orlando Hernandez worked (128 1/3) in 22 starts for the White Sox this year, and Gossage worked 134 innings for his 27 saves with the Yankees in 1978.

• Sutter. Twelfth year of eligibility. Was on 59.49 percent of the ballots last year, the fifth consecutive year he has gained support. He ranks only 19th on the all-time saves list, but like Gossage, he was out of a different generation. He worked 100 innings-plus five times. He was the National League Cy Young Award winner in 1979 and finished in the top six four other times. He added the split-fingered fastball to baseball's dictionary.

• Smith. Fourth year of eligibility. Was on 38.76 percent of ballots last year, down from 42.35 percent in 2003, his first year on the ballot. He is the game's all-time saves king but epitomizes the modern-day closer. Try this: 33 saves in a strike-shortened 1994 and only 38 innings. He also suffers from a transient career, having pitched for eight teams.

• Jack Morris. Seventh year of eligibility. Was on 33.33 percent of ballots last year, his top support. He led the majors in wins during the 1980s and was the ultimate big-game pitcher. His 1-0, 10-inning victory for Minnesota against Atlanta in Game 7 of 1991 World Series arguably is the greatest single-game achievement in the history of the game.

• Alan Trammell. Fifth year of eligibility. Was on 16.86 percent of ballots last year. He didn't play in a major market and didn't do backflips when he went to his position. What he did do was create a winning environment and produce. He had more than 1,000 RBI and runs, something only five of the 20 shortstops in Cooperstown managed, and he had more career home runs than all but Ernie Banks and Robin Yount.

• Tommy John. Twelfth year of eligibility. Was on 23.84 percent of ballots last year. His statistics are solid but more important, he was the first pitcher to undergo successful reconstructive elbow surgery. How big an impact? Well, they call it Tommy John surgery, not Dr. Robert Kerlan surgery, even though Kerlan performed the operation.

• Davey Concepcion. Thirteenth year of eligibility. Was on 10.66 percent of ballots last year and never has received as much as 15 percent of the votes. The overlooked member of the Big Red Machine, he was the consummate shortstop.

Top draws

• Ten players have been included on more than 95 percent of the ballots cast in a Hall of Fame election:

Player, position Year Pct.

Tom Seaver, pitcher 1992 98.84

Nolan Ryan, pitcher 1999 98.79

Ty Cobb, outfielder 1936 98.23

George Brett, third baseman 1999 98.19

Hank Aaron, outfielder 1982 97.83

Mike Schmidt, third baseman 1995 96.52

Johnny Bench, catcher 1989 96.42

Steve Carlton, pitcher 1994 95.82

Honus Wagner, shortstop 1936 95.13

Babe Ruth, outfielder 1936 95.13

or 303-892-2843

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