ESPN+ wrote an article about winners & losers from the Hall of Fame voting. What a kick in the nuts when you get to the Tigers and the Verlander comment.
WINNERS: Fans of one-team Hall of Famers.
Rivera never pitched for anyone other than the New York Yankees. Martinez never batted for anyone other than the Seattle Mariners. With them now headed for Cooperstown, that raises the number of one-team Hall of Famers to 54.
Every franchise deserves to have an icon such as that, figures that fans of a team can rally around for generations, ones they get to call all their own. Obviously, given the nature of free agency and the recent trend toward jettisoning players when they near the end of their controllable years, the chances of this list growing much longer have been kneecapped. The odds have always been stacked against this, even during the days of the reserve clause. Heck, even Babe Ruth played for three different teams.
The Yankees have more members of this class than anyone, with Rivera becoming the eighth. On the other hand, Martinez becomes the first career Mariner in Cooperstown, which reduces the list of franchises without a one-team Hall of Famer to 10. Of course, that's still one-third of the fan bases in baseball who don't have this sort of icon. Let's run through everyone:
Yankees (8): Mariano Rivera, Earle Combs, Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig and Phil Rizzuto.
Well, you have a starter (Ford), a reliever (Rivera), three outfielders (Combs, Mantle, DiMaggio), a catcher (Dickey; would be two if Yogi Berra hadn't played four games for the Mets in 1965), and two infielders (Rizzuto and Gehrig). Next year, Derek Jeter will bring this group up to nine members and add a third infielder. So the Yankees are one infielder away from being able to list a complete lineup of one-team Hall of Famers. The watch begins for Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres. No pressure, guys.
Dodgers (5): Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Jackie Robinson.
With his contract extension this offseason, Clayton Kershaw remains a strong candidate to join this club, and Kenley Jansen may be one as well.
Giants (5): Carl Hubbell, Ross Youngs, Travis Jackson, Mel Ott and Bill Terry.
A good total, but all of these were New York Giants. We're still looking for our first San Francisco Giant in this club. The best current hopes would be Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey.
Red Sox (4): Bobby Doerr, Jim Rice, Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski.
Of the current Sox, it's still possible that Dustin Pedroia could join this group. Here's hoping for a comeback campaign in 2019. Mookie Betts? Well, sure, but let's give it a few years.
Pirates (4): Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell and Pie Trayner.
Things will have to change if the Pirates are ever going to add to this list. If the Pirates wouldn't go all out in keeping Andrew McCutchen in the fold, will they do it for anybody?
Tigers (3): Alan Trammell, Charlie Gehringer and Al Kaline.
Au revoir, Justin Verlander.
White Sox (3): Luke Appling, Red Faber and Ted Lyons.
The ChiSox are past due to for an addition to this list. Maybe they should sign Eloy Jimenez to a lifetime contract right now.
Reds (3): Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin and Bid McPhee.
Could very well be joined someday by Joey Votto.
Orioles/Browns (3): Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken Jr.
With Manny Machado gone, there isn't a current Oriole on this particular radar. The poor St. Louis Browns never did get a Brownie-exclusive Hall of Famer before their relocation to Baltimore. George Sisler, the most likely candidate, finished his career with the Dodgers.
Indians (3): Bob Feller, Addie Joss and Bob Lemon.
If the Indians don't trade Corey Kluber and he keeps Klue-botting for a few more years, you never know. He was drafted by the Padres, but for our purposes here, we're only considering time in the big leagues. Of course, Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor both have had Hall-worthy starts to their respective careers. But even if they stay on track, will Cleveland be able to keep them?
Cardinals (2): Bob Gibson and Stan Musial.
It's kind of shocking that the Redbirds have just two members in the club. For one thing, they are one of the most successful franchises in baseball history. Beyond that, they are also historically revered for their farm systems and homegrown talent. The fact that St. Louis has just two players of this sort simply illustrates how tough it is to end up with such an icon. Few players/coaches/managers have been as associated with one franchise as much as Red Schoendienst was with the Cardinals. He even grew up in Cardinals territory. But even he played for another team, helping the Milwaukee Braves to the 1957 World Series title. However, someday, Yadier Molina could join Gibson and Musial as St. Louis-exclusive immortals.
Twins/Senators (2): Kirby Puckett and Walter Johnson.
The Big Train belongs more to Washington than Minnesota. In fact, I've yet to be able to document whether Johnson ever stepped foot in the state of Minnesota. Nevertheless, the Twins will always have Puckett. They'll always have Joe Mauer, as well, who just headed into retirement as a Twin Cities native who never spent a day with another franchise. His Hall case will likely spur a lot of debate over the next few years.
Astros (2): Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio.
Houston is the only franchise outside of the original 16, post-1901 clubs with more than one member in the group. There also are almost certainly multiple future Hall of Famers on the current Astros roster. So far, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Carlos Correa have only appeared for the Astros, but it's early for them. However, Jose Altuve is further along and if the Astros can keep him around, he is a strong bet to eventually join Bagwell and Biggio in Cooperstown.
These six franchises each have one member in the one-team Hall-of-Famer club: Mariners (Edgar Martinez), Braves (Chipper Jones), Cubs (Ernie Banks), Phillies (Mike Schmidt), Brewers (Robin Yount), Padres (Tony Gwynn) and Royals (George Brett).
WINNERS: Fans of one-team Hall of Famers.
Rivera never pitched for anyone other than the New York Yankees. Martinez never batted for anyone other than the Seattle Mariners. With them now headed for Cooperstown, that raises the number of one-team Hall of Famers to 54.
Every franchise deserves to have an icon such as that, figures that fans of a team can rally around for generations, ones they get to call all their own. Obviously, given the nature of free agency and the recent trend toward jettisoning players when they near the end of their controllable years, the chances of this list growing much longer have been kneecapped. The odds have always been stacked against this, even during the days of the reserve clause. Heck, even Babe Ruth played for three different teams.
The Yankees have more members of this class than anyone, with Rivera becoming the eighth. On the other hand, Martinez becomes the first career Mariner in Cooperstown, which reduces the list of franchises without a one-team Hall of Famer to 10. Of course, that's still one-third of the fan bases in baseball who don't have this sort of icon. Let's run through everyone:
Yankees (8): Mariano Rivera, Earle Combs, Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig and Phil Rizzuto.
Well, you have a starter (Ford), a reliever (Rivera), three outfielders (Combs, Mantle, DiMaggio), a catcher (Dickey; would be two if Yogi Berra hadn't played four games for the Mets in 1965), and two infielders (Rizzuto and Gehrig). Next year, Derek Jeter will bring this group up to nine members and add a third infielder. So the Yankees are one infielder away from being able to list a complete lineup of one-team Hall of Famers. The watch begins for Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres. No pressure, guys.
Dodgers (5): Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Jackie Robinson.
With his contract extension this offseason, Clayton Kershaw remains a strong candidate to join this club, and Kenley Jansen may be one as well.
Giants (5): Carl Hubbell, Ross Youngs, Travis Jackson, Mel Ott and Bill Terry.
A good total, but all of these were New York Giants. We're still looking for our first San Francisco Giant in this club. The best current hopes would be Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey.
Red Sox (4): Bobby Doerr, Jim Rice, Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski.
Of the current Sox, it's still possible that Dustin Pedroia could join this group. Here's hoping for a comeback campaign in 2019. Mookie Betts? Well, sure, but let's give it a few years.
Pirates (4): Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell and Pie Trayner.
Things will have to change if the Pirates are ever going to add to this list. If the Pirates wouldn't go all out in keeping Andrew McCutchen in the fold, will they do it for anybody?
Tigers (3): Alan Trammell, Charlie Gehringer and Al Kaline.
Au revoir, Justin Verlander.
White Sox (3): Luke Appling, Red Faber and Ted Lyons.
The ChiSox are past due to for an addition to this list. Maybe they should sign Eloy Jimenez to a lifetime contract right now.
Reds (3): Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin and Bid McPhee.
Could very well be joined someday by Joey Votto.
Orioles/Browns (3): Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken Jr.
With Manny Machado gone, there isn't a current Oriole on this particular radar. The poor St. Louis Browns never did get a Brownie-exclusive Hall of Famer before their relocation to Baltimore. George Sisler, the most likely candidate, finished his career with the Dodgers.
Indians (3): Bob Feller, Addie Joss and Bob Lemon.
If the Indians don't trade Corey Kluber and he keeps Klue-botting for a few more years, you never know. He was drafted by the Padres, but for our purposes here, we're only considering time in the big leagues. Of course, Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor both have had Hall-worthy starts to their respective careers. But even if they stay on track, will Cleveland be able to keep them?
Cardinals (2): Bob Gibson and Stan Musial.
It's kind of shocking that the Redbirds have just two members in the club. For one thing, they are one of the most successful franchises in baseball history. Beyond that, they are also historically revered for their farm systems and homegrown talent. The fact that St. Louis has just two players of this sort simply illustrates how tough it is to end up with such an icon. Few players/coaches/managers have been as associated with one franchise as much as Red Schoendienst was with the Cardinals. He even grew up in Cardinals territory. But even he played for another team, helping the Milwaukee Braves to the 1957 World Series title. However, someday, Yadier Molina could join Gibson and Musial as St. Louis-exclusive immortals.
Twins/Senators (2): Kirby Puckett and Walter Johnson.
The Big Train belongs more to Washington than Minnesota. In fact, I've yet to be able to document whether Johnson ever stepped foot in the state of Minnesota. Nevertheless, the Twins will always have Puckett. They'll always have Joe Mauer, as well, who just headed into retirement as a Twin Cities native who never spent a day with another franchise. His Hall case will likely spur a lot of debate over the next few years.
Astros (2): Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio.
Houston is the only franchise outside of the original 16, post-1901 clubs with more than one member in the group. There also are almost certainly multiple future Hall of Famers on the current Astros roster. So far, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Carlos Correa have only appeared for the Astros, but it's early for them. However, Jose Altuve is further along and if the Astros can keep him around, he is a strong bet to eventually join Bagwell and Biggio in Cooperstown.
These six franchises each have one member in the one-team Hall-of-Famer club: Mariners (Edgar Martinez), Braves (Chipper Jones), Cubs (Ernie Banks), Phillies (Mike Schmidt), Brewers (Robin Yount), Padres (Tony Gwynn) and Royals (George Brett).
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