Post-BBWAA HoF Vote: My Response

Yesterday, the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Assoc. of America) released their voting tally for players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Due to the cloud presented by notable steroid users being up for the vote, the writers collectively decided to elect NO ONE into this years class induction.  Edgar Martinez, the finest Right-handed batter of his generation, garnered just 35.9% of the vote; well short of the required 75% to gain induction. Martinez was NOT a steroid user; his biggest obstacle to overcome was that he mainly played DH (Designated Hitter) for the bulk of his career.
An article linked to the Seattle Mariners website clearly illustrated why Martinez deserves to be in the Hall. Here is my response:

"With his numbers, Martinez should have already been elected. If he had played in NY, Boston or LA, the fans and sportswriters would be clamoring for his induction.

"Martinez is one of just 10 players in Major League history to have put up 300-plus home runs, 500-plus doubles, 1,000-plus walks and post a batting average over .300 and on-base percentage over .400. The others are Hall of Famers Stan Musial, Rogers Hornsby, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams..."

And he ISN'T in the HoF? Why? Because he didn't hit hundreds more HR's? Or because he was the DH? Seriously?

Just how many HoFer's are in the Hall without hitting volumes of homers? Edgar was a contact hitter. And boy did he make contact! He is the best right-handed hitter I have seen in my 40+ years of watching baseball. Who cares about homers when you are getting singles, doubles, triples, sac flies, etc and helping your team win games? The whole notion of "power" being essential to get into the HoF is a ludicrous assertion, at best.

 As for the DH thing, this position has been entrenched since the mid-70's. Time for voters to toss the notion that it isn't a real position. DH's hit just as often as any other player on the field. As we see every year, not all DH's are created equal. Many are terrible, or over the hill. Martinez set the standard for what the DH position is.

As far as Character, show me a better man, a better teammate, a better human being than Edgar Matinez. He exemplifies the very best of what a great man is, and he's an extraordinary role model for any young player.

Baseball Commissioner Selig thought so highly of Edgar and his accomplishments as a batter that he renamed the DH award The Edgar Martinez Designated Hitter of the Year Award. How often does such a thing happen?

Martinez may yet be elected. But while he waits, the notion that he wasn't good enough, or doesn't deserve induction is a hollow argument. As a third baseman, Edgar was spectacular. When injuries forced him from being a position player, he accepted the role as DH and defined that role in superlatives that no one since has been able to match. Show me another player that has been able to define a position like Martinez did, and I will show you a Hall of Famer.

Edgar Martinez earned the right to be called one of the games very best."


I received numerous responses to my opinion, ALL of them 100% supportive of what I had written. Too bad the baseball writers won't see it. If they do, maybe...just maybe, it might sway them to go with Martinez...but I doubt it; cuz Edgar was "only" a DH.