About 20 years ago I spent three glorious days in Cooperstown, New York, visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame. I read every word of every exhibit on the three floors of the museum. Whether Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame was also a topic of discussion back then. The odd thing is that he truly was featured in the museum as there was a large Big Red Machine exhibit on the first floor. He just didn’t have a plaque in the exhibit hall downstairs. And crazily, he was also there on the streets of Cooperstown that week. I found him signing autographs at a souvenir store on the main street. Of course, with his passing last fall, Rose will never get to see the plaque that someday will honor his career.

Yesterday another former Red, Dave Parker, was one of several new HOF inductees. Unfortunately, the Cobra was inducted posthumously as he died 29 days before Sunday’s ceremony. Parker grew up in Cincinnati near Crosley Field, not that far from the Western Hills area where Rose was raised. Parker was a tremendous athlete, starring in football but ultimately deciding to play baseball professionally. Pittsburgh was glad he did, since he starred in right field for the Pirates for 11 of his 19 MLB seasons. Dave was a powerful hitter (339 HRs and 2,712 hits), seven time All-Star, and the 1978 NL MVP. He was also a truly great outfielder, throwing out 72 runners on the bases during a five year span (1975-1979). You might recall his incredible throws in the 1979 All-Star Game gunning down two AL players.

Parker was a selection of the HOF Classic Baseball Era Committee which gives star players another look after they are no longer eligible for the ballot process of the Baseball Writers. Another such inductee on Sunday was Dick Allen (known early in his career as Richie Allen), who starred on six teams during his 15-year career (1963-1977), most notably the Phillies and the White Sox. Allen was a seven time All-Star as well, the 1964 AL Rookie of the Year, and the 1972 AL MVP. Two images I have of Allen. He used to wear his batting helmet in the field while he played first base. Also, his bat was incredibly big, over 40 inches long and 40 ounces in weight, unheard of today. Allen died in 2020.

Parker and Allen are among several players in MLB history to enter HOF posthumously. I find it frustrating how selective baseball is in honoring the great ones. It seems like you either are or you aren’t a Hall of Famer. I never understood why Ron Santo was a late inductee. His numbers were HOF solid – nine time All-Star, winner of the Gold Glove as a third baseman for five consecutive seasons, and an exceptional hitter (342 HRs in his 15 seasons). Santo was also a wonderful broadcaster alongside Harry Caray in the Cubs’ booth. Yet, he passed in 2010 at the age of 70, still waiting to hear about his HOF election. He was selected for entry into the Hall in December 2021 by the Golden Era Committee.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America did elect three players for induction this season, Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner. Ichiro is the headliner for me. His story is quite unique. He starred for nine seasons for the Orix BlueWave in Japan before beginning his career as a Mariner in 2001. In his first year, Suzuki won the AL batting title, led the league in stolen bases, and was named Rookie of the Year and AL MVP! Over his MLB career he received 17 consecutive selections as an All-Star, collected 3,089 hits, had a batting average of .353, and won ten consecutive Gold Gloves. Suzuki was also my youngest daughter’s favorite player. Together, we attended a Seattle vs. Kansas City game at Kauffman Stadium in the prime of his career. We sat closely behind the Mariners dugout. Suzuki graciously flipped a baseball to her, a lasting memory and wonderful keepsake.

CC Sabathia was a dominating, lefthanded pitcher from 2001 to 2019. His first eight seasons were with Cleveland where he led them to a 2007 division title. In 2009, he signed a $161 million contract with the Yankees, making him the highest paid pitcher in baseball. He delivered big time, leading MLB in wins in 2009 and 2010 and New York to a World Series championship in his first year there. CC is a member of the prestigious 3,000 K club, garnering 3,093 strikeouts and a 251-161 record in his career. One of my friends loves to tell the story of seeing Sabathia at Wrigley Field about nine years ago. Sabathia is a large man, but somehow went unnoticed as he walked by a crowd in street clothes in route to the Clubhouse.

The least represented position in HOF is certainly relief pitcher. The tide has begun to change over the past 15 years with the election of Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, and Bruce Sutter, among some others. Today’s game has clearly evolved on the mound with a huge focus on the relief corps. Billy Wagner’s entry into the Hall yesterday is significant. Wagner’s 15-year career spanned four teams, but for me he was an Astro. The numbers are remarkable – 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings (highest ever for an MLB pitcher with 900+ innings); a career 2.31 ERA; and one of just eight pitchers in baseball history with over 400 saves (422). Welcome to Cooperstown!

There was another HOF entrant Sunday, Tom Hamilton, the 2025 recipient of the Ford Frick Award. The award is extended annually for excellence in broadcasting. Hamilton earned the highest point total ever for broadcasters by HOF’s Frick Award Committee. Hamilton is the longtime announcer of the Cleveland Guardians, joining the broadcasting booth in 1990. He has called over 100 postseason games. Tom is one of the finest gentlemen and easy listens in the game. He’s been in the broadcasting booth for three different Cleveland teams in the World Series, yet hasn’t captured a World Series ring yet. Here’s hoping he does someday soon.

When Commissioner Manfred lifted the ban on Rose’s HOF eligibility a few months ago, word came that the earliest Pete might be granted Cooperstown plaque status is 2027. What stands in the way is the voting members of the Hall. Rose, like Parker, Allen, Santo, and others, will never get to enjoy it. It’s kind of a shame.

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach