November 27, 2006
Former Mets and Yankees Players on Hall Ballot
Major League Baseball released its Hall of Fame candidates for the 2007 induction and among the thirty-two nominees are four former Mets and eight former Yankees.
All of the Mets alum played only briefly for New York, going on to establish themselves with other teams. Of the Yankees on the list, Scott Brosius and Paul O’Neill are the biggest names of the freshmen class. Brosius was the World Series MVP in 1998 and played for the Yankees in four fall classics. O’Neill, considered by many to be Derek Jeter’s predecessor to the title of Mr. Yankee, played in five World Series with the Bombers and won the AL batting title in 1994.
These two first timers join one very beloved Yankee, Don Mattingly, who is on the ballot for the seventh time. Mattingly, currently the Yankees Bench Coach, played for the Yankees for his entire 14-year career, he won the AL batting title in 1984, was the MVP in 1985 and was one of the best defensive first basemen to play the game.
This year’s ballot, which also includes Cal Ripken, Jr., Tony Gwynn and Mark McGwire is considered to be more competitive and controversial than in previous years. With names like Ripken, Gwynn and McGwire on the list for the first time, it's possible that none of the inductees will be a former member of the Mets or Yankees.
Below is a list of all the nominees (first time and repeat) who played in New York:
Bobby Bonilla (Mets)
Scott Brosius (Yankees)
Jay Buhner (Yankees)
Jose Conseco (Yankees)
Tony Fernandez (Mets)
Rich Gossage (Yankees)
Orel Hershiser (Mets)
Tommy John (Yankees)
Don Mattingly (Yankees)
Paul O’Neill (Yankees)
Bret Saberhagen (Mets)
Lee Smith (Yankees)
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Scott Brosius and Paul O’Neill played in five World Series with the Yanks and won four.
O'Neill played in 5 and won 4. (They won in '96, '98, '99, '00, lost in '01)
Brosius played in 4 and won 3. (Won in '98, '99, '00 and lost in '01).
He was not yet on the team in 1996, as the Yanks had the 3rd base combo of Wade Boggs and Charlie Hayes.
Let's not foregt that Brosius played a crucial part in that ill-fated 9th inning of Game 7 against the D'Backs. If Brosius didn't freeze up like a deer in headlights, he could have thrown to third base and had a double play. Instead, he threw to first, letting the winning run advance to third.
Where did that list come from anyway? Though those players were indeed yankees and mets 9 of them are not (thankfully) on the hall of fame ballot
Pete Harnisch???
Derek (Operation Shutdown) Bell???
They need to pay 14.50 to get into the Hall just like the rest of us.
Brosius should be off the list just for that. Any ideas why Donny hasn't made it in yet?
All those players are better than this past year's inductee - Bruce Sutter, or as most people know him, "Who?"
Lou: Who's on first.?
Bud: No, he just got into the hall of fame
Lou: Who?
Budt: That's the man's name.
Lou: That's who's name?
Bud: Yes.
Lou: But why?
Bud: I don't know.
J - As much as I loved Donnie Baseball, he hasn't made it yet because he wasn't that good - at least not for long enough. Back injuries really ruined his chances as a player. His best shot is to become a good manager, win a World Series and go in that way.