The recent push for the selection of “Shoeless Joe” Jackson for the Hall of Fame appears to be dying aborning.
Acting Commissioner Bud Selig has discussed the controversial issue of Jackson’s eligibility with Don Marr Jr., president of the shrine in Cooperstown, N.Y., but no decision has been reached. That indicates “Shoeless Joe” is unlikely to be given a ticket to baseball immortality.
“Until the commissioner removes him from the suspended list, he remains ineligible,” Marr said. “In deference to Ted Williams (who has been championing Jackson’s reinstatement), I suspect it will be discussed at the Veterans Committee on Tuesday in Tampa. Other than that, we have no comment. It’s a subject for the commissioner.”
A petition a squad of Chicago attorneys has prepared is built essentially on the supposition that Jackson was suspended for “life,” but because he died in 1951, this no longer applies.
Jackson accepted a $5,000 bribe in the throwing of the 1919 World Series. Six of the seven other alleged White Sox fixers also are deceased, so this argument presumably also could be used in their behalf.
The Veterans Committee can pick one candidate in four categories, which includes players and/or managers who appeared before 1900.
The co-favorites appear to be shortstop George Davis and outfielder Jimmy Ryan, both of whom were rookies in 1890 and played with the two Chicago major-league entries.
Davis had a 20-year big-league career, including six years with the White Sox, with a .295 lifetime average. Ryan played the major portion of his career here, 11 seasons, and was among the leading defensive players and power hitters of his time. He retired after the 1903 season, with a .306 lifetime average and 118 home runs.
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Speaking of old-timers, James Timothy Gallagher, 93 “and counting,” now living in Port Republic, Va., has recovered nicely from a hernia operation. A former Chicago sportswriter, Gallagher was the general manager of the Cubs in 1945 when they won their last National League pennant.
Which reminds me that the Cubs fans, who are understandably excited about the season ahead, should be aware they are now in the six-team National League Central (with Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Houston and new member Milwaukee). This means to win their division they will have to finish ahead of five teams, not four.
No other division has six entries. In comparison, there are only four clubs in the American League West. Presumably, by 2010 or thereabouts, with the birth of two more expansion teams, this imbalance will be corrected.
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The spring training move of the White Sox to Tucson reminds Bill Rigney, a baseball lifer, of the days when he was breaking in with the New York Giants about 50 years ago. At that time Tucson was host to the Cleveland Indians and was the most isolated of the big-league training camps.
“It was a four-hour drive each way on a two-lane, dirt road,” Rigney recalled. “We had to get to our ballpark (in Phoenix) at 7 in the morning to see who had to make the trip.
“Nobody wanted to go. I checked the list and was pleased to see I wasn’t on it. I was wrong. At the bottom of the page, Leo Durocher, our manager, had written, `You too, Rigney.’ “
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As a public service, herewith is a list of the 16 players named Martinez in the major-league spring training camps:
Tino Martinez, first base, and Gabby Martinez, infield, with the Yankees; Dave Martinez, outfield, Tampa Bay; Edgar Martinez, designated hitter, Seattle; Mata Martinez, infield, Kansas City; Javier Martinez, pitcher, and Manny Martinez, outfield, Pittsburgh; Sandy Martinez, catcher, Cubs; Jesus Martinez, pitcher, Florida; Dennis Martinez, pitcher, Atlanta; Pablo Martinez, infield, Milwaukee; Pedro A. Martinez, pitcher, Detroit; Pedro J. Martinez, pitcher, Boston; Ramon E. Martinez, infield, San Francisco; Ramon J. Martinez, pitcher, Los Angeles; and Willie Martinez, pitcher, Cleveland.
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Longtime National League umpire Doug Harvey, recently retired and a potential Hall of Famer, is on the mend.
“I want all my Chicago friends to know I’m doing all right,” he said. “No sign of cancer.”
Harvey says he still looks like a scarecrow but has been gaining weight. You can send him a card at 1608l Mustang Drive, Springville, Calif., 93265.