Editor’s Note: There will be a Season Ticket podcast available soon that will have a discussion of all the candidates.
There are 10 individuals who have an opportunity to be added to the list of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Beginning today, Press Room Pass will select its four choices for the 2020 induction class from the Modern Baseball Era ballot.
The announcement on Sunday (Dec. 8) will be on the MLB Network at 8 p.m.
Voters on the Modern Baseball Era Committee can select four of the eight names on the ballot that had the greatest impact from 1970-1987.
Dwight Evans, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Marvin Miller, Thurman Munson, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Ted Simmons and Lou Whitaker are being considered for induction.
Here’s the first of four Press Room Pass votes for the nominees: Marvin Miller.
Of all of the people on this list, Miller is the only one who was involved with many of the others on the ballot as the head of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1966 to 1982.
In the mid-1960s, many baseball players had jobs in the off-season and they were worried about their pensions. That would soon change.
There is so much that Miller did during his tenure to change the game, but his link to Curt Flood is probably the reason he’s earned a spot on the Modern Baseball Era ballot.
Flood’s case to end baseball’s reserve clause worked it’s way to the United States Supreme Court. Unfortunately for Flood, the decision went against him. Despite losing the battle, Flood is revered today for his stance and the players would ultimately win the war. It would take a few more years before free agency would become a part of baseball.
After the 1974 season, Catfish Hunter was declared a free agent due to a contract issue with Oakland A’s owner Charles O. Finley. Hunter would sign with the New York Yankees for the 1975 season.
It was after the 1975 season when the players finally gained an edge and the reserve clause that bound them to their teams would be history.
Under the guidance of Miller, who passed away in 2012, Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally became pivotal to the MLBPA and free agency fight. Both went through 1975 having had their contracts renewed from the previous season without signing them.
An eight-year veteran, Messersmith was the starting pitcher for the National League in the 1974 All-Star Game as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished with a 20-6 record that year as he led the NL in victories.
McNally was part of Baltimore’s World Series champs in 1966 and 1970. However, prior to the 1975 season the pitcher was traded to the Montreal Expos. Although he retired in June, Miller convinced McNally to be a part of the union’s grievance that would lead to the the Seitz decision.
Peter Seitz was the chairman of the three-man group that included Miller. By late December of 1975, a 2-1 decision was reached with Seitz casting the deciding vote in favor of Messersmith and McNally.
Messersmith signed with the Atlanta Braves for the 1976 season, while McNally would remain retired.
The flood gates would open after that and several players would soon join Messersmith as millionaires.
According to Messersmith’s baseball-reference page, he made $90,000 in 1974. A year later, he had a three-year deal with the Braves worth a million dollars.
It’s Miller’s influence within the union, which is why he deserves induction. Miller kept it together though strikes and court cases, while he and the players fought for what they believed to be the right thing for the everyone.