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.
Press Room Pass is selecting 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 second of four Press Room Pass votes for the nominees: Thurman Munson.
Tragedy may have ended the career of Thurman Munson, but there was enough time for him to deserve induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Munson was in his 11th season when died in a plane crash near his home in Ohio on an off day for the New York Yankees on Aug, 2, 1979.
Statistically, many argue that his numbers don’t add up to a Hall of Fame career. While its true that 113 homers and 701 RBI are not Hall of Fame stats, there is some context that needs to be added.
A pair of 1970s contemporaries of Munson are already celebrated in Cooperstown.
Johnny Bench was inducted in 1989 and Carlton Fisk joined the group in 2000.
Munson has slightly more in common with Bench than Fisk.
Over his time in the big leagues, Munson was the American League Rookie of the Year (1970), AL Most Valuable Player (1976), seven-time all-star, three-time Gold Glove winner and part of two World Series winners (1977 and 1978).
In his 17 seasons, Bench also was a Rookie of the Year (1968), MVP (1970, 1972), 14-time all-star and 10-time Gold Glove winner in the National League for the Cincinnati Reds.
Along with San Francisco Giants star Buster Posey, Munson and Bench are the only catchers to be named Rookie of the Year, MVP, Gold Glove winner and a world champion.
Fisk was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1972 and also won his only Gold Glove that season. Playing 24 seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox, Fisk was an 11-time all-star and had three Silver Sluggers, which was started in 1980.
For those worried about the amount of service time and stats consider this line for a pitcher … a 36-40 record with an ERA over 4.00 for six seasons.
A favorite stat for analyzing players today is WAR (Wins Above Replacement). According to baseball reference, this pitcher averaged a WAR of 1.1 over six years.
If you’ve not guessed by now, the pitcher is Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who was essentially elected to the shrine for the greatest six-season run any pitcher ever had.
However, the point is that Munson shouldn’t be held back because he only played 11 seasons. Koufax is certainly never questioned.
Munson’s average WAR per season was 4.2. For comparison, Bench’s WAR was 4.42 per year, while Fisk averaged 2.85.
It’s time for Munson’s career to be celebrated in Cooperstown.