No, Tram or Morris didn’t get the nod by the voters. The Tigers will be playing the Red Sox in Cooperstown at the annual Hall of Fame game. I’ve been to the Hall of Fame once, about 12 years ago, and I’d like to go again. Probably once my son gets a little older.

And since we’re on the subject of the Hall of Fame, the new ballot was released the other day. Of the new candidates, Wade Boggs appears to be the only guy I’d consider for a first ballot election. He may not have hit a ton of homeruns, but he’s fifteenth all time in doubles. In his first ten seasons, he never hit below .302, and with a career OPS+ of 130 and 3,000 career hits. I think it’s hard sell not voting him in.

Jack Morris and Alan Trammell once again are on there as well. Morris is a lot closer then Tram as he got about twice as many votes last year. If Jack can pick up some support, he might have a solid shot in the next couple of years. Tram on other hand, isn’t probably going to get in. As much as he deserves to be in there.

Two other guys who I feel should get the nod, if not next year but soon, are Goose Gossage and Bert Blyleven. Gossage in my mind is the best closer ever. He had it all, and pitchers were afraid to face him. Blyleven was one of those guys who didn’t hit the magic Win number because he played on a ton of mediocre teams.

As always, the guys who vote on occassion can defy what most of us view as reality. To illustrate this, last year Terry Pendleton and Cecil Fielder got votes from someone.

If I had to make a prediction, I’d say Boggs and Ryne Sandberg get in this year. Bruce Sutter will miss by a small margin, and get in eventually.

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