The 2006 Baseball Hall of Fame class was announced Tuesday. For the seventh consecutive year, Rich "Goose" Gossage failed to make the list of athletes bound for Cooperstown.

 

ESPN.com has 10 Baseball Hall of Fame voters who contribute to the site. Gossage was on all of their ballots. Bruce Sutter, the only member of the 2006 class, was on eight.

 

Few should've expected Gossage to appear on all 520 ballots. But 390, the 75 percent required to make the Hall of Fame, seemed more than plausible.

 

"I've gotten a lot of great support from a lot of great writers," Gossage said Tuesday, minutes before leaving his house to walk his dog. "I made a huge jump this year. Hopefully, in the coming years, I will hopefully go in."

 

Gossage's "jump" was in ballot percentages. He was on 55.25 percent of the ballots last year and 64.6 percent this year.

 

"I think to a certain degree it is a flawed system," Gossage said. "It's not perfect. But in our legal system, there are also some injustices. I don't know if there is such a thing as a perfect system.

 

"It's baffling to me to sit here and try and figure it out. I never tried to figure the game out while I was playing. I'm not going to sit here and try to figure the whole process out now. Sutter, it took him 13 years to get in. I don't understand the process of why. Bruce Sutter didn't save any more games. It's like they're playing games with guys' lives."

 

In a career that spanned from 1972-1994, Gossage recorded 310 saves, the fourth most at that time.

 

During his prime years from 1977-83, Gossage led all pitchers with a minimum of 350 innings pitched in ERA (2.00), strikeouts (9.07), hits and baserunners (9.56) per nine innings.

 

He started to decline after that and became primarily a setup man in 1989 before retiring at the age of 42.

 

Overall, Gossage was a nine-time All-Star, led his league in saves three times and was a member of the 1978 World Series champion New York Yankees.

 

"He was the man back in the day," former Colorado Rockies closer Shawn Chacon said during his stint as a closer. Gossage was one of the coaches helping Chacon. "He was what a closer should be. He was nasty."

 

Gossage said he no longer gets excited about announcement day. Gossage was home with the dog, fielding "more than 40 phone calls" from reporters and well-wishers.

 

Through it all, Gossage says he's keeping perspective.

 

"I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't disappointed," he said. "But in the big picture, this doesn't really mean much. I mean, we've got a war going on in Iraq. And, you know, we're losing our boys over there. That's a lot bigger."

 

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10806971/

He was on the Dan Patrick Show today... and everything he says is dead on. He had an HOF voter on the show as well.. and that guy represented everything that was wrong with the voters.

Great player too, he deserves it. Being from NJ, I get the Yankee's "YES" Network that involves the Giants and the Yankees only. They tend to do a thing called "Yankeeography" in which they talk about a Yankee hero. I remember seeing Goose's ography. Considered really intimidating, he pitched pretty fast. His pitching motion was a combination of Todd Jones and Dontrelle's. He started off like jones with a knee lift then extended his leg before the pitch like jones did, then the rest was like Dontrelle, the whipping arm motion with the swinging leg that crossed over the other leg after the pitch. HE BETTER MAKE IT!

yeah, the HOF voter that Dan Patrick had on said he'd only vote for Big Mac next year....not Gwynn or the third guy whose supposed to be out there.

yeah, the HOF voter that Dan Patrick had on said he'd only vote for Big Mac next year....not Gwynn or the third guy whose supposed to be out there.

 

 

hmmmm....Cal Ripken Jr. is the "so-called" third guy

Not voting for Gwynn is retarded, but if I were a voter, I'm not sure that Ripken deserves "first ballot" immortality.

 

Ripken's career B.A.: .276

career hits: 3,184

career HR's: 431

career runs: 1,647

 

With the exception of hits (which he is 14th all time) he's not in the top 25 for any other major offensive statistical category. He probably should be a hall of famer, but not a first ballot one, at least in this age where the distinction of "first ballot" actually means something.

I'm pretty sure when he retired, Ripken was the all time leader among shortstops in HRs. He might still be, I don't know. He also won 2 Gold Gloves, 2 MVPs, a ROY, appeared in 19 straight All-Star games and like a balzillion straight games.

 

The first ballot stuff is stupid enough, but, still, he deserves that first ballot "immortality", if you want to call it that. I don't remember who got in on the first ballot and who didn't, but maybe some people do.

The little streak he had doesn't count or how he was 1st in career homers for a SS up until a couple years ago doesn't either.

 

The guy was one of the players anyone in America knew about. He had a major hand in saving the game after the strike. The HOF isn't all about stats. It's also about players that had a hand in promoting and representing the game to the rest world.

 

Give me a f***ing break. Not a first ballot HOFer my ass.

 

Ignorant slut!

Not voting for Gwynn is retarded, but if I were a voter, I'm not sure that Ripken deserves "first ballot" immortality.

 

Ripken's career B.A.: .276

career hits: 3,184

career HR's: 431

career runs: 1,647

 

With the exception of hits (which he is 14th all time) he's not in the top 25 for any other major offensive statistical category. He probably should be a hall of famer, but not a first ballot one, at least in this age where the distinction of "first ballot" actually means something.

 

Wow, you are dumb.

 

I can't see how someone would leave him off their ballot.

 

3,000 hit club, a MVP, a ROY, a ton of all-star games, a streak and record that no one will ever come close to topping, and the man that helped resurrect baseball after the strike as a humanitarian of the game.

If being a name is all it takes to get you into Cooperstown, Gossage deserves to be in, so does Andre Dawson and so too does Jim Rice.

 

I'm not a huge fan of Ripken's. I think the streak is overrated, he never was a spectacular player and I think calling a player a legend for simply playing in consecutive games while being downright awful at times is erroneous.

 

Put it this way: he deserves recognition, he's going to be a hall of famer, but I don't really see what he did that was all that great that hasn't been done by a few non-hall stars. And, to me, the streak really is inconsequential...it really is terribly overrated. Impressive yes, but is it that great?

 

Yes, two MVP awards are great, two gold-gloves are great and the rookie of the year is nice, but there are multiple time all-stars with an MVP and gold-gloves to their credit that are on the outside of the hall looking in...

 

All I'm saying is that if a truly dominant player for a short period of time like Jim Rice or Andre Dawson (who has ROY, MVP, 8 consecutive GG's and 8 all-star appearances) is left out of the hall, why is a consistently average player a rubber-stamp for the hall?

 

In 21 seasons Ripken had only 5 seasons when he hit above .300 one season with 30 or more HR's, 4 seasons with more than 100 RBI and 2 200 hit seasons. However, during this marvelous streak of his he hit .260 or lower 8 times. He's simply the beneficiary of his own longevity.

You are not impressed with his streak????? Are you serious?

 

How come no one else is even close. I can't even fathom the strain on his body to come out and play everyday...year in and year out.

 

Ripken revolutionized his position. He was the first large sized powerful guy at the shortstop position. He paved the way for the Jeters, Nomars, A-Rods, and Tejadas of this game. Ripken was the best at his position for a long, long time.

 

I love how you just toss aside the streak, the 3,000 hits and 400+ home runs because he played a long time....if anything that makes it even more impressive to me.

 

19 all-star games...are you kidding me?

You are not impressed with his streak????? Are you serious?

 

How come no one else is even close. I can't even fathom the strain on his body to come out and play everyday...year in and year out.

 

Ripken revolutionized his position. He was the first large sized powerful guy at the shortstop position. He paved the way for the Jeters, Nomars, A-Rods, and Tejadas of this game. Ripken was the best at his position for a long, long time.

 

I love hwo you just toss aside the streak, the 3,000 hits and 400+ home runs because he played a long time....if anything that makes it even more impressive to me.

 

19 all-star games...are you kidding me?

 

 

People don't come close because a lot of players who approach it know the value of their health in October versus August. In many other sports, it's simply an asterisk. I can't name the iron man streaks in the NBA or the NHL (I know Favre in the NFL, but that's just because ESPN is a Favre love-fest).

 

Since the streak is the crowning achievement of Ripken's career, let's examine it further:

 

Began in his first full season when he somehow won a Rookie of the Year award with a .264 batting average.

 

During the streak he hit .300 or better 4 times, .264 or worse 8 times, went 6 seasons ('85-'91) without hitting .300. Drove in 100 or more runs 4 times, but drove in 85 or worse runs 8 times. Never had an OBP top .374, never stole more than 6 bases in a season and hit 30 or more homeruns once, while hitting below 20 four times.

 

And, as was pointed out, he has the lowest career batting average of any player active or inactive with 3,000 hits.

And, I know this is apples to oranges (as I hate comparing eras), but to compare to Gehrig's streak('25-'38):

 

Gehrig's worst season was a .295, 20/68 season as a 22 year old. He hit .300 or better in 12 seasons, hit 30 or more HR's in 10 seasons (and 29 in one other). From 1926-1938 he never drove in less than 105 runs, stole 6 or more bases 9 times, and had an average OBP of .447. Now that's a streak spectacular for longevity and production, the latter can't necessarily be said for Ripken's.

You are not impressed with his streak????? Are you serious?

 

How come no one else is even close. I can't even fathom the strain on his body to come out and play everyday...year in and year out.

 

Ripken revolutionized his position. He was the first large sized powerful guy at the shortstop position. He paved the way for the Jeters, Nomars, A-Rods, and Tejadas of this game. Ripken was the best at his position for a long, long time.

 

I love hwo you just toss aside the streak, the 3,000 hits and 400+ home runs because he played a long time....if anything that makes it even more impressive to me.

 

19 all-star games...are you kidding me?

 

 

I can't name the iron man streaks in the NBA or the NHL (I know Favre in the NFL, but that's just because ESPN is a Favre love-fest).

Doug Jarvis of the Habs owns the streak with approximately ~950 or so consecutive games play, I have no clue about the NBA though.

A.C Green.

 

And yes, this was my own knowledge.

If being a name is all it takes to get you into Cooperstown, Gossage deserves to be in, so does Andre Dawson and so too does Jim Rice.

 

I'm not a huge fan of Ripken's. I think the streak is overrated, he never was a spectacular player and I think calling a player a legend for simply playing in consecutive games while being downright awful at times is erroneous.

 

Put it this way: he deserves recognition, he's going to be a hall of famer, but I don't really see what he did that was all that great that hasn't been done by a few non-hall stars. And, to me, the streak really is inconsequential...it really is terribly overrated. Impressive yes, but is it that great?

 

Yes, two MVP awards are great, two gold-gloves are great and the rookie of the year is nice, but there are multiple time all-stars with an MVP and gold-gloves to their credit that are on the outside of the hall looking in...

 

All I'm saying is that if a truly dominant player for a short period of time like Jim Rice or Andre Dawson (who has ROY, MVP, 8 consecutive GG's and 8 all-star appearances) is left out of the hall, why is a consistently average player a rubber-stamp for the hall?

 

In 21 seasons Ripken had only 5 seasons when he hit above .300 one season with 30 or more HR's, 4 seasons with more than 100 RBI and 2 200 hit seasons. However, during this marvelous streak of his he hit .260 or lower 8 times. He's simply the beneficiary of his own longevity.

 

 

 

This arguement is grasping at straws, man.

 

How many 2-time MVP, 2-time Gold Glove, 19-time All-Stars, who retired leading their position in HRs are not in the hall?

 

How can you possibly call Ripken consistently average? And why are you fixated on batting average all of a sudden, when most of the baseball world has concluded that stat is highly overrated? I would venture a guess that his OPS was above average for his position in every season he played but his last. Maybe you're not aware of this, but shortstops really weren't expected to hit all that much back in the 80's and early 90's. Ripken blew everyone at the position away.

If being a name is all it takes to get you into Cooperstown, Gossage deserves to be in, so does Andre Dawson and so too does Jim Rice.

 

I'm not a huge fan of Ripken's. I think the streak is overrated, he never was a spectacular player and I think calling a player a legend for simply playing in consecutive games while being downright awful at times is erroneous.

 

Put it this way: he deserves recognition, he's going to be a hall of famer, but I don't really see what he did that was all that great that hasn't been done by a few non-hall stars. And, to me, the streak really is inconsequential...it really is terribly overrated. Impressive yes, but is it that great?

 

Yes, two MVP awards are great, two gold-gloves are great and the rookie of the year is nice, but there are multiple time all-stars with an MVP and gold-gloves to their credit that are on the outside of the hall looking in...

 

All I'm saying is that if a truly dominant player for a short period of time like Jim Rice or Andre Dawson (who has ROY, MVP, 8 consecutive GG's and 8 all-star appearances) is left out of the hall, why is a consistently average player a rubber-stamp for the hall?

 

In 21 seasons Ripken had only 5 seasons when he hit above .300 one season with 30 or more HR's, 4 seasons with more than 100 RBI and 2 200 hit seasons. However, during this marvelous streak of his he hit .260 or lower 8 times. He's simply the beneficiary of his own longevity.

 

 

 

This arguement is grasping at straws, man.

 

How many 2-time MVP, 2-time Gold Glove, 19-time All-Stars, who retired leading their position in HRs are not in the hall?

 

How can you possibly call Ripken consistently average? And why are you fixated on batting average all of a sudden, when most of the baseball world has concluded that stat is highly overrated? I would venture a guess that his OPS was above average for his position in every season he played but his last. Maybe you're not aware of this, but shortstops really weren't expected to hit all that much back in the 80's and early 90's. Ripken blew everyone at the position away.

 

Maybe I'm stupid, but isn't batting average more important than all-star appearances, given how fans have a say in all-star appearances? Surely you're not suggesting that production on the field is less significant than accolades off the field or games played.

 

I really don't see anything other to call Ripken than consistently average. He wasn't spectacular, he was just good, healthy (err, or wouldn't let injuries stand in the way of history) and relatively consistent with flashes of greatness. I mean, a player isn't incredible when he hits .250 or there-about 5 times in what is considered his "prime." ('87, '89, '90, '92, '93). Nor did he clean up with the Gold-glove hardware, and he didn't even have Omar Vizquel to blame because Vizquel didn't win his first until '93.

 

Perhaps this is oversimplifying it, but isn't the student who wins the attendance award a little less prestigious than the valedictorian. I mean, a 'B' student who shows up every-day is still a 'B' student.

And, I know this is apples to oranges

It's apples to beer. Ripken was a SS while Gehrig was a 1B. A 1B is a stud hitter who catches the balls throw at him by his fielders. His defensive prowess has to be somewhere in the neighborhood of having a pulse.

 

A SS is a defensive position. Historically, you got ZERO offense out of your SS. Ripken completely broke the mold. You weren't supposed to be tall, you weren't supposed to be big, you weren't supposed to be able to hit. Ripken was all of these things. He paved the way for guys like ARod and Jeter and Tejada and Nomar.

 

Here's the stat you are looking for: Silver Sluggers SS = 8.

 

If that doesn't work, try this: All Star Appearances = 19.

 

The final test is this: Can you tell the story of baseball without talking about Cal Ripken? No way.

poor dude (Goose Gossage), I hope he makes the HOF next time, as for Ripken I loved the guy, he was unbreakable, starting all those games without a rest!!

Wow. This ranks up there with Snow > Delgado.

TSwift25, you keep saying Ripken was consistently average. I really think you're missing the fact that he was head and shoulders above the average SS offensively. He's not even close. I think you're comparing him to the average player overall...like to outfielders, for instance...and that's just not fair. He still had better offensive numbers than the average play...by a lot...but compared to other shortstops he was out of this world. Would he be in the HOF if he played RF and put up those numbers? He'd be borderline. But as a SS, it's an open and shut case.

 

How many times do people have to say he retired leading his position in HRs in order for it to sink in? Your batting average arguement may be a small point against him, but it's not a terribly strong arguement because I would guess his avg even in his worst years was pretty close to the SS average. In his best years, he blew everyone out.

 

Also, your valedictorian arguement makes no sense. First of all, Ripken would be an A+ student, since he was the best SS of his era. But also, what good would he do if he hit .370 and only played 20 games? The fact that he was there every day actually does mean a lot to team. Whether you care to recognize that as an achievement or not.

Let's drop the all star argument because let's face it...towards the end of Ripken's career, he didnt deserve to make it and made it upon name alone....all of the other arguments are fine but drop the ASG.

Let's drop the all star argument...

I agree. That's why I prefer the Silver Slugger argument. Or how about this:

 

Cal Ripken .276 431HR 2MVP

*Ernie Banks .274 512HR 2MVP

*Phil Rizzuto .273 38HR 1MVP

*Pee Wee Reese .269 126HR 0MVP

*Ozzie Smith .262 28HR 0MVP

 

* indicates HOF SS

Ripken will be in on the first ballot. Anyone that thinks otherwise has a right to their opinion, but, well, if I say what I want to say Admin would dump me as a mod. Then again, Das usually crosses that line on a regular basis.

 

:chef :hug :cowboy

 

 

Let's drop the all star argument...

I agree. That's why I prefer the Silver Slugger argument. Or how about this:

 

Cal Ripken .276 431HR 2MVP

*Ernie Banks .274 512HR 2MVP

*Phil Rizzuto .273 38HR 1MVP

*Pee Wee Reese .269 126HR 0MVP

*Ozzie Smith .262 28HR 0MVP

 

* indicates HOF SS

stats don't lie. add that in with the intangibles and it is an open and shut case.

Cal Ripken Jr. Should be a first Ballot hall of famer hands down!!