PCP Sports

by John Ryan

I’m still doing research on what 2013 is in terms of Chinese years.  Maybe year of the star.  When 12:00 strikes on January 1, 2013 and the millions gathered around frothy beverages and olive-clad glasses salute, think not only of your doomed new year’s resolution, but of heroes of the past who will all have hung it up five years prior and will enter the MLB Hall of Fame together.  There is a good possibility that the following names will all enter the Hall of Fame together: (good possibility means 50%. Not all of the names about to be mentioned have mentioned definite retirement plans.  I’m going by age, effectiveness, injury history, and contract status in determining possible retirees this year) John Smoltz, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, Tom Glavine, Ivan Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Barry Bonds (if he makes it), Sammy Sosa (ditto), Ken Griffy, Jr., Gary Sheffield, and Manny Ramirez.  Ok, so the last few are reaches.  But, with the personalities involved there’s no telling what direction they go.  I predict Sheffield, Ramirez and Griffy still play next year.  Subtract those three names though, and you still have one of the most star-studded HOF classes of all time.  The biggest question mark surronding these guys is the alleged steriod use of Sheffield, Bonds, Clemens, and Sosa.  All have been linked in some way to BALCO/steriods in some way or another, however minor.  If you vote strictly on integrity of the game (which is questioned anyway, because most of the front office people knew what was going on) then they’re all out.  If your going on the premise that they were the best of a group that ALL used, then they’re in.

Putting aside the steroid debate (thats not the purpose of this article) and the alleged users, that’s still a heck of a class.  No doubt there’s some i could be missing who will walk away this year and be considered for the HOF, as well.  But let’s focus on Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, and Schilling.  Those four seem the most likely to retire.  (Side note: Smoltz and Schilling, while worthy in my book, are not locks by any means to make it in.  In recent informal polls, both made it in by way of a small margin for error on the 75% vote required to be voted in.) The four of those pitchers were no doubt about it four of the best pitchers of their generation.  Schilling and Smoltz (the two, coincidentally, who aren’t locks) were power pitchers who dominated in the playoffs.  Glavine and Maddux were less dominant in the playoffs and mixed speeds more to get their hitters out.  They also relied on pristine control.

The summer of 2013 could be the year of the star, but even if only 4 of those stars make it in, that’s a big haul and certainly better than the most recent output for the Hall of Fame.