Murray--Yes. Carter--doesn't belong. _____________________ Murray and Carter Elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame By MURRAY CHASS Gary Carter and Eddie Murray became the newest members of baseball's Hall of Fame today, gaining entry in an election in which no other player came close to making it. Carter, who caught more games than any other National League catcher, was elected by 78 percent of the Baseball Writers Association voters in his sixth year of eligibility after falling 11 votes short of the requisite 75 percent a year ago. Murray, with 85.3 percent, became the 38th player elected in his first year of eligibility. Ten-year members of the Baseball Writers Association cast 496 ballots, meaning 372 votes were needed for election. Murray received 423, Carter 387. None of the other 31 players on the ballot gained more than 266 votes, or 53.6 percent. Murray, a first baseman, who played the first 12 of his 21 major league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, is one of only three players who had 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. He finished with 3,255 and 504, joining Hank Aaron and Willie Mays in that select circle. Murray, however, never had the highest batting average in his league and he led the league only once in home runs, gaining that status by tying three other players. After having most of his best seasons for the Orioles, Murray also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets, the Cleveland Indians and the California Angels. Murray was a dangerous switch-hitter, and only Mickey Mantle, with 536 home runs, hit more career home runs among switch-hitters. Murray holds the career record for sacrifice flies (128) and for most games (2,413) and assists (1,865) by a first baseman. Among all players, he ranks 11th in hits, 17th in home runs, fifth in at-bats (11,336), seventh in runs batted in (1,917), eighth in total bases (5,397) and 13th in extra-base hits (1,099). Carter played for the Montreal Expos for the first 10 seasons of his 18-year career and becomes the first player elected who spent a major portion of his career with the Expos. But perhaps his most significant playing effort came with the Mets, when he helped make them World Series champions in 1986. Besides being a generally valuable player for the Mets, he triggered their 10th-inning comeback in Game 6 with a two-out single. Carter caught a National League record 2,056 games and also holds major league records for most career putouts (11,785) and total chances (12,988) by a catcher. Despite his catching prowess, Carter traveled a torturous path to the Hall of Fame. In 1998, his first year eligible, he missed election by 155 votes and then lost significant ground the next year, falling 205 votes short. Many players suffered that year because Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Robin Yount were eligible for the first time, and all three were elected. In 2000, Carter made a comeback, missing by 127, then began closing in on election, missing by 53 votes in 2001 and only 11 last year. Bruce Sutter finished third in the voting with 266 votes, a distant 53.6 percent, and was followed by Jim Rice 259 (52.2), Andre Dawson 248 (50.0), Ryne Sandberg 244 (49.2), Lee Smith 210 (42.3), Rich Gossage 209 (42.1), Bert Blyleven 145 (29.2) and Steve Garvey 138 (27.8).
Carter deserves it. He was the best catcher in the NL for a decade, and had career numbers equal to, if not better than, the last catcher inducted, Carlton Fisk.
couldn't agree more..and i freaking hated gary carter. would eddie murray have gotten in if not for the DH? his numbers rank up there with some of the greatest of all time...but those greatest also were capable of fielding a position as well. i hate the DH!!!
My thoughts exactly. If guys who played DH to pump their stats get in the Hall, they may as well bring in closers too.