When borderline HOF guys get their call

It's refreshing to see Jack Morris and Alan Trammell, a pair of longtime teammates whose accomplishments seem more recent and tangible [they starred in the 1980s and played through the mid 1990s, not the 1880s] - get elected the Hall of Fame through 10-name Modern Baseball Era ballot.

I didn't think either Morris or Trammell were getting into the Hall of Fame any time soon but their candidacy was given second life after falling off the ballot - in particular, I guess something had to give in Morris' case.

While Morris' numbers was scrutinized by the sabermetric movement as inferior to retired star pitchers who aren't getting any serious consideration - there was enough push back [particularly among the people that put him in now] that Morris eventually was able to sneak into the HOF.

Trammell was destined to become the next Bert Blyleven or Tim Raines among sabermetric inclined baseball experts - Trammell was a guy who was part of a shortstop evolution, putting up strong offensive numbers that combined with everything else, were too hard to dismiss.

Featured autograph - Jack Morris

His prime through the 1980's was way before my time as either a baseball fan or card collector - I just remember him through various junk wax appearances [particularly late in his playing career] and maybe reading about him through the early 1990's.

Right now, his status as far as a potential Hall of Fame inductee is in the air and maybe he is more of a marginal candidate than a guy you have put in with the greats - the numbers guys seem to marginalize his career as far as snubbing him for the HOF while the so-called old school guys have cited his Game 7 performance in the 1991 World Series and his overall workmanlike efforts through the 1980's as reasons as why he should have a plaque in Cooperstown.

As far as the autographed card, I've associated Morris with the Minnesota Twins but never have seen him in-person until the Toronto Blue Jays visited the Angels a couple of weeks ago - I was able to spot him through the crowd and was the first to end up getting his autograph.

Considering the Hall candidates - Jack Morris

Jack Morris

Pro - if there was a Hall of Moments, he'd be in along with someone like Roger Maris, particularly for his performance in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, where he gutted out a series clinching performance with 10 shutout innings over the upstart Atlanta Braves.

He pretty impressive in the 1984 World Series for the juggernaut Detroit Tigers with - two wins, 18 innings pitched, allowed four earned runs and struck out 13 against only three walks.

The winningest pitcher in the 1980s, Morris started 527 out 549 games in his Major League career and was a workhorse - he completed 175 games along with 28 shutouts.

Con - there seems to be more of a quantity rather than quality aspect to the numbers he put up. He probably got another ring with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, but imploded with a 7-12 record and 6.19 ERA. He got pounded for 189 hits in only 152 innings and didn't even pitch in the postseason.

Yes/No - I'd lean towards 'no.' 

If Morris had retired after the 1992 season, maybe his lifetime ERA looks a little better, even with 17 less wins [total number picked up between 1993 and 1994] - maybe he'd look better to voters to see him finish his career with a 21 win season instead of appearing to hang around two seasons too long.