31 July, 2017
Jeff Bagwell is about to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Also inducted were executive John Schuerholz and former commissioner Bud Selig. Now I have that plaque forever.
Ivan Rodriguez received a vote of 76 percent.
"This is such an incredible honor for me", Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez recalled being so frustrated as a small kid in Puerto Rico that he tried to stretch himself by pulling on a rope. "Never let them take your dream away from you". "Seventeen years in the major leagues and still looking for a world championship". He hit 311 homers and batted.296 in his career. "We go back a long way". "Anything in life is possible". "I began to experience what Harry Truman meant when he said, "The buck stops here.' I experienced it again later when it became apparent that the players" use of performance-enhancing substances was undermining the integrity of the game".
Bagwell took the dais to an extended applause from the hundreds of Astros fans who made the trip.
"What you've seen here today is a little boy's dreams come true", he said, per the Major League Baseball broadcast, adding, "I am humbled". "I'm so humbled to be here". It's only fitting that I'm going into the Hall as an Expo.
Bagwell started his speech by thanking his family, singling out his parents and wife. "Mom, you are just the most unbelievable person in the world", he said. You've been a pillar for me. I even loved playing against him. My father, Bob. There's something about a dad. Former commissioner Bud Selig reprised the phrase he once used at the NY baseball writers dinner, saying, "What you see here is a little boy's dream come true". Deep inside, I just never gave up. He will be joining another Killer B, Craig Biggio, in the hall tomorrow. His 399 home runs as a Tiger are the most in club history.
"I tried to do everything well", he said. "That's why I attempted to play baseball". For now, Montreal has at least one more baseball legend to be proud of. "But I'm insanely glad that we have him to hang onto".
The four time all-star and three time silver slugger amassed 449 home runs, 1529 RBI's and a.297 batting average over 15 seasons before injuries ended his career in 2005.
Raines was greeted by scores of fans from Canada, many of whom came aboard several buses.
"First of all, I spent the majority of my career in Montreal". "I wanted to kind of be like you and he finally accepted and I followed. Thank God I don't have to answer that anymore". "Both players went in [the Hall of Fame] as Expos". "You're getting the highest honor". That led to his first job in baseball, more than 50 years ago. All inductees are chosen by the Today's Game era committee.
In 26 years as a GM for the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves, Schuerholz stood alone. The same Joe Morgan, who won two NL MVP Awards, helped the Reds capture two World Series titles and is now enshrined in Cooperstown. He credited divine providence and fate for his good fortune, starting with a case of German measles that left him deaf in his right ear at age five, which he said forced him to be more attentive.
That, only time will tell.
"The message was delivered", Schuerholz said. "I got the opportunity to play for Joe Torre", he said. "Divine providence. Fate. I truly believe so".
