Monday, November 28, 2005

IS THIS GARY DISARCINA'S YEAR? The erstwhile Anaheim Angels shortstop, who's memorable All-Star season in 1995 in which he finished sixth in the A.L. in triples and third in sacrafice hits, helped heel a nation scarred by the 1994 strike, leads off a robust class of first-timers on this year's Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.

Some of the others who have a chance to join the sport's immortals in Cooperstown include Rick Aguilera (Cubs fans will never forget those eight saves in 1999), the ever-expanding Alex Fernandez, Doug Jones (another Cubs bullpen great) and John Wetteland, he of the sweaty cap and clubhouse preaching. And let's not forget a third Cubs great, Gary Gaetti, Gregg Jefferies (the man who could never fill Wally Backman's cleats), the third best former University of Michigan infielder for a time on the Reds Hal Morris and Walt Weiss, whose career measures up favorbaly to Ivan Dejesus.

Among those who won't be laughed off the ballot, but don't deserve entry either are: Doc Gooden, Ozzie Guillen, Orel Hershiser, Albert Belle and Will Clark.

What this all means is that this is the best chance for some of the overlooked stars still looming on the ballot to gain entry. Maybe with people taking a fresh look at the numbers put up in the last decade, two deserving sluggers, Jim Rice and Andre Dawson, will get it, alongside Bruce Sutter, Rich Gossage, and Jack Morris (those would be my picks, had I a ballot).

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