The National Baseball Hall of Fame will add the plaque of one more sort-of South Sider, as
Goose Gossage was elected today on his ninth ballot. He's yet another player
the White Sox can add to its list, but can't really share credit for.
Since it's a slow news day, let's break down the five tiers of White Sox greats:
| Level 1: The Aparicio-Fox Wing |
| ("He played for the White Sox.") |
Members: Luis Aparicio,
Nellie Fox,
Luke Appling,
Ted Lyons,
Ed Walsh,
Red Faber,
Ray Schalk,
Eddie Collins.
Comments: Collins might be better remembered as a Philadelphia Athletic by some, but his role on the 1917 and 1919 White Sox solidifies his status in my mind.
Next candidate: Frank Thomas.
| Level 2: The Fisk Wing |
| ("He played for the White Sox, too.") |
Members: Carlton Fisk,
Early Wynn,
Hoyt Wilhelm,
George DavisComments: Wilhelm should be wearing a White Sox cap on
his plaque. He had an ERA under 2.00 for five of his six seasons in Chicago, and finished with
a 1.92 ERA over 676 2/3 innings -- and he joined the Sox at
age 40. He chose the
Mets Giants instead, and they might be the third team he's most associated with, behind the Sox and Orioles, with whom he famously retired
Roger Maris to prevent him from reaching 60 homers.
Next candidate: Tim Raines, hopefully.
Tommy John will likely fall short.
| Level 3: The Seaver Wing |
| ("He played for the White Sox? Oh, right.") |
Members: Goose Gossage,
Tom Seaver,
George Kell,
Harry Hooper,
Al Simmons,
Clark Griffith.
Comments: Had Seaver not won his 300th game for the Sox, he'd probably be knocked down a level. Kell, Hooper and Simmons hit well for the Sox late in their careers, after their identities had been well-established. Griffith is an interesting case -- he played only two of his 20 seasons with the Sox, but he was one of the most famous original defectors to the American League, and he made the Sox his first stop on the junior circuit.
Next one in: Roberto Alomar is eligible in 2010.
| Level 4: The Carlton Wing |
| ("The White Sox? Really?") |
Members: Steve Carlton,
Larry Doby,
Edd Roush,
Red Ruffing,
Johnny Evers,
Chief BenderDoby might be considered for The Seaver Wing, but he's so strongly associated with the Cleveland Indians that I can't see it. I'm open for arguments.
Next candidate: Julio Franco, maybe around 2020. He's still got at least two more comebacks in him.
| Level 5: The Conlan Wing |
| ("I thought he was an umpire.") |
Members: Jocko ConlanComments: Conlan, who spent his entire two-year career on the South Side, wore a White Sox uniform during the first game he umpired in 1935, when he replaced an ump who suffered heat exhaustion during the second game of a doubleheader.
Next one in: This exhibit is closed.
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Meanwhile, Harold Baines, a guy who would don
the Eddie Einhorn E had he received the honor, barely stayed on the ballot at 5.2 percent. At least he'll live to see another day.