Of the 15 rookies appearing on the Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) ballot, no candidate will receive greater scrutiny than former Seattle Mariner Edgar Martinez. A thumbs-up from 75 percent of the ballots cast by Writers Association of America (BBWAA) writers means enshrinement in Cooperstown, and the Mariners organization is pulling out all stops to make the case for Edgar.
Leaving no stone unturned, the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP) -- an unlikely source of baseball blogging -- will leap in the fray When all is said and done, we at the DDGP can say that we've done our small part in advocating Edgar's rightful place in Cooperstown.
Some will tune out our message. Hard-headed fundamentalists can't get past the fact that Edgar spent much of his career as a designated hitter (DH). Get over yourselves and your 20th century values. The polar icecap is melting, cars run on electricity and the Big City Slider Station cooks five mini-burgers in five minutes.
Major League Baseball (MLB) threw down the gauntlet in 1973 when the American League implemented the full-time designated hitter. BBWAA scribes shouldn't penalize Edgar because the Mariners organization determined that he would best serve the ball club at DH. HOFers Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor and Eddie Murray (never cared much of his movies) spent portions of their careers at DH. The old-school prejudice against DHs resembles one of two decades ago when voters contemplated the candidacies of relief pitchers like Rollie Fingers ("the guy doesn't pitch nine innings"). Try and stop Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman from entering the HOF ranks -- lest you want a 98-mph baseball whizzing past your left earlobe.
Others devalue Edgar's career statistics (7, 213 at bats, 2,247 hits, 309 home runs), which they allege don't much the totals posted by Cal Ripken (11,511 at bats), George Brett (3.154 hits), or Willie Mays (660 HRs). But consider this: With one or two thousand less ABs, Edgar collected more career HRs than HOFs Robin Yount (251), Brooks Robinson (268), or Ryne Sandberg (282). Edgar's 2,247 career hits outnumber those of HOFers Johnny Bench (2,048), Willie McCovey (2,211), and Duke Snider (2,216).
You can't dismiss that Edgar wielded a wicked bat. Consider that his career average (.312), slugging percentage (.515) and on-base percentage (.418) blow away those of HOFs Ernie Banks (.274, .500, .330), (Reggie Jackson (.262, .490, .356), and Carl Yastrzemski (.285, .462, .379).
Forget the most inane argument that Edgar never played in the World Series. Neither did HOFs Ernie Banks, Rod Carew, or Gaylord Perry. Meanwhile, reviled former Mariners third baseman Scott Spiezio has two World Series rings. What's your point, caller?
Finally, there are the intangibles: Edgar is a solid citizen and helluva of a great guy. You never heard his name associated with steroid use, barroom brawls or Madonna. If Edgar were a canine, he'd be a Labrador retriever: smart, affable and loyal. He'd be welcome any time at the Genesse off-leash area, and the best-behaved dog at the park.
Ken Griffey Jr. is a given for Cooperstown (1997 Most Valuable Player (MVP), 1992 All Star Game MVP, 10-time Gold Glove and seven-time Silver Slugger winner, 630 home runs). Ichiro Suzuki is a lock for the HOF (2001 Rookie of the Year and MVP, 2007 All-Star Game MVP, 2,030 hits in nine seasons, nine-straight seasons of 200 hits, nine-time Gold Glove winner). Edgar belongs in the HOF with his former battery mates.
As Archie Bunker would say, "Case closed, meathead."
Compare Edgar's lifetime stats to those in the HOF:
