Charles Martel
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
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Tommy John - Rest in Peace
- Thread starter Charles Martel
- Start date
Perhaps the most amazing statistic compiled by Tommy John was playing 26 years in Major League Baseball. Think about that, being good enough to be a Major Leaguer for over a quarter century.
One of the many things I liked about baseball in that era compared to now was the sheer endurance at the highest level by so many pitchers -- John, Jim Kaat, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, the Niekro brothers, Bert Blyleven, Wilbur Wood, Don Sutton and others. Later on pitchers like Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. And these men threw huge innings, starting every fourth game and compiling lots of complete games with fewer injuries than today's coddled starters.
Some were sure first ballot Hall of Famers, others like Kaat and Blyleven had to wait. Tommy John's career was quite comparable to that of Kaat and Blyleven, not all-time greats but in the Hall because they were very good for a very long time. I'm not a fan of how standards for election to Cooperstown have declined, but if Kaat and Blyleven eventually made it, Tommy John deserves to be there too. Maybe his passing will spur the veterans' committee to do just that. RIP
One of the many things I liked about baseball in that era compared to now was the sheer endurance at the highest level by so many pitchers -- John, Jim Kaat, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, the Niekro brothers, Bert Blyleven, Wilbur Wood, Don Sutton and others. Later on pitchers like Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. And these men threw huge innings, starting every fourth game and compiling lots of complete games with fewer injuries than today's coddled starters.
Some were sure first ballot Hall of Famers, others like Kaat and Blyleven had to wait. Tommy John's career was quite comparable to that of Kaat and Blyleven, not all-time greats but in the Hall because they were very good for a very long time. I'm not a fan of how standards for election to Cooperstown have declined, but if Kaat and Blyleven eventually made it, Tommy John deserves to be there too. Maybe his passing will spur the veterans' committee to do just that. RIP