Sutter makes Hall on 13th try
After falling short a dozen times, Bruce Sutter was relieved.
He became only the fourth reliever given baseball’s highest honor, gaining election to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
“When the phone call came and the caller ID said ‘New York,’ I thought, oh, maybe this is it,” he said.
When he found out he had made it, Sutter flashed a signal, giving a “thumbs-up” to his wife, sons and daughters-in-law.
“They started screaming,” he recalled, “and, actually, I started crying.”
Becoming the first pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame with no career starts, the split-finger pioneer was listed on 76.9 percent of the ballots, collecting 400 of a record 520 votes cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America who have been in the organization for 10 consecutive years or more.
“It was a call that you always hope for, but you never really expect it to happen,” Sutter said. “I didn’t think it would affect me or hit me as hard as it did.”
Players needed 390 votes (75 percent) to gain election. Boston Red Sox slugger Jim Rice fell 53 short, finishing second with 337 votes (64.8 percent), one ahead of reliever Goose Gossage.
Sutter was the first player elected on the 13th try or later since Ralph Kiner in 1975. Rice appeared for the 12th time and has three years remaining on the writers’ ballot. Gossage was on the ballot for the seventh time.
It might be difficult for Rice and Gossage to gain votes next year, when Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn and Mark McGwire appear on the ballot for the first time. Each voter may select up to 10 players.
“I was planning a hunting trip next year if I didn’t get in this year,” Sutter said. “I didn’t need to be around the phone, I can tell you that.”
Andre Dawson was fourth with 317 votes, followed by Bert Blyleven (277), Lee Smith (234), Jack Morris (214), Tommy John (154) and Steve Garvey (135).
Smoltz won’t pitch in Classic
While Major League Baseball awaits word whether Cuba will be allowed to play in the World Baseball Classic, Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz said he probably won’t pitch for the United States in the tournament.
Smoltz was quoted as saying in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he’s not likely to play.
“I’m pretty confident, about 100 percent, that I’m not going to be playing in the World Classic,” Smoltz said.
Baseball spokesman Rich Levin said that the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control still hasn’t ruled on the revised application for a permit to allow Cuba to play.
Clearing the bases
Hall of Famer Eddie Murray was hired as the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. … The Detroit Tigers and pitcher Mike Maroth are nearing an agreement on a two-year contract worth about $5.25 million. Also, the Tigers signed reliever Matt Mantei to a minor league contract. … The New York Mets and top draft pick Mike Pelfrey finalized a $5.25 million, four-year contract. The 6-foot-7 right-hander was 12-3 with a 1.93 ERA in 19 games for Wichita State last year. He was the ninth overall pick. Also, the Mets and catcher Ramon Castro agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract. … Pitcher Shawn Estes and the San Diego Padres finalized a $1 million, one-year contract. … Infielder Ty Wigginton and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays agreed to a $675,000, one-year contract. … The baseball players’ association revised its 2005 salary average, lowering it by about $2,500 to $2,476,589.