John Fogerty over Jack Morris for HOF? GTFOH

In their infinite wisdom, Cooperstown has decided to induct a song into the MLB Hall of Fame. I can't make this shit up. John Fogerty will perform "Centrefield" live at the induction ceremony before his hit song from the 80's is inducted into the Hall. I have not been able to confirm rumors that they plan to induct a hot dog and 20 oz beer at the 2011 ceremony or Robert Redford for his role as Roy Hobbes in "The Natural" in 2012. Why don't they just go the hippie route of the Norwegians and vote in Obama for his "passion for his home town White Sox".

These assholes on the committee can spend time voting on a song but can't find enough votes for THE clutch pitcher of the 1980's? Really, why is Jack Morris not in the Hall of Fame? Members need to have distinguished themselves against their peers in the particular era in which they played. Let's see, "Black Jack" was the ace on three different World Series Champions over a fifteen year stretch, winning the 1991 WS MVP after pitching 10 shutout innings in a Game 7 (never done before or since). He finished in the Top 5 for innings pitched in every year from 1981 to 1991. Over that same time period, he finished Top 5 in Cy Young voting five times and received MVP votes in each of those years. One of my favorite Morris stats is his finishing Top 3 in complete games seven times from 1981 to 1991 (15, 17, 13, 20, 15, 13, 10, 10, 11, 10). To put that into perspective, baseball's most worked pitcher today is C.C. Sebathia who led the AL in complete games in 2007 with four complete games. There was no greater competitor than Morris in his era and his 28 complete game shutouts is evidence (by contrast, Verlander is considered an ace today and has three career shutouts in five years). He was also mean which should count for some votes - "Cactus Jack" led the majors in wild pitches in 83, 84, 85, 87, 91, and 94. Calling them wild pitches is a bit disingenuous however; Jack was aiming for their heads and missed. It was rumored when Jack played ball that the fastest way to a man's heart was a Morris fastball. After his classic Game 7 win, Twins OF Randy Bush said of Morris, "I want to know one thing: Who was going to take him out of this game? Who would have had the courage to say, 'Jack, you're done'? I don't think anyone would have done it. If it was T.K. [ manager Tom Kelly], Jack would have punched him, kicked him; he might have killed him."


Don't get me wrong, I'll turn up that catchy little folk song if no one is looking on the highway. There might be a stroke of genius in using the crack of a wood bat as part of your percussion section, I'll give you that Mr. Fogerty. But what does this lead to? Will Springsteen play "Glory Days" at next year's ceremony and Dire Straits fire up "Walk of Life" in 2012? Can we expect to see Hank Williams Jr. in Canton and "insert any rap artist" free-styling "insert any rap song" with David Stern in Springfield? Will Bryan Adams rock out in Toronto in 2013? I should hope not. HOF voters, quit dicking around and vote in a true God of baseball. If you don't, Jack Morris might just kick your ass. For more on this Tigers legend, check out this legendary article from Sports Ilustrated.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140322/index.htm