ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, August 5, 1996 TAG: 9608050158
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Pitcher-turned-politician Jim Bunning used his Hall of Fame podium to campaign for baseball to hire a commissioner, saying Sunday that the sport must solve its problems ``before the Congress of the United States gives up on you and intervenes.''
With banned Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott applauding in the audience, the Kentucky Republican asserted that ``for over four years, baseball has been rudderless. Get a rudder.''
Before Bunning, the only member of Congress in the Hall, gave his 29-minute speech, the annual induction ceremonies had been a pleasant blend of reminiscing and giving thanks.
Earl Weaver playfully jibed fellow Hall member Jim Palmer, who stood when his former Baltimore manager was introduced. Weaver, whose ``acerbic wit'' was noted on his plaque, made sure, however, to include Palmer on the list of the game's greatest pitchers.
``I don't want to forget Jim Palmer or he'll write another bad book about me,'' he said.
His raspy voice steady after a couple of shaky moments early in his 13-minute speech, Weaver also praised the umpires who ejected him so often, drawing a laugh from the pro-Orioles crowd of 10,000.
``They made a million calls when I was there and, except for the 91 or 92 times I disagreed, they got them right,'' he said.
Ned Hanlon, a turn-of-the-century manager who also prospered in Baltimore (he gave the team its original orange and black colors) was remembered by his grandson, Edward, one of 118 Hanlon family members on hand for the occasion.
The late Bill Foster, a star pitcher in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s and 1930s, was recalled by his son, Bill Sr., who said he wished he'd had the opportunity to say, `Dad, you made it.'''
Also honored were Minnesota Twins announcer Herb Carneal, who won the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence, and New York Times writer Joe Durso, who won the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for print journalism.
Stan Musial, Yogi Berra and Tom Seaver were among the 33 Hall members on stage, taking in the 21/2-hour festivities on a sunny afternoon. The crowd was only about half the total that came on an open field about one mile from the Hall last year to see Philadelphia favorites Richie Ashburn and Mike Schmidt be inducted.
Like Schmidt, who used part of his speech to endorse Pete Rose for the Hall - once again, there were a few shouts of ``We Want Pete!'' from the crowd - Bunning had a point to make.
After thanking his family, teammates, coaches and others who helped him be successful, Bunning turned his attention to the trouble that has plagued baseball for a few years.
``Get your house in order,'' he told owners, his voice rising. ``Find a way to share revenue without asking players to foot the bill.''
He also called on players to act responsibly off-the-field, and urged the sides to sign a 10-year labor deal and mutually to ``pick a commissioner, a real commissioner.''
Later, in a press conference, Bunning said he had absolutely no interest in being that commissioner.
``It has no power. It's been gutted,'' he said.
It's not likely that owners would ever accept him, either.
Bunning was an original sponsor of a bill in Congress to get rid of baseball's anti-trust exemption. Before that, he served as a player agent and helped form the players' pension program. He was his team's player representative for 12 of his 17 seasons in the majors.
Bunning was 224-184 with a 3.27 ERA, primarily for Philadelphia and Detroit. He and the other three new Hall members were elected in March by the Veterans Committee.
Weaver, 66 in two weeks, won six AL East titles, four pennants and the 1970 World Series. He had four of his former players on the Hall stage with him - Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and Reggie Jackson.
Weaver said his induction capped 35 years in baseball ``that flew by so fast I didn't even know I was getting old.''
No players were selected last January by the Baseball Writers Association of America, its first shutout since 1971. Left out were 300-game winners Don Sutton and Phil Niekro.
Bunning, 64, drew a big cheer from the crowd when he asked writers in attendance: ``Do you have any clue how hard it is to win 300 games in the major leagues?''
Weaver, 66 in two weeks, won six AL East titles, four pennants and the 1970 World Series. He had four of his former players on the Hall stage with him - Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and Reggie Jackson.
Weaver said his induction capped 35 years in baseball ``that flew by so fast I didn't even know I was getting old.''
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Pitcher Jim Bunning (left) and former Oriolesby CNBmanager Earl Weaver joined baseball's greats Sunday in the Hall of
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