Brett, Ryan In Hall Of Fame?

On the final day of the 1993 season, before the final game of their major league careers, Nolan Ryan and George Brett met at home plate to exchange lineup cards and handshakes.

That afternoon in Texas, the talk was already about their futures. As in, it sure would be nice to see baseball's career strikeout leader and one of its greatest hitters replay that scene at the Hall of Fame.

"I'd love it if it worked out that way," Ryan said at the time. "I don't think there's any doubt George is going to be inducted and I hope it works out that way for me."

No need to worry, Nolan. The call from Cooperstown is certainly coming Tuesday when results from one of the most eagerly anticipated elections in Hall history are announced.

In a ballot studded with standout rookie candidates, Ryan and Brett figure to be shoo-ins. Robin Yount might also make it, with Carlton Fisk and Dale Murphy expected to do well in the voting.

Even the list of holdover hopefuls is outstanding, led by Tony Perez, Jim Rice, Tommy John, Gary Carter and Bruce Sutter.

Not since the initial election in 1936, when Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner and Christy Mathewson were chosen, have three first-timers been picked.

In fact, the last time 10-year members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America voted in three players at all was 1991 -- Rod Carew, Ferguson Jenkins and Gaylord Perry.

And the last time the BBWAA took four new members was 1955 -- Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Dazzy Vance and Ted Lyons.

Overall, the bbwaa has been rather stingy in recent elections. Its members have selected a total of just five players in the past six years, with Don Sutton making it last January.

That's likely to change as Ryan and Brett should zoom past the 75 percent required for election and increase the current Hall membership of 237.

Induction ceremonies are set for July 25, with an appropriate Hall of Fame exhibition game the following day -- Ryan's Texas Rangers vs. Brett's Kansas City Royals.

The Veterans Committee will meet March in Tampa, Fla., and can choose up to four more new members. Bill Mazeroski, Dick Williams and Gil Hodges will be among the candidates.

Ryan and Brett already are well-represented at Cooperstown. Brett's pine-tar bat is on display at the shrine, as are balls and caps from each of Ryan's record seven no-hitters -- by late July, their plaques will likely be hanging in the Hall, too.

Ryan struck out 5,714 in a 27-year spanning 1965-93 with the New York Mets, California, Houston and Texas. He went 324-292, tying him with Sutton for 12th in victories.

When

Some doubted his credentials earlier in his career, but when Nolan Ryan retired at age 46, his place in the Hall of Fame was seemingly secured. (AP)

Up until the final few years of his careers, Ryan had his critics. They claimed he was too wild (2,795 walks in 5,387 innings), never won a Cy Young Award and did not win enough -- but he finished with a .526 winning percentage, compared to the .503 of his teams.

By the way, Big Tex will wear a Texas Rangers cap on his plaque.

Brett, a 13-time All-Star, ranks 13th on the career hits list with 3,154. The third baseman hit .305 in a 21-year career spent entirely with the Royals, and was a .337 lifetime hitter in the postseason.

Yount, a three-time All-Star, had 3,142 hits in 20 seasons, all with Milwaukee. He won AL MVP awards at shortstop and center field. His .285 average, however, might hold him back this time.

Brett (317 HRs, 1,595 RBIs) and Yount (251 HRs, 1,406 RBIs) both got their 3,000th hits in September 1992, plus they share this rare distinction: They both are their franchise leader in home runs, triples, doubles and singles. In the modern era, only Willie Mays (Giants) and Stan Musial (Cardinals) can claim the same honor.

Fisk holds the AL record for catchers with 24 seasons and hit 376 home runs. His most famous homer, and one of the most memorable ever, won Game 6 of the 1975 World Series at Fenway Park.

Murphy was a two-time NL MVP with Atlanta and hit 398 home runs. He was a seven-time All-Star and won five straight Gold Gloves in center field.

Perez, a key member of the Big Red Machine, came close to election last year when he was picked on 67.9 percent of the ballots. He had 1,652 RBIs -- every eligible player ahead of him is in the Hall.

"I'm proud of my RBIs, because a lot of them helped win games for us," he said.

John (288 wins), Bert Blyleven (287), Jim Kaat (283) and Sutter (300 saves) also apper on the 28-member ballot. So do Rice (.298, 382 HRs, 1,451 RBIs), Carter (11 All-Star teams), Dwight Evans (385 HRs, eight Gold Gloves).

Mickey Lolich, 217-191 and MVP of the 1968 World Series, and Minnie Minoso, a .298 career hitter, are on the ballot for the 15th and final time.

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