Too bad Tampa’s ownGary Sheffielddidn’t make the recent Cooperstown cut for the baseball Hall of Fame. The former Belmont Heights Little Leaguer deserves membership. More on him in a bit.
There’s certainly no quibble with the four who did make it: Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio. Johnson and Martinez had imposing numbers, while Smoltz and Biggio had impressive numbers–and something else that should resonate in a game increasingly driven to specialization and role-playing. They had uncommon versatility.
Smoltz was both an All-Star starting pitcher as well as an All-Star closer. We’ll not likely see that again. Biggio was an All-Star as a catcher and as a second baseman. We’ll definitely not see that combo again.
Now back to Sheffield.
He was downright menacing and intimidating as a hitter. And he hit for both average and power, the latter to the tune of 509 home runs.
But his versatility was also manifested on the base paths. He is one of only four Major Leaguers to have more than 500 home runs and more than 250 stolen bases. We may never see a fifth accomplish that.
At a time when Hall of Fame voters wring their hands over variables such as the role of performance-enhancing drugs, here is one variable that often gets short-shrifted.
But not this year. And, hopefully, not next year for Gary Sheffield.