Rick Morrissey’s Ryne Sandberg article is hogwash.
The Hall of Fame is more than just the best hitters. If not, John Kruk and every other .300 lifetime hitter should be inducted tomorrow. Defense at your position is just as important. Otherwise, how does Brooks Robinson, who hit just .267 with 268 homers and 1,357 RBIs over 23 seasons, get in over Ron Santo (.277, 342 homers, 1,331 RBIs over 15 seasons)? For that matter, how does Ozzie Smith (.262, 28 homers, 793 RBIs) get in at all?
Second base is not an easy position to play. Ryno has the highest lifetime fielding percentage and the longest errorless streak at second in the history of the game. And he should not be punished because he did not have a supporting cast that was good enough to get the Cubs into the World Series.
It’s a shame that the Hall of Fame is nothing more than a popularity contest run by a bunch of vindictive sportswriters. Sandberg’s quiet, humble nature made him the Pete Sampras of baseball. Those of us who watched the Cubs in the ’80s and ’90s don’t need a plaque in Cooperstown. We know the truth.
