The Hall Comes Calling

There's simply no place on earth like Cooperstown. The upstate New York town may be tiny, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in history. It's claim to fame is the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you're a fan of "America's Pastime" it's gotta be on your bucket list. The location is kind of off the beaten path (there are no cities of note within an hour), but those that make the trek, like I did in February, are truly rewarded. This weekend, thousands flocked to Cooperstown to help usher in a new trio to the ranks of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2011 includes players Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven as well as GM Pat Gillick. It's tough to describe in words what the three did for the game, but after the jump, I'll try to do them justice.

Roberto Alomar, 2B, Padres, Blue Jays, Orioles, Indians, Mets, Diamondbacks- It isn't at all an exaggeration to call Alomar one of the greatest 2nd basemen of all time.  Sports Illustrated's Cliff Corcoran lists him at #7 overall. I think that's fair and here's why. In his 17 year career that spanned three decades, Alomar made 12 All-Star teams (winning the game's MVP award in 1998). He was known as being the best defensive 2B of his era, winning 10 Gold Glove Awards. He was no slouch at the plate either where he earned four Silver Slugger awards, notching a .300 career BA. Along the way, Alomar's fiery personality put him in the spotlight, too. You may recall the infamous incident in 1996 where he spit on an umpire. Still, there's no denying that he's one of the most memorable 2nd basemen of the last half-century.

Bert Blyleven, SP, Twins, Rangers, Pirates, Indians, Angels- For awhile, it looked like Blyleven would never make the Hallf, but on his 14th and final year of eligibility he got the call. The king of the curveball was a dominant force during his 22 year career in the big leagues, most of which were spent in Minnesota. Finishing just shy of 300 wins (287 for his career) and an impressive 3701 strikeouts, Blyleven was known equally for his antics on the field as off. Whether it was giving the finger to a crowd or threatening to retire if he wasn't traded, there was never a dull moment for Bert. He has carried that legacy into a broadcasting career with the Twins where he has served as a color (and sometimes off-color) analyst since 1996.

Pat Gillick, GM, Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners, Phillies- Gillick has something in common with another member of the class. He won two World Series Championships as the General Manager of Alomar's Toronto Blue Jays from 1992-93. It was the first two of three title for Gillick who also served as the GM of the 2008 champion Phillies. Already a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, it was only a matter of time before Gillick joined the American Hall as well. The Veteran's Committee elected him with an astounding 81.2% of the vote. Easily good enough to join the Class of 2011.

by Andrew Adamson