Hall of Fame Festivities, 2009

[Valadius]

Today is Hall of Fame Induction Day. The ceremony starts at 12:30 PM EDT. You can watch it on MLB Network or on MLB.com.

Being inducted are:

Rickey Henderson, LF, 1979-2003
Jim Rice, LF, 1974-1989
Joe Gordon, 2B, 1938-1943, 1946-1950
Tony Kubek, Frick Award, Broadcasting
Nick Peters, Spink Award, Writing

Rickey Henderson becomes the TENTH Mets player enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

[Guest Kong76]

Kong76 didn't like Ricky much before he was a Met. When Ricky was on the
Mets it opened Kong76's eyes to how valuable a Ricky was and that Ricky was
the man. Kong76 happy to see Ricky inducted today.

Rice too, talk about two totally different personalities.

[nymr83]

Rickey thinks that Rickey will give a really enjoyable induction speech to all of Rickey's fans who love Rickey.

[MFS62]

I heard Jim Rice interviewed yesterday. I was amazed that his voice was relatively high pitched, then realized that I had never heard him speak before. Amazing.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

I guess then he deserves nomination for the squeaky-voiced athletic hall of fame (outlined in another thread).
Charter members include Jack Nicklaus, Mike Tyson, Tony Gwynn & Willie Mays

[MFS62]

Definitely in there with Tyson. When a guy has a tough image, you expect at least a deep baritone. I wouldn't call Rice's voice "squeaky", but it was higher pitched than I thought it would be.

But I remember him having that image when he was with the Sawks. Then I thought back and realized I had never heard him speak before, And I live in Connecticut, where the local tv stations cover the Red Sox like a blanket.
That's what I meant by amazing, not his voice.

Later

[Valadius]

Speaking of Tyson, I finally saw "The Hangover" yesterday. Hilarious.

[Valadius]

The ceremony has JUST started. Tune in on MLB.com. It's free.

[Guest Kong76]

I've seen a bunch of interview footage of Rice and I didn't think his voice
was anything to make note of. He's no George Foster.

[Valadius]

They're introducing living Hall of Famers by induction class. They just introduced Carter and Murray.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Now, Tom.

[Valadius]

They just introduced Seaver.

[Valadius]

HUGE ovation for Hank Aaron.

[Valadius]

Ralph Kiner.

[Valadius]

Yogi Berra.

[Valadius]

Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Sustained ovation for Koufax, too.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

="Valadius"]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?

Not only that, but he actually took part in an Old-Timer's game in C'town last month... and pitched.

[Valadius]

MLB Network = FAIL.

They cut to COMMERCIAL in the middle of the freaking ceremony!

[Valadius]

Jim Rice is up to speak.

[Valadius]

Here comes Rickey!!!

[Valadius]

Thank God, he got an A's cap.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

="Valadius":15mysyt4]Thank God, he got an A's cap.[/quote:15mysyt4] You were thinking Newark Bears, maybe? Had the same fleeting thought myself, but I think that's just OUR damage-- considering his early years and the early-nineties salad days, it was a fait accompli, no? He is looking sharp in cream, and steps up to the mike...

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 26 2009 12:47 PM

BTW... he hasn't aged a day since 24. Of course, he looked 42 then, so...

Valadius Jul 26 2009 12:54 PM

VERY funny story about growing up in Oakland, waiting for Reggie Jackson outside the ballpark for an autograph, and getting a pen with Reggie Jackson's name on it.

Frayed Knot Jul 26 2009 01:00 PM

="Valadius":p156qt5i]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?[/quote:p156qt5i] Feller is, I believe, both the oldest living HoF-er (took over for Rizzutto) and the earliest inductee among the still-breathing set. SteveJRogers Jul 26 2009 01:03 PM ="Frayed Knot":jxh1idq0] ="Valadius":jxh1idq0]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?[/quote:jxh1idq0] Feller is, I believe, both the oldest living HoF-er (took over for Rizzutto) and the earliest inductee among the still-breathing set.[/quote:jxh1idq0] Doerr I believe is a few months older than Feller. Valadius Jul 26 2009 01:11 PM Yup. Frayed Knot Jul 26 2009 01:24 PM So I don't guess the odds are real good of Kubek giving George S. a big public F.U. ... but I hold out hope. metsguyinmichigan Jul 26 2009 02:48 PM Feller is one tough SOB -- and vigorously protects his legacy. Valadius Jul 26 2009 07:00 PM Great Rickey quote: ]"They kept that s--- a secret from me ... I wish they had told me. My God, could you imagine Rickey on 'roids? Oh, baby, look out!" � Henderson on steroids, The New Yorker, Sept. 12, 2005 Fman99 Jul 26 2009 07:14 PM Looked up Joe Gordon (inducted today by the Veterans committee) on Baseball Reference. His career compares most closely with none other than the "Stache" himself, Jose Valentin. G-Fafif Jul 27 2009 03:45 AM ="SteveJRogers":8sj12too] ="Frayed Knot":8sj12too] ="Valadius":8sj12too]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?[/quote:8sj12too] Feller is, I believe, both the oldest living HoF-er (took over for Rizzutto) and the earliest inductee among the still-breathing set.[/quote:8sj12too] Doerr I believe is a few months older than Feller.[/quote:8sj12too] Feller's distinction is having lived as a Hall of Famer (47 years) longer than anybody else.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

BTW... he hasn't aged a day since 24.

Of course, he looked 42 then, so...

[Valadius]

VERY funny story about growing up in Oakland, waiting for Reggie Jackson outside the ballpark for an autograph, and getting a pen with Reggie Jackson's name on it.

[Frayed Knot]

="Valadius":p156qt5i]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?[/quote:p156qt5i] Feller is, I believe, both the oldest living HoF-er (took over for Rizzutto) and the earliest inductee among the still-breathing set.

SteveJRogers Jul 26 2009 01:03 PM

="Frayed Knot":jxh1idq0] ="Valadius":jxh1idq0]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?[/quote:jxh1idq0] Feller is, I believe, both the oldest living HoF-er (took over for Rizzutto) and the earliest inductee among the still-breathing set.[/quote:jxh1idq0] Doerr I believe is a few months older than Feller. Valadius Jul 26 2009 01:11 PM Yup. Frayed Knot Jul 26 2009 01:24 PM So I don't guess the odds are real good of Kubek giving George S. a big public F.U. ... but I hold out hope. metsguyinmichigan Jul 26 2009 02:48 PM Feller is one tough SOB -- and vigorously protects his legacy. Valadius Jul 26 2009 07:00 PM Great Rickey quote: ]"They kept that s--- a secret from me ... I wish they had told me. My God, could you imagine Rickey on 'roids? Oh, baby, look out!" � Henderson on steroids, The New Yorker, Sept. 12, 2005 Fman99 Jul 26 2009 07:14 PM Looked up Joe Gordon (inducted today by the Veterans committee) on Baseball Reference. His career compares most closely with none other than the "Stache" himself, Jose Valentin. G-Fafif Jul 27 2009 03:45 AM ="SteveJRogers":8sj12too] ="Frayed Knot":8sj12too] ="Valadius":8sj12too]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?[/quote:8sj12too] Feller is, I believe, both the oldest living HoF-er (took over for Rizzutto) and the earliest inductee among the still-breathing set.[/quote:8sj12too] Doerr I believe is a few months older than Feller.[/quote:8sj12too] Feller's distinction is having lived as a Hall of Famer (47 years) longer than anybody else.

[stevejrogers]

="Frayed Knot":jxh1idq0] ="Valadius":jxh1idq0]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?[/quote:jxh1idq0] Feller is, I believe, both the oldest living HoF-er (took over for Rizzutto) and the earliest inductee among the still-breathing set.[/quote:jxh1idq0] Doerr I believe is a few months older than Feller. Valadius Jul 26 2009 01:11 PM Yup. Frayed Knot Jul 26 2009 01:24 PM So I don't guess the odds are real good of Kubek giving George S. a big public F.U. ... but I hold out hope. metsguyinmichigan Jul 26 2009 02:48 PM Feller is one tough SOB -- and vigorously protects his legacy. Valadius Jul 26 2009 07:00 PM Great Rickey quote: ]"They kept that s--- a secret from me ... I wish they had told me. My God, could you imagine Rickey on 'roids? Oh, baby, look out!" � Henderson on steroids, The New Yorker, Sept. 12, 2005 Fman99 Jul 26 2009 07:14 PM Looked up Joe Gordon (inducted today by the Veterans committee) on Baseball Reference. His career compares most closely with none other than the "Stache" himself, Jose Valentin. G-Fafif Jul 27 2009 03:45 AM ="SteveJRogers":8sj12too] ="Frayed Knot":8sj12too] ="Valadius":8sj12too]Holy crap, Bob Feller is 90 years old?[/quote:8sj12too] Feller is, I believe, both the oldest living HoF-er (took over for Rizzutto) and the earliest inductee among the still-breathing set.[/quote:8sj12too] Doerr I believe is a few months older than Feller.[/quote:8sj12too] Feller's distinction is having lived as a Hall of Famer (47 years) longer than anybody else.

[Valadius]

Yup.

[Frayed Knot]

So I don't guess the odds are real good of Kubek giving George S. a big public F.U. ... but I hold out hope.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Feller is one tough SOB -- and vigorously protects his legacy.