Off the TePoel: Why Not Bert?

Posted by Dain on January 26, 2010 under Dain | 2 Comments to Read

Another year of the Hall of Fame voting has come and gone and Bert is still waiting for his call. Well, he actually got a call from the Hall of Fame this year, just not the one he wanted. Rather rare, but Bert did receive notification that he was not elected. “Hey Bert, we really think you’ve improved but again you didn’t quite make it. Sorry man, but come out again next year, ok bud?”

Our favorite combo former Twin and broadcaster’s plight has been well documented. And I’m not talking about Roy Smalley. It has been a strange ride for Bert in this voting process. In his first year on the ballot, 1998, he registered an underwhelming 17.5% of the vote. Not staggering by any means, but the number is respectable for a first timer. Bert hovered around that same percentage for 3 years, then finally began a slow and steady climb throughout the steroid-ridden 2000s into serious contention with percentages in the low 50s. He did see a drop in 2007, only to spike into the low 60s percentage the following year. Now, in 2009, he falls 5 votes short. You have to wonder.

Bert certainly made it clear that he didn’t understand the patterns of the voters, vocalizing his frustration in the media telling the writers to just not vote for him at all. A tad cynical at the onset, Bert has mastered the public relations game necessary to push himself into the hall and should go in next year. Gaining votes one year, losing the next, you can’t blame the guy if he felt he was in the middle of some Mean Girls scheme more appropriately contrived for a homecoming queen, not one of the best pitchers in his era aiming for the Hall of Fame.

The climate is perfect for his entrance. The grand ol’ game is seeing less of its stars and regulars on the juice and the focus is returning to the elements of pitching, speed, strategy, and defense. Natural beauties of the game that were run over by the homerun craze. Back to Ty Cobb style ball. Doubles, triples, bunts and sacrifices. And red-headed dutchmen hurlers who wanted the ball in their hands past the 7th inning. It may be a circus getting Bert into Cooperstown and he’ll fit right in as a prankster, but even more so as a class act for his respect of the game and accomplishments while playing for mostly small-market, mediocre teams.

Bert will get the last laugh when he asks, “what took so long?”

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