Mound Aces Await Hall Of Fame Vote

Once again, Don Sutton and Phil Niekro are hoping to avoid a shutout.

Unable to crack the doors of Cooperstown in the past despite reaching the magic mark of 300 wins, Sutton and Niekro get another chance Monday in the annual Hall of Fame election.

“Maybe I didn’t win enough games,” Niekro, the 56-year-old knuckleballer, said. “Maybe they wanted me to win some more. Fine, tell me how many I need.

“I can come back and win five or 10 more games right now, if that is what it will take.”

Niekro, with a 318-274 career mark, has been blanked three times by the voters, and Sutton, 324-256 lifetime, has been left out twice. They lead the list of this year’s candidates, and are joined by Tony Perez, who had 1,652 RBIs, and 288-game winner Tommy John.

Fred Lynn, Keith Hernandez and Dan Quisenberry are eligible for the first time. Curt Flood, Tony Oliva and the late Vada Pinson are on the ballot for the 15th and final time.

A candidate must be chosen on 75 percent of ballots by Baseball Writers Association of America members. Last year, Mike Schmidt was the only player selected.

Not since 1971 has the BBWAA failed to pick at least one player for the Hall, and it has happened only six times overall since the original election in 1936.

Niekro and Sutton will have their best windows of opportunity open for a few years because no certain first-ballot candidates are coming along to take away support. Dave Parker and Dwight Evans will be the top two newcomers in next January’s election; by 1999, though, Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Robin Yount and Carlton Fisk will start appearing on the ballot.

It used to be that certain career numbers were automatic guarantees for enshrinement - 500 home runs, 3,000 hits and 300 wins. Every eligible player to reach 300 wins has made it, except for Niekro and Sutton.

“Don’t ask me why I’m not in there,” Niekro said.

Some have said, however, that Niekro and Sutton were testaments to longevity rather than excellence.

Niekro played from 1964-87, mostly with the Braves before they were good, and ranks 13th on baseball’s career win list. The five-time All-Star won 20 games in a season three times and had a lifetime 3.35 ERA.

But he also ranks fifth in losses - he led the N.L. in defeats from 1977-1980 - and never won a Cy Young Award. He also had the misfortune of pitching in the postseason only twice, making one start each in the 1969 and 1982 N.L. playoffs.

In Niekro’s first year of eligibility, he received 66 percent support in 1993. He got 60 percent and 62 percent in his other tries.

Sutton played in the big leagues from 1966-88, mostly with the Dodgers, and was a four-time All-Star with a 3.26 ERA. Like Niekro, he never won a Cy Young Award - unlike Niekro, who was once second, Sutton never came close - and had only one 20-win season.

Sutton, who spent a few weeks with Spokane early in his career, pitched in the postseason for Los Angeles, Milwaukee and California. He was 4-1 in the playoffs and 2-3 in the World Series, missing an opportunity to clinch the championship for the Brewers with a loss to St. Louis in Game 6 in 1982.

In his two years of eligibility, Sutton got 60 percent and 57 percent support by the BBWAA.

Perez, in his fifth year of eligibility, has missed out despite ranking 16th on the modern RBIs list.

Induction ceremonies, if anyone is elected, are scheduled for Aug. 4.