Herzog, Harvey into Hall

INDIANAPOLIS – Whitey Herzog spent a good, long time stewing about a blown call in the 1985 World Series. So in a strange way, perhaps this fits: He’s going into the Baseball Hall of Fame, standing next to an umpire.

Herzog and prominent crew chief Doug Harvey got the call Monday, elected to the Hall by the Veterans Committee.

Herzog was a single vote short in his previous try, and might’ve made it sooner with another crown on his resume. But he was forever linked to Don Denkinger after the ump’s infamous miss in Game 6 so long ago cost the St. Louis Cardinals a chance to clinch.

“No, I’m not bitter at Denkinger,” Herzog said at Busch Stadium. “He’s a good guy, he knows he made a mistake, and he’s a human being.”

As for Harvey, Herzog joshed: “I don’t know why he should get in. Doug kicked me out of more games than any other umpire.”

Like Herzog, Harvey fell one vote shy in the last election.