Stargell Is Elected to Hall of Fame

NEW YORK â€”  In his first year of eligibility, Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday became the 17th player elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame, while the late Roger Maris did not receive enough votes in his final year of eligibility.

Stargell, who helped lead the Pirates to two World Series titles, was named on 352 of 427 ballots (82.4%) returned to the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America. In order to be elected, a player must be named on 75% of the ballots, which this year was 321.

“All that hard work and sacrifice, I never thought it would feel like this,� Stargell said. “I never thought I would have a day like this. I’m overwhelmed.�

It was another disappointing year, however, for pitcher Jim Bunning. After missing by 21 votes last year, Bunning fell 4 votes short with 317 (74.2%) in his 12th year of eligibility.

Tony Oliva was third with 202, Orlando Cepeda fourth with 199 and Maris fifth with 184. It was the 15th of eligibility for Maris, who hit 61 home runs for the New York Yankees in 1961. Also falling short on his final appearance on the ballot was Don Larsen, the only pitcher to throw a perfect game in the World Series.

Induction ceremonies are scheduled for July 31 in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Reflecting the weak field, nine writers returned signed ballots without votes. Of the 45 eligible players, 14 failed to receive a vote, and their names will not be on next year’s ballot.

Luis Tiant and Sparky Lyle, the other first-year players on the ballot, received 132 and 56 votes, respectively.

Stargell hit 475 home runs with 1,540 runs batted in and a .282 batting average in 21 seasons with the Pirates. He was equally regarded for his qualities as a leader on the field and in the clubhouse.

He is the only batter to hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium--and he did it twice. He cleared the right-field roof at old Forbes Field seven times and hit four balls into the upper deck in right field at Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium.

When he learned of his induction, Stargell’s eyes filled with tears.

“I don’t know where I’m at, I’ve lost that big ol’ composure,� he said. “To be in the same room as Babe, Hank and Ernie . . . what a feeling. What an honor.�

Stargell, affectionately known as “Pops� to his teammates, was 38 in 1979 when he rallied the Pirates back from a 3-1 deficit in the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.

In the decisive seventh game at Baltimore, Stargell hit a two-run homer, two doubles and a single.

It was a strange repeat of history. In 1971, Stargell scored the winning run in the Pirates’ seventh-game victory over the Orioles at Memorial Stadium.

“That (1971) was Roberto Clemente’s series,� Stargell said of the Pirates’ Hall of Fame outfielder. “He was the greatest. It was Roberto who started the Pirate spirit.�

Clemente, who batted .414 in dominating the 1971 World Series, died on Dec. 31, 1972, in the crash of a small plane on a mission of mercy to earthquake-shattered Nicaragua. It was Stargell who kept “The Family� together after Clemente’s death.

In the 1979 Series, Stargell had 12 hits in 30 at-bats for a .400 average. He had seven extra-base hits, including three home runs, and his 25 total bases tied the Series record set by Reggie Jackson in 1977.

Stargell liked to have fun on the field, and he wanted his teammates to join him.

“You come into this game without ulcers. You ought to go out without ulcers,� Stargell once said. “You can’t be tied up in knots all the time; it’s something to cherish, something to enjoy.�

It was Stargell, with his disco music, his hundreds of crocheted gold stars for meritorious performances and his constant banter that kept the clubhouse free of strain.

Currently, Stargell is a coach with the Atlanta Braves and has expressed an interest in managing in the majors.

Bunning’s near-miss wasn’t the closest in voting history. Former Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox missed by one vote in 1985, his last season of eligibility.

HALL OF FAME VOTE LEADERS

Player Votes Willie Stargell 352 Jim Bunning 317 Tony Oliva 202 Orlando Cepeda 199 Roger Maris 184 Harvey Kuenn 168 Bill Mazeroski 143 Luis Tiant 132 Maury Wills 127 Ken Boyer 109