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Jim Kaat for the Hall of Fame!
My recent post about Ken Boyer deserving enshrinement in the Hall of Fame got me thinking about some others who have also been passed over. Among those mentioned in the book “The Hall of Fame Corrected,” by Eddie Daniels was Jim Kaat. After reviewing his case, can anyone tell me why Jim Kaat isn’t in? He certainly deserves it.
Over his continuous 25-year career (1959-1984), Jim “Kitty” Kaat went 283-237 (.544), with a 3.45 ERA, and 2461 strikeouts over 4530.1 innings (18th all-time). Of the 74 pitchers in the Hall of Fame, his 283 wins are better than all but 19. He’s ahead of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Whitey Ford among many others. Granted, he wasn’t nearly as dominant as these great stars, but his numbers fit in well with current members. Even his relatively high ERA of 3.45 still puts him in the lower tier of pitchers already in, including Tom Glavine, Burleigh Grimes, Waite Hoyt, Red Ruffing, Ted Lyons, and Early Wynn, among others. Is his longevity a stumbling block? If so, I find that hard to believe, as endurance should be a plus. How many players are good enough to last in the major for 25 years?
Jim Kaat was a three-time All-Star who pitched for the Senators, Twins, White Sox, Phillies, Yankees and Cardinals. He won 20 games three times including his career-best year of 1966 when he went 25-13 with a 2.75 ERA, and a league-leading 19 complete games. He finished fifth in the MVP voting and was named the American League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. Kaat led the league in shutouts in 1962 (5), and made four post-season appearances. In addition, Kaat may be the best fielding pitcher in history. He won 16 Gold Gloves, taking the honor every year from 1962-1977. The 16 Gold Gloves are the second-highest in history (tied with Brooks Robinson) to Greg Maddux’s 18.
Kaat’s Hall of Fame case is about more than just numbers. He’s been a wonderful ambassador for baseball throughout his career that began with Dwight Eisenhower in the White House and ended with Ronald Reagan. At the time of his retirement, Kaat’s 25-year career was the longest of any pitcher in major league history. He’s now third, behind Nolan Ryan (27) and Tommy John (26). After retiring as a player, he became a pitching coach for the Reds and later became an award winning broadcaster. He’s been at his second career for 22 years. At a time when baseball is making a stand against PEDs, Kaat’s resume should stand out. He’s represented the game with honor and integrity for over 55 years. With the recent selection of Randy Johnson, only four pitchers with more wins than Kaat are not in the Hall of Fame. One of them, Roger Clemens, would be if not for his suspected PED usage.
The last time the Golden Age Committee met last year, no one was selected. Kaat received 10 votes, but fell two votes short. Since the creation of the committee in 2011, only one person has gotten the required number of votes to get elected, Ron Santo. With elections every three years, Kaat will need to wait until 2017 for his next chance.
With the Cardinals in 1982, Kaat earned his only World Series ring working four games out of the bullpen. In 1983 he became the last major league player to have played in the 1950s and the last “original” (pre-Twins) Washington Senator. Kaat is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in major league games in four decades.
Let’s hope the Golden Age Committee gets it right in 2017 and Jim Kaat is finally elected to the Hall of Fame, an honor he clearly deserves.
-Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: All obtained from a Google search, including Getty Images
Information: Excerpts edited from article on Yankees Go Yard website by Joe Vitulli; and from the Jim Kaat Wikipedia page.
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