Steinbrenner on Hall of Fame ballot

[November 09, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Yankees owner George Steinbrenner will be on the Hall of Fame veterans committee ballot next month with former New York manager Billy Martin.

Steinbrenner owned the Yankees from 1973 until his death in July, and the team won seven World Series championships, 11 AL pennants and 16 AL East titles during his turbulent and blustery reign.

Martin had five stints as Yankees manager under Steinbrenner, who fired him four times and let him resign once.

Former union head Marvin Miller also will be on the ballot with players Vida Blue, Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Al Oliver, Ted Simmons and Rusty Staub.

Retired Toronto, Baltimore, Seattle and Philadelphia general manager Pat Gillick also is on the 12-man ballot, the Hall said Monday.

To be elected, a candidate must appear on at least 75 percent of the 16 ballots. Results will be announced Dec. 6 at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

This year's veterans committee ballot covers baseball's expansion era. Players, managers, umpires, executives whose most significant impact was from 1973 on were considered in the first of a three-year cycle. Under changes announced last summer, the golden era (1947-72) will be voted on in 2011 and the pre-integration era (1871-1946) will be judged in 2012.

Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Whitey Herzog, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Tony Perez, Frank Robinson, Ryne Sandberg and Ozzie Smith are on the veterans committee with Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Baltimore Orioles President Andy MacPhail, former Phillies owner Bill Giles, Royals owner David Glass, Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated and retired Los Angeles Times reporter Ross Newhan.

Miller, who helped players win multimillion-dollar salaries, fell two shorts vote last year, when Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey were elected.

Anyone elected will be inducted into the Hall during ceremonies in Cooperstown on July 24 with any players chosen in January by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The BBWAA ballot includes holdovers Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar, and newcomers Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez.

[Associated Press; By RONALD BLUM]

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