Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays were both elected into the Hall Of Fame on this day in 1962 and 1979, respectively. As you might expect, both legends went to Cooperstown in their first year of eligibility. Mays received 409 of 432 votes; at the time, only inaugural inductees Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner had received a higher percentage of the vote.
While we ponder how in the world anyone could leave Mays, Robinson or any of the original HOF class off a ballot, here are some items from around the NL West…
- At least ten parties submitted bids to buy the Dodgers, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Among the bidders are former Dodger owner Peter O'Malley, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, and ownership groups fronted by such familiar names as Magic Johnson and Joe Torre.
- With Tim Lincecum and the Giants reportedly close on a two-year contract extension, MLB.com's Chris Haft talks to former general managers John Hart and Jim Bowden about how a short-term deal could benefit both sides.
- The Marco Scutaro trade was "a clear win" for the Rockies, writes Fangraphs' Paul Swydan, as Scutaro will solve the team's problems at second base and with the No. 2 spot in the batting order.
- The Rockies didn't, however, "outfox" the Twins in the Kevin Slowey trade, an MLB talent evaluator tells Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Slowey was only a Rockie for about six weeks before Colorado dealt him to Cleveland on January 20.
- In news from earlier today, the Padres avoided arbitration with southpaw Clayton Richard and the Diamondbacks claimed catcher Craig Tatum off waivers from the Astros.
