Hall of Famers... at Long Last

The Modern Era veterans committee got it right in naming Marvin Miller to the Baseball Hall of Fame. In the 150 year history of the national pastime, there are three figures whose impact rose above all others: Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Marvin Miller.

His tenacious leadership helped mold the Players Association into a force that remade the game. Clawing, scratching and using the power of the legal system, Miller was able to get the players a fair share of the growing revenue flowing into baseball -- and won the power to guide their own destinies through free agency. Miller convinced those he represented that they were the product and the value the owners marketed and exploited. No one went to see any owner -- except, possibly Bill Veeck, and he undoubtedly raised a toast to Marvin Sunday night in that heavenly pub; they turned in and bought tickets to see the players. Fittingly, he joins the two wise and courageous players who recruited him, Jim Bunning and Robin Roberts, in the Hall.

Marvin, who died in 2012 at age 95 will be remembered by the players he represented and their successors at this July's ceremony in Cooperstown. Happily, Ted Simmons will be there. The sweet-swinging switch hitting catcher starred for the Cardinals and Brewers, but lasted just one year on the writer's ballot. When you look at his numbers, what caught my eye are his 10 seasons where he had more than walks. The error of his omission has now been corrected.

There were other notable and worthy names up for consideration. You could make a good case for any of them. Tommy John, Don Mattingly and Lou Whitaker come to mind. So do Thurman Munson and Steve Garvey.

While I believe that Munson passed the "eye test" for a Hall of Fame, even though he died tragically at 32, I am more shocked at the omission of Steve Garvey. In a time of smaller offensive numbers, Garvey stood out as a force. On those terrific Dodger teams of the '70s and early '80s, he was a stud, the guy you feared in clutch situations. He was L.A's counterpart to Tony Perez. Honestly, I can't believe that others -- in influential places -- didn't see things that way.

But this election will be remembered for the choice of Marvin Miller. A revolutionary figure in a game guided by tradition, he remade baseball -- and deserves to be recognized and remembered for all time.