Morris to Hall of Fame: If steriod users are in, I'm out
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published September 4, 2005
The Hall of Fame is something to which Jack Morris aspires.
But the former pitcher who played mostly for the Tigers, and whom many believe was the best of his time, said if any players from the so-called Steroid Era are elected, he would lose interest.
"I don't want to be in," Morris told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "That's a bold statement, and a lot of people are going to say, "Well, how dare him even say that.' I don't care. It's my life. I can say what I feel, and I don't believe in cheating."
Morris, 50, won 254 games with a 3.90 ERA and was the winningest pitcher in the 1980s, called Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro "a liar" for denying his steroids use before testing positive.
And he called "cheaters" players such as Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa who have been caught up in steroids allegations.
"I think he's lost all credibility," Morris said of Palmeiro, "and one of the credentials for the Hall of Fame is integrity, credibility and character. You tell me what that says about Rafael.
"I played the game with my heart. I focused on winning. That's all that I cared about. I don't care whether I got you a good story or not."
Morris was notoriously surly with sportswriters and said that is one reason he believes he is not in the Hall of Fame, admission to which is voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
The righty has apparently been mending fences.
"I've tried to explain that I recognize I did some things wrong," he said. "I would hate to think I'm not in the Hall of Fame because of something I said to a writer 15 or 20 years ago."
HOW GOOD IS THIS?: Albert Pujols on Wednesday knocked in his 100th run, making him the fourth player - with Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Al Simmons - to do so in each of his first five seasons.
The Cardinals first baseman is on track to become the only player to hit at least 30 home runs, have at least 100 RBIs and hit at least .300 in his first five seasons. He already has the record of four.
"When you're talking about the best five years in major league history, how's that not huge?" St. Louis manager Tony La Russa told the Post-Dispatch. "Whether it's the 100 RBIs, the .300 batting average or 30 home runs, it's historic."
MEDICAL FILE: Here is how the season has gone for Padres pitcher Jake Peavy, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune:
The right-hander came close in May to having pneumonia after contracting an upper respiratory infection from his kids. Two months later he had to skip a start because of the flu.
He pitched one game in August with a swollen finger after a ball during batting practice bounced off the outfield fence and hit him in the back of the hand.
He pitched against the Diamondbacks Tuesday after having two wisdom teeth and a molar pulled and after the palm of his left hand was cut as he tossed out a bag of garbage. (The hand was cut by the lid of a can of string beans and needed stitches.)
Said Peavy, who pitched 62/3 innings for the win: "I'm not trying to do myself in."
IT'S A STEAL: White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle accused the Rangers of stealing signs from the catcher and relaying them to Texas hitters with flashing lights in centerfield.
As proof Buehrle noted the Rangers' .282 average at Arlington and .256 road average.
"They don't play so good on the road," he said after Monday's loss. "At home, everybody's Babe Ruth."
ET CETERA: The Cardinals, at 44-24 entering Friday, were the only NL team with a winning road record. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that has happened only once since 1969, when divisional play began: 1975 when the Reds were 44-37. ... Reds pitcher Kent Mercker spends a lot of time playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour on PlayStation 2. The Dayton Daily News reported his career earnings as of Wednesday were $381-million. ... Scott Rolen's shoulder was worse than anyone suspected. The Post-Dispatch reported the Cardinals third baseman needed two hours of arthroscopic surgery and five screws to stabilize the joint. ... How devastating will Bobby Crosby's broken ankle be to the A's playoff hopes? Oakland was 17-32 in April and May without the shortstop and 58-24 with him on the active roster.
