ShareThisHis last real chance at baseball immortality.
His best chance, after more than two decades of eligibility, to be voted into the Hall of Fame.
And Jim Kaat knows it.
"This is the first time I've been up for consideration since they changed the procedures a couple of summers ago," Kaat said, after hearing he was one of 10 candidates on this year's Veterans Committee ballot, which contains the names of those whose careers coincided with the so-called Golden Era (1947-72).
"Now, the guys making the decision will be players, executives and writers who saw me play. So it's probably the fairest hearing I'll have had to decide whether I belong there."
Kaat, who turns 73 on Monday, was a three-time All-Star who went 283-237, with a 3.45 ERA across 25 years (1959-83). He won at least 20 games three times, and earned at least 14 victories in 11 different seasons.
At his best, in 1966, Kaat led the American League in wins, posting a 25-13 record and 2.75 ERA with a league-high 19 complete games. He also pitched in two World Series and won 19 consecutive Gold Gloves. Only Nolan Ryan (27 seasons) and Tommy John (26 seasons) had longer pitching careers.
But Kaat's competition for Cooperstown is considerable: former players Gil Hodges, Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Ken Boyer, Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva and Allie Reynolds; former Dodgers GM Buzzie Bavasi; and former Athletics owner Charlie Finley.
"I've been down this road before," Kaat said. "I've been eligible in some form since 1989, so I'm not pessimistic or optimistic. I'm realistic. Getting 75 percent of the vote is a very difficult thing. We'd never be able to elect a president that way.
"So I don't let myself to get overly excited about it. I'm pleased to be considered for something so special. I've always considered it an honor just to be in the conversation. I know the guys on that committee and I trust they'll make a fair judgment."
The men who hold Kaat's Hall of Fame fate?
A 16-man committee that includes Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Al Kaline, Ralph Kiner, Tommy Lasorda, Juan Marichal, Brooks Robinson, Don Sutton and Billy Williams; executives Paul Beeston, Bill DeWitt, Roland Hemond, Gene Michael and Al Rosen; and veteran baseball writers Dick Kaegel, Jack O'Connell and Dave Van Dyck.
The vote will be held Dec. 5 in Dallas. Those elected will be inducted July 22, along with any candidates voted in by the baseball writers on Jan. 9.
"I really don't know if they'll take into consideration lifetime contributions to baseball and longevity in the game," said Kaat, who also spent 25 years as an award-winning broadcaster. "But the guys on that committee know us as people, too -- not just our statistics."
So he's got a chance.
Maybe his best chance.
Possibly, his last chance.
(Ray McNulty is sports columnist for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers. Contact him at ray.mcnulty(at)scripps.com. On the Web at www.tcpalm.com.)
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