10 candidates considered for Cooperstown

Baseball's veterans committee is considering 10 candidates for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Eligible for induction from baseball's post-1943 era — Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre and Maury Wills.

A candidate needs 75 per cent acceptance to be inducted by the committee, which is composed of the 64 living members of the Hall.

Results will be revealed Dec. 8 at the winter meetings in Las Vegas, with enshrinement slated for next July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y.

"This is something that is out of my control and I really have not spent any time thinking about it," Torre told reporters Tuesday.

"They have changed the rules so many times. I have seen players politick and lobby for it and I have just never been that guy.

"I may be doing it right now without knowing. But I'm really uncomfortable talking about it."

Torre, currently the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is bidding to reach the post-season for the 13th straight season  

The 68-year-old led the New York Yankees to 12 consecutive playoff berths from 1996-2007, winning five division titles, six American League pennants and four World Series titles.

But Torre will merit consideration as both a manager and a player, having averaged .297 with 252 home runs, 1,185 runs batted in and 996 runs scored in 2,209 games from 1960-1977.  

He was a nine-time all-star and earned National League most valuable player honours in 1971.

"I don't remember getting any more hits since the last time they turned me down," Torre quipped. "But that is certainly an honour.

"It is nice to still be in people's memories as a player. But I don't spend any time thinking about it."

Allen, 66, was a feared slugger in his prime, leading the AL in home runs and slugging percentage in 1972 and 1974.

The seven-time all-star hit .240 lifetime with 351 HRs, 1,119 RBIs and 1,099 runs in 1,7749 games over 15 major-league seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics.   

Allen was named the NL's rookie of the year in 1964 and AL MVP in 1972, when he led the junior circuit with 37 HRs, 113 RBIs and 99 walks.

Hodges had a powerful presence at the plate too, hitting .273 with 370 HRs and 1,274 RBIs in 2,071 games for the St. Louis Browns, Dodgers and New York Mets.

He later went 660-753 as manager of the Washington Senators and Mets.

Hodges died April 2, 1972, two days before his 48th birthday.

Kaat, 69, pitched in the majors over four decades, posting a 283-237 record with the Senators, Minnesota Twins, White Sox, Phillies, Yankees and Cardinals.

The stylish left-hander won a stunning 16 Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence. 

Oliva, 70, spent his entire 15-year career with the Twins, retiring in 1976 with a lofty .304 average and three AL batting titles, leading the league in hits on five occasions.

Played for Expos and Blue Jays

Oliver, 61, boasted a .303 average over 18 seasons, totalling 2,743 hits in 2,368 games.

He played for both the Montreal Expos (1982-83) and Toronto Blue Jays (1985).

Pinson was a five-tool player who would be voted in posthumously, having passed away Oct. 21, 1995.

He hit .286 with 256 HRs, 1,170 RBIs, 1,366 runs and 305 stolen bases in 2,469 games for the Reds, Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, California Angels and Kansas City Royals.

Santo, 68, is one of the most beloved figures in Chicago's storied baseball history, manning third base with the Cubs from 1960-1973 and for the White Sox in 1974.

He earned nine all-star selections, five consecutive Gold Gloves and led the NL in walks on five occasions. 

Tiant, 68, was a colourful pitcher with the Indians, Twins, Boston Red Sox, Yankees, Pirates and Angels.

Nicknamed El Tiante, the crafty right-hander with the unique delivery went 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA, 187 complete games, 49 shutouts and 15 saves in 573 games (484 starts).

Wills, 75, turned the stolen base into an art form, swiping 586 in 1,942 games with the Dodgers, Pirates and Expos.

The speedster stole 104 bases in 1962, eclipsing the record of 96 set by Ty Cobb in 1915, and retained the mark until Lou Brock broke it with 118 in 1974.

Wills later managed the Seattle Mariners.