Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 5, 2012

14

SPORTS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 5, 2012 


THE BASEBALL RELIQUARY ANNOUNCES DR. 
FRANK JOBE, JIM “MUDCAT” GRANT, AND LUIS 
TIANT ELECTED TO THE SHRINE OF THE ETERNALS

HUDDLE UP!

 The Board of Directors of the Baseball 
Reliquary, Inc., a Southern California-based 
nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering an 
appreciation of American art and culture through 
the context of baseball history, is pleased to 
announce the 2012 class of electees to the Shrine 
of the Eternals. The Shrine of the Eternals is the 
national organization’s equivalent to the Baseball 
Hall of Fame.

 Dr. Frank Jobe, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, and 
Luis Tiant were elected upon receiving the highest 
number of votes in balloting conducted during 
the month of April 2012 by the membership 
of the Baseball Reliquary. The three electees 
will be formally inducted into the Shrine of the 
Eternals in a public ceremony on Sunday, July 15, 
2012 at the Donald R. Wright Auditorium in the 
Pasadena Central Library, Pasadena, California.

 Of the fifty eligible candidates on the 
2012 ballot, Dr. Frank Jobe received the highest 
voting percentage, being named on 34% of 
the ballots returned. Following Jobe were Jim 
“Mudcat” Grant with 33% and Luis Tiant with 
33%. Runners-up in this year’s election included 
Lefty O’Doul (32%), Dizzy Dean (30%), Manny 
Mota (29%), Don Zimmer (29%), Steve Bilko 
(27%), Charlie Finley (25%), and Glenn Burke 
(24%). Voting percentages for all fifty candidates 
appear at the end of this announcement.

 Elected to the Shrine of the Eternals in his 
tenth year on the ballot, DR. FRANK JOBE is a 
renowned orthopedic surgeon who revolutionized 
the medical care and prolonged the careers of 
baseball pitchers with his groundbreaking tendon 
transplant procedure now known as the “Tommy 
John” surgery. In 1974, Dodgers pitcher Tommy 
John was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his 
left (pitching) elbow, apparently ending his career. 
In an experimental surgery, which he estimated 
at the time as having 1% odds for a successful 
outcome, Jobe transplanted a tendon from John’s 
right forearm to his left elbow, turning him into 
the game’s first “right-handed southpaw.” After 
more than a year of rehabilitation, John and his 
“bionic arm” returned to the mound, where he 
pitched for 14 more seasons and racked up 164 
of his 288 career victories before retiring at the 
age of 46. Today, the procedure is commonplace 
among professional and amateur pitchers. It 
has been estimated that Jobe performed more 
than 1,000 Tommy John surgeries himself and 
that nearly 200 major leaguers – not all of them 
pitchers – have had their careers extended by the 
procedure. Some have even reported that they 
had more velocity after coming off the operating 
table than before, although Jobe attributes this 
more to stronger rehabilitation. Now 87 years 
of age, Jobe has retired from his medical practice 
but still consults with patients and doctors at 
the famed Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los 
Angeles, and serves as special advisor to the Los 
Angeles Dodgers.

 Elected to the Shrine of the Eternals in 
his eighth year on the ballot, JIM “MUDCAT” 
GRANT has become one of baseball’s greatest 
ambassadors. If all you know about Grant is 
that he was the first African American to win 20 
games in a season in the American League (21 
wins in 1965 for the AL champion Twins), you’re 
missing the rest of a great story. During a 14-year 
major league career (1958-1971), spent mostly 
with Cleveland and Minnesota, Grant won 145 
games and saved 53 others, but the Lacoochee, 
Florida native was as prized for his community 
leadership, social grace, and cultural ability as he 
was for his competitive skills. Sporting a killer 
set of muttonchop sideburns, the stylish swinger 
led his own musical group called Mudcat and 
the Kittens. Grant has written and published his 
own poetry, in addition to a book, The Black Aces, 
which chronicles outstanding African-American 
hurlers and their stories of triumphs over racism. 
He tirelessly promotes baseball, education, 
and multiple charitable and community causes 
nationwide. 

 Elected to the Shrine of the Eternals in 
his tenth year on the ballot, LUIS TIANT was 
one of the most popular Boston Red Sox players 
ever, renowned for his practical jokes and post-
game cigars in the locker room and for his natty 
leisure suits and mod hairpieces on the town. 
The son of Luis Tiant, Sr., one of Cuba’s greatest 
pitchers, Luis, Jr. won 229 games in a 19-year 
major league career (1964-1982), baffling hitters 
with an unorthodox delivery which saw him 
swiveling practically all the way around to center 
field before unleashing pitches from different 
release points. His breakthrough season came in 
1968 with Cleveland when he went 21-9 with an 
AL-leading 1.60 ERA. He won 20 games three 
times for Boston, and helped the Red Sox to the 
pennant in 1975, winning two games in the World 
Series, including a five-hit shutout of Cincinnati 
in game one. The gregarious “El Tiante” was 
one of the most respected players of his era, not 
only by his teammates and opposing players, but 
by the media and fans. In recent years, the Luis 
Tiant Charitable Foundation has provided much-
needed financial support to a variety of children’s 
charities, and youth and family assistance 
programs.

 Dr. Frank Jobe, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, and 
Luis Tiant will join 39 other baseball luminaries 
who have been inducted into the Shrine of the 
Eternals since elections began in 1999, including, 
in alphabetical order, Jim Abbott, Dick Allen, 
Roger Angell, Emmett Ashford, Moe Berg, Yogi 
Berra, Ila Borders, Jim Bouton, Jim Brosnan, Bill 
Buckner, Roberto Clemente, Steve Dalkowski, 
Rod Dedeaux, Jim Eisenreich, Dock Ellis, Mark 
Fidrych, Curt Flood, Ted Giannoulas, Josh 
Gibson, Pete Gray, William “Dummy” Hoy, 
Shoeless Joe Jackson, Bill James, Bill “Spaceman” 
Lee, Roger Maris, Marvin Miller, Minnie Minoso, 
Buck O’Neil, Satchel Paige, Jimmy Piersall, Pam 
Postema, Jackie Robinson, Lester Rodney, Pete 
Rose, Casey Stengel, Fernando Valenzuela, Bill 
Veeck, Maury Wills, and Kenichi Zenimura. 

 In the coming weeks, leading up to the 
Shrine of the Eternals Induction Day on Sunday, 
July 15, 2012, further details will be announced, 
including the Keynote Speaker and the recipients 
of the 2012 Hilda Award (named in memory 
of Hilda Chester and honoring a baseball fan’s 
exceptional devotion to the game) and the 2012 
Tony Salin Memorial Award (presented annually 
to an individual dedicated to the preservation of 
baseball history).

THE SHRINE OF THE ETERNALS: 2012 
VOTING PERCENTAGES

Dr. Frank Jobe – 34%

Jim “Mudcat” Grant – 33%

Luis Tiant – 33%

Lefty O’Doul – 32%

Dizzy Dean – 30%

Manny Mota – 29%

Don Zimmer – 29%

Steve Bilko – 27%

Charlie Finley – 25%

Glenn Burke – 24%

Chet Brewer – 22%

Charles M. Conlon – 22%

Rube Foster – 22%

Effa Manley – 22%

Dan Quisenberry – 21%

Lisa Fernandez – 19%

Eliot Asinof – 18%

Eddie Feigner – 18%

Vic Power – 18%

Charlie Brown – 17%

Dr. Mike Marshall – 17%

J.R. Richard – 16%

Rube Waddell – 16%

Ernie Harwell – 15%

Tug McGraw – 15%

Rusty Staub – 15%

Hideo Nomo – 14%

Phil Pote – 14%

Annie Savoy – 14%

Bert Campaneris – 13%

Fred Merkle – 13%

Conrado Marrero – 12%

Joe Pepitone – 12%

Jefferson Burdick – 11%

John Montgomery Ward – 11%

Fay Vincent – 10%

Steve Blass – 9%

Annabelle Lee – 9%

David Wells – 9%

Bill Bergen – 8%

Jose Canseco – 8%

Hector Espino – 8%

Curtis Pride – 8%

Toni Stone – 8%

Bucky Dent – 7%

Wilbur Wood – 7%

Gary Bell – 5%

Charles “Victory” Faust – 5%

Chuck Stevens – 5%

Donald Fehr – 3%

 


By Harvey Hyde

“TAKING CARE OF THE FUTURE”

 Last week was a big week for the NFL and for college kids who’ve 
dreamed of having the chance to play on Sunday. Moving from high 
school to university was a big dream. Going on to the NFL is an even 
greater dream and the odds of reaching that dream were slim. 

 Last weekend, in 7 rounds, 253 players were drafted by the 32 
NFL teams. Immediately following the draft, players not drafted had 
an opportunity to sign as free agents. Sometimes this is even better for 
players, for they may have a choice of which team is the best fit for 
them. 

 Looking at draft results, everyone has an opinion about who 
got what they needed in the draft class. In college recruiting or NFL 
drafting, a selection mistake could cost years of rebuilding (especially if your #1 choice doesn’t pan 
out.) 

 If you’re a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, I give them an A on their draft class. I gave 
Cleveland, New England, Pittsburg, and Minnesota an A minus. Grade of B+ goes to Miami, Dallas, 
Detroit, Green Bay and San Diego. 

 The Indianapolis Colts get an A+. Their first 3 choices were fantastic for their offense. Look 
for the Colts to run an offense very similar to that of the New England Patriots, with two very active 
tight ends causing mismatches in the secondary. 

****** 

 When watching the draft I couldn’t help noticing the entourages that many players had 
surrounding them in the Green room and in the auditorium at Radio City Music Hall. This surely 
included travel and accommodations and celebrations for families and friends 

 I’m concerned for those who may not be properly advised before and after this big day. I 
worry if they are not counseled about the financial aspects of their new status. And if they realize 
that expenses and fees are now part of their responsibility. I hope they realize that agent commissions 
and reimbursements, (and the big one that most people forget,) taxes are also coming up. 

 Theirs could have a long career, or unfortunately a very short one. However, they have a 
chance to set up a great standard of living from this opportunity and with careful management 
should be able to maintain it. So it is important that expenses are watched carefully. 

 I am so saddened when successful big name athletes go bankrupt due to poor money 
management. But we see it all too frequently. I tried to teach my players and my own children that 
money saved is money earned. Be aware of your own money from the beginning and you might have 
some at the end. These young men should understand that no one does something for nothing. 
Especially when it comes to money. Spend wisely, save carefully.

Congratulations to all these new NFL players This is a dream come true. Take care of it.

*********

 Want to mention the new High School CIF rule passed by the southern sections 41-40. This 
says that a student athlete can transfer from one school to another with the stipulation that they sit 
out for 30 days before playing. I’m not sure of all the details, but transferring was pretty regulated in 
the past. This proposal says athletes don’t have to change residence. This still needs to be passed by 
the other regions in California . 

 I think there’s more to this proposal. I believe that some districts are considering dropping 
their athletic programs and this would allow athletes to move to another school so they could 
continue with sports. 

 Dropping these programs could be the worst thing to happen to a high school. The student 
body, parents, and boosters rally around sports. School spirit is generated. Other activities are 
certainly important. But athletics are the last disciplined activity left in a high school. If this happens, 
our schools and students will suffer. 

 Students need opportunities for more than just college-oriented academics. Let’s be realistic, 
today even professionals are changing their occupations due to lack of clients and business to sustain 
them. 

 We should strive to maintain educational excellence, for it is the foundation for our future. But 
beyond academics, there is social and vocational learning which is achieved only through athletics 
and other extra curricular events. The discipline required for these is also critical for our future 
and for the future of our young people -- whether that includes medicine, music, law, mechanics, 
athletics or simply good citizenship. 

Harvey Hyde can be heard on uscfootball.com on the Peristyle and his radio show on KSHP AM 
1400 can be heard via the Internet.