George Steinbrenner on Hall of Fame ballot

Shortly after the death of George Steinbrenner on July 13, the Yankees honored their owner with a plaque in Monument Park. He soon could be honored with one in Cooperstown, and so could the manager the Boss couldn't live with, or without.

Steinbrenner's name will appear on the Hall of Fame's Expansion Era Committee ballot next month, along with that of five-time Yankees manager Billy Martin.

The ballot will have a distinctly Yankee flavor as former pitchers Ron Guidry, still a Yankees spring training instructor, and Tommy John are also on it.

"We are honored that our father has been named to the Expansion Era ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame," the Steinbrenner family said Monday in a statement.

"We know he would be deeply moved in being considered for entry into baseball's most hallowed institution. We also want to congratulate former Yankees Ron Guidry and Tommy John, along with the family of Billy Martin, for their inclusions. All three wore the pinstripes proudly and left indelible marks on the game."

This year, the veterans committee's ballot considers players and executives whose greatest impact was from 1973 on.

The Hall announced that former union head Marvin Miller also will be on the 12-man ballot, along with retired Blue Jays, Orioles and Phillies general manager Pat Gillick. The other players are Vida Blue, Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Al Oliver, Ted Simmons and Rusty Staub.

To be elected, a candidate must appear on at least 75 percent of the 16 ballots. Results will be announced Dec. 6 at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Under Steinbrenner's watch, which began in 1973, the Yankees won seven World Series, 11 pennants and 16 American League East titles. Steinbrenner hired Martin five times, fired him four times and let him resign once.

Anyone elected will be inducted into the Hall on July 24, along with any players chosen in January by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Before last summer's induction ceremony, Hall of Famers seemed fine with the possibility of Steinbrenner one day joining their ranks.

"I think George definitely made an impact on the game, and that's what it's all about,'' Joe Morgan said. "So if you're asking me would I vote for George as a Hall of Famer, the answer is yes.''

Bob Feller, 92, said induction wasn't automatic, using Jacob Ruppert, who owned the Yankees from 1915 until his death in 1939, as an example.

"He built Yankee Stadium and he bought Babe Ruth,'' Feller said. "He made baseball in New York. But like in politics, you have to get the votes.''

At the unveiling of Steinbrenner's monument Sept. 20 at the Stadium, the prospect of his being inducted into the Hall was met with near universal approval.

"George is responsible for the best years of my life, professionally,'' said Joe Torre, who flew cross-country on a Dodgers' off day with Don Mattingly, now the Dodgers manager, for the event. "George, in my opinion, not only belongs in Monument Park. He belongs in the Hall of Fame.''

Commissioner Bud Selig agreed. "Do I think George should be in the Hall of Fame? Of course I do," Selig said. "He changed the sport in a lot of ways."

Notes & quotes: The Yankees announced that pitchers and catchers will report to Tampa Feb. 14 and begin workouts the next day. The first full-squad workout will be Feb. 20, and the Yankees will open their 32-game spring training schedule Feb. 26 against the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field. The Yankees will play the Red Sox twice - March 4 in Tampa, March 14 in Fort Myers - after not playing them last spring.