Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser once again is up for baseball immortality as he is one of 10 candidates on the 2017 Hall of Fame ballot who will be considered for enshrinement by the Today’s Game Era committee.
Other candidates include former Dodgers manager Davey Johnson and hitting coach Mark McGwire. Joining them are Harold Baines, Albert Belle, Will Clark, Lou Piniella, John Schuerholz, George Steinbrenner and former MLB commissioner Bud Selig.
The Today’s Game Era committee is comprised of 16 members and votes on different eras of candidates who are no longer eligible for election into the Hall of Fame.
In order to be considered, former players need at least 10 seasons of experience and must be 15 years removed from the game. Manager, executives and umpires require 10 years of experience to be considered.
Hershiser fell well short of the required 75 percent for induction when he received 11.2 percent of the vote in 2006. A second time around he received just 4.4 percent and fell off of future ballots.
The decision will be made Dec. 5, at the Baseball Winter Meetings located at National Harbor, Maryland.
In 18 Major League seasons, Hershiser achieved many accomplishments. The three-time All-Star was named the 1988 Cy Young Award winner and also won the MVP award in the 1988 National League Championship Series and 1988 World Series.
As a part of the Cleveland Indians, Hershiser was named MVP of the 1995 American League Championship Series. Hershiser’s tremendous career is highlighted by his record-setting 59-inning scoreless streak.
In 510 career games (466 starts), the right-hander, affectionately nicknamed ‘Bulldog’ by former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, went 204-150 with a 3.48 ERA, 3.69 FIP and 1.26 WHIP. Hershiser spent 13 seasons with the Dodgers, going 204-150 with a 3.48 ERA.
