GARY CARTER AND EDDIE MURRAY

It was a great day at Cooperstown as Gary Carter and Eddie Murray were inducted into baseball greatness. It was gratifying to see that Gary chose to recognize the Montreal Expos as his Hall of Fame team, despite the fact that he had truly glorious years with the New York Mets for 5 years. It's just that it was the Expos who gave him his big break, and you don't forget that or his 11 years with that club. And it was the Expos who got him back in his last year to end his magnificent career. Few can recall that final signing on the part of the Montreal management.

Eddie Murray didn't have to think about recognizing the Baltimore Orioles, spending 12 years with them.

BOB MURPHY AND BOB UECKER

The Hall of Fame also has room for others, like Mets broadcaster, Bob Murphy, who is retiring after 42 uears. Former catcher, Bob Uecker, who batted only .200 in 5 partial years in the major leagues, also got in for his broadcasting and humorous activities. In fact, his mediocre career created the comedy that helped get Uecker into the Hall of Fame.

JESSE OROSCO

Well, I've got another category. It's called Longevity. Let's take pitcher Jesse Orosco who began his career with the Mets in 1979. Through last year, at age 45, his record was only 85-78, with an ERA of 3.04. Now, where does he fit into the qualifications of the Hall of Fame? If you've got 142 saves, his credentials get better, but there are many pitchers with greater saves than Orosco. But there's one thing that you have to remember about him. He is WANTED. That takes care of everything when you know that he has been a major leaguer for 24 years, and now on the roster of the New York Yankees. In other words, he's still GOT IT.

There are two reasons why he probably wont reach the big Hall. One of them is that he doesn't expect to hang up his spikes this year, and might be able to continue until he's 50. Then, with that unknown quantity, you need 5 years of total retirement to be considered. That could bring us into the year 2013. The other reason is that the voters might not consider Longevity.

LEROY "SATCHEL" PAIGE

That brings us to Satchel Paige. He's in the Hall of Fame with a 28 and 31 won and lost record. Ofcourse, his recognition had nothing to do with his losing record. He was a winner all his life, and had there been no stupid color ban, he could have been the greatest pitcher who ever got to the major leagues. He was 59 when he made his last appearance, pitching 3 innings for Kansas City. That's also Longevity, no matter where he pitched.

Are there other Longevity candidates? There must be but Orosco and Paige stand out big time.

And then there's Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose to contend with.