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Williams amongst 2009 candidates for baseball's Hall of Fame.
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Williams is certainly a hall of famer in the hearts Giants fans.
The list of candidates for induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of fame is a bit thin this year. However, it does include former Giants all-star third baseman Matt Williams and some other names that should be familiar to bay area fans.
Williams, who many felt was well on his way to Cooperstown when he left the Giants after the 1996 season, was marred by injuries in the latter half of his career, preventing him from reaching his full potential.
"There was no question in my mind that he was going to be a Hall of Famer someday," said Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow, who played with Williams for three seasons in San Francisco.
The first eight seasons of Williams's career were nearly on par with another great third baseman. Between his debut in 1987 and his monstrous ’94 season, Williams compiled some rather impressive stats; including 202 home runs and 582 RBI’s. During the same time span of Schmidt’s career in Philadelphia the future hall of famer hit 235 homers and drove in 666 runs.
Of course it’s not how you start its how you finish. Williams, after the strike shortened ’94 season in which he was on pace to break Roger Maris’s single season home run mark, was never again able to stay on the field consistently. In his last two seasons with the Giants, Williams missed 143 games. After that Williams played seven more seasons, only two of which saw him play in more than 150 games. In ’97 Williams helped lead the Indians to the brink of a championship before losing in game seven to the Marlins. Then, in 1999, with the Arizona Diamondbacks he again helped his team reach the post season and finished third in the National League MVP voting.
That '99 season, we know now, was Williams’s last hurrah. He was riddled with injuries for the rest of his career, and was later named in baseball’s Mitchell Report for ordering an estimated $11,600 in human growth hormone, steroids and other supplements from a Florida clinic in 2002. Williams said his doctor prescribed the performance enhancing drugs in order to deal with an ankle injury.
Today Williams still lives and works in Arizona where he is a special assistant for the Diamondbacks.
Henderson a likely inductee.
Former Oakland A’s lead-off hitter and left fielder Rickey Henderson is the only sure fire inductee heading into 2009. Henderson revolutionized the game with his blazing speed, wiry build and complimentary power.
No one stole more bases (1406), scored more runs (2295), or led off more games with home runs (81 lead-off homers), than Rickey Henderson. Rickey is also second all-time with 2190 walks, and is certainly the most deserving player amongst the list of first time candidates.
Henderson is also joined by former Athletic teammates, Dave Parker, Harold Baines and Mark McGwire.
The Giants declined to offer arbitration to either of their eligible free agents, Omar Vizquel, and Rich Aurilia. The team has already said they will not bring Vizquel back, but have left the door open for Aurilia to return in a utility role.
The Tigers also declined to offer Edgar Renteria arbitration on Monday. This may make Renteria a more attractive prospect for the Giants, now that they will not have to sacrifice a compensatory first round draft pick to the Tigers if they sign the free agent shortstop.
For more info on Rickey and the HOF: check out Tony DeMarco or see the complete HOF ballot.
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