 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Waiting game Perez waiting for Hall of Fame vote
Posted: Tuesday January 11, 2000 12:37 AM
He was the heart and soul of the Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine" in the the mid-1970's. Tony Perez, who spent 23 years in the majors, is hoping this is the year he gets inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. The announcement will be made Tuesday but CNN/Sports Illustrated's Johnny Phelps spoke with Perez who is in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he anxiously awaits the outcome of the vote. Johnny Phelps : Tony, what do you think about your chances of being selected into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Better than in years past? Tony Perez : Yes, I feel pretty good about this year. I hear a lot of people and everything is good. I hope tomorrow [Tuesday] I get the good news and be there with all the good ballplayers in the Hall of Fame. Phelps : Tony why do you think you haven't been selected before now? Perez : I don't know. I think I had my numbers out there. I did everything, but I don't know. I've been short in the voting but some players took longer. I hope this is my year. I've been waiting, but you know, if I come up tomorrow with the big news ... we'll see what happens. Phelps : Have you been bitter in years past when you thought you might have an opportunity and you didn't make it? Perez : Well, a few years back when I thought I had a chance to go in and nobody was voting [me] in, I was a little disappointed. But right now, I feel pretty good about it. I think there are a lot of people who are trying to help me to get in the Hall this year and it might pay off. I hope it does and I can be there tomorrow. Phelps : I wanted to ask you about the campaigns and your friends who have really done a lot to try and help you make it. How much do you think that might help sway some voters? Perez : Well, I hope it helps. They've been working hard all this Time, good friends in Miami. They have ex-baseball players, accountants and lawyers. They did a good job together. And I am really proud of what they do and I hope this thing comes out tomorrow and I hope they don't have to work harder next time [smiles]. Phelps : I know there are a lot of people who feel this is a good year for you since the overall list is maybe not as strong as in other years. If by chance you don't make it this time, are you concerned that it's not going to happen? Perez : Well, I think if I don't make it this time, I still have another year or two. I hope I get a lot of voting to get it close enough. But I feel pretty good about this year and a lot of people feel the same way. I've gotten a lot of help from the Cincinnati Reds this year and [team managing executive] Mr. [John] Allen in Cincinnati wrote a letter to the all the voters and that might help and I thank him for that too. Phelps : Tony, what's your feeling about Pete Rose? He has a campaign to get re-instated in baseball and to become eligible for the Hall of Fame. What do you feel about that? Perez : I feel good about Pete. I hope Pete gets re-instated and gets into the Hall. He's a great player and we played together for a lot of years. And what he did on the field was good for everybody. The fans enjoyed that, his teammates enjoyed that. I hope he gets re-instated and gets a good chance to go into the Hall too. Phelps : When you talk about what he did on the field, there are a lot of people who have a difficult time disassociating what he did away from the field with what he did on the field. Do you think that that's is sort of the key element, to concentrate on him as a player? Perez : Well I think so. This is baseball. A lot of people make mistakes and he's paid for it. And I really think he should be back in. That's my feeling. Phelps : Long-time great Tony Perez. Tony, thank you so much and good luck tomorrow in getting that call. Perez : Thank you, Johnny.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
