Miller, John, Simmons would have my Hall of Fame vote

If I were on the Hall of Fame Modern Era Committee that meets Sunday in Orlando, these are the three men who would get my vote.

Marvin Miller

I preface this by saying I was raised in a union household. My father was an active member of the United Steelworkers and knew Miller, who headed the USW before being hired to form the Major League Baseball Players Association.

It may not be a popular opinion to hold in today’s world, but it is my firm belief that workers are entitled to certain rights, whether they make millions of dollars or are paid minimum wage. Miller won the ultimate battle for the players when he had the reserve clause struck down, which led to free agency.

Free agency has made the game better over the past four decades and Miller deserved to be honored for that, even it cut into the owners’ outrageous profits.

Tommy John

The left-hander pitched in the major leagues for 26 seasons and six different teams, winning 288 games. That is a remarkable career.

However, what pushes John into the Hall of Fame category is being the first player to undergo elbow ligament transplant surgery, sitting out the 1975 season after Dr. Frank Jobe performed the experimental procedure. John won at least 20 games in three of the next five seasons and remained in the major leagues until 1989.

It took courage for John to agree to such a radical concept. Because of him, the careers of countless players have been saved.

Ted Simmons

The switch-hitting catcher batted .285/.348/.437 with 2,472 hits and 1,389 RBIs in 21 seasons. Ivan Rodriguez is the only catcher with more career hits and Yogi Berra is the only backstop to drive in more runs.

Simmons has gone on to a long post-playing career as an executive and scout. He is also one of the most interesting people I have met in 30 years of covering baseball and, if elected, his induction speech in Cooperstown would surely be one for the ages.