Reds' 2010 HOF class an eclectic mix

[redsfandan]

10/06/09 4:30 PM ET

Reds' 2010 HOF class an eclectic mix
Three different eras of Cincinnati baseball represented
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- Talk about an eclectic mixing of the eras. The 2010 class of Reds Hall of Famers came from three distinct moments in the franchise's long history.
Chris Sabo, Pedro Borbon and Tony Mullane were elected to the Reds Hall of Fame, in an announcement revealed on Tuesday.

Sabo was selected by the fans on a modern player ballot while Borbon and Mullane were named via a vote by the Reds Hall of Fame veterans committee, which is comprised of members, Hall of Famers, fans and Hall of Fame executives.

Joining Bill Werber and Henie Groh, Sabo is only the third third baseman to be inducted into the club's highest honor.

Known for wearing his trademark goggles, the scrappy Sabo was a key member of the 1990 World Series championship team. In 818 games for Cincinnati from 1988-93 and 1996, he batted .270 with 104 home runs and 373 RBIs.

In 1988, Sabo became one of only seven players in Reds history to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He was a three-time NL All-Star in 1988 and 1990-91.

During the four-game World Series sweep over Oakland, Sabo batted .563, hit two home runs, and drove in three runs during the Game 3 win.

"Making it this year is timely because it's been 20 years from when the Reds won the World Series," said Rick Walls, the executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. "He was a very important part of that team."

Defensively, Sabo twice led NL third basemen in fielding percentage and once finished second.

While the Big Red Machine years were known most for the cadre of great hitters, Borbon was a member of the Reds' bullpen from 1970-78 -- when he appeared in more games than any pitcher in the NL.

Over his 10 years in Cincinnati, the right-handed Borbon was 62-33 with a 3.32 ERA and 76 saves in a club-record 531 games. As a member of the 1975-76 World Series winners and playoff teams in 1970, 1972 and 1973, he pitched in 20 postseason games during his Reds career and posted a 2.42 ERA.

"Guys on the veterans' committee felt everyone looks at the Great Eight, but forget the pitching staff," Walls said. "Looking at what Pedro Borbon did for those championship teams, the Reds might not have been as good without him."

Borbon will become the third relief pitcher inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, joining Clay Carroll (1980) and Wayne Granger (1982).

"This guy was Mr. Dependable," Walls said.

It's likely that no living eyes saw Mullane, whose career will come into focus more than 106 years after he pitched in his last Major League game.

"It was important to represent all of the different eras of Reds history," Walls said. "When you date back to 1869, there will be a lot of great players over the years. Picking Hall of Famers is difficult because there are so many, but Mullane stood above the rest."

A native of Ireland and a right-handed pitcher for the Reds from 1886-92, who sometimes threw left-handed, Mullane was a two-time 30-game winner and three-time 20-game winner with Cincinnati.

"I heard last week and I'm still absolutely thrilled," said Cairril Mills, a descendent of Mullane's who lives in Bloomington, Ind.

Mills has spent many years searching for other Mullane descendents and trying to learn more about his personal life. Naturally, she has found plenty of data online about his baseball career.

Second behind Eppa Rixey on the Reds' all-time wins list with 163, Mullane completed a club record 264 of 285 or 93 percent of his starts.

"He played barehanded and ambidextrously and every position on the field," Mills said. "He clearly was a really good player."

An old-school matinee idol with the ladies, Mullane was nicknamed "The Apollo of the Box" because of his handsome looks and was credited with the development of "Ladies Day" at the ballpark.

"He seemed to be a dashing chap, as someone referred to him," Mills said. "He was a classic Irishman of the times. He had a lot of charm and a lot of talent. He could be divisive because he always tried negotiating for more money. His manager once locked him in the hotel to keep him from leaving, but he snuck out to join the Reds."

Mullane, who died in 1944 at the age of 85, will be the seventh member of the Reds Hall of Fame to have played all or part of his career in the 19th century.

The Reds Hall of Fame is the largest and oldest continually operating team Hall of Fame in baseball with roots that date back to 1958. It's membership will increase to 72 players, three managers and three executives once Sabo, Borbon and Mullane are formally honored next summer during induction ceremonies at Great American Ball Park.


Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[George Anderson]

This would be the 13th member (not counting Pete) of the 75' team to make the Reds HOF. That is basically half the team.

Anderson
Griffey
Morgan
Perez
Foster
Bench
Concepcion
Geronimo
Gullett
Billingham
Nolan
Carroll
Borbon

[_Sir_Charles_]

More, from Fay.

Sabo, Borbon, Mullane to Reds Hall
Posted by jfay October 6th, 2009, 4:24 pm

Chris Sabo, Pedro Borbon and Tony Mullane will be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame.

Mullane played before 1900.

Here’s the official release from the Reds:

CINCINNATI (October 6, 2009) – Third baseman Chris Sabo and pitchers Pedro Borbon and the late Tony Mullane will be the next three players inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Sabo was selected by the fans through the Modern Player Ballot sponsored by Cincyfavorites.com. The Veterans Committee selected Borbon and Mullane to make up the Reds Hall of Fame Class of 2010.

The trio will be honored next summer during on-field ceremonies at Great American Ball Park and at the Hall’s star-studded Induction Gala, bringing the Hall’s membership ranks to 72 players, three managers and three executives.

“Fan voting has played an important role in the election of Reds Hall of Famers dating back to the first Hall of Fame class in 1958,” said Hall of Fame executive director Rick Walls. “I’d like to thank Cincyfavorites.com, the thousands of Reds fans who cast their votes, as well as the Hall’s Veterans Committee for its time and energy in this involved selection process.”

Sabo was the top vote-getter from more than 19,000 ballots cast online, at the ballpark, at Montgomery Inn restaurants and at participating Skyline locations. Paul O’Neill finished second and John Franco was third.

Pedro Borbon and Tony Mullane were selected by the Reds Hall of Fame’s Veterans Committee, a committee comprised of members of the media, Hall of Famers, historians, fans and Hall of Fame executives.

Chris Sabo

One of the most accomplished third basemen in club history, Chris Sabo and his trademark goggles burst on the Cincinnati baseball scene in 1988. An All-Star in his first season, Sabo led the Reds in doubles and stolen bases en route to becoming one of only seven players in Reds history to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Sabo anchored third base for the Reds for the next five seasons, including All-Star campaigns in 1990 and 1991. During the Reds’ 1990 World Championship season, he led the club in home runs, doubles and runs scored. In the National League Championship Series against Pittsburgh, his two-run home run in Game 4 proved to be the gamewinner. In the World Series his .563 batting average was the second highest on the club and included a two-home run, three-RBI performance in the Reds’ 8-3 victory in Game 3. A fine defensive player, Sabo twice led NL third basemen in fielding percentage and finished second in the league once. For his career, he ranks in the club’s top 25 in home runs and doubles and in the club’s top 50 in games played, at bats, hits, RBI, runs scored, stolen bases, walks, slugging percentage and total bases. Sabo will join Bill Werber (Class of 1961) and Heinie Groh (Class of 1963) as the only third basemen inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame. Sabo was born January 19, 1962.



Pedro Borbon

Durability and effectiveness were the hallmarks of Pedro Borbon’s 10-season career with the Reds. An essential member of the Big Red Machine’s stellar bullpen corps, Borbon ranked in the National League’s top five in games pitched each season from 1972-1977. And from 1970-1978, Borbon appeared in more games than any pitcher in the National League. In Reds history, no pitcher appeared in more games than Borbon’s 531. Used in a wide variety of game situations, he had only one losing record in his Reds career and his 76 saves rank seventh on the club’s all-time list. A member of both the 1975 and 1976 World Championship teams as well as National League pennant winners in 1970 and 1972 and the 1973 National League Western Division Champions, Borbon pitched in 20 postseason games during his Reds career, posting an ERA of 2.42, including a 1.26 ERA in League Championship Series play. Borbon will become the third relief pitcher inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, joining Clay Carroll (Class of 1980) and Wayne Granger (Class of 1982). Borborn was born December 2, 1946.



Tony Mullane

A native of County Cork, Ireland, Tony Mullane was the ace of the Reds’ pitching staff from 1886-1892, winning more than 30 games in a season twice and more than 20 games five times. His 163 career wins in a Reds uniform stood as the club’s all-time record until it was broken by Eppa Rixey in 1930 and now ranks second on the club’s all-time list. Playing in an era in which pitchers regularly completed their starts, Mullane excelled in this area, recording a club-record 264 complete games in 285 career starts. Only three pitchers in Reds history have pitched more innings than Mullane’s 2,599, and only 10 Reds pitchers have struck out more batters than Mullane’s 993. His 250 strikeouts in 1886 stood as the club record until it was broken by Jim Maloney almost eight decades later and still ranks as the third-highest single-season total in Reds history. A natural right-handed thrower, an injury resulted in Mullane developing the ability to pitch with both hands, and while he did so infrequently, he is one of the few known ambidextrous pitchers in Major League history. Blessed with dashing good looks, he was nicknamed “The Apollo of the Box” and his popularity with female fans contributed to the development of Ladies Days at the ballpark. Mullane will be the seventh member of the Reds Hall of Fame who played all or part of his career in the 19th century. Mullane was born January 20, 1859 and died April 25, 1944.

[Strikes Out Looking]

Chris "Spuds" Sabo, Pedro Borbon and Tony Mullane will be inducted into the Red's HOF next summer.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_cin

As someone who spent a great deal of time with Pedro at Red's fantasy camp, I'm very happy for him--he's a very nice person as well as being a fantastic reliever for a long time.

[westofyou]

Good choices, though I'd waver on Sabo myself, too brief a career IMO. Borbon is in because of the workload he had as well as a big personality that shone bright on a team that was chock full of big personalities.

Mullane is a no brainer, though he was a classic team jumping 1880's rapscallion.

[TheNext44]

Borbon is a personal favorite of mine, and not just because he was such an integral part of the BRM.

I was kid and living in St. Louis, and when the Reds came to town, I would always get tickets in the front row, right behind where the Reds bullpen sat. The first few years, an aging Borbon was still in the bullpen, and every game he would lean back over the rail and ask me to sneak him a coke and and dog, which, as a nerdy 13 year old who couldn't believe that a real live major leaguer was talking to me, I gladly did. Being a "runner" for Pedro Borbon has always been one of my proudest achievements.

[Chip R]

Good choices.

[RedsBaron]

Originally Posted by Chip R

Good choices.

Didn't RFS say Mullane was one of his favorite players when he was a boy?

[OnBaseMachine]

Why isn't Tony Mullane in Cooperstown? 284 wins, 3.05 ERA, 118 ERA+...

[BCubb2003]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

Why isn't Tony Mullane in Cooperstown? 284 wins, 3.05 ERA, 118 ERA+...

Because it's the Hall of Fame? I know, it's just a thing I have.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

Why isn't Tony Mullane in Cooperstown? 284 wins, 3.05 ERA, 118 ERA+...

Played in an era that was prior to the 60 '6" distance, played on an AA team there are not many hurlers in the HOF from that era, or that many guys who were AA heros but not NL.

He he also was guy who had a great stretch, but not a long and prosperous career... mostly due to workload. He also moved around a bit, and thus didn't get a firm national identity with a single club

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

Why isn't Tony Mullane in Cooperstown? 284 wins, 3.05 ERA, 118 ERA+...

They tend to ignore 19th century guys.

[OnBaseMachine]

Chris Sabo on his induction to Reds' HoF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evQxG...layer_embedded

Chris Sabo on the 1990 Reds World Series team
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD2Lk...layer_embedded

http://cnati.com/cincinnati-reds/sab...ds-hall-00431/

[RedsBaron]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Played in an era that was prior to the 60 '6" distance, played on an AA team there are not many hurlers in the HOF from that era, or that many guys who were AA heros but not NL.

He he also was guy who had a great stretch, but not a long and prosperous career... mostly due to workload. He also moved around a bit, and thus didn't get a firm national identity with a single club

202 of Mullane's 284 wins came in the AA, where he had all of his 30 win seasons.

[Roy Tucker]

Sounds like Mullane was quite the character.

I like rooting for a ballclub with a history such as the Reds. Not many clubs can pull out a guy from 1886 to put in their HoF.