St. Louis Cardinals: Ted Simmons finally gets the recognition he deserves

With yesterday’s Modern Era committee Hall of Fame announcement, St. Louis Cardinals legend, Ted Simmons, finally made it to where he belongs.

It may have been highly disagreed with by some, but like it or not, Ted Simmons will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. If you are a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, or Milwaukee Brewers, there shouldn’t be an argument, but nationally, some people hate the selection.

Last week, Andy Heckroth wrote about Simmons’ candidacy and came to the conclusion that the choice should be easy: Simmons is deserving.

The other candidate that got in was Marvin Miller, a longtime union leader. The voting finished as follows:

Immediately, the uproar was about Simmons getting in over Dwight Evans, who had about 17 more career WAR than Simmons. If I’m honest, my knowledge of historical data is not great. I’m 20 years old, and all I have to write on is the statistics and stories I can find in present day. That being said, I know that Simmons was worthy of this award.

Simmons played in the league for 21 years as a catcher and sits in second place all-time for hits and RBIs for a catcher. He ranks 10th all-time in catcher JAWS rating, and every catcher ahead of him in that category is in the Hall of Fame too.

In 2018, Simmons missed the 12-vote cut by one vote. This year, he made it in. Next year, more candidates, SOME OFF OF THIS LIST will no doubt make it in. I understand fans getting mad that their guy didn’t make it in, but the Modern Era committee works differently than the normal ballot.

When Simmons first appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1994, he received just 3.7% of the votes and was immediately cast off the ballot. Through the Modern Era committee, he was given another chance.

The other players in the Hall have all welcomed Simmons with open arms and they display the real point of the Hall of Fame. It’s not a competition, it’s a story of the best players in the history of the sport. At the end of the day, the players who should get in will get in. I am confident of that.

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Also, if you believe Simmons was unworthy and still made it in, wouldn’t that bode well for your player’s hopes down the line? If Simmons sets the bar low (he doesn’t), then your candidate should have no trouble.

The Cardinals now face the tough decision of whether or not to retire Simmons’ number 23 as they have done so with most of their Hall of Famers. They haven’t retired any of Joe Medwick‘s four numbers he held with the team, but Medwick wasn’t a career Cardinal. Simmons spent 13 of his 21 years in the league with the team and is in the Cardinals Hall of Fame, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they did end up retiring number 23.

The only problem is that it has been in regular circulation for years, worn most recently by Marcell Ozuna.

No matter the griping, the arguing, the complaining, Ted Simmons will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His name will be remembered forever not only in Cardinals’ history but in the history of the league. I’m a homer, but Ted Simmons 100% deserved this. Congratulations Simba.