Gary Sheffield not interested in Baseball Hall of Fame after shut out in his final chance
PALM CITY — As one of the legends at the “Mr. October Golf Celebrity Classic” in Martin County Monday, former Florida Marlins world champion Gary Sheffield was curt about his recent Hall of Fame snub.
Less than two weeks ago, Sheffield got shut out of the Hall of Fame in his last crack. The slugger, who grew up and lives in Tampa, was on the ballot for the 10th and final time, finishing with 63.9% of the vote — below the 75% needed for induction into Cooperstown.
Sheffield said he received a phone call from pitcher Billy Wagner, who wound up on the same sinking boat on Jan. 23.
Wearing dark sunglasses and a black ballcap at the Floridian National Golf Club, Sheffield was obviously disappointed. He told The Palm Beach Post: “I’m done with it. I’m not interested in the Hall of Fame no more. I have a lot of friends who support me in everything I do.’’
On a prior podcast, Sheffield had called the voting system “flawed.’’
Earlier in the day, his former Yankees teammate, Jorge Posada, expressed shock at the snub. Sheffield, who played for the Yankees from 2004 to 2006, bashed 509 home runs while batting .292 in a 22-year career during which he was named an All-Star nine times.
And he has that World Series ring from the Marlins in 1997 — one of their two titles.
“He’s a Hall of Famer in our eyes as players,’’ Posada, the great Yankees catcher, told The Post. “Anyone who’s been around him and played with him, he’s a Hall of Famer without any doubt. I don’t know what’s going on there. It’s tough but hopefully he’ll get in through the committee now.’’
Sheffield would wear Marlins cap if he's ever inducted
Indeed the veterans committee handles such cases down the road. If he does ever get in, he’s sure he’ll wear the Marlins cap — a first for the franchise. He played in Miami from 1993 to 1998.
“I like to say I definitely identify with all of my teams,’’ Sheffield said. “But obviously winning a world championship with the Marlins means a little more. I would say Florida Marlins (cap) because of the championship.’’
Sheffield's last season came with the New York Mets in 2009.
“He handled (playing in New York) well,’’ Posada said. “He was great in the clubhouse, always prepared, ready to go. He took care of himself and worked really hard to stay on the field. It showed. He produced for us every day. Obviously we got a little more mature 'Sheff' toward the end. We loved him. We really did and enjoyed his company.’’
Asked if he’s hopeful about the veterans committee, Sheffield said: “I don’t have no opinion about the Hall of Fame whatsoever. Whatever happens, happens.’’
On the “Brett Boone Podcast" earlier this week, Sheffield was more forceful, saying he was “beyond surprised (because) I was real hopeful this year.’’ Then Sheffield added “It’s a flawed system based on guys not watching you on a day-to-day basis.’’
One theory abounds: Sheffield got damaged by being named in the Mitchell Report that investigated PED usage during the steroids era. On the podcast, Sheffield said he’s been muted on the subject across the years because “I shouldn’t have to campaign for anything. My track record speaks for itself.”
Sheffield, who runs a sports agency, added on getting in via the veterans committee: “Hall of Fame is Hall of Fame. The fact is those guys are there for a reason and they wouldn’t have a committee if they were doing it right every time.”
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At the Martin County golf outing for Reggie Jackson’s kids foundation, Sheffield was amid many Hall of Famers. Sheffield praised Jackson, who became a slam dunk for Cooperstown in 1993.
“Always fun seeing the guys and supporting Reggie Jackson’s cause,’’ Sheffield said. “He’s one of the ambassadors through my whole baseball career. He taught me and educated me on a lot of things. I’m a lot wiser because of it.’’
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Former Marlins slugger Gary Sheffield not interested in Baseball Hall of Fame
