Wednesday, January 12, 2000

Reds will honor Perez

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HALL OF FAME NOTEBOOK

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Tony Perez in his brief stint as Reds manager. | ZOOM |

        Tony Perez's No.24 still isn't retired. That could change.

        John Allen, the Reds' chief operating officer, said he and team officials have discussed honoring Perez. “But nothing's firm yet,” Allen said. “We will definitely honor him in some manner. Whether that involves retiring his jersey, we don't know yet.”

        Allen implied that some sort of Cinergy Field ceremony will feature Perez: “Obviously, we want to make sure Tony gets local recognition.”

        If Perez's number is retired, he would join Fred Hutchinson (1), Johnny Bench (5), Joe Morgan (8), Ted Kluszewski (18) and Frank Robinson (20).

Where's Castro?
        Perez said he hadn't heard from Cuban leader Fidel Castro, though he had just become the first Cuban to be elected into the Hall. Castro's love for baseball is legendary.

        Perez added, “I'm still Cuban,” reflecting his pride in his heritage.

Hi, Mom
        The first person Perez telephoned upon learning of his election was his mother, Peodora, 88, who lives in Camaguey, Cuba. “She started crying,” Perez said.

        Perez said his mother, whom he last visited a couple of years ago, never saw him play. He doubted that she'll be able to attend his induction ceremony July 23 at Cooperstown, N.Y.

        “She doesn't move around much now,” Perez said. “It's hard for her to get on a plane. It's a shame. I'd love to see her there.”

Why now?
        Bill Deane, the former Hall of Fame researcher who is considered the pre-eminent expert on Hall voting patterns, expected Perez to fall 3 or 4 percent short of the necessary 75 percent for election this year.

        There are several possible reasons for his election, Deane said.

        “The election of (Orlando) Cepeda (last year by the Veterans Committee) might have played a role in it,” Deane said. “It's also possible some of the writers realized it was his last (good) opportunity to be elected by writers — his last time on a (relatively) weak ballot.”

        Also, campaigns for Perez by the Reds and a friend in Miami — they mailed statistics and quotes from former players and managers to voters — may have opened some eyes.

Thanks to Allen
        Perez appreciated the letter Allen sent to Hall of Fame voters, which detailed the slugger's accomplishments. “I thank him very much for that,” Perez said.

        Perez also recognized the “hard work” of his Miami-based accountant, Nicolas Villageliu, who sent T-shirts and a statistical analysis extolling the former Red to 500 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, many of whom cast Hall of Fame ballots.

Write-ins for Rose
        Pete Rose, barred froom the Hall because of the lifetime ban from baseball he agreed to in 1989, received 17 write-in votes.
        The votes do not count.

Join the discussion on our Reds forum

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