Audio Baseball analyst Bill James talks about Molitor's career (Morning Edition, 7/23/04) Photos Paul Molitor At bat for the Brewers With his plaque More from MPR Molitor gets the call from the Hall of Fame (01/06/2004) Resources Baseball Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Your Voice Join the conversation with other MPR listeners in the News Forum.

	E-mail this page			Print this page

Molitor inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
July 25, 2004

St. Paul native Paul Molitor, shown here in 1997 when he was a member of the Minnesota Twins, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday. (Photo by Elsa Hasch/Allsport )

Minnesota native Paul Molitor was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday afternoon, along with pitcher Dennis Eckersley, in an emotional ceremony in Cooperstown, New York.

Cooperstown, N.Y. — (AP) - Flanked by 50 Hall of Famers, cheered by hundreds of fans, and staring out at his parents, Eckersley repeatedly fought back tears on Sunday and managed to complete his induction speech. He recalled his struggle with alcoholism and the support of his parents during his remarks. The sweet-swinging Molitor accumulated 3,319 hits in his 21-year career with Milwaukee, Toronto and Minnesota.

Molitor, now a batting coach for the Seattle Mariners, played 21 seasons, including 15 with the Brewers. He joins Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb as the only players in history with 3,000 hits, 600 doubles and 500 steals. He's also the first Hall of Famer to have played over half of his games as a designated hitter.

	At bat for the Brewers

Both Eckersley and Molitor were elected in January in their first year of eligibility. Eckersley will wear an A's cap in the Hall of Fame, while Molitor enters as a Brewer.

Molitor emerged as a superstar in 1982, playing third base and batting leadoff for the AL champion Brewers. Nicknamed "The Ignitor," Molitor hit .302, scored a team-record 136 runs and stole 41 bases. In Game 1 of the World Series, he became the first player in history to collect five hits in one game.

A seven-time All-Star, Molitor led the AL in runs scored and hits three times each and had a 39-game hitting streak in 1987, fourth-longest in AL history. He fully expected to follow in the steps of teammate Robin Yount and play his entire career in Milwaukee.

But as a free agent in 1992, the Brewers were strapped for cash and could only afford to offer him a one-year deal for $1.5 million. When the Toronto Blue Jays countered with three years for $14 million, Molitor begrudgingly said goodbye.

Somehow, in the midst of raising eight kids, she managed to see me play a lot of games. But my mom always thought she was a jinx. She'd come to the games and watch them from her car, or she'd hide behind a tree. - Paul Molitor

"When I left for Toronto, I know I spent a good portion of the season wondering if I had done the right thing," Molitor said.

He did. The Blue Jays won the 1993 championship and he was named World Series MVP, going 12-for-24 with two doubles, two triples, two homers and eight RBIs. Then, three years later he signed with his hometown Minnesota Twins.

At that point, Molitor needed 211 hits to reach the magical 3,000 mark, but as a 40-year-old DH, his welcome was lukewarm at best.

"I remember the Minnesota media saying it was nice for me to come home, but why invest in an old player when you're trying to get back to winning?" said Molitor, who grew up in St. Paul. "It wasn't my motivation to prove those people wrong."

But he did, and impressively, collecting 225 hits and 113 RBIs in his first season as a Twin, both career highs.

During the induction ceremony, Molitor praised his parents, who are deceased.

"Somehow, in the midst of raising eight kids, she managed to see me play a lot of games," Molitor said of his mother, who died in 1988. "But my mom always thought she was a jinx. She'd come to the games and watch them from her car or she'd hide behind a tree. It continued even to the major leagues. I'd leave her seats in the family section and I couldn't find her. She'd walk around looking for an empty seat."

	With his plaque

His father died of cancer two years ago but knew this day would come.

"He had told his doctors that they'd better get him healthy because he had a date in Cooperstown," said Molitor, who wears a Brewers uniform on his Hall of Fame plaque. "I know how much he wanted to be here."

Eckersley played 24 seasons with five teams, appearing in 1,071 games, the most of any Hall of Fame pitcher, and finished with a record of 197-171 and 390 saves. Even Molitor, who spoke first, was wiping his eyes as Eckersley spoke of his personal struggles.

"It definitely hit me," Molitor said. "I was emotionally taken to tears. Part of it is knowing Dennis and knowing his heart is in it. Part of it rings a bell to things that you go through on your own. I've gone through divorce in the past three years and I had problems with drugs early in my career. I know that there are battles out there that can be won, but they take their toll."

Also inducted were longtime A's and Giants broadcaster Lon Simmons, who won the Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions to baseball broadcasting. The New York Times' Murray Chass gained entrance as the J.G. Taylor Spink Award recipient for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

News Headlines

Related Subjects