A Hall of Fame filibuster // Bunning has harsh words for baseball

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. Pitcher-turned-House member Jim Bunning usedhis Hall of Fame podium Sunday to campaign for baseball to hire acommissioner, saying the sport must solve its problems "before theCongress of the United States gives up on you and intervenes."

With banned Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott applauding in theaudience, Bunning (R-Ky.) asserted that "for over four years,baseball has been rudderless. Get a rudder."

Before Bunning gave his 29-minute speech, the annual inductionceremonies had been a pleasant blend of reminiscing and givingthanks.

Earl Weaver playfully jibed fellow Hall member Jim Palmer, whostood when his former manager with the Baltimore Orioles wasintroduced. But Weaver, whose "acerbic wit" was noted on his plaque,made sure to include Palmer on the list of the game's greatestpitchers.

"I don't want to forget Jim Palmer," he said, "or he'll writeanother bad book about me."

His raspy voice steady after a couple of shaky moments early inhis 13-minute speech, Weaver also praised the umpires who ejected himso often and drew a laugh from the pro-Orioles crowd of 10,000.

"They made a million calls when I was there," he said. "Andexcept for the 91 or 92 times I disagreed, they got them right."

Ned Hanlon, a turn-of-the-century manager, was remembered by hisgrandson, Edward, one of 118 Hanlon family members on hand.

Bill Foster, a star pitcher in the Negro Leagues in the 1920sand '30s, was recalled by his son, Bill, who said he wished he wouldhave had the opportunity to say, `Dad, you made it.' "

Stan Musial, Yogi Berra and Tom Seaver were among the 33 Hallmembers on stage for the 2 1/2-hour festivities on a sunny afternoon.The crowd was only about half the total that turned out last year tosee Philadelphia Phillies favorites Richie Ashburn and Mike Schmidtbe inducted.

Like Schmidt, who used part of his speech to endorse formerCincinnati Reds star Pete Rose for the Hall, Bunning had a point tomake. After thanking his family, teammates, coaches and others whohelped him be successful, Bunning turned his attention to the troublethat has plagued baseball for a few years.

"Get your house in order," he told owners, his voice rising."Find a way to share revenue without asking players to foot thebill."

He also called on players to act responsibly off the field andurged the sides to sign a 10-year labor deal and to "pick acommissioner, a real commissioner."

In a news conference after his induction, Bunning said he hadabsolutely no interest in being that commissioner.

"It has no power," he said. "It's been gutted."

It's not likely that owners would accept him, either. Bunningwas an original sponsor of a bill in Congress to get rid ofbaseball's antitrust exemption. Before that, he served as a playeragent and helped form the union's pension program. He was his team'splayer representative for 12 of his 17 seasons in the major leagues.

Bunning was 224-184 with a 3.27 ERA, primarily for the Philliesand Detroit Tigers. He and the other three new Hall members wereelected in March by the Veterans Committee.

No players were selected in January by the Baseball Writers'Association of America, its first shutout since 1971. Left out were300-game winners Don Sutton and Phil Niekro.

Bunning, 64, drew a big cheer from the crowd when he askedwriters in attendance: "Do you have any clue how hard it is to win300 games in the major leagues?"

Weaver, who will turn 66 in two weeks, won six American LeagueEast titles, four pennants and the 1970 World Series. He had four ofhis former players on the Hall stage with him - Palmer, BrooksRobinson, Frank Robinson and Reggie Jackson.

Weaver said his induction capped 35 years in baseball "that flewby so fast I didn't even know I was getting old."

Foster, who died in 1978 at age 74, won more games than Hall ofFamer Satchel Paige. Hanlon, who died in 1937 at 79, was creditedwith bringing squeeze plays and hit-and-runs to baseball.