A Nationals Hall of Fame

by Phil Wood

Someday, the Nationals will have a team-centric Hall of Fame or Ring of Honor or Wall of Distinction or Justice League of America.

You know what I mean.

A place at the stadium where notable Nationals (or Senators) of years past can be honored. Some kind of museum facility, perhaps, since Washington, after all, is a city of museums.

When I first moved to Baltimore in the early 1980s to work at WCBM, I was asked to serve on the Orioles Hall of Fame Committee by the Orioles Advocates, a group of diverse individuals who all are focused on the game in the greater Baltimore area and beyond and who do loads of community service and assist the Orioles in promoting the game. Even though I was a native Washingtonian, the Advocates and the Orioles felt I knew as much about their history - major and minor league - as anyone else in the local media. The team Hall of Fame was conceived by the Advocates in 1977, and Brooks & Frank Robinson were the first two inductees. They later added a veterans committee, and I serve on that as well.

The voting works the same way the regular Hall of Fame works - candidates need 75% of vote for induction.

This year's meeting is tonight, and I suspect some of the discussion will be about Rafael Palmeiro, who's eligible for induction. On the one hand, you can argue that Palmeiro put together the best five offensive seasons in club history during his first stint with the club. On the other hand, you look at how his career ended: busted for steroids just months after testifying on Capitol Hill that he never touched the stuff. It should be interesting.

I wish the Orioles' Hall of Fame would also honor the great 19th century National Leaguers who played in Charm City, but unless there's a change in the by-laws, that's not likely to happen. I'd also support honoring the great minor leaguers who wore a Baltimore uniform, like Lefty Grove, for instance.

A Nats' Hall of Fame could start with names like Walter Johnson, Goose Goslin, Sam Rice and Bucky Harris. There were a lot of great players who wore the Washington flannels in years past. I'm sure there's room for it at the park, and it could be a nice addition to the stadium tour.