After winning the 2004 Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in
the American League, Johan Santana was viewed by Twins fans as a lock to get
into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. When he won again in 2006 people
thought him destined to be an all-time great like Tom Seaver or Steve Carlton.
When Justin Morneau won the 2006 A.L. MVP he was viewed as
the left handed hitting Harmon Killebrew. Morneau like Santana was on the path
to the Hall of Fame. So too was Torii Hunter and maybe Joe Nathan. Joe Mauer
meanwhile was going to challenge Johnny Bench as the greatest catcher in
baseball history.
Those players also were the obsession of many an autograph
collector. To get Santana, Morneau, Hunter, or Mauer’s autograph at Twinsfest
you lined up outside the Metrodome a minimum of six hours before the doors
opened (many camp out overnight to be first in line). Once inside you had to
run for your life to get to player’s line where you sometimes had to wait
another 2-3 more hours for the player to start signing, and even then you were not
guaranteed his autograph. Of course everyone thought it would be worth it.
Santana, Morneau, Hunter, and Nathan have seen their careers
come to an end. When National Hall of Fame voters casted their ballots in
regards to Johan Santana candidacy, he got 10 votes (roughly 330 votes were
needed). He will not make the Baseball Hall of Fame. Neither will Morneau,
Hunter, or Nathan while Joe Mauer has a decent shot at baseball’s highest honor,
but Johnny Bench is still viewed as the greatest catcher of all-time.
Yes, Santana, Morneau, Hunter, Nathan, Eddie Guardado,
Michael Cuddyer, Brad Radke, and maybe a couple other members of the those
2000’s Twins teams will rightly elected to the Twins Hall of Fame, but they
were not great long enough to be one of best in baseball history.
Maybe if Johan Santana never gets traded to the Mets and
then injured his shoulder things might have been different. Same with Justin
Morneau – if he does not get that concussion in 2010, he goes on to legendary
status. Those things happened and the careers of two great players where
impacted for the worse.
So what about all those autographs’ people worked so hard
for, are they worth anything? Not as much as people thought they would be. It
is one reason why I focus on getting an autograph from every player on the
Twins not just certain ones. I do not value any of my autograph collection for
its dollar worth. I valued it for the memories it provides. This allows me to
enjoy my collection and rest my back and neck as I do not have to stand in line
6 hours before a signing event even starts.
