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The one achievement which makes both of these players a cinch for the Hall of Fame is the feet that they both reached in the 1992 season. That achievement was getting their 3000th career hit. Yount got his 3000th hit with a single on Sept. 9, 1992. When getting the hit he became only the 17th player in history to reach that milestone. Although the Brewers went on to lose the game, Yount will never gorget that glorious day in his career. After the game, during the post game interviews with the media, Yount was as suttle as he has been throughout his entire career. He was not as thrilled as most people would think, because the Brewers lost the game. Even after reaching that milestone his Hall of Fame credentials were questioned by the media. The one fact that is pionted out most oftern is the fact that his .287 lifetime batting average is second lowest in the 3000 hit club. Only Carl Yastremsky, whose lifetime average was .285, is lower. They are also quick to point out he went to only 3 all-star games in his 19 year career, and he has never veen considered one of the games best players. But one sports writer says that: "Yount's hit total is enough on it's own to qualify him for the Hall." (Kurkjian p.48) Critics are quick to call his longeviy a negative toward his chase to the Hall of Fame, but Yount who turned 37 on Sept. 16, 1993, is the third youngest to reach 3000 hits. Only Ty Cobb who was 34, and Henry Aaron who was 36 were younger when they reached the 3000 hit plateau. Yount not only collected 3000 hits over his career, but he also has more extra base hits than hall of famers Duke Snider who had 850, and Joe Cronin who had 804 in his career. Yount has collected two Most Valuabel Player Awards, at two different positions. He received the first one in 1982, perhaps his best season as a professional. He won a gold glove award for his play at shortstop, while hitting .331, giving him the AL MVP. The second MVP award came in 1989 when he moved to centerfield. He put up some pretty impressive numbers that year: 21 home runs, 103 RBI's, while hitting .318. Yount was also awarded the Gold Glove award for his play in centerfield. Yount is the only player to ever lead the league in fielding percentage as both an infielder and as an outfielder. "The grind of playing shortstop cannot be overstated, and Yount played it well for 11 years (1974-1984). His 1982 hitting performance: .331, 29 homers, 114 RBI's, 129 runs, 210 hits, with 87 for extra bases, was one of the best ever by a shortstop, but when Yount's right shoulder needed surgery after the 1984 season, he began his second career as a centerfielder, the most important outfield position. No player has ever made the Hall of Fame after splitting his career, between the middle infield and the outfield." (Kurkjian p.48) As for George Brett his numbers speak for themselves. Brett is s shoe in for the Hall of Fame. There is no doubt that there will be a plaque with a picture of George Brett hanging on the walls of Cooperstown. Brett got his 3000th hit on the last day of september, with a single against the California Angels, making him only the 18th player in history to get 3000 hits. In his next game Brett surpassed Roberto Clemente, who ended his career with exactly 3000 hits. It is uncertian if Brett will retire after the end of the 1992 season, but if he does he will end his career with 3005 hits. Brett broke into the majors as a third baseman in the 1974 season with the Kansas City Royals, who he also plans to retire with. Brett wore the number 5 on behalf of Brooks Robinson, who also played his entire career with the same team he started. In 1976 Brett won his first batting title with a .333 average, in only his second complete season in the majors, making him one of the youngest players to win a batting title. Brett has been one of the greatest hitters of all time, the season that is evidence of that, is the 1980 season. Brett had the best chance to hit .400, since Ted Williams did it in 1941. Brett finished the season with the highest average since William's 1941 campain, with a .390 average, giving him his second batting title. He also led the league with a .664 slugging average, and won the American League MVP award. On October 3, 1990, Brett won his third batting title in as many decades. Brett hit .329 making him the first player to win three batting titles in three different decades. Throughout his career Brett has had his share of controversy. The most famous is the infamous "Pine Tar Incident", which took place at Yankee Stadium in 1983. brett hit a go-ahead home run int eh 6th inning, the Yankee's manager, Billy Martin asked the umpires to make sure that there was not to much pine tar on the bat. The umpires looked at the bat and after further review called Brett out. Later the Commissioner reviewed the bat and found nothing wrong with it, and had the last 3 innings replayed. The Royals won the game thanks to Brett's "pine tar home run". Brett has had great success int he 2 world series in which he has been in during his career. He has the third best batting average in world series play with a .373 average. Brett also had some speed in his prime years. He has slowed down considerably, but he has collected 127 triples , while stealing 184 bases through the 1990 season. Not only has Brett's bat helped the Royals, but his experience and leadership is helping the young players on the team play the game the way that is was ment to be played. "In a season that has been abysmal at best, it's still fun coming out to the park to see him busting his butt out there, even on routine ground balls. He's salbaging a season for us." (Fimrite p.24 M. Macfarlane) Despite all the preasure that was put on him from the media to get his 3000th hit this year, he was still having fun playing the game that he loves. "I belive you have to enjoy yourself to get the most out of your ability. I can take the criticism with the accolades. Neither affects me. I'm not sure how people in Kansas City perceive me, but I know that in my first few years here they at least knew where they could find me, until all the bars closed. The guys and I were out every night after a game having a ball, but they're all gone now and lately I can't stay awake ling enough to watch Rush Limbaugh on TV. And I go straight home from the ballpark." (Fimrite p.24 G. Brett) Most people will tell you that George Brett has a better shot of making the hall of fame, then Robin Yount, mainly because of his lifetime batting average. Brett is sure to finish over .300, while Yount will probably end his career with about a .290 average. If you look at thier other stats though, they are very comparable. The one thing that might, even out the comparison is the defensive abilithy of Robin Yount. He has won a Gold Glove jAward at Shortstop and Centerfield. While George Brett was not a bad third baseman (later a first baseman) he was not a great one either. But either way you look at it they are both two living legends and both belong in the Hall of Fame. There is only one other member of the 3000 hit club who is not in the Hall of Fame, and he is banned from baseball for life, that is Pere Rose. He is the all time hit leader in the history of baseball, but is still being kept from the Hall of Fame. As for the rest of their careers, Yount will probably ploay a few more years, but it will be no surprise if George Brett decides to retire after the end of the 1992 season. He feels that he is no help to the Kansas City organization, who is out of contention and will need to go into a rebuilding stage for the future. Brett also feels that he has lost a little bit of bat speed. The milwaukee Brewers are out of the American League East chase for the pennant due to the Blue Jay's play toward the end of the season. They will most likely be back next year to challenge the Blue Jays, with a cast of young players, as well as some veterans. Both of these two great players will always be remembered as team players, and the franchise of their respective teams. Even though Yount just has a fer years lift in him, and Brett is probably finished his career, everyone will rember what thery did for the game, and for the Kansas City, and the Milwaukee teams over their 19 years of baseball. Bibliography: Baseball in the 80's. Writ. Ousie Shapiro Dir. Tim Roberts. MLB properties, 1990. Blackman, Jeff E., er al. The sluggers New York: Redefinition, 1989. Firmrite, Ron. "The Hits Keep Coming." Sports Illustrated 5 Oct. 1992: p24 "George Brett." U.S. News & World Report 15 Oct. 1990: p59 Kurkjian, Tim. "Make Room In Cooperstwon." Sports Illustrated 6 Aug. 1990: p59 Newman, Charles. "George Brett has Something to prove." Sport June 1985 p40 Word Count: 1651
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