Weaver, Bunning Join Hall

Earl Weaver, the salty-tongued manager of the Baltimore Orioles, and Jim Bunning, the pitcher who became a blunt-speaking congressman, now have something to talk about.

They’ll get that chance this summer in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Weaver and Bunning were among four new members voted into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday by the Veterans Committee.

Negro Leagues pitcher Bill Foster and turn-of-the-century manager Ned Hanlon also were chosen by the 14-member panel.

“It’s something I didn’t ever think was ever going to pass,” said Weaver, who guided the Orioles to the World Series four times yet won only once. “I had a successful career, not necessarily a Hall of Fame career, but a successful career.”

Bunning, a U.S. representative from Kentucky, received a standing ovation when his selection was announced on the House floor.

“I’ve been retired from baseball 25 years,” said Bunning, a 224-game winner who felt he was snubbed by Hall voters in 1988. “None of the numbers that were on the back of my card have changed in that time. . . . It’s been a long waiting process. Thank God it happened while I was still on my feet.”

Nellie Fox also received the required 75% support for election. But because the committee is allowed to select only one modern-day major leaguer, he was left out when Bunning got more votes.

The new inductees will be enshrined on Aug. 4 in Cooperstown.

Foster was 137-62 for the Chicago American Giants, Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1923-37. He was considered one of the greatest left-handers in the Negro Leagues, winning more games than Satchel Paige and outpitching him in their many head-to-head matchups.

Hanlon won five pennants in a managing career from 1889-1907 and, like Weaver, achieved his greatest success in Baltimore with the turn-of-the-century Orioles.

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Baseball

THEY’RE IN: Earl Weaver and Jim Bunning were among four new members voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.

JIM BUNNING

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W-L SO ERA 17 Seasons 224-184 2855 3.27

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Won 100 games, pitched a no-hitter and struck out 1,000 in both AL and NL. Threw no-hitters in both leagues. Ranked second in career strikeouts when retired in 1971.

EARL WEAVER

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W-L Pen. Pct. 17 Seasons 1480-1060 4 .583

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Managed Baltimore Orioles for 17 seasons. Only 12th manager elected to Hall. His .583 winning percentage ranks fifth on career list of managers with 10 or more years since 1900.

NED HANLON

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W-L Pen. Pct. 19 Seasons 1315-1164 5 .530

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Manager from 1889-1907. As player, helped introduce baseball worldwide with 32,000-mile global tour in 1888.

BILL FOSTER

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W-L SO ERA 15 Seasons 137-62 734 NA

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Top left-handed pitcher who won more games than Satchel Paige and led the league in strikeouts four times.