Las Vegas -For the likes of Ron Santo and Joe Torre, the doors to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown remained closed Monday.
The results of the latest balloting by the Hall's two veterans committees were announced and the lone inductee was Joe Gordon, a second baseman for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians who played from 1938-'50. Gordon was elected by a 12-member panel composed of Hall members and historians who studied pre-1943 players. But another group consisting of the 64 living Hall of Fame players didn't come close to electing anyone who played after World War II.
It was the fourth consecutive time no one was elected by the players, once again disappointing Santo, Torre, Tony Oliva, Gil Hodges and Jim Kaat. It took 75%, or 48 votes, for election, and Santo did the best with 39, followed by Kaat with 38.
"I believe there are some guys out there that belong in the Hall of Fame," said Joe Morgan, one of the Hall of Famers casting a vote. "I think all of the players feel there are some guys out there who belong.
"The problem is we can't find 75% that agree that one guy is the guy, or two guys, or three guys, or whatever."
Gordon, who died in 1978, was a nine-time all-star who played on five World Series champs and was the American League MVP in 1942, beating Triple Crown winner Ted Williams. He received 10 votes, one more than needed from that panel.
Maddux makes it official: Right-hander Greg Maddux, a certain Hall of Famer five years from now, made his retirement official in a news conference at the Bellagio.
"I really just came out there today to say thank you," said Maddux, who won 355 games over 23 seasons. "It's going to be hard to walk away, obviously, but it's time. I still think I can play the game but not as well as I'd like to."
Maddux, 42, was accompanied by several family members, including brother Mike, who recently left the Milwaukee Brewers' staff to become pitching coach of the Texas Rangers. He ranks eighth on the career victory list and was a four-time Cy Young Award winner with a 3.16 earned run average, and won a record 18 Gold Gloves.
Tigers acquire Laird: The Detroit Tigers acquired catcher Gerald Laird from Texas in exchange for pitching prospects Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo.
The Tigers filled another need when they agreed with free-agent shortstop Adam Everett on a one-year deal. Edgar Renteria, who was Detroit's starter at short, recently signed a two-year free-agent deal with San Francisco.
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