No team logo on HOF plaque for Maddux, La Russa
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Greg Maddux and Tony La Russa will not have any logos on the caps of their Hall of Fame plaques.
The decision was announced Thursday by officials from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
According to HOF officials, Joe Torre’s plaque will have the logo of the New York Yankees. Plaques for Tom Glavine and Bobby Cox will have Atlanta Braves logos, and Frank Thomas will have the logo of the Chicago White Sox on his plaque.
Maddux had two stints with the Chicago Cubs to begin and end his career, but spent his most successful seasons as a member of the Atlanta Braves. La Russa began his managerial career with the Chicago White Sox and won a World Series with Oakland and two more with St. Louis.
The six will be inducted during ceremonies on July 27 in Cooperstown. Each electee provided a statement about his cap selection, which was released today by HOF officials:
Tony La Russa: “The Chicago White Sox gave me my start in the game as a big league manager for my first eight seasons in my 33-year managerial career. In Oakland, we recorded four first-place finishes in 10 years, winning three pennants and a World Series. And in St. Louis, our clubs won three pennants and two titles in 16 years. It’s the totality of the success of each of those three teams that led me to Cooperstown, so I am choosing to not feature a logo so that fans of all clubs can celebrate this honor with me.”
Greg Maddux: “My wife Kathy and I grew up in baseball in Chicago, and then we had just an amazing experience in Atlanta with the Braves. It’s impossible for me to choose one of those teams for my Hall of Fame plaque, as the fans of both clubs in each of those cities were so wonderful. I can’t think of having my Hall of Fame induction without support of both of those fan bases, so, for that reason, the cap on my Hall of Fame plaque will not feature a logo.”
Frank Thomas: “I was drafted by Chicago in the first round and for 16 of my 19 seasons, I was fortunate to play there. I had wonderful seasons in Oakland and Toronto as part of my career, but my Hall of Fame election is celebrated most by the fans of Chicago and the priceless memories I will always treasure on the South Side, which is why my plaque will feature a Sox logo.”
Joe Torre: “I was lucky that my career took me only to great baseball towns. Every place where I played or managed is special to me because of the memories and the friendships that each afforded me. When I became the manager of the New York Yankees, it was an opportunity to realize my lifelong dream of winning the World Series. We were fortunate enough to succeed in our first season in 1996, and in the years that followed, we wrote some great new chapters in Yankee history. I am honored that I will wear the Yankee logo on my cap in Cooperstown to represent what our teams achieved together.”
Bobby Cox: “I was fortunate to manage 29 years in the major leagues in two wonderful cities in Toronto and Atlanta. I can’t imagine two better places for me to spend my managerial career. With 25 of those years in Atlanta, my Hall of Fame election is a direct result of all the success of those great Braves teams that were assembled.”
Tom Glavine: “During the course of my major league career, I had the opportunity to play for two great organizations. Though I spent five great years with the Mets, my baseball life has been defined by the city of Atlanta, from the club selecting me out of high school to where my family makes our home today. My path to Cooperstown was largely determined by my 17 major league seasons in a Braves uniform. I’m proud my Hall of Fame plaque will feature a Braves logo.”