Having seen the gates of baseball's Hall of Fame slam shut in his face for a sixth time, Tony Perez is beginning to suspect they may never open for him.
The former Reds great reacted strongly Monday night after Phil Niekro was the only player to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Perez, 54, received 312 votes from the 473 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America possessing a ballot. Candidates need 75 percent of the vote for enshrinement, but Perez, with 65.96 percent, fell 43 votes short. Niekro received 380 votes (80.34 percent) and 324-game winner Don Sutton garnered 346 votes (73.15 percent).
Last year, when nobody was elected to the Hall, Perez muted his depression. This year was different.
While Niekro's vote total soared from last year, Perez's barely budged from 309.
Moreover, Sutton, who attracted 300 votes last year, vaulted past Perez.
''I'm very disappointed, this year more than ever,'' said Perez. ''Nothing against Phil Niekro - he should be in, and I'm happy for him. But (Don) Sutton and myself, we should be in, too.
''They didn't take anybody last year - it was like, 'This year, we have to take somebody,' so they took Phil.''
Perez's backers cite his consistency (11 consecutive seasons with 90 RBI or more, from 1967-77). Perez is 18th on the career RBI list.
But he wondered whether any of that means anything.
''I don't really feel like they're even looking at me as a candidate,'' said the .279 lifetime hitter said from his home in Puerto Rico.
Perez said the qualities he displayed as a player might be dooming his Hall of Fame candidacy. Content to allow Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan to receive most of the credit for the Big Red Machine, Perez might be struggling for recognition now.
''The writers never gave me any credit,'' Perez said. ''They're still doing that.''
Perez was asked if he'd accept an organized campaign on his behalf, as some groups and ballclubs have mounted for others.
''I'd take anything. I want to get into the Hall,'' he said. ''Anybody want to do anything for me, that's fine with me. Because I think I should be in. I want to be in with those select players.''
Perez, who currently serves as director of international relations and special assistant to the general manager with the Florida Marlins, will remain on the ballot for nine more years. Based on this year's vote, he and Sutton have a decent chance to earn admission next year, when no significant candidates join the eligibility list.
But the ballot will become crowded with some glittering new names in 1999, including George Brett, Carlton Fisk, Nolan Ryan and Robin Yount.
'A DAY OF A DREAM' FOR NIEKRO
