If they get in, there will be no asterisk

In a couple of weeks, we’ll find out if Jerry Kramer will finally take his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In some ways, his story resembles that of Edgar Martinez, the former Seattle Mariners great who came up just a little short in the Baseball Hall of Fame balloting this past week.

Not in the numbers — though you can obviously make a case for both of them to get in on their own laurels.

What’s similar if that both are getting a boost through subtle and not-so-subtle campaigning from loved ones and other supporters, through the media and through social media.

While that’s nice, and it could eventually work, it’s also a little sad that it has to come down to that.

AT THIS rate, Kramer will be known more for NOT getting in the Hall of Fame than many of the people who are actually inducted.

Kramer grew up in Sandpoint, and starred at Sandpoint High and the University of Idaho before going on to a stellar pro career with the Green Bay Packers.

He’s known for much more than “The Block” in the Ice Bowl.

He played on five NFL title teams in Green Bay, including two Super Bowls. He was the right guard on the all-NFL team from the first 50 years.

He is one of two senior committee finalists this year for the Hall — he was also a senior committee finalist in 1997. He was a Hall of Fame finalist nine times between 1974 and ’87.

When I spoke with him last spring, he sounded like he’d had one heck of a life anyway, and was at peace with whatever happens — even if he never gets the call from the Hall.

But still, if the phone rang ...

Mariner lovers are aghast that Edgar is not in. Yes, he hit the most famous double in Mariners history, and by all accounts is an all-around good guy.

But none of his Mariner teams, despite all that talent, reached the World Series. They only made the playoffs four times.

Still, he was a career .312 hitter, and his other numbers seem to be Hall-worthy. And now that closers are getting voted in, why not designated hitters? In his heydey, like Rod Carew, it looked like he could measure the pitcher, get the pitch he wanted and smack a double down the line.

MAYBE IT shouldn’t matter if either one — or both — eventually get into the hall of fame in part because of nonstop campaining from well-wishers.

After all, it’s not like there would be an asterisk on their plaques that read, “Got in in part because people finally voted for them after being badgered for years.”

They’ll be in because they deserved it. It just took some voters a little while longer to realize that.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.