Twelve entire seasons.

And when he left, it wasn’t because another team made him a better offer in free agency. It’s because he was TRADED away! You want to talk about being upset?

This kind of thing happens in baseball, as well as other professional sports, all the time. Every year there’s competition for a top free agent or draft pick, there’s jockeying for position at the trade deadline for difference-makers and players-to-be-named-later. But every once-in-a-while, a player’s move from one team to another shakes a fan base to the core.

This was one of those times.

Last year, there was a lot of talk last year during the off-season about whether or not Derek Jeter was going to return to the Yankees. Negotiations went back-and-forth (goodness, what is it with me using all these hyphenated phrases this week?!), but in the end, the captain ended up in pinstripes like he was supposed to. The Yankees are the only team Jeter can play for, right? Like some kind of baseball code that keeps the universe from imploding, it just had to work out that way. Well, it did.

But, it doesn’t work that way every time.

After all, Roy Oswalt left the Astros in 2010 after being with them since they drafted him in 1996. I’ve already mentioned Berkman’s history. Chipper Jones was drafted by the Braves more than 20 years ago, in the 1990 draft, and has never spent a single day with another organization. Imagine how Atlanta fans would feel if he ever left. Also drafted in 1990, Jorge Posada. The Yankees made Posada their 24th round pick that year, and he’s been in their system ever since. Of course, that may change relatively soon, but possibly due to retirement rather than joining another ballclub. It’s hard to imagine these players in any other uniform, but doing so doesn’t completely unnerve you. Does it? You probably think about those scenarios a little bit differently than you did when you went to bed Wednesday night.

Here’s a portion of one of the text messages I got received during a “text conversation” on Thursday, from someone with whom I’m very close. He said, “I’m sitting here letting this soak in, and – [not fit to print]! Do you realize we just lost our Musial? No legend to tell our grandkids “these guys today aren’t like Pujols was…” makes it deeper to me, didn’t realize how [badly] I wanted that I guess…”

For years, even when I was a kid, people have made reference to how there aren’t any Cal Ripken Jrs left, the Tony Gywnns of the world are a dying breed. We’ve all been hearing that for years, and have seen it proven time and again, when a player leaves the team they’ve been with for years to join a new club.

I think about Jonah Keri, and losing your favorite TEAM altogether aside, how he must feel when he sees former Expos players go into the Hall of Fame wearing another team’s cap. Unfortunately for him, it’s a feeling that he has to endure over and over and over again. From Pete Rose to Pedro Martinez to Andre Dawson, Tim Raines (?), Larry Walker (?)…etc, Jonah’s personal hell is revived every January and July. I used to consider that, and think, “Bummer.”, then move on.

But, it’s different when it’s your guy.

Scouted by one of the top 100 (by nearly everyone’s count) baseball men of all time, Buck O’Neil, Smith’s career as a top closer is strewn with accolades that are sure to impress anyone. Anyone, apparently, except for at least 331 members of the BBWAA who have HOF voting privileges. Lee received just 45.3% of the votes last year, falling short of the 75% required for HOF induction. 2012 will mark his 10th year of eligibility on the ballot.Facts surrounding the career Lee Arthur Smith:

• He held the career saves record from 1993 to 2006, when HOFfman passed him (see what I did there?)
• From 1983 to 1995 (13 seasons), he saved fewer than 29 games exactly once (1989)
• From 1985 to 1990 (6 straight seasons), he averaged >1K/IP (HOF Gossage’s max, 4)
• He recorded his first save in 1981, at the time the MLB record for career saves was 272
• He recorded his last save in 1997, at which time the record was his, at 478
• Since his departure from the game, Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers, and Bruce Sutter have all been elected to the Hall of Fame

Current Hall of Famer closers include: Gossage, Fingers, Sutter, Wilhelm, and Eckersley. For the sake of argument, I’ll toss Hoffman and Rivera into the mix of guys with whom I’ll compare Lee’s numbers.

Career Saves:

1. Rivera (603, and counting),
2. Hoffman (601)
3. Smith (478)
4. Eckersley (390)
5. Fingers (341)
6. Gossage (310)
7. Sutter (300)
8. Wilhelm (227, ten behind Ugueth Urbina)

Career Games Finished:

1. Rivera (883)
2. Hoffman (856)
3. Smith (802)
4. Fingers (709)
5. Gossage (681)
6. Wilhelm (651)
7. Eckersley (577)
8. Sutter (512)

Obviously, the numbers I’ve put before you today don’t tell the whole story. We all know that you can usually present numbers in such a way to make them tell the story you want them to tell. You have to dig a little deeper to get the entire story. Consider that the very role of closer is something that’s relatively new, in terms of comparing to other “positions” like shortstop or left fielder. That’s a factor in comparing these men to each other.

Does the fact that Sutter needed only 512 games finished to collect 300 saves (.586) speak to how lights-out he must’ve been when taking the mound? It certainly tells part of that story. Isn’t it interesting that Hoyt Wilhelm finished 651 games, but complied only 237 career saves (.364)? If that doesn’t make you think a little bit, I’m not sure what would–he’s in Cooperstown, for crying out loud! Check out some of the rankings and compare career numbers of closers, and I assure you you’ll find some very interesting things!

My point is that if you don’t think Lee Smith belongs in the Hall of Fame, maybe you’re looking at a different set of numbers than I am. And just so it doesn’t go unsaid, Lee Smith was absolutely among the most dominant men at his position for a sustained period of time during his era. (I know some folks out there, that’s a big factor for HOF consideration.)

The question should not be, “Does Lee Smith belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame?”. After spending time with the cubs, Red Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Reds, and Expos, the only question should be, “Which hat will he be wearing in his plaque?”.