Molitor takes in tour of Hall of Fame

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Walking through the National Baseball Hall of Fame surrounded by the game's history, Paul Molitor paused to consider his ideal lineup.

"I'd have to have (Babe) Ruth hitting fourth, probably hit (Hank) Aaron third, and in a surprise managerial strategy I'll put (Willie) Mays second," Molitor said during a tour of the Hall of Fame on Friday.

And in the leadoff spot? Molitor glanced over his shoulder at the Ty Cobb's plaque before answering.

"I think I'd have to pull myself out of the lineup and put Cobb on top," he said.

Molitor doesn't have to apologize for throwing his name among those of baseball's greats. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer along with pitcher Dennis Eckersley.

In a 21-season career spent mostly with the Milwaukee Brewers, Molitor finished with 3,319 hits — the eighth-highest total in history. He joined Toronto as a free agent after the 1992 season and was the MVP of the 1993 World Series when the Blue Jays beat the Phillies.

After three seasons in Toronto, he joined his hometown Minnesota Twins, reaching the 3,000-hit mark in 1996.

During his get-acquainted tour of Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame, Molitor paid particular attention to some of his contemporaries already enshrined, including Dave Winfield, Kirby Puckett and longtime Milwaukee teammate Robin Yount.

"It's an honor to follow Robin in as a Brewer," Molitor said. "He taught me just as much as anybody about the game."

In 1982, he and Yount led the Brewers to their only World Series appearance, when they lost in seven games to St. Louis. Molitor set a record with five hits in the series opener.

He finished his career with 234 homers, 605 doubles, 504 stolen bases and a .306 batting average.

During his tour of the Hall of Fame, Molitor got to hold one of Ruth's bats. But the day's highlight was standing in the Plaque Gallery, which he said gave him an "extra vibration in the spine."

"Walking in this room is a different feeling. It's much more than the equipment. It's where the fraternity has assembled," Molitor said.

The Brewers have never had a winning season without Molitor, either before his arrival in 1978 or since his departure in 1992.