Committee members didn't think he qualified as a former baseball executive.

"I guess they're hoping someone takes him," one of the baseball executives said.

He was named best baseball executive in the 1980s.

But after the committee of 14 former baseball executives, players and writers took its final vote in Tuesday's meeting, he never got that phone call.

The baseball executive believed the player was taking a performance-enhancing drug.

A committee member once explained that Miller did not qualify as a baseball executive.

They need the money, baseball executives said last week.

"Joe was reluctant to trade young players for established guys," a baseball executive said yesterday.

He is afraid it will damage his chance to someday be a baseball executive, perhaps a general manager.

Howsam first made a name for himself as a highly successful baseball executive.