What in the world was taking so long for Billy Southworth to get elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame?

That's what Ray Mileur, who lives in Herrin and is originally from Murphysboro, was wondering back in 2003 when Southworth's name was left off the ballot.

Southworth won two World Series Championships as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1942 and 1944. He claimed four National League pennants, including one as the skipper of the Boston Braves in 1948. His 1,044-744 record is the fifth highest all-time winning percentage at just under 60 percent.

Southworth passed away in 1969 and his family had to wait nearly 40 years to finally witness his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Mileur, who is the President and CEO of the Mileur Media Group, begin blogging and writing articles on his numerous websites in 2003 in support of Southworth.

"I wondered why he was being ignored by baseball's hall of fame," Mileur said. "I thought it was a great tragedy and injustice. I wrote the baseball offices about him being left off the ballot and some of our fans did as well."

Southworth's daughter, Carole Southworth Watson, contacted Mileur to tell him she appreciated all of his effort to get her father's name on the ballot.

"She was touched that I was the only one in the nation speaking out about the travesty of him being left off the ballot in 2003," Mileur said. "His name being left off the ballot was just basically more than they could take."

Southworth was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame last week in Cooperstown, N.Y. Mileur was there to witness the event.

Several months before the induction was to take place, the family wanted Mileur to make the acceptance speech.

"His daughter contacted me and wanted to know if I would make the acceptance speech on behalf of the family," Mileur said. "The family took a vote and said they wanted me to make it because I was someone that actually knew his career and had some passion for his life history."

Mileur didn't end up making the speech because the president of the Hall of Fame wanted Bill DeWitt, Jr., the principal owner and managing partner of the St. Louis Cardinals, to do the honors.

"I thought that was appropriate because of his position with the Cardinals organization," Mileur said. "No matter who made the speech all that matters is Billy is in the Hall of Fame, and that's what counts."

An interesting aspect of DeWitt making the speech is that Southworth's 1944 Cardinals defeated the St. Louis Browns in the World Series. The Browns' general manager at that time was DeWitt's father.

"I believe if Billy Southworth hadn't taken over the Cardinals in the 40s we might not have them there today because the Cardinals were in financial trouble before he got there," Mileur said. "But the Browns left town instead of the Cardinals."

Despite not being able to give the induction speech, Mileur still had a great time watching Southworth finally get his due.

"It was just the satisfaction of seeing him get his rightful place in baseball history and seeing his plaque being put up," Mileur said. "We met members of the Southworth family from all over and being able to share that moment with them was special."

scott.mees@thesouthern.com

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