Tagged: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original
In the argument for who the greatest baseball player of all time is, there always seems to be one name missing. Rickey Henderson. The all-time leader in Stolen Bases and Runs scored, over 3,000 Hits, and the single season Stolen Base record is somehow excluded from the discussion. The difference between Henderson’s 1,406 Stolen Bases and second place, Lou Brock’s 938, would rank as the 47th most career Stolen Bases. His complete domination on the bases is unlike anything ever seen in baseball. Howard Bryant explores the Man of Steal on and off the diamond in Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original.
There will never be another Rickey Henderson. His abilities on the diamond are unlike anyone before him, and almost certainly anyone after him. After getting on base, often thanks to his expert eye on the strike zone, everyone knew he was going to steal. Literally everyone from the parking attendant, hot dog vendor, scoreboard operator, pitcher, and catcher. It was a matter of time before Henderson took off. When he was in flight it was a thing of beauty. A walk would quickly turn into a Double or Triple. He disrupted the game and forced the defense to focus on him and not the batter.
Henderson’s career coincided with the flourishing of free agency. He always focused on receiving the salary he was worth. This rubbed many people the wrong way, but Rickey did not care. He knew his worth and wanted the dollars to prove it. His lengthy career saw Henderson go from Rookie phenom to a perceived arrogant super star to the wise veteran. He was all of these things and more. His singular focus on assaulting the record books took him to Cooperstown. Along the way, Rickey never forgot his Oakland roots. Despite playing away from Oakland for more than a decade, Henderson always returned home. A proud product of Oakland to a star in the Bronx under immense pressure of the media and George Steinbrenner then returning home and becoming a journeyman willing to help any team make a deep run in the Postseason. Rickey Henderson’s baseball life had more lives than a cat.
Longevity is a sign that a player is healthy, has a dominant skill, or is able to reinvent themselves. Rickey Henderson did all three. He was hounded by accusations that he only played when he wanted, but Henderson knew when his body needed rest. Henderson’s dominant skills were his speed on the bases, his eagle eye for the strike zone, and later the power in his bat. Pitchers had to throw him a strike or he would not swing. If they threw him a strike he had the power to send the baseball into the seats. Rickey Henderson was a problem. He was a combination of speed and power that only exists in video games. He always found a way to impact the game and remain in the game after his contemporaries retired. Henderson’s talents on the diamond were as undeniable as his motivation and persistence. Time is undefeated, but its fight against Rickey was one of its toughest battles.
Howard Bryant tells a more complete story of Rickey Henderson in Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original. Separating the man from the myth and legend is no easy task. Few athletes have been as puzzling and electrifying as Rickey Henderson. Accepting that there can be truth in every story and then figuring out what is and is not the truth takes time and patience. Bryant’s writing takes readers on a journey through Henderson’s quarter century racing around a diamond. He examines Henderson’s legacy, and the ugliness that race has played in the creation and continuation of the myths about Rickey. He is a one of a kind athlete. Howard Bryant’s skillful writing captures Rickey Henderson perfectly. Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original is a beautifully written book. It receives an 8, a Home Run.
DJ
United States of Baseball- Utah
Utah is pushing to someday have a Major League team. While they wait, the Beehive State continues to grow its baseball tradition. The United States of Baseball is important for baseball powerhouses like California and Florida, and for less prodigious baseball states like Utah and its 43 Major League players. The greatest pitcher born in Utah is Bruce Hurst. His 34.52 career WAR is the 42nd highest among state and territory pitching leaders. The greatest position player born in the Beehive State is Duke Sims. His 12.78 career WAR is the 51st highest among state and territory position player leaders. Utah has a combined 47.30 WAR, ranking the Beehive State 50th among all states and territories.
There is always a first. The first player ever drafted from Utah was Bruce Hurst. The St. George native was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st Round, 22nd overall, of the 1976 MLB Draft. The crafty Lefty pitched 15 seasons with 4 teams: Boston Red Sox (1980-1988), San Diego Padres (1989-1993), Colorado Rockies (1993), and Texas Rangers (1994). Hurst pitched in 379 career Games, made 359 Starts, 5 Games Finished, with 83 Complete Games, 23 Shutouts, 2,417.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,463 Hits, 1,143 Runs, 1,052 Earned Runs, 740 Walks, 1,689 Strikeouts, posted a 145-113 record, with a 3.92 ERA, 1.325 WHIP, and 104 ERA+. He has the second most Wins at Fenway Park with 57, behind only Mel Parnell’s 71. Hurst was the third pitcher to record 1,000 career Strikeouts with the Red Sox. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004. He left Boston in Free Agency after the 1988 season after the Front Office played hardball and told him to test the open market. This was during the Owner’s Collusion to stamp out free agency. Ultimately Hurst signed with the Padres. His 1987 All Star selection remains Utah’s only trip to the Mid-Summer Classic. He is also the Beehive State leader in Wins, Losses, Games Started, Complete Games, Shutouts, Innings Pitched, Hits, Runs, Earned Runs, Home Runs, Walks, and Strikeouts. After retiring he served as a coach and scout internationally for Major League Baseball in Italy and Latin America, and as the Pitching Coach for the Chinese National Baseball team in 2005-2006 and 2012-2013.
The best season of Hurst’s career came with the 1989 Padres. He pitched in 33 Games, made 33 Starts, threw 10 Complete Games, including 2 Shutouts, in 244.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 214 Hits, 84 Runs, 73 Earned Runs, 66 Walks, 179 Strikeouts, posted a 15-11 record, with a 2.69 ERA, 1.144 WHIP, and 131 ERA+. Hurst led the National League in Complete Games. He also set career bests in Games Started, Innings Pitched, and ERA. The Padres finished just 3 Games Behind the San Francisco Giants for the National League West Division title.
Hurst pitched in three Postseason series: 1986 and 1988 American League Championship Series and 1986 World Series. He pitched in 7 Postseason Games, made 7 Starts, threw 3 Complete Games, in 51 Innings Pitched, allowed 46 Hits, 14 Runs, 13 Earned Runs, 12 Walks, 37 Strikeouts, posted a 3-2 record, with a 2.29 ERA, and 1.137 WHIP. Hurst nearly pitched the Red Sox to a World Series title against the Mets. He Started Games 1, 5, and 7. He threw 8 Shutout Innings in the Red Sox Game 1 victory. He pitched a Complete Game victory in Game 5. In Game 7, Hurst pitched 6 Innings and allowed 3 Earned Runs. When he left the game the score was tied 3-3, before the Mets pulled away for an 8-5 victory. Boston needed to win one of the final two games, but The Curse of the Bambino was stronger than Hurst’s Left Arm.
Duane “Duke” Sims made a career as a solid backstop. The Salt Lake City native played 11 seasons with 5 teams: Cleveland Indians (1964-1970), Los Angeles Dodgers (1971-1972), Detroit Tigers (1972-1973), New York Yankees (1973-1974), and Texas Rangers (1974). Sims played in 843 career Games, scored 263 Runs, collected 580 Hits, 80 Doubles, 6 Triples, 100 Home Runs, 310 RBI, 6 Stolen Bases, drawing 338 Walks, 483 Strikeouts, posting a .239 BA, .340 OBP, .401 SLG, .741 OPS, 112 OPS+, and 972 Total Bases. His most famous Home Run came on September 30, 1973 off of Fred Holdsworth. Sims hit the final Home Run at Yankee Stadium before the House That Ruth Built closed for two seasons for extensive renovations. Sims is Utah’s all-time leader in career Games Played, Plate Appearances, At Bats, Runs scored, Hits, Double, Home Runs, RBI, Walks, and Strikeouts. Career success is measured in many ways.
The best season of Sims’ career came with the 1970 Cleveland Indians. He played in 110 Games, scored 46 Runs, collected 91 Hits, including 12 Doubles, 23 Home Runs, 56 RBI, drew 46 Walks, 59 Strikeouts, .264 BA, .360 OBP, .499 SLG, .859 OPS, 131 OPS+, and 172 Total Bases. Sims set career best in Hits, Home Runs, RBI, SLG, OPS, and Total Bases. That Winter, Cleveland traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Alan Foster and Ray Lamb.
Sims played in one Postseason series, the 1972 American League Championship Series with the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers lost in five games. Sims played in 4 Games, collected 3 Hits, 2 Doubles, 1 Triple, drew 1 Walk, 2 Strikeouts, with a .214 BA, .267 OBP, .500 SLG, .767 OPS, and 7 Total Bases. October can be a mystery for some teams.
No Utah native has been elected to the Hall of Fame. Bruce Hurst appeared on the 2000 Hall of Fame ballot and received one vote (0.2%). Duke Sims appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1980, but received no votes. As the state produces more Major League quality players, Cooperstown should eventually get its first member from the Beehive State. Next the United States of Baseball returns to New England and The Green Mountain State. Vermont is next.
DJ
Missing #4- Kid Elberfeld
You can dedicate your life to baseball and have a dramatic impact on people and the game. However, this does not mean you are destined for Cooperstown. Norman Arthur Elberfeld grew up in Cincinnati, cheering for the Reds and made a name for himself on local diamonds. The Tabasco Kid, or Kid, played primarily Shortstop for 14 seasons with six teams: Philadelphia Phillies (1898), Cincinnati Reds (1899), Detroit Tigers (1901-1903), New York Highlanders (1903-1909), Washington Nationals (1910-1911), and Brooklyn Dodgers (1914). He spent the 1908 season as the Player-Manager for the New York Highlanders, guiding them to a 27-71 record, .276 WL%. Elberfeld was a much better Major League player than manager.
Elberfeld appeared on the 1936 Hall of Fame ballot. This came after a career in which he played in 1,292 Games, scored 647 Runs, collected 1,235 Hits, including 169 Doubles, 56 Triples, 10 Home Runs, 535 RBI, 213 Stolen Bases, drew 427 Walks, 166 Strikeouts, posted a .271 BA, .355 OBP, .339 SLG, .694 OPS, and 106 OPS+. Elberfeld turned Hit By the Pitch into an art form. His 165 Hit By Pitches still ranks 19th all time.
Defensively, Elberfeld played in 1,265 Games, made 1,196 Starts, 1,135 Complete Games, 10,835 Innings, had 6,993 Chances, made 2,681 Putouts, with 3,774 Assists, committed 538 Errors, .923 FLD%, 5.36 RF/9, and 5.10 RF/G. He was fearless, never shying away from confrontation. Elberfeld wore a whalebone shin guard after being spiked multiple times while turning Double Plays. His aggression towards opposing players and umpires, leading to multiple injuries, fights, and suspensions.
The best season of Elberfeld’s career came with the 1901 Detroit Tigers. He played in 121 Games, scored 76 Runs, collected 133 Hits, including 21 Doubles, 11 Triples, 3 Home Runs, 76 RBI, 23 Stolen Bases, drew 57 Walks, 18 Strikeouts, with a .308 BA, .397 OBP, .428 SLG, .825 OPS, and 125 OPS+. Elberfeld posted career bests in Triples, Home Runs, RBI, BA, SLG, and OPS. Despite the great start, Elberfeld failed to build a Hall of Fame career.
The game continues to change so it is only appropriate to compare Elberfeld to his contemporaries who were elected to Cooperstown. There are 26 Hall of Fame Shortstops, of which six played during the Dead Ball Era. The average Dead Ball Era Shortstop played 19 seasons, 2,078 career Games, scored 1,253 Runs, collected 2,286 Hits, including 369 Doubles, 143 Triples, 47 Home Runs, 1,131 RBI, 463 Stolen Bases, drew 633 Walks, 499 Strikeouts, with a .290 BA, .350 OBP, .388 SLG, .738 OPS, 113 OPS+, and 69.4 WAR. These Shortstops played their way into the Hall of Fame. Kid Elberfeld did not. He was only better by having 333 fewer Strikeouts and a .005 higher OBP. It is not a close comparison.
Kid Elberfeld was a true baseball man, spending time as a coach, scout, mentor, and teacher. He was good for the game, but not a Hall of Famer. On the 1936 ballot, Elberfeld received 1 vote, 0.4%. He was tied for the 39th most votes on the ballot. He would appear on the Hall of Fame ballot five times, peaking with 0.8% in both 1938 and 1945. The Hall of Fame voters got it right. Kid Elberfeld does not deserve to be enshrined in Cooperstown. Sometimes the value of an honor is shown through those not receiving it.
DJ
Reaching Your Goal
Are you part of the nearly half of New Year’s Resolutioners that have given up? Or are you one of the less than 10% who will be successful? Life is hard, keep working towards your dreams. Ron Wright never gave up. He fought for what he wanted. All of his hard work eventually paid off.
Ron Wright was selected in the 7th Round of the 1994 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves from Kamiakin High School in Kennewick, Washington. He played two and a half seasons in the Braves minor league system. Wright spent 1994 with the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League Braves, 1995 with the Single A Macon Braves, and 1996 with the High A Durham Bulls and Double A Greenville Braves before an August trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wright now set his sights on the Steel City. He finished 1996 with the Double A Carolina Mudcats and spent 1997 with the Triple A Calgary Cannons. 1998 was a lost season as Wright appeared in only 20 Games, 17 with the Triple A Nashville Sounds and 3 with the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League Pirates. 1999 was equally frustrating, playing only 24 Games for the Double A Altoona Curve. In October, the Cincinnati Reds selected Wright off waivers. His aim moved further down the Ohio River. Wright spent 2000 with the Double A Chattanooga Lookouts and Triple A Louisville RiverBats. In November, Wright signed as a Minor League free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He spent the season back with the Durham Bulls, now a Triple A team. Again a Minor League free agent, Wright signed with the Seattle Mariners for the 2002 season. He began the season with the Triple A Tacoma Rainiers. Ron Wright had played eight Minor League seasons with 12 different teams.
Heading into the 2002 season Wright had played in 666 Minor League games. He hit .261 with 121 Home Runs, 453 RBI, and 361 Runs scored in 2,729 Plate Appearances. Wright had played at every level, Rookie Ball to Triple A. He fought through injuries and the ups and downs of professional baseball. Wright remained one step away from the Majors. The trip from Cheney Stadium to Safeco Field is only 35 miles, but Wright kept fighting to make that drive.
The bad news in Seattle was future Hall of Fame Edgar Martinez was hurt running to First. Martinez’s injury put a damper on the Mariners early season success. Edgar’s injury was bad news for everyone except Minor League journeyman Ron Wright. He finally got the call to the Big Leagues. The years of toil had paid off. He was heading to the show.
It was a pleasant afternoon in Arlington, Texas. It was 76℉ and overcast. Ron Wright had made it to the Majors on Sunday, April 14, 2002. The Mariners were on the road, playing the Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington. 32,866 fans watched as Seattle’s John Halama faced off against Texas’ Kenny Rogers. Ron Wright was the DH, batting 7th for the Mariners. All was right in the world.
In the Top of the 2nd, Ron Wright strolled to the plate. This was the moment he had worked so hard for, his first Major League At Bat. Ruben Sierra was standing on Second after a lead off Single and a John Olerud Walk. Wright stepped in the Right Handed Batters Box looking to add to the Mariners 1-0 lead. Kenny Rogers rocked and fired. In the blink of an eye, Wright was walking back to the dugout. Striking out looking on three pitches was not how Wright envisioned his first At Bat in the Big Leagues, but he had stamped his name in the record books as playing in a Major League game. There would be more chances.
The next opportunity for Wright came in the Top of the 4th. Seattle still clung to its 1-0 lead, and Wright could extend the lead. He again came up with Sierra and Olerud on base. Sierra led off with a Double and moved to Third on Olerud’s Single. Wright worked the count to 2-2. On the fifth pitch he swung. The ball bounced to Rogers on the mound who fired to Alex Rodriguez coming over from Shortstop to cover Second for the first Out. Rodriguez then threw home to Catcher Bill Haselman who chased Sierra back towards Third. He tossed the ball to Third Baseman Hank Blalock who chased Sierra back towards Home. Blalock tossed the ball to Rogers who tagged Sierra for the second Out. During the rundown Wright reached First and was advancing towards Second. He was never known for his speed, just nine Stolen Bases in the Minors. After tagging Sierra, Rogers threw to Second Baseman Michael Young who tagged Wright coming into Second for the third Out. The 1-6-2-5-1-4 Triple Play killed the rally, and made Wright’s debut memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Baseball is about dealing with failure. There are few failures like hitting into a Triple Play. Baseball does not give you long to dwell on your failures. In the Top of the 6th, Wright came up for the third time. He was patient in his first two At Bats, but not this time. The Mariners were trailing 2-1. Again Ruben Sierra was on Second and John Olerud on First. On the first pitch from Rogers, Wright hit the ball to Shortstop Alex Rodriguez to start a Double Play. Sierra moved to Third, but the rally was dead. The frustrating day continued.
Ron Wright never got that fourth At Bat. Manager Lou Piniella sent up Pinch Hitter Mark McLemore in the 7th Inning. His Major League debut was complete. Wright had three At Bats against Kenny Rogers. He saw nine pitches. Made six Outs. The Mariners won 9-7. The game took 3 hours and 39 minutes. Before the Mariners returned to the field on Monday Ron Wright was back in the Minors. He never returned to the Majors. Wright’s Major League career took less time than it takes to watch Gone With The Wind.
Was it worth it? Despite one of the worst possible debuts, Ron Wright can proudly say he was a Major League Baseball player. Only 18,039 players before him earned that title. While his career was not what he hoped, Wright made it to the top. He kept grinding. He kept going. The baseball gods rewarded his lifetime of work with one of the strangest days ever on a baseball field. Keep working towards your goals.
DJ
Bucky: A Story of Baseball in the Deadball Era
Baseball is well covered in literature. The obsession with America’s Pastime has produced many great books. Bucky: A Story of Baseball in the Deadball Era by Fred Veil is no exception. The book is a work of fiction that uses the available historical record to follow Fred “Bucky” Veil through his professional baseball career.
Bucky Veil found his way to the Major Leagues like many players in the early years of baseball, through skill and luck. Veil was skilled at getting batters out. Pitching for local teams his abilities were undeniable. He began moving up from local leagues to bigger and bigger leagues until the Pittsburgh Pirates signed him.
The Pirates were coming off a dominant 1902 season in which they easily won the National League Pennant. Early in the season, Bucky felt like he did not belong among these great players. However, like most Rookies, this began to change the better he played. In 1903, Veil pitched in 12 Games, Made 6 Starts, Finished 6 Games, threw 4 Complete Games, with 70.2 Innings Pitched, 35 Runs allowed, 30 Earned Runs, 1 Home Run, 36 Walks, 20 Strikeouts, against 298 Batters Faced, while posting a 5-3 Record, 3.82 ERA, and 1.500 WHIP. Bucky made 1 Start between May 31 and August 2 due to illness. It looked like he was beginning a great career.
Unfortunately, Malaria derailed Bucky’s career. Veil pitched in only one Major League game in 1904. Bad luck hinders many careers. After a year off the mound, Veil returned to pitch for the 1905 and 1906 Columbus Senators of the American Association. He did well, but his time in the Major Leagues was over.
The story of Bucky Veil’s baseball career is presented in an unique way. Fred Veil writes about his grandfather’s baseball career. This familiar connection allows for a closer connection regarding Veil’s personal life away from the diamond. The humanizing of Veil as he meets and marries his wife and begins his life away from his hometown helps connect readers with the players. We face many of the same challenges, but ballplayers do it under an ever increasing microscope.
Fred Veil mixes in accurate information with a fictionalized account of his grandfather’s life, including Bucky’s interactions with future Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke, and Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss. This blending of fact and fiction create an entertaining story about a player that could easily be lost to history. Readers can simply enjoy the story and fully immerse themselves in this baseball book that is written like so few others.
Bucky: A Story of Baseball in the Deadball Era by Fred Veil is an entertaining read. It helps baseball readers who may not venture into the fiction section very often, expand their literary horizons. Fred Veil has written an excellent book, for which his grandfather would be proud. Fred Veil gives baseball readers something new to enjoy. Bucky: A Story of Baseball in the Deadball Era earns a 7 out of 10, a Triple.
DJ
Hall of Fame Class of 2024
The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 has been announced. Adrian Beltre, Joe Mauer, and Todd Helton will be joining Jim Leyland in Cooperstown this Summer. Beltre and Mauer are first ballot Hall of Famers, while it took Helton six ballots. Regardless how long it takes a player to reach 75% of the vote, they are a Hall of Famer. They are forever enshrined with the legends of baseball.
Billy Wagner almost joined Leyland, Beltre, Mauer, and Helton falling just five votes short. 2025 will be Wagner’s 10th and final chance to reach Cooperstown. He should head to the Hall of Fame next Summer. He may not be Mariano Rivera, but he has earned his place among the greats of the game.
Gary Sheffield will not be on the ballot next year. He is not heading to Cooperstown. He has exhausted his 10 years of Hall of Fame eligibility. Sheffield has the numbers to be a Hall of Famer. He played 22 seasons, 2,576 Games, scored 1,636 Runs, collected 2,689 Hits, including 467 Doubles, 27 Triples, 509 Home Runs, 1,676 RBI, with 253 Stolen Bases, drew 1,475 Walks, 1,171 Strikeouts, posted a .292 BA, .393 OBP, .514 SLG, .907 OPS, 140 OPS+, and 4,737 Total Bases. Sheffield is a nine time All Star, won five Silver Sluggers, the 1992 National League Batting Title, and the 1997 World Series. His wiggling bat is one of the most recognizable in baseball history. The one thing Sheffield could never shake is the connection to PEDs, which have haunted his candidacy. One of the great hitters in baseball history is not heading to Cooperstown and it is a shame.
Reaching the Hall of Fame is not meant for everyone. Eight players failed to receive the 5% to stay on the ballot. Victor Martinez, Jose Bautista, Bartolo Colon, Matt Holliday, Adrian Gonzalez, Brandon Philips, Jose Reyes, and James Shields are not heading to Cooperstown, but these eight players were among the best players of their generation. Players like Bautista and Colon are beloved, but this does not warrant their enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. They fall into the Hall of the Very Good.
The Class of 2024 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 21 in Cooperstown. Get the tissues ready. Minnesota and Colorado fans have reason to celebrate. Beltre’s election is cause for celebration in Texas and the Dominican Republic. It will be a great day for baseball.
DJ
The Winning Run 2024 Hall of Fame Ballot
The beginning of the new year means it is time for the annual debate about who is and is not a Hall of Famer. Ultimately only the opinions of Hall of Fame voters matter. They decide who goes to Cooperstown. The BBWAA is the sole voting body for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Voters must be a member of the BBWAA and meet the following eligibility requirements.
Hall of Fame Voter Eligibility
- Any member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) who has been an active member for ten years.
- The BBWAA is limited to writers for newspapers only, including some internet newspapers.
The BBWAA sets the following rules for how eligible voters can vote.
- Vote for no more than 10 players.
- A player is eligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame if they meet the following criteria:
- They competed in ten seasons. A single game counts as a season played.
- The player has been retired for at least five seasons. The clock restarts if the player returns and plays in the Major Leagues.
- The player is not on the ineligible list; banned from baseball.
- The player must receive 5% of the vote to remain on the ballot.
- The player is elected if they receive at least 75% of all ballots cast.
In addition to the official voting rules for the Baseball Hall of Fame set forth by the BBWAA, The Winning Run has an additional rule for its ballot.
- Known PED users are ineligible.
Every player dreams of reaching the Major Leagues and playing their way to Cooperstown. However, this dream is a reality for only 1% of Major Leaguers. Thousands of players begin their professional careers dreaming of the Hall of Fame and never spend a single day in the Major Leagues. Reaching the Major Leagues is extremely difficult. Appearing on the Hall of Fame ballot, even for a single year, is reserved for baseball’s elites. Making the ballot is an honor, even if the candidate does not receive a single vote.
The 2024 Hall of Fame ballot has 26 candidates. There are 14 returning candidates and 12 new candidates. The 14 returning candidates are:
- Todd Helton- 6th year (72.2%)
- Billy Wagner- 9th year (68.1%)
- Andruw Jones- 7th year (58.1%)
- Gary Sheffield- 10th year (55.0%)
- Carlos Beltran- 2nd year (46.5%)
- Alex Rodriguez- 3rd year (35.7%)
- Manny Ramirez- 8th year (33.2%)
- Omar Vizquel- 7th year (19.5%)
- Andy Pettitte- 6th year (17.0%)
- Bobby Abreu- 5th year (15.4%)
- Jimmy Rollins- 3rd year (12.9%)
- Mark Buehrle- 4th year (10.8%)
- Francisco Rodriguez- 2nd year (10.8%)
- Torii Hunter- 4th year (6.9%)
The 12 first time candidates are:
- Adrian Beltre
- Joe Mauer
- Chase Utley
- David Wright
- Bartolo Colon
- Matt Holliday
- Adrian Gonzalez
- Jose Bautista
- Jose Reyes
- Victor Martinez
- James Shields
- Brandon Phillips
Following our own rule, 5 of the 26 candidates were removed from consideration due to their connections with PEDs.
- Gary Sheffield
- Alex Rodriguez
- Manny Ramirez
- Andy Pettitte
- Bartolo Colon
The sad part of our PED rule is every one of these players posted the necessary numbers to be seriously considered for the Hall of Fame. Their decision to use PEDs has hampered their own election to Cooperstown and left them on the ballot for additional years. These extra years have siphoned votes away from other worthy candidates, harming their Hall of Fame chances through no fault of their own.
Two players we voted for in 2023 were removed from the ballot. Scott Rolen was elected to the Hall of Fame. Jeff Kent failed to be elected in his 10th and final year of eligibility. This means our 2024 ballot has two open spots. None of the candidates we voted for last year received less than 5%, so the other eight candidates have returned. After much research and debate we arrived at our 10 candidates.
Adrian Beltre could do it all on a baseball field. The Third Baseman played 21 seasons with 4 teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004), Seattle Mariners (2005-2009), Boston Red Sox (2010), and Texas Rangers (2011-2018). He played in 2,933 Games, scored 1,524 Runs, collected 3,166 Hits, including 636 Double, 38 Triples, 477 Home Runs, 1,707 RBI, 121 Stolen Bases, drawing 848 Walks, with 1,732 Strikeouts, posting a .286 BA, .339 OBP, .480 SLG, .819 OPS, 116 OPS+, and 5,309 Total Bases. Beltre won five Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, and was a four time All Star. If elected, Beltre will rank first among Hall of Fame Third Basemen in RBI. He will be second in Hits, Doubles, and RBI. Beltre will have the third most Home Runs. He is a clear cut Hall of Famer. Just make sure you do not touch his head.
Joe Mauer never left Minnesota. The hometown boy made good. Mauer Caught 15 seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2004-2018). He played in 1,858 Games, scored 1,018 Runs, collected 2,123 Hits, including 428 Doubles, 30 Triples, 143 Home Runs, 923 RBI, 52 Stolen Bases, drawing 939 Walks, with 1,034 Strikeouts, posting a .306 BA, .388 OBP, .439 SLG, .827 OPS, 124 OPS+, and 3,040 Total Bases. He was a six time All Star, won five Silver Sluggers, three Gold Gloves, and three Batting Titles. Mauer was named the 2009 American League MVP. If elected, Mauer will have the most Walks among Hall of Fame Catchers. He will be third in Doubles, fourth in OBP, sixth in Hits, and seventh in BA. Mauer should easily reach Cooperstown.
Chase Utley put together an outstanding career. He was one of the leaders for the great Phillies teams, including their 2008 World Series championship. The Second Baseman played for two teams in 16 seasons: Philadelphia Phillies (2003-2015) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2015-2018). He played in 1,937 Games, scored 1,103 Runs, collected 1,885 Hits, including 411 Doubles, 58 Triples, 259 Home Runs, 1,025 RBI, 154 Stolen Bases, drawing 724 Walks, with 1,193 Strikeouts, posting a .275 BA, .358 OBP, .465 SLG, .823 OPS, 117 OPS+, and 3,189 Total Bases. Utley was a six time All Star and won four Silver Sluggers. If elected, Utley would rank fifth among Hall of Fame Second Basemen in Home Runs and seventh in SLG and OPS.
Our ballot has three additions this year. We filled our two open slots with Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer. We had one player, Jimmy Rollins, replaced by a former teammate, Chase Utley. The choice of Utley over Rollins is extremely close, but Utley is a more deserving candidate. The real issue is both Rollins and Utley are deserving candidates, but the idiotic Rule of 10 once again costs a deserving Hall of Fame candidate votes. If the Rule of 10 was not in place, we would also include Omar Vizquel, Jimmy Rollins, and Torii Hunter on our ballot. Now we wait for the official results for the Hall of Fame class of 2024. Who is heading to Cooperstown in July?
DJ
2024 Hall of Fame Ballot
The 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot has 26 candidates. The ballot returns 14 candidates, while adding 12 first time candidates. Once the votes are tallied, any candidate receiving 75% or more of the vote will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this coming July. Any candidate receiving less than 5% of the vote will be removed from future consideration. The results of the voting will be released on January 23rd. The Hall of Fame ballot is separate from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for Managers/ Executives/ Umpires, which recently elected Jim Leyland to Cooperstown.
The 26 candidates played a combined 455 MLB seasons. Omar Vizquel played the most seasons, 24 seasons of outstanding defense, and James Shields commanded on the mound for the fewest, 13 seasons. Simply making the ballot is no easy task and places a player in elite company.
The 14 returning candidates are:
- Todd Helton- 6th year (72.2%)
- Billy Wagner- 9th year (68.1%)
- Andruw Jones- 7th year (58.1%)
- Gary Sheffield- 10th year (55.0%)
- Carlos Beltran- 2nd year (46.5%)
- Alex Rodriguez- 3rd year (35.7%)
- Manny Ramirez- 8th year (33.2%)
- Omar Vizquel- 7th year (19.5%)
- Andy Pettitte- 6th year (17.0%)
- Bobby Abreu- 5th year (15.4%)
- Jimmy Rollins- 3rd year (12.9%)
- Mark Buehrle- 4th year (10.8%)
- Francisco Rodriguez- 2nd year (10.8%)
- Torii Hunter- 4th year (6.9%)
Last year Todd Helton fell just 11 votes short of induction. Will he find 11 more votes to reach Cooperstown? This is the final year of eligibility for Gary Sheffield. Can the bat wiggling slugger make it into the Hall of Fame?
The 12 first time candidates are:
- Adrian Beltre
- Joe Mauer
- Chase Utley
- David Wright
- Bartolo Colon
- Matt Holliday
- Adrian Gonzalez
- Jose Bautista
- Jose Reyes
- Victor Martinez
- James Shields
- Brandon Phillips
Who gets into Cooperstown this Summer? We will find out in a few weeks. There are several candidates that should go in the Hall of Fame come July. The only question is can enough of the voters agree to make this a reality?
DJ
Rookie of the Year
Teams are successful when they develop talent, not simply purchase free agents. The George Steinbrenner Yankees were often accused of buying championships, but they did develop talent. Success is turning draft picks and international signings into Major League players. The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes the best first year player in each league. Created in 1947, there was a single Award for the first two seasons, but since 1949 each league has a winner. While it is an individual award, the Rookie of the Year Award should also be viewed as an organizational award. If a franchise is consistently producing quality Major League caliber players they will eventually have one worthy of the award. The Diamondbacks are the last of the 30 Major League teams to have a Rookie of the Year. It took 25 years for Arizona to achieve. While it may have taken longer than expected for a player like Corbin Carroll to arrive, Arizona has finally completed the task.
The inaugural Rookie of the Year Award was presented to Jackie Robinson after the most difficult rookie season in Major League history. Al Dark of the Boston Braves won in 1948. In 1949, Roy Sievers of the St. Louis Browns won the first American League Rookie of the Year Award. In more than 75 years since its creation, the Dodgers reigned supreme at producing elite rookies. The Dodgers have won a record 18 times, four in Brooklyn and 14 in Los Angeles. The Yankees are second with nine.
The expectation was the Expansion teams would be among the last to have a Rookie of the Year. When expansion’s first wave came in 1961, only the Cubs and Pirates had yet to win the Rookie of the Year. However, the Cubs won their first Rookie of the Year in 1961 with the future Hall of Famer Billy Williams. This left Pittsburgh as the last non-expansion team without the award. Surely the Pirates could produce an elite rookie at some point. Instead, 12 of the 14 Expansion teams developed a Rookie of the Year before Pittsburgh. Finally, in 2004 Jason Bay put together a rookie campaign deemed worthy, giving the Pirates their first Rookie of the Year. Only the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks had yet to win the award in 2004. Both franchises began play in 1998. The Pirates lack of success is just another disappointment in an ever growing list.
Simply winning the Rookie of the Year Award does not guarantee success beyond that first season in the Majors. Every player has the best season of their career, and for some it is that first season. There are others, who build upon their initial success. They finish their careers among the greatest ever. There are 19 players who won the Rookie of the Year Award and then had a Hall of Fame career:
- Jackie Robinson- Brooklyn Dodgers, 1947
- Willie Mays- New York Giants, 1951
- Frank Robinson- Cincinnati Reds, 1956
- Luis Aparicio- Chicago White Sox, 1956
- Orlando Cepeda- San Francisco Giants, 1958
- Willie McCovey- San Francisco Giants, 1959
- Billy Williams- Chicago Cubs, 1961
- Tony Oliva- Minnesota Twins, 1964
- Tom Seaver- New York Mets, 1967
- Rod Carew- Minnesota Twins, 1967
- Johnny Bench- Cincinnati Reds, 1968
- Carlton Fisk- Boston Red Sox, 1972
- Andre Dawson- Montreal Expos, 1977
- Eddie Murray- Baltimore Orioles, 1977
- Cal Ripken Jr.- Baltimore Orioles, 1982
- Jeff Bagwell- Houston Astros, 1991
- Mike Piazza- Los Angeles Dodgers, 1993
- Derek Jeter- New York Yankees, 1996
- Scott Rolen- Philadelphia Phillies, 1997
In addition to these 19 Hall of Famers, there are five more players who will join them in Cooperstown when they are eligible. There will certainly be more, but these five are all but guaranteed to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
- Albert Pujols- St. Louis Cardinals, 2001
- Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners, 2001
- Justin Verlander- Detroit Tigers, 2006
- Bryce Harper- Washington Nationals, 2012
- Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels, 2012
The Rookie of the Year Award celebrates the best new talent in the Majors each season. The players selected each season are not guaranteed a long and successful career, nor are they doomed to mediocrity. One great season does not define a player, but it can gain them recognition. Teams are tasked with developing the players and their success is reflected in winning the Rookie of the Year Award. It is nearly impossible to win multiple seasons in a row, but a team should consistently produce good, young players. Occasionally one should win the award. The Dodgers have figured out how to do just that, and the Pirates have not. All 30 MLB teams have now had a Rookie of the Year winner. Who adds to their list next season?
DJ
United States of Baseball- United States Virgin Islands
Everyone wants their own slice of paradise and the United States Virgin Islands is paradise. The U.S. Virgin Islands are only 133 square miles, roughly the size of Manhattan and Queens. While New York City is packed with people, the U.S. Virgin Islands has a population of 87,000 or roughly 1% of the Big Apple. The U.S. Virgin Islands has sent 15 players to the Major Leagues. The greatest pitcher from the U.S. Virgin Islands is Al McBean. His 15.00 career WAR is the 51st highest among state and territory leaders. The greatest position player from the U.S. Virgin Islands is Horace Clarke. His 15.70 career WAR is the 49th highest among state and territory leaders. The U.S. Virgin Islands has a combined 30.70 WAR, which ranks it 53rd in the United States of Baseball.
There is always a first and for the U.S. Virgin Islands Al McBean was the first to pitch off a Major League mound. The Right Hander signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates before the 1958 season. The Charlotte Amalie native pitched for 10 seasons with three teams: Pittsburgh Pirates (1961-1968, 1970), San Diego Padres (1969), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-1970). McBean pitched in 409 career Games, made 76 Starts, with 187 Games Finished, including 22 Complete Games, with 5 Shutouts, in 1,072.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 1,058 Hits, 430 Runs, 373 Earned Runs, 63 Home Runs, 365 Walks, 575 Strikeouts, posted a 67-50 record, 3.13 ERA, 1.327 WHIP, and 111 ERA+. He is the U.S. Virgin Island all time leader in Wins, Losses, Games, Games Started, Complete Games, Shutouts, Innings Pitched, Hits allowed, Runs, Earned Runs, Home Runs, Walks, and Strikeouts. McBean is the only U.S. Virgin Island pitcher to throw a Complete Game and Shutout. While his career did not lead to Cooperstown, it did gain the attention of the expansion San Diego Padres, who selected McBean with the 50th pick in the 1968 Expansion Draft. His career with the Padres was brief, a single Start, before a trade up the California coast to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The best season of McBean’s career came with the 1963 Pirates. Pittsburgh was on the way down just three seasons removed from a World Series championship, but McBean made his name in the Steel City. He appeared in 55 Games, made 7 Starts, with 30 Games Finished, including 2 Complete Games, with 1 Shutout, in 122.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 100 Hits, 42 Runs, 35 Earned Runs, 5 Home Runs, 39 Walks, 74 Strikeouts, posted a 13-3 record, 2.57 ERA, 1.136 WHIP, and 128 ERA+. McBean posted a career best Win% with a 74 win Pirates team. Throughout his career, McBean was either too early or a little too late for team success, and never played in the Postseason.
The Yankees have a long and storied history. Unfortunately for Horace Clarke, his time in the Bronx came when the Pinstripes were mocked, not feared. On average, the Yankees finished 20 games out, and finished higher than fourth once during his tenure. The Second Baseman played 10 seasons with two teams: New York Yankees (1965-1974) and San Diego Padres (1974). The Frederiksted native played in 1,272 career Games, scored 548 Runs, collected 1,230 Hits, including 150 Doubles, 23 Triples, 27 Home Runs, 304 RBI, 151 Stolen Bases, drew 365 Walks, 362 Strikeouts, with a .256 BA, .308 OBP, .313 SLG, .621 OPS, and 83 OPS+. He is the U.S. Virgin Island all time leader in Games played, Runs scored, Hits, Doubles, RBI, Stolen Bases, and Strikeouts.
The best season of Clarke’s career came with the 1969 Yankees. He played in 156 Games, scored 82 Runs, collected 183 Hits, including 26 Doubles, 7 Triples, 4 Home Runs, 48 RBI, 33 Stolen Bases, drew 53 Walks, 41 Strikeouts, with a .285 BA, .339 OBP, .367 SLG, .706 OPS, and 101 OPS+. He led the American League in At Bats. Clarke’s magical 1969 campaign set career bests in Runs scored, Hits, Doubles, RBI, Stolen Bases, BA, OBP, and OPS, while tying his career best in Triples.
The lack of success for the Yankees during Clarke’s career prevented him from playing in the Postseason. Individual success can only carry a team so far. In 1980, Clarke appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot, but failed to receive any votes.
There are no Hall of Famers from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Baseball in this paradise is growing, but it has yet to produce a Hall of Fame caliber player. Next the United States of Baseball heads west to the Beehive State. Utah is next.
DJ
The Winning Run 