Tagged: Rookie of the Year
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
Not Wasting Talent
One of the worst things a team can do is waste the talents of their best player. When a generationally talented player wears your jersey, half the equation for team success is solved. Now just build a respectable roster around them. The disparity in how teams create success around generationally talented players is perfectly illustrated by the two presumptive MVPs, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna Jr. Two superstars who have spent their Major League careers on teams traveling in opposite directions.
The Twins victory in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card ended their 18 year Postseason drought. The Los Angeles Angels now have the longest Postseason drought. They last won a Postseason game in the 2009 American League Championship Series. The Angels were swept in their last Postseason appearance, the 2014 American League Divisional Series. Los Angeles has wasted the talents of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. This is not an indictment of Trout or Ohtani, but the Angels organization. They should contend every season for the American League pennant. Instead the team fails to finish above .500, posting just four winning records in the last 14 seasons. This stands in sharp contrast to the success the Atlanta Braves and Ronald Acuna Jr. have enjoyed.
Ronald Acuna Jr. has played six seasons for Atlanta. He was the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year and is a four time All Star. This year he should easily win the National League MVP. He did everything as the Braves raced to the best record in baseball. Acuna played in 159 Games, had 735 Plate Appearances, 643 At Bats, 149 Runs scored, collected 217 Hits, including 35 Doubles, 4 Triples, 41 Home Runs, 106 RBI, 73 Stolen Bases, drew 80 Walks, 84 Strikeouts, with a .337 BA, .416 OBP, .596 SLG, 1.012 OPS, 168 OPS+, and 383 Total Bases. The numbers alone are jaw dropping. He produced the first 40 Home Run and 70 Steals season in Major League history. Acuna set career bests in literally every offensive category except Strikeouts, which were his second lowest behind only the shortened 2020 season. He led all of Major League Baseball in Runs scored, Hits, Stolen Bases, OBP, and Total Bases. Acuna led the National League in Plate Appearances, At Bats, OPS, and OPS+. He was second in BA and SLG, fourth in Games played and Home Runs, sixth in RBI, eighth in Walks, 10th in Doubles, 21st in Triples, and the 103rd in Strikeouts. One of the most ridiculous seasons ever.
Simply having an MVP caliber player does not guarantee team Regular or Postseason success. The Angels have failed to turn individual talent into team success. Atlanta has made the Postseason every season of Acuna’s career. He is part of a larger puzzle. The Braves surround Acuna with All Stars like Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies. They continue to develop solid Major League pitching. Success at the highest level is hard, but the Braves are built on more than their superstar. The worst Braves record since Acuna reached Atlanta was their 88 wins in 2021. He tore his ACL in early July, but the strength of the team led to a World Series championship.
Ronald Acuna Jr. is critical to the Braves’ success, when he is healthy they are nearly unstoppable. He should win the MVP award this season. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Matt Olson all had terrific campaigns, but Acuna is clearly the best player in the National League. He is on a mission to bring another World Series title to Atlanta. He watched two years ago, now it is his time to shine in October. It is a shame that baseball has not regularly experienced Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani competing in the Postseason. Instead, the highest pressure moments for two of the best players in the world was a showdown at the World Baseball Classic Finals. Awards are for individuals, championships are for teams. Trout and Ohtani are successful individually, but the Angels have let them down. Atlanta has done the opposite, creating the opportunity for Acuna’s individual success and team success at the same time. Glad not every team is wasting their player’s talents.
DJ
United States of Baseball- Tennessee
It seems inevitable that Major League Baseball will expand to 32 teams. When it does, Nashville has a good chance of landing one of the new teams. Tennessee’s baseball history runs deep and the addition of a MLB team would further that legacy. The Volunteer State has sent 405 players to the Major Leagues. The greatest pitcher born in Tennessee is Tommy Bridges. His 51.62 career WAR is the 27th highest among state and territory pitching leaders. The greatest position player from the Volunteer State is Todd Helton. His 61.78 career WAR is the 32nd highest among state and territory position player leaders. Combined Tennessee has 113.40 WAR, ranking the Volunteer State 32nd in the United States of Baseball.
Tommy Bridges was born in Gordonsville and found baseball success in Detroit. The Right Hander attended the University of Tennessee, but left to pursue baseball. He played 16 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1930-1943, 1945-1946). Despite a small build, Bridges gave opposing batters stomach ulcers with his curveball and fastball combination. Making his Major League debut on August 13, 1930 at Yankee Stadium, Bridges was immediately put to the test. The first batter he faced was Babe Ruth, who popped out to Third. Next, Tony Lazzeri Singled. Bridges then struck out Lou Gehrig. Finally, Harry Rice grounded out to Second. The first three batters of his career were Hall of Famers, two of which are among the greatest ever. After escaping the Bronx, Bridges pitched in 424 career Games, made 362 Starts, with 47 Games Finished, 200 Complete Games, including 33 Shutouts, in 2,826.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,675 Hits, 1,321 Runs, 1,122 Earned Runs, 181 Home Runs, 1,192 Walks, 1,674 Strikeouts, posted a 194-138 record, 3.57 ERA, 1.368 WHIP, and 126 ERA+. He was a six time All Star.
Bridges fell one out short of a Perfect Game on August 5, 1932. The Tigers were dismantling the Washington Senators at Navin Field in Detroit. Leading 13 to 0 with two outs in the 9th Inning, Senators Manager Walter Johnson sent Dave Harris to Pinch Hit for Pitcher Bobby Burke. Harris Singled to break up the Perfecto. Bridges composed himself and induced a groundout from Sam Rice. He narrowly missed pitching the sixth Perfect Game in MLB history. It took nearly a quarter century until Don Larsen threw the next Perfect Game in the 1956 World Series.
Despite his success, Bridges’ number would have been better had he not spent the 1944 season in the Army during World War II. In 1949, he declined an offer from the Yankees choosing to continue pitching for the Minor League Portland Beavers.
The best season of Bridges’ career was 1936. He pitched in 39 Games for the Tigers, made 38 Starts, with 1 Game Finished, 26 Complete Games, including 5 Shutouts, in 294.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 289 Hits, 141 Runs, 118 Earned Runs, 21 Home Runs, 115 Walks, 175 Strikeouts, posted a 23-11 record, with a 3.60 ERA, 1.371 WHIP, and 137 ERA+. Bridges led the Junior Circuit in Starts, Wins, and Strikeouts. He set career bests in Games Pitched, Starts, Complete Games, Shutouts, Innings Pitched, Hits allowed, Runs, Earned Runs, Strikeouts, and Wins. He was an All Star and finished ninth in the American League MVP voting.
Detroit was excellent throughout Bridges’ career. The Tigers appeared in the Fall Classic four times: 1934, 1935, 1940, and 1945. They won twice, in 1935 and 1945. In the World Series, Bridges pitched in 7 Games, made 5 Starts, threw 4 Complete Games, in 46.0 Innings Pitched, allowed 52 Hits, 22 Runs, 18 Earned Runs, 2 Home Runs, 9 Walks, 27 Strikeouts, posted a 4-1 record, with a 3.52 ERA, and 1.326 WHIP. Bridges’ success in the Regular Season carried into October. He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for seven years, peaking with 7.5% in 1964.
Todd Helton has lived every kid’s dream. The Knoxville native was drafted in the 2nd Round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Padres, but chose to accept a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee and walked on the baseball team. Helton played 12 games for the Volunteers at Quarterback before an injury allowed Peyton Manning to replace him. Helton turned his attention to the diamond. He played Firstbase and was the Closer. He won the 1995 Dick Howser Trophy as the National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year. The same year, the Rockies selected Helton with the 8th overall pick in the MLB Draft.
After spending just two seasons in the Minor Leagues, Helton was called up. He spent his entire 17 season career with the Colorado Rockies (1997- 2013). He played in 2,247 career Games, scored 1,401 Runs, collected 2,519 Hits, including 592 Doubles, 37 Triples, 369 Home Runs, 1,406 RBI, 37 Stolen Bases, drew 1,335 Walks, 1,175 Strikeouts, with a .316 BA, .414 OBP, .539 SLG, .953 OPS, and 133 OPS+. Helton was a five time All Star, won three Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, and the 2000 National League Batting Title. He finished second behind Kerry Wood for the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year Award. Helton is the first player to collect 100 extra base hits in back to back seasons, 2000 and 2001. He is also the first player to hit 35 Doubles in 10 consecutive seasons. He was inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame in 2003 and the University of Tennessee Hall of Fame in 2017. Helton is Colorado’s all time Home Run leader. He was the first Rockie to have his number retired, when Colorado retired his #17 in 2014. Helton has appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for five years. In 2023, he received 72.2% of the vote, falling just 11 votes short of induction. Helton appears headed to Cooperstown in 2024.
The best season of Helton’s career came in 2000. He played in 160 Games, scored 138 Runs, collected 216 Hits, including 59 Doubles, 2 Triples, 42 Home Runs, 147 RBI, with 5 Stolen Bases, 103 Walks, 61 Strikeouts, .372 BA, .463 OBP, .698 SLG, 1.162 OPS, and 163 OPS+. He led the National League in Hits, Doubles, RBI, Batting Average, On-Base Percentage, Slugging, and OPS. His 59 Doubles were the most in the Senior Circuit since Joe Medwick’s record 64 Doubles in 1936. Helton’s 103 Extra Base Hits were the second highest single season total in National League history, and the fourth highest in MLB history. He set career bests in Games Played, Runs scored, Hits, Doubles, RBI, Batting Average, Slugging, and OPS. Helton flirted with hitting .400 into August. He was an All Star, won the Silver Slugger, the Hank Aaron Award, and finished fifth in the National League MVP voting.
It took 10 seasons before Helton reached the Postseason. They reached the 2007 Postseason after defeating the San Diego Padres in a winner take all play-in tiebreaker to determine the National League Wild Card. The Rockies then swept the Phillies and Diamondbacks to reach their first World Series. The quick work left Colorado ideal for over a week between clinching the National League pennant and the start of the World Series. The Red Sox swept the Rockies to win the Fall Classic. Helton returned to October in 2009 as the Rockies lost in the Divisional Series to the Phillies. In 15 Postseason Games, Helton scored 11 Runs, collected 12 Hits, 2 Doubles, 1 Triple, 4 RBI, 8 Walks, 11 Strikeouts, with a .211 BA, .303 OBP, .281 SLG, and .584 OPS. He did not play his best, but the Postseason is a small sample size even for great players.
Tennessee has two Hall of Famers in Lee MacPhail (Executive) and Turkey Stearnes. Todd Helton should join them in 2024. He will not be the last from the Volunteer State to reach Cooperstown. Next, the United States of Baseball heads west to the Lone Star State. Texas is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball- South Dakota
South Dakota is more than just Mount Rushmore, even if the state’s nickname tries to persuade you otherwise. The Mount Rushmore State has sent 39 players to the Major Leagues. The greatest pitcher born in South Dakota is Jim Scott. His 27.70 career WAR is the 45th highest for a pitching state or territory leader. The greatest position player from the Mount Rushmore State is Mark Ellis. His 33.50 career WAR is the 44th highest among position player state or territory leaders. South Dakota has a combined 61.20 WAR, ranking the Mount Rushmore State 47th highest among all states and territories.
During the early years of baseball, if a player did not live on the East Coast the chances of reaching the Major Leagues were low. Only great players emerged from west of the Mississippi River, as plenty of mediocre talent was available on the East Coast. Jim Scott was a great pitcher, but pitched for bad teams, constantly making him the hard luck loser. Death Valley Jim was born in Deadwood. The Right Hander worked his way up from local leagues to the Western Association, where the Chicago White Sox purchased him for $2,000. Scott pitched on the Southside for nine seasons, 1909 to 1917. He pitched in 317 career Games, made 226 Starts, with 63 Games Finished, threw 123 Complete Games, including 26 Shutouts, in 1,892 Innings Pitched, allowed 1,624 Hits, 686 Runs, 483 Earned Runs, 21 Home Runs, 609 Walks, 945 Strikeouts, posted a 107-114 record, with a 2.30 ERA, 1.180 WHIP, and 121 ERA+. Despite his skills on the mound, Scott posted just two winning seasons during his career.
The best season of Scott’s career came in 1913. He pitched in 48 Games, made 38 Starts, 6 Games Finished, threw 25 Complete Games, including 4 Shutouts, 312.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 252 Hits, 96 Runs, 66 Earned Runs, 2 Home Runs, 86 Walks, 158 Strikeouts, posted a 20-21 record, with a 1.90 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, and 154 ERA+. He led the Junior Circuit in Starts and Losses. Despite a losing record it was a banner season for Scott who set career bests in Losses, Games, Starts, Complete Games, Innings Pitched, Strikeouts, WHIP, and ERA+. His 1913 season remains the only season in MLB history where a pitcher lost 20 games with a sub 2.00 ERA. Scott’s efforts were recognized as he finished 14th in the MVP voting.
Timing is everything in life. Scott helped the White Sox reach the 1917 World Series but wore a different uniform that October. Scott left the White Sox earlier in the summer, becoming one of the first players to enlist in the military during World War I. After the war, Scott returned to baseball playing for various minor league teams including the San Francisco Seals before retiring as a player. He stayed in baseball as an umpire for several seasons in the Southern League and the National League before retiring completely.
There is no way to calculate the number of careers derailed by injuries. Unfortunately, Mark Ellis’ career was impacted by injuries. The Rapid City native played 12 seasons with four teams: Oakland Athletics (2002-2003, 2005-2011), Colorado Rockies (2011), Los Angeles Dodgers (2012-2013), and St. Louis Cardinals (2014). Ellis played college baseball for the University of Florida where he was named the MVP of the Gainesville Regional during the 1998 College World Series. He was drafted in the 9th round of the 1999 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. Ellis played in 1,435 career Games, scored 690 Runs, collected 1,343 Hits, 257 Doubles, 25 Triples, 105 Home Runs, with 550 RBI, 82 Stolen Bases, drew 438 Walks, 801 Strikeouts, with a .262 BA, .327 OBP, .384 SLG, .711 OPS, and 92 OPS+. He finished eighth in the 2002 American League Rookie of the Year voting. Ellis ranked fifth all time with a .991 FLD% when he retired, playing primarily Second Base.
The best season of Ellis’ career came with the 2007 Oakland Athletics. He played in 150 Games, scored 84 Runs, collected 161 Hits, including 33 Doubles, 3 Triples, 19 Home Runs, 76 RBI, 9 Stolen Bases, with 44 Walks, 94 Strikeouts, with a .276 BA, .336 OBP, .441 SLG, .777 OPS, and 109 OPS+. He set career bests in Runs, Hits, Doubles, Home Runs, and RBI, while tying his career high in Strikeouts. On June 4, 2007, Ellis became the sixth Athletics’s player to hit for the cycle, doing so against the Boston Red Sox while batting in the eighth spot in the lineup.
Ellis played in the East Bay during the Athletic’s most recent run of success. He played in 22 Postseason Games, scored 8 Runs, collected 21 Hits, 5 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 Home Run, 5 RBI, 1 Stolen Base, 8 Walks, 20 Strikeouts, with a .253 BA, .326 OBP, .373 SLG, and .700 OPS across four series. While he never won a World Series, Ellis helped Oakland play successful October baseball.
The Mount Rushmore State does not have a Major or Minor League team, but its baseball legacy is strong. South Dakota has produced one Hall of Famer. Sparky Anderson ranks among the greatest managers of all time, having led the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers to World Series championships. Will the Mount Rushmore State eventually send a player to Cooperstown? Time will tell. The United States of Baseball is heading south to the Volunteer State. Tennessee is next.
DJ
2023 Hall of Fame Ballot
The 2023 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot is filled with talented players who spent at least a decade playing on a Major League diamond. The election results will be announced tomorrow, January 24th. As is tradition, The Winning Run has filled out its own officially unofficial ballot. We have been writing about baseball for more than a decade, but we lack the credentials to be full voting members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). No matter, we humbly submit our ballot anyway.
There are 28 candidates on the 2023 Hall of Fame ballot. Each hopes to join Fred McGriff, who was elected in December through the Contemporary Era Committee, in Cooperstown. There are 14 returning candidates and 14 first year candidates on the ballot. The 2023 ballot is also the final year of eligibility for Jeff Kent. If he is not elected this year, his path into the Hall of Fame will be through the committees.
The BBWAA is the sole voting body for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. As such, only members of the BBWAA who meet the following eligibility requirements can vote.
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 rules for how eligible voters can vote.
Voting Rules
- 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 its own rule for its ballot.
The Winning Run Rules
- Known PED users are ineligible.
Every player dreams of reaching the Major Leagues and playing at such a level that their ultimate destination is Cooperstown. However, this dream is a reality for only 1% of those who reach the Major Leagues. Thousands of players begin their careers dreaming of the Hall of Fame and never spend a single day on a Major League roster. The difficulty of reaching the Major Leagues makes simply appearing on the Hall of Fame ballot, even for a single year, an accomplishment reserved for baseball’s elites. Making the ballot is an honor, even if the candidate does not receive a single vote.
The honor of appearing on the 2023 Hall of Fame ballot belongs to these 28 candidates, their year of eligibility, and percentage of the Hall of Fame vote received in 2022.
- Scott Rolen- 6th (63.2%)
- Todd Helton- 5th (52.0%)
- Billy Wagner- 8th (51.0%)
- Andruw Jones- 6th (41.4%)
- Gary Sheffield- 9th (40.6%)
- Alex Rodriguez- 2nd (34.3%)
- Jeff Kent- 10th (32.7%)
- Manny Ramirez- 7th (28.9%)
- Omar Vizquel- 6th (23.9%)
- Andy Pettitte- 5th (10.7%)
- Jimmy Rollins- 2nd (9.4%)
- Bobby Abreu- 4th (8.6%)
- Mark Buehrle- 3rd (5.8%)
- Torii Hunter- 3rd (5.3%)
- Carlos Beltran- 1st
- John Lackey- 1st
- Jered Weaver- 1st
- Jacoby Ellsbury- 1st
- Matt Cain- 1st
- Jhonny Peralta- 1st
- Jayson Werth- 1st
- J.J. Hardy- 1st
- Mike Napoli- 1st
- Bronson Arroyo- 1st
- R.A. Dickey- 1st
- Francisco Rodriguez- 1st
- Andre Ethier- 1st
- Huston Street- 1st
Following our own rule, 5 of the 28 candidates were removed from consideration due to their connections with PEDs.
- Gary Sheffield
- Alex Rodriguez
- Manny Ramirez
- Andy Pettitte
- Jhonny Peralta
This left 23 candidates on our ballot, from which we could vote for a maximum of 10. The choices are never easy. Previous ballots we have unofficially voted on have contained more than 10 Hall of Fame caliber candidates. Reviewing our ballot from 2022 helped in beginning the voting process. Were the 10 players we voted for last year still the best choices? The Winning Run’s ballot last year listed these 10 candidates:
- Bobby Abreu (8.6%)
- Mark Buehrle (5.8%)
- Todd Helton (52.0%)
- Tim Hudson (3.0%)
- Torii Hunter (5.3%)
- Andruw Jones (41.4%)
- Jeff Kent (32.7%)
- Tim Lincecum (2.3%)
- Scott Rolen (63.2%)
- Billy Wagner (51.0%)
Based upon the voting, none of our candidates were elected to Cooperstown. Two of our votes are open again as Tim Hudson and Tim Lincecum failed to receive the minimum 5% of votes. This left us with eight returning candidates on this year’s ballot. This is our unofficially official 2023 ballot.
We removed Torii Hunter from our ballot and replaced him with Jimmy Rollins. Hunter was our final choice on last year’s ballot. Rollins was on the ballot in 2022, but after reexamining every candidate, we concluded that Rollins was the more deserving candidate. Hall of Fame voting is not a perfect process, which we have previously examined. The process too is foiled because the voters themselves are imperfect. Reaching rational decisions is not easy when more than 300 voters must agree for a candidate to reach Cooperstown. Francisco Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran took our two open votes. Both are deserving first year candidates. Torii Hunter and Omar Vizquel were the top candidates not receiving our vote. None of these men are flawless, but their off the field actions have no impact on our voting. Yes the character clause exists, but they who are without fault shall cast the first stone. The Winning Run used all 10 of our votes, but we wanted 12.
Who will join Fred McGriff in Cooperstown this summer? (Stephen Dunn/ Getty Images)
Francisco Rodriguez pitched for five teams during his 16 season career: Anaheim/ Los Angeles of Anaheim Angels (2002-2008), New York Mets (2009-2011), Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2013, 2014-2015), Baltimore Orioles (2013), and Detroit Tigers (2016-2017). Rodriguez pitched in 948 Games, Finished 677 Games, converted 437 Saves, Pitcher 976 Innings, posted a 52-53 record, 1,142 Strikeouts, 389 Walks, with a 2.86 ERA, 1.155 WHIP, and 148 ERA+. He won the 2002 World Series with the Angels. He was a six time All Star and twice the American League Rolaids Relief Award winner. Rodriguez finished in the top four of Cy Young Award voting three times. He led baseball in Saves three times and Saved 40 Games six times. Rodriguez’s 437 career Saves are the fourth most all time, behind Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, and Lee Smith.
Jimmy Rollins helped to set the standard for modern Shortstops. He played for three teams during his 17 season career: Philadelphia Phillies (2000-2014), Los Angeles Dodgers (2015), and Chicago White Sox (2016). Rollins played in 2,275 Games, collected 2,455 Hits, 511 Doubles, 115 Triples, 231 Home Runs, 936 RBI, 1,421 Runs scored, 470 Stolen Bases, 813 Walks, 1,264 Strikeouts, posted a .264 BA, .324 OBP, .418 SLG, .743 OPS, and 95 OPS+. Rollins led the National League in Triples four times. He stole 30 Bases ten times. Rollins was a three time All Star, won four Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and the 2007 National League MVP. Defensively, Rollins played 2,227 Games at Shortstop, totally 19,513.2 Innings, had 9,275 Chances, made 2,982 Putouts, 6,139 Assists, committed 154 Errors, turned 1,249 Double Plays, and posted a .983 Fielding %. Rollins played the sixth most Games at Shortstop, the most not in the Hall of Fame. He is 20th in Assists and 12th in Double Plays. He was one of the leaders for the Phillies in their 2008 World Series victory.
Carlos Beltran went from young phenom to wise veteran. He played for seven teams during his 20 season career: Kansas City Royals (1998-2004), Houston Astros (2004, 2017), New York Mets (2005-2011), San Francisco Giants (2011), St. Louis Cardinals (2012-2013), New York Yankees (2014-2016), and Texas Rangers (2016). Primarily patrolling Centerfield, Beltran played in 2,586 Games, collected 2,725 Hits, 565 Doubles, 78 Triples, 435 Home Runs, 1,587 RBI, 1,582 Runs scored, 312 Stolen Bases, 1,084 Walks, 1,795 Strikeouts, posted a .279 BA, .350 OBP, .486 SLG, .837 OPS, 119 OPS+. Defensively, he had above average Range for two decades. He won the 1999 American League Rookie of the Year. Beltran was a nine time All Star, won three Gold Gloves, and two Silver Sluggers. He helped five different teams reach the Postseason and provided the veteran leadership, not always within the rules, the Astros needed to win the 2017 World Series.
Removing Torii Hunter from our ballot was not fun. He was our final selection last year, but his career still deserves recognition. Additionally, Omar Vizquel once again comes up short because of his lack of offense.
We will find out tomorrow if anyone will join Fred McGriff in Cooperstown. There are many deserving candidates, but we must wait to see if 75% of the writers can agree.
DJ
United States of Baseball- Nevada
Las Vegas is high on the list of cities for future MLB expansion. How does Nevada, a state of vast openness and underrated natural beauty, fit within the United States of Baseball? The Silver State has sent 49 players to the Majors. The greatest pitcher born in Nevada is Barry Zito. His 33.05 career WAR ranks 43rd highest among state and territory leaders. The greatest position player from the Silver State is Bryce Harper. His 40.10 career WAR is the 41st highest and climbing. Nevada has a combined 73.15 WAR, giving the Silver State the 43rd highest WAR for any state or territory.
Barry Zito was born in Las Vegas and raised in San Diego. He trained with former Cy Young winner Randy Jones throughout high school. The Lefthander was drafted 9th overall by the Athletics out of the University of Southern California in the 1999 MLB Draft. Zito spent just one season in the Minors, moving from Single A to Double A to Triple A. He pitched for 15 seasons in the Majors with two teams: Oakland Athletics (2000-2006, 2015) and San Francisco Giants (2007-2013). Zito pitched in 433 career Games, made 421 Starts, threw 12 Complete Games, including 5 Shutouts, 2,576.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,381 Hits, 1,254 Runs, 1,157 Earned Runs, 282 Home Runs, 1,064 Walks, 1,885 Strikeouts, posted a 165-143 record, 4.04 ERA, 1.337 WHIP, and 105 ERA+.
A once promising career never quite lived up to its potential. In Oakland, Zito was part of the big three in the Athletics rotation with Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. The trio led the Athletics to three Division titles and a Wild Card berth from 2000 to 2004. Zito finished sixth for the 2000 American League Rookie of the Year Award. He was a three time All Star and won the 2002 American League Cy Young Award. He dominated on the mound, pitching at least 210 innings in six consecutive seasons and posting nine consecutive seasons with at least 10 Wins. Zito was also durable, making at least 33 Starts in 10 consecutive seasons.
After the 2006 season, Zito moved across the Bay. He signed the then largest free agent contract ever for a pitcher, 7 years and $126 million with the San Francisco Giants. The move coincided with the downturn of his career. In 7 seasons with the Giants, Zito went 63-80 with a 4.62 ERA. His struggles and paycheck made him an easy target for criticism. Zito was left off the 2010 Postseason roster due to his ineffectiveness in the Regular Season, but rebounded to help win the Fall Classic in 2010. Despite his struggles on the mound, Zito spent much of his free time doing charity work and was the 2013 Roberto Clemente Award nominee for the Giants. Zito received 0.2% of the vote on the 2021 Hall of Fame ballot, falling off in his first year of eligibility.
Unquestionably the best season of Zito’s career was with the 2002 Athletics. In 35 Starts, he threw 1 Complete Game, 229.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 182 Hits, 79 Runs, 70 Earned Runs, 24 Home Runs, 78 Walks, 182 Strikeouts, posted a 23-5 record, 2.75 ERA, 1.134 WHIP, and 175 ERA+. He led the American League in Starts and Wins. Zito held opposing batters to a .185 Batting Average with Runners In Scoring Position. He was a first time All Star, finished 13th for the MVP, and won the American League Cy Young Award.
Zito found success in October with the Athletics. As a Rookie, he shut down the Yankees in Game 4 of the 2000 American League Divisional Series in his Postseason debut. Zito baffled the Yankees, as Oakland defeated Roger Clemens 11-1 at Yankee Stadium. In his Postseason career, Zito made 10 Starts, 60.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 50 Hits, 19 Runs, 19 Earned Runs, 7 Home Runs, 23 Walks, 46 Strikeouts, posted a 6-3 record, 2.83 ERA, and 1.210 WHIP. While his career was not perfect, Zito often delivered when needed.
Few players were hyped as much as Bryce Harper. The Las Vegas native was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16 years old. Harper left high school after his sophomore year. He received his GED and enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada so he could begin his professional career sooner. In his lone season of college baseball, Harper played in 66 Games, hit 31 Home Runs, 98 RBI, with a .443 BA, .526 OBP, and .987 SLG. He won the Golden Spikes Award as the best amatuer player in the country. Harper was drafted 1st overall by the Nationals in the 2010 MLB Draft. While undergoing an eye exam in the Minors, the Optometrist was baffled. Eyesight this bad should have made it nearly impossible for Harper to hit a baseball. Vision corrected, his march towards Washington continued.
Time will tell how Harper’s career plays out. He appears headed for Cooperstown. Harper has played 10 seasons with two teams: Washington Nationals (2012-2018) and Philadelphia Phillies (2019-2021). In 1,283 career Games, Harper has collected 1,273 Hits, 270 Doubles, 22 Triples, 267 Home Runs, 752 RBI, scored 850 Runs, 111 Stolen Bases, 833 Walks, 1,189 Strikeouts, .279 BA, .392 OBP, .524 SLG, .916 OPS, and 142 OPS+. He reached the Majors at just 19 years old and showed the hype was real. He was also the first teenager to steal home since 1964. Harper was named a 2012 All Star, becoming the third youngest All Star ever, after Dwight Gooden and Bob Feller, and the youngest position player. He capped the season by winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Harper’s accomplishments are not confined to his rookie season. He has twice won the Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron Awards. Harper was the 2015 and 2021 National League MVP. He won the 2018 Home Run Derby and is a six time All Star. His free agency was the biggest story in baseball ahead of the 2019 season. The Nationals were unable to re-sign their former number one pick. Instead, he signed with the rival Phillies for 13 years and $330 million, the then largest contract ever. There is no opt out clause, Harper is committed to Philadelphia for the long haul.
The best season of Harper’s career could be ahead of him. He is the reigning National League MVP, but 2021 was not his best. His greatest season was 2015, his first MVP season. In 153 Games with the Nationals, Harper collected 172 Hits, 38 Doubles, 1 Triple, 42 Home Runs, 99 RBI, scored 118 Runs, 6 Stolen Bases, 124 Walks, 131 Strikeouts, .330 BA, .460 OBP, .649 SLG, 1.109 OPS, and 198 OPS+. He led the National League in Home Runs, Runs scored, OBP, SLG, OPS, and OPS+. He was elected to his third All Star game and won his first Silver Slugger Award. Harper was the youngest unanimous MVP ever, at just 23 years old.
Baseball is a fickle sport. The best players cannot always carry their team or come to the plate with the game on the line. While Harper is a terrific talent, he has limited Postseason success. He has never advanced beyond the Divisional Series in four attempts. In 19 Games, Harper has collected 16 Hits, 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 5 Home Runs, 10 RBI, scored 12 Runs, 4 Stolen Bases, 11 Walks, 23 Strikeouts, with a .211 BA, .315 OBP, .487 SLG, and .801 OPS. After signing with the Phillies, Harper said he wanted to bring a championship to DC. He was right, the Nationals won their first World Series the season after he left. Philadelphia is hoping they will find October success while Harper is wearing a Phillies uniform.
There are currently no Hall of Famers from Nevada. Harper seems poised to change this. Only Dale Murphy and Roger Maris have won multiple MVPs and were not elected to the Hall of Fame. We shall see with Harper. Next week the United States of Baseball heads to New England and the Granite State. New Hampshire is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball-Nebraska
Every June the College World Series descends upon Omaha. Some of the best players in the country compete to see which school has the best team. Many of these players have aspirations to play professionally, hopefully reaching the Majors in the near future. The state of Nebraska has sent 119 players to the Major Leagues. The best pitcher from the Cornhusker State is Grover Cleveland Alexander. His 119.02 career WAR is the third highest for any state or territory pitching leader. The greatest position player born in Nebraska is Wade Boggs. His 91.42 career WAR ranks 15th highest among state and territory leaders. Nebraska’s combined 210.44 WAR, ranking the state 10th in the United States of Baseball.
Grover Cleveland Alexander was born in Elba. He is the only baseball player named for a sitting American President, Grover Cleveland, and portrayed by a future one in film, Ronald Reagan. Growing up in rural Nebraska, Alexander developed strong forearms shucking corn, which later enabled him to throw a devastating curveball. Life and baseball were not always easy. He developed Epilepsy after taking a baseball to the face while breaking up a Double Play in 1909. Epilepsy was considered a curse of the devil, so Alexander actively hid his condition. After the Phillies bought him for $500 from Syracuse he pitched for 20 seasons in the Majors with three teams: Philadelphia Phillies (1911-1917, 1930), Chicago Cubs (1918-1926), and St. Louis Cardinals (1926-1929).
The Sidearm Pitcher burst into the Majors in 1911, finishing with a 28-13 record and 2.57 ERA. Alexander’s 28 Wins were the most by a rookie in the 20th century. In his career, Alexander pitched in 696 Games, made 600 Starts, threw 436 Complete Games, including 90 Shutouts, Pitched 5,190 Innings, allowed 4,868 Hits, 1,852 Runs, 1,476 Earned Runs, 165 Home Runs, 951 Walks, 2,198 Strikeouts, posted a 373-208 record, 2.56 ERA, 1.121 WHIP, and 135 ERA+. He won 20 games in nine seasons, five ERA titles in six years from 1915 to 1920, and the Pitching Triple Crown three times in the same span. Alexander is the only pitcher to win the Pitching Triple Crown with multiple teams. He was the 11th pitcher to reach 300 wins and helped the Cardinals win the 1926 World Series. Alexander’s baseball legacy was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1938.
The best season of Alexander’s career was with the 1915 Phillies. He pitched in 49 Games, made 42 Starts, threw 36 Complete Games, including 12 Shutouts, Pitched 376.1 Innings, allowed 253 Hits, 86 Runs, 51 Earned Runs, 3 Home Runs, 64 Walks, 241 Strikeouts, posted a 31-10 record, 1.22 ERA, 0.842 WHIP, and 225 ERA+. Alexander led the National League in Complete Games, Shutouts, Innings Pitched, Strikeouts, Wins, ERA, Winning Percentage, WHIP, and ERA+. He also threw four one hitters that season.
Alexander pitched in three World Series: 1915 with the Phillies and 1926 and 1928 with the Cardinals. He pitched in 7 Games, made 5 Starts, threw 4 Complete Games, Pitched 43 Innings, allowed 36 Hits, 18 Runs, 17 Earned Runs, 3 Home Runs, 12 Walks, 29 Strikeouts, posted a 3-2 record, 3.56 ERA, and 1.116 WHIP. His success in the Regular Season carried into the Fall Classic.
The war in Europe brought an end to Alexander’s time in Philadelphia. The Phillies, believing he would be drafted, sold him to the Cubs for $55,000. Philadelphia was right, Alexander soon changed uniforms again, trading baseball for the United States Army. He spent seven weeks on the front lines, from which he never fully recovered. Combat left Alexander deaf in his left ear, shrapnel in his right ear, muscle damage to his right forearm from firing his rifle, shell shock (PTSD), and he became an alcoholic trying to hide his epilepsy. Alexander returned to the mound with the scars of war, but Cubs Manager Joe McCarthy traded him to St. Louis for the waiver price due to his drinking. Cardinals manager Rogers Hornsby would handle Alexander’s drinking so long as he continued pitching well. Eventually his drinking overwhelmed his abilities. After a brief reunion with the Phillies Alexander retired. He finished with one more victory than Christy Mathewson, to whom he was often compared. However, researchers later found Mathewson’s win total was off by a single victory due to a mistake in the 1902 season. The correction meant Alexander and Mathewson, both masters of their craft and devastated from the horrors of World War I, finished their careers with 373 wins.
In retirement, Alexander continued struggling with alcoholism. He pitched briefly for the House of David, but was ineffective. He sought out coaching opportunities, but none materialized. He was divorced before reconciling with his wife. He was in and out of sanitariums. Alexander’s financial difficulties led baseball to establish a pension fund so the Hall of Famer did not live in poverty.
Superstitions are only crazy if they do not work. Eating chicken before every game worked for Wade Boggs. The Omaha native was drafted in the 7th Round of the 1976 MLB Draft, taking his many superstitions all the way to Cooperstown. Boggs played 18 seasons in the Majors with three teams: Boston Red Sox (1982-1992), New York Yankees (1993-1997), and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-1999). He finished third for the 1982 American League in Rookie of the Year behind Cal Ripken Jr. Boggs was not a one season wonder. He played in 2,439 career Games, collected 3,010 Hits, 578 Doubles, 61 Triples, 118 Home Runs, 1,014 RBI, scored 1,513 Runs, 24 Stolen Bases, 1,412 Walks, 745 Strikeouts, .328 BA, .415 OBP, .443 SLG, .858 OPS, and 131 OPS+. He was a 12 time All Star. Boggs collected 200 Hits seven times, scored 100 Runs seven times, and Walked 100 times four times. He hit over .300 every season from 1982 to 1991. Boggs won two Gold Gloves at Third Base, five Batting Titles, and eight Silver Sluggers. He put the ball in play, never striking out more than 68 times in a season. Boggs’ final Home Run was also his 3,000th hit. Along the way he moved from the Red Sox to the Evil Empire, winning the 1996 World Series with the Yankees. In 2005, Boggs was elected to the Hall of Fame with 91.9% of the vote in his first year of eligibility.
The best season of Wade Boggs’ career is difficult to pin down. You could select any season from 1983 to 1988. His 240 Hits in 1985 were the most in a season since 1930. His best could be the 1987 season with Boston. He played in 147 Games, collected 200 Hits, 40 Doubles, 6 Triples, 24 Home Runs, 89 RBI, scored 108 Runs, 1 Stolen Base, 105 Walks, 48 Strikeouts, .363 BA, .461 OBP, .588 SLG, 1.049 OPS, and 174 OPS+. He set career highs in Home Runs and RBI, never coming close to equally his 24 long balls again. Boggs led the American League in Batting Average, On-Base Percentage, OPS, and OPS+. He won his third Silver Slugger and finished ninth for the MVP with a Red Sox team that finished six games below .500 and 20 games behind the Eastern Division champion Detroit Tigers.
Boggs played through the Curse of the Bambino, only to reach the top of the baseball world in the House That Ruth Built. He was playing Third when a grounder forever immortalized Bill Buckner. He was critical to his team’s success in October. In 39 Postseason Games, Boggs collected 42 Hits, 9 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2 Home Runs, 16 RBI, scored 15 Runs, 16 Walks, 20 Strikeouts, .273 BA, .337 OBP, .383 SLG, and .720 OPS.
There are six Nebraskans enshrined in Cooperstown: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Richie Ashburn, Wade Boggs, Sam Crawford, Bob Gibson, and Billy Southworth. Next week the United States of Baseball heads to the deserts of the Silver State. Nevada is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball- Mississippi
The United States of Baseball is back after our 30 in 30 road trip and the starting of a new job. We are in the Deep South. Mississippi has produced 264 Major League players. The greatest pitcher born in the Magnolia State is Roy Oswalt. His 50.01 career WAR ranks 29th best among all state and territory leaders. The greatest position player from Mississippi is Chet Lemon. His 55.59 career WAR is the 36th highest among position player leaders. The Magnolia State’s 105.60 combined WAR ranks Mississippi 35th among all states and territories.
Roy Oswalt went from small town Mississippi to Astros legend. Oswalt was born in Kosciusko and spent 13 seasons pitching in the Majors. The Right Hander pitched for four different teams: Houston Astros (2001-2010), Philadelphia Phillies (2010-2011), Texas Rangers (2012), and Colorado Rockies (2013). The 23rd round pick in the 1996 MLB Draft won an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, striking out 10 batters, allowing 2 Runs in 2 Starts, with a 1.38 ERA. He made it to the Majors a year later, finishing second behind Albert Pujols for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, and fifth for the Cy Young Award. Oswalt made 341 career Starts, threw 20 Complete Games, including 8 Shutouts, Pitched 2,245.1 Innings, allowed 2,199 Hits, 897 Runs, 838 Earned Runs, 197 Home Runs, 520 Walks, 1,852 Strikeouts, posted a 163-102 record, with a 3.36 ERA, 1.211 WHIP, and 127 ERA+. He was selected to three All Star games. When he was traded to Philadelphia in 2010, he was second all time in Wins, 143, trailing only Joe Niekro, and Strikeouts, 1,866, behind only Nolan Ryan in an Astros uniform. Oswalt received 0.9% of the Hall of Fame vote in 2019 before falling off the ballot.
Postseason baseball was a continuation of Oswalt’s excellent work in the Regular Season. He appeared in 13 Postseason Games, made 11 Starts, Pitched 72.1 Innings, allowed 73 Hits, 32 Runs, 30 Earned Runs, 9 Home Runs, 24 Walks, 56 Strikeouts, posted a 5-2 record, with a 3.73 ERA, and 1.341 WHIP. He was named the 2005 NLCS MVP as Houston reached the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
The NLCS MVP award followed the best season of Oswalt’s career. Pitching for the 2005 Astros, Oswalt made 35 Starts, threw 4 Complete Games, including 1 Shutout, Pitched 241.2 Innings, allowed 243 Hits, 85 Runs, 79 Earned Runs, 18 Home Runs, 48 Walks, 184 Strikeouts, posted a 20-12 record, 2.94 ERA, 1,204 WHIP, and 144 ERA+. He was an All Star and led the National League in Starts. Oswalt’s excellence on the mound saw him finish fourth for the Cy Young Award and 23rd for the National League MVP. The Magnolia State’s native son spent a career baffling opposing hitters.
Chet Lemon faced his share of struggles in the Minor Leagues. Drafted 22nd overall by the Oakland Athletics in 1972, Lemon’s poor defense at Third Base necessitated a move to the Outfield. Once a defensive liability, Lemon’s defensive talents blossomed in Centerfield. The Jackson native played 16 seasons for the Chicago White Sox (1975-1981) and Detroit Tigers (1982-1990). Lemon appeared in 1,988 career Games, collected 1,875 Hits, 396 Doubles, 61 Triples, 215 Home Runs, 884 RBI, scored 973 Runs, Stole 58 Bases, drew 749 Walks, 1,024 Strikeouts, posted a .273 BA, .355 OBP, .442 SLG, .797 OPS, and 121 OPS+. He was a three time All Star. Lemon’s 512 Putouts in 1977 are the fourth most ever by an Outfielder, and the most since 1951. His defensive prowess was not a one season wonder. Lemon had over 400 Putouts in four other seasons: 1979, 1983-1985. He appeared on the 1996 Hall of Fame ballot, drawing just 0.2% of the vote, failing to secure the 5% needed to remain on the ballot.
Lemon was a key figure in the Detroit Tigers’ run to a World Series Championship in 1984. After struggling in the ALCS, going 0 for 13, he rebounded in the Fall Classic. In 5 World Series Games, he collected 5 Hits in 17 At Bats, 1 RBI, scored 1 Run, Stole 2 Bases, 2 Walks, 2 Strikeouts, posted a .294 BA, .368 OBP, .294 SLG, and .663 OPS. Lemon came through when Detroit needed him.
The best season of Chet Lemon’s career was with the 1979 White Sox. He appeared in 148 Games, collected 177 Hits, 44 Doubles, 2 Triples, 17 Home Runs, 86 RBI, scored 79 Runs, Stole 7 Bases, 56 Walks, 68 Strikeouts, posted a .318 BA, .391 OBP, .496 SLG, .887 OPS, and 139 OPS+. He led the American League in Doubles and was an All Star. Lemon was a solid all around player.
Only one native Mississippian has found their way into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Cool Papa Bell was one of the greatest players in the Negro Leagues, perhaps the fastest player to ever step on the diamond. Next week the United States of Baseball travels north on the Mississippi River to the Show Me State, Missouri is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball- Minnesota
Minnesota has had its share of baseball glory. The Twins have put the Land of 10,000 Lakes on the baseball map with players like Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, and Joe Mauer. The fear of contraction is gone. On the field the state of Minnesota has been well represented. The greatest pitcher born in Minnesota is Jerry Koosman. His 56.96 career WAR ranks 24th highest among state and territory leaders. Paul Molitor is the greatest Minnesota born position player. His 75.71 career WAR ranks 23rd highest. Minnesota’s combined 132.67 WAR ranks 24th highest among all states and territories.
Jerry Koosman would have been a helicopter pilot in Vietnam if not for a military dentist transferring him to Texas and the son of a Mets usher pointing a scout in the right direction. The Lefty from Appleton pitched 19 seasons in the Majors with four teams: New York Mets (1967-1978), Minnesota Twins (1979-1981), Chicago White Sox (1981-1983), and Philadelphia Phillies (1984-1985). Koosman pitched in 612 career Games, made 527 Starts, Finished 43 Games, threw 140 Complete Games, including 33 Shutouts, collected 17 Saves, Pitched 3,839.1 Innings, allowed 3,635 Hits, 1,608 Runs, 1,433 Earned Runs, 290 Home Runs, 1,198 Walks, 2,556 Strikeouts, posted a 222-209 record, 3.36 ERA, 1.259 WHIP, and 110 ERA+. He was a two time All Star. Koosman is the last pitcher to win 20 Games one season and then lose 20 the next. In 1991 he failed to receive 5% of the vote for the Hall of Fame and was removed from the ballot.
Koosman helped build the Mets into a winner. He pitched behind Tom Seaver and helped lead the Amazin’s to the World Series in 1969 and 1973. In the Fall Classics, Koosman made 4 Starts, threw 1 Complete Game, Pitched 26.1 Innings, allowed 16 Hits, 7 Runs, 7 Earned Runs, 2 Home Runs, 11 Walks, 17 Strikeouts, posted a 3-0 record, 2.39 ERA, and 1.025 WHIP. He was on the mound when the Miracle Mets of 1969 brought a World Series title to Queens.
The best season of Koosman’s career was the year of the pitcher. In 1968 he pitched in 35 Games for the Mets, made 34 Starts, threw 17 Complete Games, including 7 Shutouts, Pitched 263.2 Innings, allowed 221 Hits, 72 Runs, 61 Earned Runs, 16 Home Runs, 69 Walks, 178 Strikeouts, posted a 19-12 record, 2.08 ERA, 1.100 WHIP, and 145 ERA+. Koosman’s 7 Shutouts set the then Mets record. He was an All Star and finished second for the National League Rookie of the Year, one vote behind Johnny Bench. He also finished 13th for the MVP. In the Year of the Pitcher, Koosman was not strongly considered for the Cy Young despite having an outstanding season.
Paul Molitor’s Hall of Fame career almost did not happen. Injuries and a cocaine habit nearly derailed the St. Paul native. Molitor played 21 seasons with three teams: Milwaukee Brewers (1978-1992), Toronto Blue Jays (1993-1995), and Minnesota Twins (1996-1998). He played all over the field, but primarily Third and Second Base. In 2,683 career Games, Molitor collected 3,319 Hits, 605 Doubles, 114 Triples, 234 Home Runs, 1,307 RBI, scored 1,782 Runs, 504 Stolen Bases, 1,094 Walks, 1,244 Strikeouts, .306 BA, .367 OBP, .444 SLG, .817 OPS, and 122 OPS+. He was a seven time All Star and four time Silver Slugger. Molitor was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2004 on the first ballot. After his playing career, Molitor returned to the Twins as their manager for four seasons, winning the 2017 American League Manager of the Year award.
Molitor played in two World Series. His 1982 Brewers lost to the Cardinals, while his 1993 Blue Jays defeated the Phillies. Molitor played in 13 World Series Games, collected 23 Hits, 2 Doubles, 2 Triples, 2 Home Runs, 11 RBI, scored 15 Runs, 2 Stolen Bases, 5 Walks, 4 Strikeouts, .418 BA, .475 OBP, .636 SLG, and 1.112 OPS. He was the 1993 World Series MVP after hitting .500 in 24 At Bats. Many thought Molitor’s best years were behind him, but they were wrong.
The best season of Molitor’s career was 1993 with Toronto. He played in 160 Games, collected 211 Hits, 37 Doubles, 5 Triples, 22 Home Runs, 111 RBI, scored 121 Runs, 22 Stolen Bases, 77 Walks, 71 Strikeouts, .332 BA, .402 OBP, .509 SLG, .911 OPS, and 143 OPS+. Molitor led the Junior Circuit in Hits and Plate Appearances (725). He was an All Star and won the Silver Slugger award. He finished second in the American League MVP voting behind Frank Thomas.
Minnesota has plenty of baseball history. The state is represented in Cooperstown by four players: Chief Bender, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, and Dave Winfield. The Land of 10,000 Lakes continues building upon its great baseball legacy. The United States of Baseball is taking a break as The Winning Run prepares for our 30 in 30 road trip. When we return we will head south to the Magnolia State. Mississippi is next.
DJ
United States of Baseball-Massachusetts
There is more to baseball in Massachusetts than Fenway Park. The iconic ball park has played a major role in the game’s history, but it is not the Bay State’s only contribution. Massachusetts has sent 667 players to the Major Leagues. The greatest pitcher born in Massachusetts is Tim Keefe. His 89.13 career WAR ranks him 12th among pitching state and territory leaders. Jeff Bagwell is the greatest position player born in the Bay State. His 79.88 career WAR ranks 20th among position player leaders. Massachusetts has a combined 169.01 WAR, ranking the Bay State 16th among states and territories.
Tim Keefe made the most of his opportunities in baseball. The Cambridge native pitched for 14 seasons with five teams: Troy Trojans (1880-1882), New York Metropolitans (1883-1884), New York Giants (1885-1889, 1891), New York Giants of the Players League (1890), and Philadelphia Phillies (1891-1893). The inspiration for the pitcher in Casey At The Bat, Keefe pitched in 600 career Games, made 594 Starts, threw 554 Complete Games, including 39 Shutouts, Pitched 5,049.2 Innings, allowed 4,438 Hits, 2,470 Runs, 1,474 Earned Runs, 75 Home Runs, 1,233 Walks, 2,564 Strikeouts, posted a 342-225 record, 2.63 ERA, 1.123 WHIP, and 126 ERA+. He won three ERA Titles (1880, 1885, and 1888) and became the second member of the 300 Win Club, joining Pud Galvin. Keefe was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964 by the Veterans Committee.
The World Series was a postseason exhibition during Keefe’s career, but he still shined. He pitched in three series (1884, 1888, and 1889), helping the Giants win the latter two. Keefe pitched in 8 Games, made 7 Starts, threw 7 Complete Games, Pitched 61.0 Innings, allowed 45 Hits, 36 Runs, 18 Earned Runs, 2 Home Runs, 14 Walks, 46 Strikeouts, posted a 4-3 record, 2.66 ERA, and 0.967 WHIP. He was terrific regardless of the stakes.
The best season of Keefe’s career was 1888 with the Giants. He pitched in and Started 51 Games, threw 48 Complete Games, including 8 Shutouts, Pitched 434.1 Innings, allowed 317 Hits, 143 Runs, 84 Earned Runs, 5 Home Runs, 90 Walks, 335 Strikeouts, posted a 35-12 record, 1.74 ERA, 0.937 WHIP, and 156 ERA+. He led the National League in Wins, Winning Percentage, Shutouts, Strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and ERA+ to win the Pitching Triple Crown. Keefe established the Major League record, later equaled by Rube Marquard, with 19 consecutive victories from June 23 to August 10.
Away from the diamond, Keefe stayed busy. In 1885, he helped form the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players, an early attempt at a player’s association. Keefe worked to end the Reserve Clause. In his ongoing efforts to break the hold of owners, Keefe helped establish the Players League in 1890. While the league collapsed after one season, Keefe continued fighting for player’s rights.
Houston’s Killer B’s revolved around Jeff Bagwell. The Boston Native played First Base for 15 seasons with the Astros (1991-2005). In 2,150 career Games, Bagwell collected 2,314 Hits, 488 Doubles, 32 Triples, 449 Home Runs, 1,529 RBI, scored 1,517 Runs, 202 Stolen Bases, 1,401 Walks, 1,558 Strikeouts, .297 BA, .408 OBP, .540 SLG, .948 OPS, and 149 OPS+. Originally drafted by his hometown Red Sox, Bagwell was traded to Houston for Larry Anderson. The Minor Leaguer was heartbroken. However, the Astros gave him the opportunity to win the First Base spot in Spring Training. Bagwell played Third Base throughout his Minor League career, but Ken Caminiti was entrenched at the Hot Corner. Bagwell responded by winning the 1991 National League Rookie of the Year Award, receiving 23 of 24 first place votes. He was named to four All Star teams and won three Silver Slugger awards. Bagwell was a terror at the plate, collecting at least 30 Doubles 10 times and scored 100 Runs nine times. He hit 30 Home Runs with 100 RBI eight times. Despite his ferocious approach, Bagwell drew 100 Walks seven times. He hit over .300 six times and posted a 1.000 OPS five times. He twice produced 30 Home Run 30 Stolen Base seasons. Bagwell appeared in the 2005 World Series, collecting his final career Hit in eight At Bats as shoulder injuries ended his career. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017.
Unquestionably the best season of Bagwell’s career was 1994. In the Strike Shortened season, he played in 110 Games, collected 147 Hits, 32 Doubles, 2 Triples, 39 Home Runs, 116 RBI, scored 104 Runs, 15 Stolen Bases, 65 Walks, 65 Strikeouts, .368 BA, .451 OBP, .750 SLG, 1.201 OPS, and 213 OPS+. He led the National League in RBI, Runs scored, SLG, OPS, OPS+, and Total Bases (300). Bagwell won his first Silver Slugger, the Gold Glove, and was the unanimous National League MVP.
Massachusetts continues to play an important role in the game. The Bay State’s rich baseball history has seen 15 native sons enshrined in Cooperstown: Jeff Bagwell, Jack Chesbro, John Clarkson, Mickey Cochrane, Candy Cummings (Executive), Leo Durocher (Manager), Tom Glavine, Frank Grant, Tim Keefe, Joe Kelley, Connie Mack (Manager), Rabbit Maranville, Tommy McCarthy, Wilbert Robinson (Manager), and Pie Traynor. Fenway is not Massachusetts’ only baseball legacy. Next week the United States of Baseball heads for the Great Lakes. The Wolverine State is next, Michigan.
DJ
The Winning Run 