Eli Cash - contributing reporter
Another Hall of Fame season is upon us, speaking of which....VOTE HERE.
For the new voters out there, be sure to skim past articles; particularly the primer for a detailed explanation of the three scoring system we use. As a quick reminder, a sure thing for a hitter is 60/130/500, for a starter its 60/130/420 and for a reliever (who doesn't use the Test Score) is 130/250.
We are still moving players over to the new tracking system, which helps automate things like WAR, Test & Monitor Score, as well as the Fantasy points. Players grouped by position, with the highlighted green cells being categories where a player falls into the Top 50 of all time. We are also listing players by WAR as that's our newest feature.
If you have a good retired player that I can include, please let me know.
C
Lonnie Mills
This 9 time All-star proudly wears his single World Series ring and offered his teams a .300+ average for 9 of the 15 seasons he played. In his prime, he also offered 100+ RBI. His Test score says he's a no-brainer for the Hall but his Monitor is greatly lacking. He had 4 seasons of 10.5 WAR, with 8 Silver Sluggers - 5 at Catcher, 3 at DH. He's no speed demon but he still logged quite a few seasons with 50+ xBH, walking more times than he struck out. Perhaps it's time to send a few extra votes his way in S58. The Blog in previous years thought he was borderline, but we'll lean into this one and see about getting him enshrined!
Past Voting: 6 (S57), 7 (S56)
Marshall Van Ostrand
His voting support dropped the last two seasons and likely rightfully so. We'll cover him quickly, His 8 All-Star appearances is 4th amongst all logged Catchers, falling just one behind Elston Lloyd, Al Samuel, and Lonnie Mills. On top of his 1 ring, he had 4 seasons of .300+ average, ending his career with a .393 OBP; which is still excellent for a catcher lead by his amazing BB/K rate of 1.30. His test score says he falls short. And there's precedence set by those who ranked ahead of him for not making the Hall. Sadly, if Mills doesn't get in it might actually mean we never get a catcher in the Hall until Kyle Crain.
Past Voting: 0 (S57), 0 (S56), 4 (S55), 3 (S54)
His voting support dropped the last two seasons and likely rightfully so. We'll cover him quickly, His 8 All-Star appearances is 4th amongst all logged Catchers, falling just one behind Elston Lloyd, Al Samuel, and Lonnie Mills. On top of his 1 ring, he had 4 seasons of .300+ average, ending his career with a .393 OBP; which is still excellent for a catcher lead by his amazing BB/K rate of 1.30. His test score says he falls short. And there's precedence set by those who ranked ahead of him for not making the Hall. Sadly, if Mills doesn't get in it might actually mean we never get a catcher in the Hall until Kyle Crain.
Past Voting: 0 (S57), 0 (S56), 4 (S55), 3 (S54)
Fritz Butcher
Fritz has rarely received any support but he continues to be on the ballot. His 6 Silver Sluggers at Catcher is likely the reason he's even on the ballot. Seven All-Star appearances, in only 11 seasons; all for Helena. Had he played another 4, we would most likely be talking about him in a different light. His 162 game average is nearly 170 hits, 24 hr, and pulled down 80-90 runs/rbi combo but like Van Ostrand, no single season is outstanding considering he struck out more times than he had RBIs or Runs.
Past Voting: 0 (S57), 0 (S56), 1 (S55), 0 (S54), 0 (S53), 1 (S52)
1B
Fritz has rarely received any support but he continues to be on the ballot. His 6 Silver Sluggers at Catcher is likely the reason he's even on the ballot. Seven All-Star appearances, in only 11 seasons; all for Helena. Had he played another 4, we would most likely be talking about him in a different light. His 162 game average is nearly 170 hits, 24 hr, and pulled down 80-90 runs/rbi combo but like Van Ostrand, no single season is outstanding considering he struck out more times than he had RBIs or Runs.
Past Voting: 0 (S57), 0 (S56), 1 (S55), 0 (S54), 0 (S53), 1 (S52)
1B
Charlie Lyons
Lyons surpassed the 2500+ hits and ranks 41 on the all-time list. He failed to pass 1500 in runs or RBIs but he still ranks top 75 all time in both. With 8 seasons above a .300 average, he also knocked in 100+ RBI 9 times, winning 1 ring and 4 All-star appearances. Unlike most 1Bs in the Hall, he failed to reach 40 HR in any of his 16 seasons. His 162 game average is 26 HR, 90 R, and 93 RBI. His WAR has him as #18 ALL-TIME! But his Test and Monitor scores are lower and don't say he's a sure thing. Great player for Boston, just not sure who all is going to support him.
Lyons surpassed the 2500+ hits and ranks 41 on the all-time list. He failed to pass 1500 in runs or RBIs but he still ranks top 75 all time in both. With 8 seasons above a .300 average, he also knocked in 100+ RBI 9 times, winning 1 ring and 4 All-star appearances. Unlike most 1Bs in the Hall, he failed to reach 40 HR in any of his 16 seasons. His 162 game average is 26 HR, 90 R, and 93 RBI. His WAR has him as #18 ALL-TIME! But his Test and Monitor scores are lower and don't say he's a sure thing. Great player for Boston, just not sure who all is going to support him.
Lee Schlitter
As mentioned before, Schlitter is not your prototypical First Baseman, reling more on his speed and ability to get on base than a power bat. This might very well be his last year on the ballot, so those wanting him in have their fingers crossed. His overall WAR ranks him #30 All-Time. He well surpassed the 2500 Hit milestone as well as the milestones for Runs and Stolen Bases. Ending his career with a .380 OBP and nearly a walk per strikeout. In his 16 seasons he made the All-Star game an amazing 10 times. For 4 seasons he had more than 200 hits, and for an additional 3 he still hit above .300. 13 seasons of scoring more than 100 Runs, 9 seasons with 35+ Doubles and 1 Gold Glove. I love a good 1-2 lead off hitter and that's exactly what you had with him, he averaged 176 Hits, 24 HR, 39 SBs, 114 Runs, and 84 RBI. While I may not have voted him last year due to other names, he gets the vote this year. He ranks #10 in Runs scored, #15 in stolen bases, and #17 in Hits. If that doesn't get you in the hall, then we need to rename it to the Homers Club in honor of only allowing power hitters in. Get this man in!
Past Voting: 14 (S57), 14 (S56), 15 (S55), 15 (S54), 4 (S53)
As mentioned before, Schlitter is not your prototypical First Baseman, reling more on his speed and ability to get on base than a power bat. This might very well be his last year on the ballot, so those wanting him in have their fingers crossed. His overall WAR ranks him #30 All-Time. He well surpassed the 2500 Hit milestone as well as the milestones for Runs and Stolen Bases. Ending his career with a .380 OBP and nearly a walk per strikeout. In his 16 seasons he made the All-Star game an amazing 10 times. For 4 seasons he had more than 200 hits, and for an additional 3 he still hit above .300. 13 seasons of scoring more than 100 Runs, 9 seasons with 35+ Doubles and 1 Gold Glove. I love a good 1-2 lead off hitter and that's exactly what you had with him, he averaged 176 Hits, 24 HR, 39 SBs, 114 Runs, and 84 RBI. While I may not have voted him last year due to other names, he gets the vote this year. He ranks #10 in Runs scored, #15 in stolen bases, and #17 in Hits. If that doesn't get you in the hall, then we need to rename it to the Homers Club in honor of only allowing power hitters in. Get this man in!
Past Voting: 14 (S57), 14 (S56), 15 (S55), 15 (S54), 4 (S53)
Vern Lowe
Lowe didn't quite cross the major thresholds, but he did have 7 seasons with 40+ HR, 7 with 100+ R, and 9 with 100+ RBI, to go with 2 All-star appearances and 4 Gold Gloves. S6 he not only won the Gold Glove but was also an All-Star Silver Slugger. All-time he ranks in at #61 in HR and #83 in RBI. The 4 Gold Gloves just goes to show he wasn't all bat. One more solid season and he would have likely surpassed the HR, R, and RBI thresholds but retired after 13. You could easily make a case for him, but he'd be jumping names like Kendry Lunar, Don Sparks, Vic Park, Dorssys Tatis we just don't think he deserves to be mentioned above those guys.
Lowe didn't quite cross the major thresholds, but he did have 7 seasons with 40+ HR, 7 with 100+ R, and 9 with 100+ RBI, to go with 2 All-star appearances and 4 Gold Gloves. S6 he not only won the Gold Glove but was also an All-Star Silver Slugger. All-time he ranks in at #61 in HR and #83 in RBI. The 4 Gold Gloves just goes to show he wasn't all bat. One more solid season and he would have likely surpassed the HR, R, and RBI thresholds but retired after 13. You could easily make a case for him, but he'd be jumping names like Kendry Lunar, Don Sparks, Vic Park, Dorssys Tatis we just don't think he deserves to be mentioned above those guys.
2B
Harry Padilla
It took Padilla 14 seasons in the majors to finally have one where he didn't steal 40+ bases. He consistently scored 100+ runs for the loaded New York squad. Between he and Lee Schlitter it's no wonder they scored so many runs. New York sure knows how to tank a winner! Padilla had 5 seasons with 200+ hits. A 162 game average of 188 Hits, 21 HR, 59 SBs, 118 Runs, and 87 RBI. 6 Silver Sluggers at 2B, 1 at LF. His Test Score ranks up there with 2B Hall of Famers Trey Padgett and Dennis Gulan. Also up there with should be HoFer Vic Crowe. For now, he's #2 All Time in SBs, #9 in Runs, #13 in Hits, and #48 in BB. But the voters hate speed, maybe because they can't imagine life without their scooters. Who knows why!
Jose Pizzaro
Jose falls a little lower on our WAR list, well below our HoF members. he comes in at #61 All-Time in RBI and #67 in Hits. His 162 game average is 164 Hits, 30 HR, 87 R, 100 RBI, and 20 SB. Honestly who wouldn't take a 30 HR / 20 SB season from their 2B? He was also S16 MVP with a Silver Slugger while manning 3B. But that appears to have been a career year for him, with no other time even coming close to the 4.5 WAR he had. His second best was a 2.4 in S17 where he won a Gold Glove at 2B.
SS
None This Season
3B
Victor Nunez
Nunez is the stronger of the two candidates, earning top 10 WAR for 3Bs and a 60 Test Score. He has a couple of Silver Sluggers and in S44 he even won the Gold Glove at 3B. He had 3 seasons at 4+ WAR, with his best being S42 for then Scranton (now Tacoma). Good overall player and a nice to have, but I cannot say he's Hall of Fame material.
Jose falls a little lower on our WAR list, well below our HoF members. he comes in at #61 All-Time in RBI and #67 in Hits. His 162 game average is 164 Hits, 30 HR, 87 R, 100 RBI, and 20 SB. Honestly who wouldn't take a 30 HR / 20 SB season from their 2B? He was also S16 MVP with a Silver Slugger while manning 3B. But that appears to have been a career year for him, with no other time even coming close to the 4.5 WAR he had. His second best was a 2.4 in S17 where he won a Gold Glove at 2B.
SS
None This Season
3B
Victor Nunez
Nunez is the stronger of the two candidates, earning top 10 WAR for 3Bs and a 60 Test Score. He has a couple of Silver Sluggers and in S44 he even won the Gold Glove at 3B. He had 3 seasons at 4+ WAR, with his best being S42 for then Scranton (now Tacoma). Good overall player and a nice to have, but I cannot say he's Hall of Fame material.
Yasmany Cubillan
Yasmany ranked even lower than Victor, but was a Co-MVP in S34 while playing 3B for then Florida (now Washington DC). he scored 120 runs, hit 24 hr, drove in 113 rbi, stole 52 bases on a .303 average. The only time in his career he hit above .300 and only second time he ever knocked in more than 100 rbi. Majority of his innings were at 3B but he did have a few at SS in Portland (now Tacoma) where he made 1 All-Star game and 2 Silver Sluggers.
RF
Yasmany ranked even lower than Victor, but was a Co-MVP in S34 while playing 3B for then Florida (now Washington DC). he scored 120 runs, hit 24 hr, drove in 113 rbi, stole 52 bases on a .303 average. The only time in his career he hit above .300 and only second time he ever knocked in more than 100 rbi. Majority of his innings were at 3B but he did have a few at SS in Portland (now Tacoma) where he made 1 All-Star game and 2 Silver Sluggers.
RF
Felipe Benitez,
The top RF on the list though not by WAR. He was the S49 MVP playing for a loaded New York team - 146 runs, 56 hr, 145 rbi, 47 sbs, .303 average. How in the world did that team with Benitez, Schlitter, Pardilla among many others not win a World Series title? In fact S49 they were the #1 seed and lost to the Wild Card team. Benitez's only Silver Slugger came when he had a loaded lineup around him, those were also his main years with a higher WAR; perhaps have the Empire around him boosted his stats a bit? He was still a 40/40 type player his years prior in Syracuse (now Montreal).
Asdrubal Pena
Don't sleep on the former Space Cowboy, 8 straight seasons of 100+ RBI and all with 37+ HR might I add. Had a couple of MVP caliber seasons but not brought home the award. With only 3 All-Star games and 1 Silver Slugger his candidacy for the Hall hangs in his stats. His WAR has his top 100 and ranks #85 All Time in HR but misses the top 100 for everything else.
Crash Meacham, Richie Barkley, & Wilfredo Alberro
They should be honored to even be on the ballot...and we've used our limit of words on them already. Moving on.
LF
LF
Midre Mantalban
With recent talk of Jorge Johnson earning his 3k hit and thus being a shoe-in for the Hall, well M&M fell just 70 hits shy of his 3k; something only a select few have done. He's #9 on the all-time hit list. If you think Jorge Johnson belongs in the Hall, you better be voting for Midre as he'll set some precedence for guys who can hit but don't hit bombs. Four time 200+ hit seasons, but was only a 15-20 HR hitter most seasons and wasn't able to add much in terms of stolen bases either. He was all hit, but he did that well.
Midre Mantalban Past Voting: 4 (S57), 5 (S56)
Benny Garvin
Garvin makes the top 50 list in HRs but just barely. Hitting in the batters haven of Santa Fe for the last 5 seasons of his career will do that I guess. But he was all power....and strike outs. A .246 career hitter with nearly 3 times as many K as BB. OUCH! Let's congratulate him on his career and move on.
CF
Hod Haynes
Not much to add about Hod, 1 All Star appearance and 1 Silver Slugger. 1 time above 100 Runs, never above 35 HR, never above 100 RBI, and only once above .300 average. Let's move to the non position.
DH
None
No Designated Hitters on the ballot this year.