Eli Cash - contributing reporter
Over the course of the last 54 seasons we've seen numerous people voting on the Cobbfather elite, often times new voters not knowing the full history of the league and just looking at how many home runs or wins and strikeouts a player has. While those play a big part, there's so much more to a player's worthiness of the Hall of Fame. Here are the players enshrined in the Hall of Dizzy. These players are no longer eligible for the Cobbfather Hall of Fame.
Catcher
Elston Lloyd
Most Cash points of any catcher we've cataloged, a monitor score above 200. Hit over 500 HRs for his career with 7 seasons of 40+ HR. Currently standing at #39 All-time in career Home Runs. Leads all catchers in league history with 9 All-Star appearances and only bested by Kyle Crain for the most MVPs by a C. Though current Atlanta Expos catcher, Kyle Crain already has 2. His 3 rings are the most for any retired catcher.
Most Cash points of any catcher we've cataloged, a monitor score above 200. Hit over 500 HRs for his career with 7 seasons of 40+ HR. Currently standing at #39 All-time in career Home Runs. Leads all catchers in league history with 9 All-Star appearances and only bested by Kyle Crain for the most MVPs by a C. Though current Atlanta Expos catcher, Kyle Crain already has 2. His 3 rings are the most for any retired catcher.
Al Samuel
He's just a step below Lloyd at 194 Monitor points and 415 Cash. But the biggest difference is his OBP above .400, and whose average was above .300 for all 14 seasons he was in the majors. Similar to Lloyd he has 3 rings, 9 all-star appearances, 1 MVP, but adds 1 gold glove proving he wasn't all bat. He even walked more than he struck out, how is he not in the Hall? He #3 All-Time in most .300+ seasons. That kind of production from behind the plate just doesn't grow on trees.
He's just a step below Lloyd at 194 Monitor points and 415 Cash. But the biggest difference is his OBP above .400, and whose average was above .300 for all 14 seasons he was in the majors. Similar to Lloyd he has 3 rings, 9 all-star appearances, 1 MVP, but adds 1 gold glove proving he wasn't all bat. He even walked more than he struck out, how is he not in the Hall? He #3 All-Time in most .300+ seasons. That kind of production from behind the plate just doesn't grow on trees.
Hector Ball
All time leader in HRs and RBIs for a catcher, at 525 over 15 seasons. That puts him at #36 for HR and #32 for RBI for all players. 10 seasons he knocked in more than 100 RBIs, with 5 of those seasons being 40+ HR. He added 1 MVP and 7 All Star appearances.
All time leader in HRs and RBIs for a catcher, at 525 over 15 seasons. That puts him at #36 for HR and #32 for RBI for all players. 10 seasons he knocked in more than 100 RBIs, with 5 of those seasons being 40+ HR. He added 1 MVP and 7 All Star appearances.
Branch Borders
Not much to like about Borders bat, but his 8 Gold Gloves proved he offered a ton on defense and keeping runners at bay. Hall shouldn't be all about the bat, unless you're a chick who digs the long balls...or a Chicago Cubs fan...but same diff. Perhaps he's a bit of a stretch but you like to see the solid play behind the plate.
Not much to like about Borders bat, but his 8 Gold Gloves proved he offered a ton on defense and keeping runners at bay. Hall shouldn't be all about the bat, unless you're a chick who digs the long balls...or a Chicago Cubs fan...but same diff. Perhaps he's a bit of a stretch but you like to see the solid play behind the plate.
First Base
Kendry Lunar
What's not to like about Lunar? He crosses Jill Bames' Monitor and Test scores and Eli Cash's points and he crossed the 2500+ Hits (2693). 500+ HR (629). 1500 R (1538). 1500 RBI (1850) and 1000 XBH (1116) with a career .350 OBP. 8 seasons with 40+ HR, 10 with 100+ RBI. First base is the toughest position to make the All-Star game but he made two appearances over the course of his career. The (positive) counting stats alone, he should be in the Hall! As of this posting, he's 9th all time in HRs, 7th all time in RBI, 9th all time in XBH, 22nd all time in Hits. Another head scratcher on why he's not in the Hall.
What's not to like about Lunar? He crosses Jill Bames' Monitor and Test scores and Eli Cash's points and he crossed the 2500+ Hits (2693). 500+ HR (629). 1500 R (1538). 1500 RBI (1850) and 1000 XBH (1116) with a career .350 OBP. 8 seasons with 40+ HR, 10 with 100+ RBI. First base is the toughest position to make the All-Star game but he made two appearances over the course of his career. The (positive) counting stats alone, he should be in the Hall! As of this posting, he's 9th all time in HRs, 7th all time in RBI, 9th all time in XBH, 22nd all time in Hits. Another head scratcher on why he's not in the Hall.
Luis Carrasco
Very similar to Lunar, however a slight step behind him outside of producing more hits, one more All-Star appearance and has 3 rings to show for it along with 1 Gold Glove. He fell 1 run short of crossing the 1500 Runs mark, so let's count it! He ranks in at #14 All-Time in career hits, #22 All-Time in career Home Runs, and #12 All-Time in career RBI. If you need better stats than that, we might only a couple for Hall of Famers in the next 50 seasons!
Very similar to Lunar, however a slight step behind him outside of producing more hits, one more All-Star appearance and has 3 rings to show for it along with 1 Gold Glove. He fell 1 run short of crossing the 1500 Runs mark, so let's count it! He ranks in at #14 All-Time in career hits, #22 All-Time in career Home Runs, and #12 All-Time in career RBI. If you need better stats than that, we might only a couple for Hall of Famers in the next 50 seasons!
Second Base
Wandy Guillen
Routinely ranks as the #3 or 4 all time second baseman. Test score of 63 and Monitor of 126 say he belongs in the Hall. Base stealers often get overlooked, but his 571 rank him 14th all time. His 1549 runs places him 25th all time. What really stands out are his 12 seasons of a .300+ batting average, which ranks him 7th all time, and his 7 all-star appearances. The only list he should be left off of his the top 25 all time Cobbfather players.
Routinely ranks as the #3 or 4 all time second baseman. Test score of 63 and Monitor of 126 say he belongs in the Hall. Base stealers often get overlooked, but his 571 rank him 14th all time. His 1549 runs places him 25th all time. What really stands out are his 12 seasons of a .300+ batting average, which ranks him 7th all time, and his 7 all-star appearances. The only list he should be left off of his the top 25 all time Cobbfather players.
Vic Crowe
Name a second baseman who has more HR or RBI? Only one, Hall of Famer Trey Padgett. Crowe should be in! He had 4 seasons that really stood out, but the rest of them were quite impressive as well. Like most top players, he had a long career; which obviously help the counting stats but why hold that against him? He's top 25 all time in HR, R, RBI, XBH, and ranks 51st in Hits. He's clearly in the decision of top 3 second basemen.
Name a second baseman who has more HR or RBI? Only one, Hall of Famer Trey Padgett. Crowe should be in! He had 4 seasons that really stood out, but the rest of them were quite impressive as well. Like most top players, he had a long career; which obviously help the counting stats but why hold that against him? He's top 25 all time in HR, R, RBI, XBH, and ranks 51st in Hits. He's clearly in the decision of top 3 second basemen.
Ernie McErnerney
Say his name 3 times fast, you can't! Ernie ranks 12th all-time in Hits, 46th in HR, 22nd in R, 29th in RBI, and 53rd in SBs. Some guys excel with power, others speed, others with getting on base. Ernie did them all! Unfortunately he was only able to gather 6 votes in S46 with less the 4 seasons to follow. Blame the blog if you want, it pushed for other players to be voted in.
Say his name 3 times fast, you can't! Ernie ranks 12th all-time in Hits, 46th in HR, 22nd in R, 29th in RBI, and 53rd in SBs. Some guys excel with power, others speed, others with getting on base. Ernie did them all! Unfortunately he was only able to gather 6 votes in S46 with less the 4 seasons to follow. Blame the blog if you want, it pushed for other players to be voted in.
Shortstop
Esteban James
Given the Hall voters prefer Home Run hitters, you might find a single Shortstop voted in...yet. His .290 career OBP isn't great, not really good; but who can top 11 Gold Glove awards? He only played 13 seasons. We give him the inclusion due to his superb glove. Every pitcher in the Hall would have loved to have him manning short while they were on the mound.
Given the Hall voters prefer Home Run hitters, you might find a single Shortstop voted in...yet. His .290 career OBP isn't great, not really good; but who can top 11 Gold Glove awards? He only played 13 seasons. We give him the inclusion due to his superb glove. Every pitcher in the Hall would have loved to have him manning short while they were on the mound.
Albert Pineda
Albert is likely the best hitting Shortstop ever. 547 HR, 1520 RBI. .333 career OBP. 5 seasons of 40+ HR, and 100+ R, and 10 seasons of 100+ RBI. Four World Series rings, 7 All-star appearances. Ranks 28 all-time in HR, and his top 50 in R, RBI, XBH, and SBs. He legit hit better than a lot of 1Bs and DHs, yet still couldn't make it into the Hall.
Albert is likely the best hitting Shortstop ever. 547 HR, 1520 RBI. .333 career OBP. 5 seasons of 40+ HR, and 100+ R, and 10 seasons of 100+ RBI. Four World Series rings, 7 All-star appearances. Ranks 28 all-time in HR, and his top 50 in R, RBI, XBH, and SBs. He legit hit better than a lot of 1Bs and DHs, yet still couldn't make it into the Hall.
Trenidad Pujols
Tied for the most All-star appearances for a Shortstop, at 9. He ranks inside the top 75 in HR, R, RBI and barely top 50 in XBH and SBs. He also brought home 3 Gold Glove awards while still producing at the plate. It's amazing what these guys have to do to garner Hall votes.
Tied for the most All-star appearances for a Shortstop, at 9. He ranks inside the top 75 in HR, R, RBI and barely top 50 in XBH and SBs. He also brought home 3 Gold Glove awards while still producing at the plate. It's amazing what these guys have to do to garner Hall votes.
Third Base
Geronimo Johnson
Top 40 in H, RBI, and XBH. Top 50 in HR. The nay sayers will say this isn't the Top 50 Corridor, it's the Hall of Fame. To that I say, nuh-uh! He might be the low end of a Hall of Famer, but I think he belongs on the list.
Top 40 in H, RBI, and XBH. Top 50 in HR. The nay sayers will say this isn't the Top 50 Corridor, it's the Hall of Fame. To that I say, nuh-uh! He might be the low end of a Hall of Famer, but I think he belongs on the list.
Leftfield
Pascual Hernandez
A 58 Test Score, 175 Monitor Score says it all. His 589 HR, 1535 R, and 1679 RBI should help. A .355 career OBP and one of few players above .75 in BB/K show he got the job done at the plate. He ranks 15th all-time in HR, 16th in RBI, 43rd in Hits. For 8 seasons he hit 40+ HR, 100+ R, and 100+ RBI. For two more seasons he still had 100+R, and 100+RBI. Very few players can say they had 100+ R, and RBI for 10 seasons! He's a top 25-30 player without a doubt.
A 58 Test Score, 175 Monitor Score says it all. His 589 HR, 1535 R, and 1679 RBI should help. A .355 career OBP and one of few players above .75 in BB/K show he got the job done at the plate. He ranks 15th all-time in HR, 16th in RBI, 43rd in Hits. For 8 seasons he hit 40+ HR, 100+ R, and 100+ RBI. For two more seasons he still had 100+R, and 100+RBI. Very few players can say they had 100+ R, and RBI for 10 seasons! He's a top 25-30 player without a doubt.
Stubby Shaw
Interesting case, SS's Test score is only 55 and Monitor Score 110; neither say he's a sure fire to get in. But crosses the 2500 H (2776), 500 HR (506), 1500 R (1593), and 1500 RBI (1562) that very few players get near. 16th all-time in Hits, 19th in R, 26th in XBH, and top 100 in SBs.
Interesting case, SS's Test score is only 55 and Monitor Score 110; neither say he's a sure fire to get in. But crosses the 2500 H (2776), 500 HR (506), 1500 R (1593), and 1500 RBI (1562) that very few players get near. 16th all-time in Hits, 19th in R, 26th in XBH, and top 100 in SBs.
Centerfield
Thought about including Sting Bailey, Morgan Cerda, and Heath Kelly but ultimately decided against it.
Rightfield
Edinson Hernandez
Edinson's story was covered well on the blog, he crosses the 2500 H, 1500 R, 400 SB, and 1000 XBH that few players do. His 14 seasons with more than 35 XBH ranks him 2nd all-time. He's 9th all-time in Runs, 12th in Stolen bases, 30th in Hits. Owns a career .366 OBP. If you like the current Atlanta Expos lead-off hitter, Matty Moss; you'd love having this guy on your team. Setting up your power hitters perfectly! Never got more than 11 votes in a single season.
Edinson's story was covered well on the blog, he crosses the 2500 H, 1500 R, 400 SB, and 1000 XBH that few players do. His 14 seasons with more than 35 XBH ranks him 2nd all-time. He's 9th all-time in Runs, 12th in Stolen bases, 30th in Hits. Owns a career .366 OBP. If you like the current Atlanta Expos lead-off hitter, Matty Moss; you'd love having this guy on your team. Setting up your power hitters perfectly! Never got more than 11 votes in a single season.
Al James
Another player who wasn't the power bat, but still produced. Top 30 player in R, RBI, and SBs. He's still top 70 in Hits and top 60 in HR. He's another that I'd consider on the lower tier of Hall worthy, but still worthy.
Another player who wasn't the power bat, but still produced. Top 30 player in R, RBI, and SBs. He's still top 70 in Hits and top 60 in HR. He's another that I'd consider on the lower tier of Hall worthy, but still worthy.
Shawon Stoops
He's a top 50 bat in HR, R, RBI, XBH (he's 19th), and SBs. A .368 OBP is the high end for Hall of Famers. So he's yet another not quite top 2% HR hitter that was kept out of the Hall.
He's a top 50 bat in HR, R, RBI, XBH (he's 19th), and SBs. A .368 OBP is the high end for Hall of Famers. So he's yet another not quite top 2% HR hitter that was kept out of the Hall.
Starting Pitcher
Dizzy Leonard
The new Hall of Fame is named after the guy, of course he's going to make it. The accolades just keep rolling in with this guy. You name the stat, and there's a 50% chance he's near the top of the list. Who else can say that?
The new Hall of Fame is named after the guy, of course he's going to make it. The accolades just keep rolling in with this guy. You name the stat, and there's a 50% chance he's near the top of the list. Who else can say that?
Career Records: #1 Batters Faced, #1 Batters Grounded Into Double Play, #1 (tied) Batters Hit By Pitch, #1 Earned Runs, #3 Games Started, #1 Hits Allowed, #1 Home Runs Allowed, #2 Innings Pitched, #3 (tied) Losses, #1 Number of Pitches Thrown, #1 Walks, #1 Wild Pitches Thrown, #8 Strikeouts
Single Season Records: #3, 4, & 5 in Batters Faced, #3 Innings Pitched, and #2, 3, & 4 in Number of Pitches Thrown
Randall Washington
Similar to some of the bats, he's likely on the low end of the Hall list but still worthy. And his 21 Playoff Wins/Saves is only bested by Hall of Famers Francisco Aramboles and Harry Mieses.
Similar to some of the bats, he's likely on the low end of the Hall list but still worthy. And his 21 Playoff Wins/Saves is only bested by Hall of Famers Francisco Aramboles and Harry Mieses.
Braeden Abercrombie & Lorenzo Gonzalez
Combining these two guys into a single list because they rank well above other Hall of Famer starters in Test and Monitor scores and have the numbers to back it up. If the season is on the line, you want them on your staff!
Combining these two guys into a single list because they rank well above other Hall of Famer starters in Test and Monitor scores and have the numbers to back it up. If the season is on the line, you want them on your staff!
Relief Pitcher
Al Balentien, Tomo Hayashi, Eduardo Jose
Relief pitchers always get overlooked so we'll keep this short since most will stop reading at this point. But these three guys belong in the Hall. Each were pivotal in the success of each team they played a part of.
Relief pitchers always get overlooked so we'll keep this short since most will stop reading at this point. But these three guys belong in the Hall. Each were pivotal in the success of each team they played a part of.