Monday, October 23, 2023

Finding a Hall of Famer

 Eli Cash - contributing reporter


It's the offseason for the Hall of Fame, but let's take a look at where each of the Hall of Famer's were found. 

  • Ten (10) of them were original members
  • Seventeen (17) were signed as International Free Agents
    • S2 - The first big impact IFA was Rafael Benitez (1B - $34M) & pitcher Harry Mieses (SP - $17.8M). 6 players that season had bonuses over $15M, and 3 above $20M. 
    • S4 - Andres Candelaria (LF - $22M) & Alberto Beltre (SP - $25.9M) were the two front liners and only two above $20M, with 4 others being above $15M. 
    • S7 - Victor Almanzar (SP - $22.5M) is the sole member from this IFA class. 
    • S8 -Mendy Kondou (RF - $10.5M) surprisingly was signed mid-way through the season and still received just a hair above $10M. Only 1 team received more than $15M this season and none in the $20s. 
    • S10 - Tony Lopez (SP - $3.3M) surprised everyone. He signed just two weeks into the season and for pennies compared to what others have received. 1 player received $20M+ and another 4 received $15M+. The Anaheim franchise, then called the Vancouver Canadians spent $15.8M & $16.6M on two separate pitchers both of whom had losing records and a career ERA above 4.50.
    • S18 - Was the year of Francisco Aramboles (SP - $32.2M) & Willie Cerda (1B - $33M), in this season there were 7 players above $20M. Only one other received $15M+ and it was still $200k short of $20M. Lots of spending on the international market this season! 
    • S24 - Raul Galvez (CF - $25M) was the top bonus money in Season 24, though Al Balentien ($21.4M) missed by as much as he missed during his Hall voting days. A bit of a down year as there were only five players above $15M. 
    • S26 - Carlos Colome (SP - $22M) was only the second highest, just below doubles machine Edinson Hernandez ($27.5M), they were both two of three players to sign above $15M. Quite a few of the 2-8M contracts were signed as everyone was watching their pennies. 
    • S29 - Took three seasons, but Ubaldo Alvarez (LF - $21.6M) made it into the Hall. Not look good for the four players who signed for more bonus money that year. Current HoF hopefully Juan Galvis (SP - $15.2M) was in this signing class. 
    • S31 - Buffalo inked Yoenis Portillo (RF - $22.9M) who couldn't out sign Braulio Pelaez (SP - $23M) who signed just 10 days earlier than Portillo.
    • S32 - recent HoF additions, Gregor Lopez (SP - $27M) and Magglio Exposito (SP - $29.6M) were both signed. Diego Parraz ($32M) that same season is still waiting for an election into the Hall. There were 6 players who signed bonuses worth more than $20M. HoF LF Omar Berroa missed it but still managed to sign at $15M. Might be our draft IFA class EVER with 3 Hall of Famers. There's hope boys, keep hope alive!
  • Twenty-three (23) were drafted. 
    • Nine (9) #1 picks - Trey Padgett (2B - S1), Zach Charles (3B - S3), James Haselman (SP - S9), Jerrod Griffiths (RF - S18), Thomas Hutchinson (SP - S15), Ahmed Ratliff (RF - S18), Red Collins (SP - S21), Bob Graves (SP - S26), and Sean Gosling (3B - S30) were all top overall picks with full expectations to perform at the highest of levels. 
    • Four (4) #2 picks - Dennis Gulan (2B - S4), Brutus Henry (LF - S6), Norman LaPorta (SP - S8), and Don Monahan (SP - S13) were all backup options that whoever had the #1 pick likely regrets passing them over. 
    • Three (3) #3 pick - Lyle Wallace (SP - S7), Eugene Brantley (1B - S11), and Chick Munson (SP - S22) all found themselves outside the discussion of top pick. 
    • One (1) #5 pick - First ballot Hall of Famer Jair James (SP - S34) was drafted in the middle of a run on 7 straight pitchers his draft year. 
    • One (1) #6 pick - Albert Cruz (1B - S18) per usual, two shortstops were drafted at the top of this draft. Don't get me wrong, those two guys combined for 30 ML seasons (13 & 17), but neither warrant a look at the Hall. 
    • One (1) #8 pick - Jimmie Hartman (SP - S31) wasn't even a top 4 pitcher in his draft; though his problem may have been the $5.3M he signed, about $2M above his slot value. Just goes to show you, sometimes it pays to pay. Don't be a scrooge (mcduck), think of little Timmy Jimmie!
    • One (1) #9 pick - Armando Merced (SP - S22) took 6 seasons of voting to get into the Hall but he got there. Must have felt like draft night, where he fell to pick 9 that season. 
    • Three (3) #10 picks - Johnny Sherman (DH - S1), Howard Greer (RF - S9), and Douglas Banks (SP - S14) were all taken in double digits, leaving hope for those who are rebuilding but not quite bad enough (or good at tanking?) to have a top overall pick. 

In Season order - nothing like those early seasons. 
That means four (4) of our IFA Hall of Famers signed for below $20M and seven (7) of those drafted were after the top 3 picks. So all hope isn't lost in finding an future Hall of Famer. Keep building those dynasties!

Perhaps the unsigned #11 pick Derek Moore of this season's draft will be the first player into the Hall, not selected within the top 10 picks but he's holding out for more money in hopes to make the big club in Salem one day. Or maybe he has issues with witches and thus doesn't think playing in Salem is a good idea. Wouldn't be the first baseball player to be superstitious. 

Some people will say it was easier back in the day to make it into the Hall and to that I say...yeah, you're probably right but chicks dig the long ball!

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