GhostofKong
Hall of Fame Vote for the Class of 1987
April 29, 2011 at 11:15PM View BBCode
Dudes.
It's that time again. Hall of Fame voting time. We have some exciting new candidates as well as some worthy holdovers. Looking at voting from last season, guys like Bob Hubbard, Dale Dailey, and Angelo Manwaring garnered more support, while some guys started declining - notably Don Gooch, Steely Dan, and Rance Blankenship.
I've started to include the candidates' vote total averages. Basically, if a player has been on the ballot for 5 seasons and has averaged 4 or less votes a season, this will be their last time on the ballot if they don't gain more support this time around.
Enjoy.
STARTING PITCHERS
Don Gooch
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=1849226
1981 voting: 3 out of 10 votes, 30%
1982 voting: 4 out of 13 votes, 31%
1983 voting: 5 out of 11 votes, 45%
1984 voting: 5 out of 11 votes, 45%
1985 voting: 3 out of 12 votes, 25%
5 year voting average: 4
Gooch was the staff ace of 4 World Series winners with St. Louis and Chicago (AL) in a career that spanned 1950-1958. An All-Star 4 times, Gooch led the league with 24 wins in the MOL's first season and retired as the MOL's All-time leader in ERA with an otherworldly 2.22, while placing 2nd in WHIP with an anemic 1.02.
Steely Dan
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=2819286
1981 voting: 3 out of 10 votes, 30%
1982 voting: 3 out of 13 votes, 23%
1983 voting: 6 out of 11 votes, 55%
1984 voting: 6 out of 11 votes, 55%
1985 voting: 4 out of 12 votes, 33%
5 year voting average: 4.4
Some would contend that Donald Fagan and Walter Becker's best album was Aja... wait a minute. Starting pitcher Dan enjoyed a 16 year career spent mostly with Cincinnati. Dan was a 4 time All-Star and winner of 5 World Series rings. He posted 4 20-win seasons, including 1968 when he led the league in wins (23), starts (38), complete games (14), shut outs (6), and innings (285) but lost the Cy Young to Nolan Ryan in what was a close 4 way race. Steely Dan finished with a career WHIP of 1.25, 10th in wins (259), and with over 30 million albums sold.
Bob Hubbard
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=1934621
1981 voting: 4 out of 10 votes, 40%
1982 voting: 4 out of 13 votes, 31%
1983 voting: 6 out of 11 votes, 55%
1984 voting: 6 out of 11 votes, 55%
1985 voting: 6 out of 12 votes, 50%
5 year voting average: 5.2
On any other team Bob Hubbard would've been the ace. But in taking 4 World Series rings for the AL with Chicago, he was the forceful 3rd wheel in the shadows of Neno Konopka and Scott Hodge. Winner of 20 or more games 4 times, including a 1964 Cy Young campaign in which he went 27-3, Hubbard pitched on at least 2 All-Star teams. A relentless winner, Hubbard finished his career with a remarkable 249-97 win-loss record, 3.19 ERA (20th all time), and 1.19 WHIP.
Dale Dailey
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=4368888
1983 voting: 2 out of 11 votes, 18%
1984 voting: 3 out of 11 votes, 27%
1985 voting: 5 out of 12 votes, 42%
3 year voting average: 3.33
Starting pitcher Dale Dailey could have been considered the King of New York. At least one could gather that by a career spent playing for both leagues in New York. Known for his time with the Bombers, Dailey was a 4 time All-Star and a member of 6 World Series winners. Dailey won at least 15 games 8 separate times in his career. Dailey finished his career with an anemic WHIP of 1.12, good for 10th all time. His 2.96 career ERA is 13th all time, while his overall record was 216 - 128.
3RD BASEMEN
Frank Barberich
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=1849814
1981 voting: 2 out of 10 votes, 20%
1982 voting: 3 out of 13 votes, 23%
1983 voting: 3 out of 11 votes, 27%
1984 voting: 5 out of 11 votes, 45%
1985 voting: 3 out of 12 votes, 25%
5 year voting average: 3.2
Swift and steady, Frank Barberich manned 3rd base for Chicago across 17 seasons in the AL. Playing on 9 All-Star teams and 4 World Series winners, Barberich put up impressive career numbers. 14th All-time in hits (2,847), 14th in RBI (1,442), 16th in runs (1,575), 15th in stolen bases (497), and 20th in BA (.296),
SHORTSTOPS
Roberto Foley
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=2087521
1981 voting: 4 out of 10 votes, 40%
1982 voting: 5 out of 13 votes, 38%
1983 voting: 3 out of 11 votes, 27%
1984 voting: 4 out of 11 votes, 36%
1985 voting: 4 out of 12 votes, 33%
5 year voting average: 4
For 17 seasons, Pittsburgh shortstop Roberto Foley could usually be found on base. Playing on 9 All-Star teams, Foley had 9 seasons with a BA above .300. This provided ample time for thievery, as he had 13 straight seasons with at least 32 stolen bases. That is of course if he wasn't standing on 3rd base already, a result of 14 straight seasons hitting at least 6 triples a year. All said, Foley finished his career 3rd in steals (614), 5th in triples (136), 16th in BA (.298), 18th in hits (2,786), 17th in on base percentage (.371), and 20th in runs (1,549).
CENTERFIELDERS
Angelo Manwaring
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=1849412
1981 voting: 2 out of 10 votes, 20%
1982 voting: 4 out of 13 votes, 31%
1983 voting: 3 out of 11 votes, 27%
1984 voting: 5 out of 11 votes, 45%
1985 voting: 5 out of 12 votes, 42%
5 year voting average: 3.8
One could set their watch to centerfielder Angelo Manwaring's ability to hit .300. For 10 straight years Manwaring hit at least .308 every year, which concluded with a .351 clip for Chicago in 1961. A member of 8 All-Star teams, Manwaring spent a bit more time with Detroit in his career, but made his money in the AL with Chicago where he was a 2 time World Series winner. Manwaring is 7th All-time in career BA (.306), 10th All-time in steals (524), 14th All-time in on-base (.374), 13th All-time in OPS (.865), 16th in triples (118), 19th in runs (1,555) while also hitting 308 career homeruns.
Rance Blankenship
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=1934571
1981 voting: 4 out of 10 votes, 40%
1982 voting: 4 out of 13 votes, 31%
1983 voting: 4 out of 11 votes, 36%
1984 voting: 4 out of 11 votes, 36%
1985 voting: 2 out of 12 votes, 17%
5 year voting average: 3.6
Cleveland centerfielder Rance Blankenship was known for his blazing speed. After bouncing between Baltimore, Detroit, and Kansas City, Blankenship settled in at the the top of Cleveland's line-up and provided 5 All-Star campaigns. Blankenship hit 11 or more triples 7 times in his career and was an easy threat for at least 30 steals a year - having recorded 6 seasons with more than 50 steals. In 1959 he set the MOL single season record for steals with 67 (later tied by Chet Whiten in 1964). Blankenship ranks 2nd All-time in stolen bases with 649 and 6th in triples with 135 while also tallying 1,377 runs, 2477 hits, and a .282 career BA.
RIGHTFIELDERS
John Klawitter
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=2376004
1981 voting: 1 out of 10 votes, 10%
1982 voting: 2 out of 13 votes, 15%
1983 voting: 2 out of 11 votes, 18%
1984 voting: 6 out of 11 votes, 55%
1985 voting: 3 out of 12 votes, 25%
5 year voting average: 2.8
Right-fielder John Klawitter was a perennial 30/30 threat for Detroit from 1958 to 1974. Klawitter had 9 straight All-Star seasons with at least 24 homeruns and 26 stolen bases. He had 3 30/30 seasons and just barely missed having 5 more by a stolen base or a homerun here or there. Klawitter is 12th in homeruns (430), 6th in career slugging (.514), 19th in RBI (1,414), 15th in OPS (.860) while having 384 career steals.
Walter Ratliff
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=3709794
1984 voting: 6 out of 11 votes, 55%
1985 voting: 5 out of 12 votes, 42%
2 year voting average: 5.5
Rightfielder Walter Ratliff was a key member of 7 New York Cavalry World Titles. In the Cavalry's Ghengis Khan-like onslaught of the AL, Ratliff was a table setter and a run producer. The 11-time All-Star was an MVP in 1978 when he led the league in slugging with a .563 mark while also scoring 123 runs and batting .321. Ratliff finished his career as one of the top 15 overall offensive players in the MOL. He retired with a gaudy .856 OPS (17th all-time), .301 BA (good for 11th all-time), .373 OBP (11th as well), 1722 runs (9th all-time), 458 doubles (20th) to go with over 2700 hits, over 300 homeruns, and almost 1300 RBI's.
NEWEST NOMINEES
Jim Munson
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=4034084
8 time All-Star catcher and MOL record holder for most career homeruns by a a catcher, Jim Munson was one of the top receivers of his era. He's 1st among catchers, 1st in your hearts, and 19th all time with 380 dingers. An under-recognized fielder, he made only 21 errors in his 18 year career, nearly throwing out 40% of runners who tried to take a base on him. A member of 3 World Series winners, Munson was most notorious in the NL with the dreaded Bombers.
Brandon Phillips
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=4034166
4 out of 5 dentists agree, 2nd Baseman Brandon Phillips was one of the greatest players in MOL history. Let's talk 5-Time AL MVP! Let's talk 14 time All-Star! Let's talk All time: 5th All time in homeruns with 521, 5th in hits with 3,233, 3rd in RBI with 2,006, 3rd in runs with 2,006, 7th in SLG at .513, 11th in OPS at .868, tied for 19th in AVG at .296, 3rd in doubles with 535, and 4th in triples with 138. 4 Gold Gloves! I've run out of exclamation points.
Ralph Davidson
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=4034156
In the MOL ether, there are groups of retired AL pitchers that meet in church basements to talk about how Ralph Davidson RAN THEM RAGGED. Davidson is the MOL All time leader in career runs scored with 2,161, triples with 194, and walks with 1.394. He's 4th All time in hits with 3,249, 7th in OBP at .379, 17th in AVG at .297, 6th in stolen bases with 569, 4th in doubles with 534, and 6th in steals with 569. Of his 13 career All-Star appearances, 6 were as a shortstop, 4 were as a 3rd baseman, and 3 were as a leftfielder. Speaking of moving around the diamond, a slick fielding shortstop, he didn't win his first Gold GLove until he moved left to 3rd, then won his second as a leftfielder late in his career.
Atley Hammond
http://simdynasty.com/player.jsp?id=4188942
1st overall pick in the 1966 draft, 18 year Atley Hammond immediately began his career as an 18 year old phenom. 20 years, more starts and innings than anyone in MOL history (692 and 5,127), 321 wins (5th), 158 complete games (3rd), and 3,420 K's (3rd) later, NL hitters can finally rest easy knowing he's on the back 9 at Pebble Beach. Hammond played on 2 World Series winners, was the Cy Young in 1978, and represented the NL at 8 All-Star games.