NOTICE IX

    I am really running short on players to publish. For example, I just published an article on John Wetteland, and he was my last one that was ready to publish. To make up for this, I will start writing shorter articles on players who are in the Hall of Fame, but probably shouldn't. This notice is to alert everybody that I am not promising to publish every Monday and Thursday, as I have been for over a year, and that I will have a new series of articles coming out. 

WHY I THINK JOHN WETTELAND SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK JOHN WETTELAND SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

John Wetteland was one of the finest relief pitchers ever to take the mound. The Rangers’ most successful closer ever, Wetteland was also the Yankees’ closer before first ballot Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera came into prominence. He had a 2.93 career ERA and 330 saves as the rare relief pitcher who specialized in four different pitches, dominating hitters with a fastball, a changeup, a curveball, and a devastating slider. Wetteland started his career with the Dodgers in 1989, winning five games and whiffing 96 batters in 102 ⅔ innings of work. Wetteland slowed to 2-4 in 1990 but went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 1991. For the remaining nine years of his career, Wetteland saved no less than 25 games per year (including the strike shortened seasons of 1994 and 1995) and averaged 37 per season. Among his accomplishments include 212 strikeouts from 1992-1993, 9 wins in 1993 and 7 in 1997, and some of his best ERA’s (1.37 in 1993, 1.94 in 1997, 2.03 in 1998). Wetteland won Rolaids Relief in 1996, saved the 1999 all-star game for the AL, and won the World Series with the Yankees in 1996. He was the Series MVP with a record four saves and a 2.08 ERA. John Wetteland was a great relief pitcher who was better than most Hall of Fame closers. He is certainly deserving of the Hall of Fame himself but, alas, is on the outside looking in. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 618 season high: 70 in 1993 

Starts career: 17 season high: 12 in 1989 

Complete Games career: 0 

Shutouts career: 0 

Games Finished career: 523 season high: 59 in 1998 and 1999 

Wins career: 48 season high: 9 in 1993 

Losses career: 45 season high: 8 in 1989 

Winning Percentage career: .516 season high: 1.000 in 1991 

ERA career: 2.93 season low: 0.00 in 1991 

WHIP career: 1.135 season low: 0.880 in 1995 

Innings Pitched career: 765 season high: 102 ⅔ in 1989 

Strikeouts career: 804 season high: 113 in 1993 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 9.5 season high: 11.9 in 1993 

Walks career: 252 season high: 36 in 1992 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 3.19 season high: 5.14 in 1998 

Saves career: 330 season high: 43 in 1993, 1996 and 1999 led AL: 43 in 1996 

Fielding Percentage career: .879 season high: 1.000 in 1996, 1997 and 2000 

Double Plays career: 2 season high: 1 in 1995 and 1996 

Putouts career: 27 season high: 7 in 1992 

Assists career: 60 season high: 8 in 1989 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-was 16th in the AL MVP Award voting in 1998 and 19th in 1996 

-finished 22nd in the NL MVP Award voting in 1992 and was 24th in 1993 

-finished sixth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 1999 

-won two Player of the Week awards and the September 1993 NL Pitcher of the Month award 

-was a three time all-star (in 1996, 1998, and 1999) 

-recorded a strikeout and allowed no earned runs in his first MLB game (one inning) 

-won his last game ever 

-won five or more games in a season four times 

-had a winning percentage of .750 or higher four times 

-got two saves in the 1996 ALDS with a 0.00 ERA and had another in the ALCS, totaling a record seven saves in one postseason 

-was scoreless in his only innings in the 1998 and 1999 ALDSes 

-doubled in his only at bat in 1997 and homered in 1990 

-ranks 15th in career saves and 36th in games finished 

-was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2005 as their all time saves leader with 150

WHY I THINK RIGGS STEPHENSON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK RIGGS STEPHENSON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Riggs Stephenson was one of the greatest hitters of all time, with his claim to fame being his robust .336 lifetime batting average, the 26th highest mark of all time. Everything about Stephenson’s offense was fantastic. He rarely ever struck out, collected extra-base hits with remarkable consistency, drew a lot of walks, produced a lot of runs, exhibited fine bunting skills, and was good for a .329 average at the age of 35. He was primarily an outfielder, but he also played second base and third base, finishing with an overall fielding percentage that was above the league average. In college, he was one of the greatest college football players in the country, but he suffered a shoulder injury that ended his career as a quarterback and limited his throwing abilities. Even with the injury, Stephenson led NL leftfielders in double plays and assists in 1927. Riggs Stephenson started his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1921 with a .330 mark in 65 games. Stephenson came to the Cubs in 1926 and became a regular in 1927. He had previously batted .338 across 414 career games, and was finally given a shot to hit every day. In his first full season, Stephenson batted .344 and led the NL with 46 doubles. From 1927 through 1930, Stephenson batted no less than .319 across a full season and topped the .360 mark twice. He displayed great power in 1929 with 17 home runs (compared with only 21 strikeouts) and 110 RBI’s. The Cubs made it to the World Series that season, but despite Stephenson’s .316 mark, they were beaten by the Philadelphia Athletics in five games. In 1931, his age 33 season, Stephenson broke his ankle in July, limiting what would have been a great season to only 80 games. He came back in 1932 with one last great season, finishing fifth in the NL MVP Award voting and helping the Cubs return to the World Series. They were beaten again, this time by the Yankees, but Stephenson batted a .444 with eight hits and four RBI’s in the four game Series. In 1933, Stephenson batted .329 across 97 games but ended his career on a bad note. He went 16-for-74 that season before he was released. Riggs Stephenson was one of the most consistent hitters of all time. I could praise his other skills for hours on end, but the bottom line is that he hit .336, and to keep a .336 lifetime hitter out of the Hall of Fame is always a very bad choice. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,310 season high: 152 in 1927 

At Bats career: 4,508 season high: 579 in 1927 

Hits career: 1,515 season high: 199 in 1927 

Doubles career: 321 season high: 49 in 1932 led NL: 46 in 1927 

Triples career: 54 season high: 9 in 1927 and 1928 

Home Runs career: 63 season high: 17 in 1929 

Runs career: 714 season high: 101 in 1927 

Runs Batted In career: 773 season high: 110 in 1929 

Stolen Bases career: 53 season high: 10 in 1929 

Walks career: 494 season high: 68 in 1928 

Strikeouts career: 247 season high: 29 in 1928 

Batting Average career: .336 season high (minimum of 100 games): .367 in 1930 

On Base Percentage career: .407 season high: .445 in 1929 

Slugging Percentage career: .473 season high: .562 in 1929 

Total Bases career: 2,133 season high: 284 in 1927 

Sacrifice Hits career: 91 season high: 18 in 1927 

Fielding Percentage career: .969 season high: .984 in 1929 and 1932 led NL LF: .985 in 1929 

Double Plays career: 137 season high: 49 in 1923 led AL LF: 5 in 1927 

Putouts career: 2,289 season high: 309 in 1927 led NL LF: 267 in 1928 

Assists career: 761 season high: 216 in 1923 led NL LF: 16 in 1927 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Old Hoss” and “Warhorse” 

-has the highest career batting average of any NL player who never won the NL batting title 

-went 2-for-4 with an RBI on his MLB debut 

-also finished 20th in the NL MVP Award voting in 1927 and 23rd in 1929 

-led the MLB with ten intentional walks in 1929 

-in 1929, he (110), Hack Wilson (159), and Kiki Cuyler (102) all drove in over 100 runs in 1929, marking the only time in NL history that a team had three outfielders do so 

-hit 20 or more doubles eight times, over 30 four times, and over 40 twice 

-hit three home runs off of Hall of Famer Jesse Haines and one each off of Dazzy Vance, Jack Quinn, Dolf Luque, Carl Mays, Carl Hubbell, Herb Pennock, Waite Hoyt, and Dizzy Dean 

-also ranks 47th in career on base percentage 

-among MLB leftfielders, ranks 44th in career double plays 

-was used as a pinch hitter 157 times and as a pinch runner eight times 

-was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 (he was born in Alabama) 

-has been described as “The greatest major league baseball player who is NOT in the Hall of Fame!”

Update II

    Do you remember when I published a series of articles on the most likely active players to make the Hall of Fame? Well, that was a few months ago, and a number of those players have retired since then. This post will examine each player's chances to make it to Cooperstown. 

Cole Hamels has a 163-122 career record with a 3.43 ERA. His best shot at Cooperstown was strikeout number 3,000. His 2,560 are impressive, but are not going to get Hamels to Cooperstown on their own. 

Felix Hernandez's all time numbers won't do it. During his brief prime, he was one of the greatest pitchers in history, but it wasn't long enough. His other seasons weren't very good either. I said that he'd need 476 more strikeouts (putting him at 3,000 for his career) to make it, but alas, he hasn't, and I expect that he won't be chosen. 

Brandon Phillips, a very good second baseman, won't make it. He had power and good defense, but his .275 average and .320 OBP are not enough. 

Edwin Encarnacion has good counting statistics, but he wasn't really one of the best players in baseball for more than a couple of years. That, along with his .260 average (earned mostly as a DH), do not make a Hall of Fame career. 

Hanley Ramirez might make it to Cooperstown. The shortstop has a Rookie of the Year Award, a Batting Title, 271 home runs, and 281 stolen bases. He was a pretty bad fielder and did have a relatively short career, which makes his offensive statistics the majority of his case. 

Dustin Pedroia could make it to Cooperstown. He's got a Rookie of the Year Award, an MVP Award, two World Series rings, and four Gold Gloves at second base. Pedroia's led the AL in runs scored in back to back seasons and has a .299 career batting average, so he's a good bet to get in. 

NOTICE VIII

    I am going to be out of town for a little more than a week. Sadly, that means that I won't be able to publish during that time. While this is a tragedy, this doesn't mean that anyone should withhold any comments. 

WHY I THINK MATT KILROY SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK MATT KILROY SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Matt Kilroy holds the all time record for the most strikeouts in a single season. Period. That is an important enough record to guarantee its holder a place in Cooperstown on its own, in my opinion. Kilroy’s mark is 72 more than the second place finisher, Hall of Famer Hoss Radbourn, who had 441 in 1884. Kilroy was also an amazing pitcher even without that record, as he dominated hitters with an almost impossible to hit curveball and a blazing fastball. Kilroy also had one of the best strikeout to walk ratios of his time, 141 wins in 292 starts, and remarkable innings pitched totals. Matt Kilroy started his career with the American Association Baltimore Orioles in 1886, winning 29 games and recording his 513 strikeouts. Kilroy led the MLB in games pitched, starts, complete games, strikeouts, and strikeouts per nine innings. He went 46-19 with a 3.07 ERA and 217 strikeouts in 1887 and won 17 games in 1888. Kilroy went 29-25 with another 217 strikeouts and a brilliant 2.85 ERA in 1889. The rest of Kilroy’s career was rough, as he jumped from team to team and pitched 100 innings in a season only once more. During that time, Kilroy was still a quality pitcher, as he had a combined 2.76 ERA in 1891-1892 and won six games in 1898 with the Chicago Orphans after three years of inactivity. Matt Kilroy was a fine pitcher who won 46 games in a season and whiffed 513 batters* another year. He definitely deserves a spot in Cooperstown. 

*The circumstances in 1886 were that foul balls weren’t counted as strikes, even though the pitcher tossed underhand, because he pitched from a box 50 feet away from the plate. It took four strikes to fan a batter and six balls to walk him. 1886 was also the last season in which a batter could ask for either a high or low pitch. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games Pitched career: 303 season high: 69 in 1887 led AA: 68 in 1886, 69 in 1887 

Starts career: 292 season high: 69 in 1887 led AA: 68 in 1886, 69 in 1887 

Complete Games career: 264 season high: 66 in 1886 and 1887 led AA: 66 in 1886 and 1887, 55 in 1889 

Shutouts career: 19 season high: 6 in 1887 led AA: 6 in 1887 

Games Finished career: 12 season high: 3 in 1889 and 1890 

Wins career: 141 season high: 46 in 1887 led AA: 46 in 1887 

Losses career: 133 season high: 34 in 1886 led AA: 34 in 1886 

Winning Percentage career: .515 season high: .537 in 1889 

ERA career: 3.47 season low: 2.85 in 1889 

WHIP career: 1.313 season low: 1.129 in 1886 

Innings Pitched career: 2,435 ⅔ season high: 589 ⅓ in 1887 led AA: 589 ⅓ in 1887 

Strikeouts career: 1,170 season high: 513 in 1886 led AA: 513 in 1886 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 4.3 season high: 7.9 in 1886 led AA: 7.9 in 1886 

Walks career: 754 season high: 182 in 1886 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 1.55 season high: 2.82 in 1886 led AA: 2.82 in 1886 

Saves career: 1 season high: 1 in 1890 

Fielding Percentage career: .891 season high: .932 in 1888 (the league fielding percentage was .896) 

Double Plays career: 13 season high: 4 in 1889 

Putouts career: 184 season high: 39 in 1887 

Assists career: 610 season high: 157 in 1887 led AA P: 116 in 1886, 157 in 1887, 129 in 1889 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-brother of Mike Kilroy 

-nicknamed “Matches” 

-led the AA in batters faced in 1887 (2,492) 

-won both games of a doubleheader on July 26 and October 1, 1887 

-batted .438 in 1893 and .274 in 1889 

-hit 17 career triples 

-stole 67 career bases, including 20 in 1886 

-threw a 6-0 no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys on October 6, 1886 

-pitched a complete game no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns on July 29, 1889, a 0-0 tie that went only seven innings; it was counted as another no-hitter but has been since disallowed 

-won both ends of a doubleheader twice in 1887, on July 26 and October 1 

-his 46 wins in 1887 are still the MLB season record for a lefthander 

-his 2,492 batters faced in 1887 are the 14th most of all time, and his 2,469 in 1886 rank 17th 

-also played one game at third base, two at shortstop, and 36 in the outfield

WHY I THINK KEN WILLIAMS SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK KEN WILLIAMS SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Ken Williams was one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He had every offensive skill in abundance. Williams hit for a .319 career average with fantastic power, amazing RBI totals, patience and discipline at the plate, fine bunting skills, and even plenty of stolen bases. Part of his .319 average came from the fact that he very rarely struck out, which also means that he has one of the best strikeout to walk ratios in history. On top of all this, he was also an excellent defensive leftfielder, probably the best of his time. Ken Williams started his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1915 with a .242 average in 71 games. Struggling through the dead ball era, Williams played no more than ten games per season until 1919, when he batted .300 in 65 games. Williams was a regular by 1920, his age 30 season, and he hit .307. From 1921 through 1925, Williams batted a combined .339 with 135 home runs and only 136 strikeouts. He had more RBI’s than games played in two of those seasons, and more home runs than strikeouts in two. From 1926 through 1929, Williams remained a valuable hitter (combined .307 average with decent power), but wasn’t the unthinkable hitter that he was earlier in his career. I’ve heard that a Hall of Famer should preferably have at least a seven year peak in which he plays at a Hall of Fame level. Williams’s peak was only five years long, but it was so remarkable that, in my opinion, it was better than most Hall of Famers’ seven year peaks. Remember, those were his age 31-35 seasons. He also had many other great years in which he played, arguably, at a Hall of Fame level. His career rate statistics are also well above the Hall of Fame averages. This speaks pretty clearly that Ken Williams is a Hall of Famer. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games career: 1,397 season high: 153 in 1922 

At Bats career: 4,862 season high: 585 in 1922 

Hits career: 1,552 season high: 198 in 1923 

Doubles career: 285 season high: 37 in 1923 

Triples career: 77 season high: 13 in 1920 

Home Runs career: 196 season high: 39 in 1922 led AL: 39 in 1922 

Runs career: 860 season high: 128 in 1922 

Runs Batted In career: 916 season high: 155 in 1922 led AL: 155 in 1922 

Stolen Bases career: 154 season high: 37 in 1922 

Walks career: 566 season high: 79 in 1923 

Strikeouts career: 287 season high: 42 in 1921 

Batting Average career: .319 season high: .357 in 1923 

On Base Percentage career: .393 season high: .439 in 1923 

Slugging Percentage career: .530 season high: .627 in 1922 led AL: .613 in 1925 

Total Bases career: 2,579 season high: season high: 367 in 1922 led AL: 367 in 1922 

Sacrifice Hits career: 160 season high: 26 in 1920 

Fielding Percentage career: .958 season high: .971 in 1928 

Double Plays career: 44 season high: 7 in 1920 led AL LF: 7 in 1920, 5 in 1923 

Putouts career: 2,956 season high: 372 in 1922 

Assists career: 167 season high: 25 in 1921 led AL LF: 25 in 1921 

DID YOU KNOW?

-went 1-for-4 with an RBI on his MLB debut 

-finished 15th in the AL MVP voting in 1923 and 22nd in 1924 

-his 155 RBI’s in 1922 are the St. Louis Browns’ single season franchise record 

-holds the St. Louis Browns’ career records for on base percentage (.403), slugging percentage (.558), and OPS (.961) 

-In 1922, he became the first and only 30-30 club member for 34 years, until Willie Mays accomplished the feat in 1956 

-became the first man in MLB history to hit two home runs in one inning on August 7, 1922 

-hit eight home runs off of Jack Quinn, six each off of Herb Pennock and Waite Hoyt, five off of Stan Coveleski, four off of Carl Mays, three each off of Walter Johnson and Urban Shocker, and one each off of Ted Lyons, Red Ruffing, and Lefty Grove 

-led the AL in home run percentage in 1925 (6.1) and in extra-base hits in 1922 (84) 

-ranks 45th in career OPS (.924) and 49th in slugging percentage

-among MLB leftfielders, ranks fifth in career double plays (35) and tenth in assists (146) 

-his 25 assists from leftfield in 1921 are the 12th most of all time, and his 23 in 1923 rank 35th 

-aside from playing the outfield, he also played two games at first base, two at second base, 103 as a pinch hitter and two as a pinch runner

WHY I THINK HARVEY KUENN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK HARVEY KUENN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien

Harvey Kuenn was one of the best high average hitters of his time, batting a career .303 during the reigns of many dominant pitchers. A ten time all-star, he hit over .300 eight times, won the 1959 AL batting title with a .353 mark (which is closer to .400 than it is to .300), and led the AL in hits four times. Kuenn also offered great versatility in the field, regularly playing shortstop, third base, and all three outfield positions during his fifteen years as a Major Leaguer. Harvey Kuenn started his career with the Tigers in 1952, batting .325 in 19 games. He batted .308 and led the AL with 209 hits in 1953 on his way to his first of ten all-star selections and the Rookie of the Year award. Kuenn was one of the best hitters of the 1950’s. During the decade, he batted a combined .314 and averaged 30 strikeouts per 154 games. Kuenn led the AL in doubles three times and earned MVP votes every year from 1953 through 1960. He batted .308 for Cleveland in 1960 and was traded to the Giants, but fell to a .265 mark in 1961, his age 30 season. Kuenn bounced back and had two very good years for the Giants after that, but he slumped to .264 in 1964. Clearly on his way down, Kuenn split his 1965 season, playing in 77 games between the Giants and the Cubs. In 1966, he played in 89 games, this time between the Cubs and the Phillies, and batted a combined .296. In 1970, Kuenn, while with the Milwaukee Brewers, was activated for two weeks, but never appeared in a game. After his playing days, he managed a 160-118-1 (.576) record for the Brewers, including the 1982 AL pennant. In 1982, Kuenn was named the Associated Press AL Manager of the Year. Harvey Kuenn was a fantastic hitter, a good, versatile fielder, and even a very good manager. His overall contributions to his team, and to baseball as a whole, were very great and worthy of the Hall of Fame, in my opinion. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,833 season high: 155 in 1953 and 1954 led AL: 155 in 1954 

At Bats career: 6,913 season high: 679 in 1953 led AL: 679 in 1953, 656 in 1954 

Hits career: 2,092 season high: 209 in 1953 led AL: 209 in 1953, 201 in 1954, 196 in 1956, 198 in 1959 

Doubles career: 356 season high: 42 in 1959 led AL: 38 in 1955, 39 in 1958, 42 in 1959 

Triples career: 56 season high: 7 in 1953, 1956, and 1959 

Home Runs career: 87 season high: 12 in 1956 

Runs career: 950 season high: 101 in 1955 

Runs Batted In career: 671 season high: 88 in 1956 

Stolen Bases career: 68 season high: 9 in 1954 and 1956 

Walks career: 594 season high: 55 in 1956 and 1960 

Strikeouts career: 404 season high: 38 in 1963 

Batting Average career: .303 season high: .353 in 1959 led AL: .353 in 1959 

On Base Percentage career: .357 season high: .402 in 1959 

Slugging Percentage career: .408 season high: .501 in 1959 

Total Bases career: 2,821 season high: 281 in 1959 

Sacrifice Hits career: 44 season high: 6 in 1954, 1957, and 1962 

Fielding Percentage career: .966 season high: .988 in 1959 led AL SS: .968 in 1956 led AL RF: .990 in 1959 

Double Plays career: 468 season high: 91 in 1957 

Putouts career: 3,028 season high: 358 in 1958 led AL SS: 308 in 1953, 294 in 1954 led AL CF: 355 in 1958 led AL OF: 358 in 1958 

Assists career: 2,345 season high: 496 in 1954 led AL: 496 in 1954 led AL SS: 496 in 1954 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-went 2-for-5 on his MLB debut 

-finished fourth in the AL MVP Award voting in 1956, eighth in both 1954 and 1959, 13th in 1958, 15th in 1953, 18th in 1955, 22nd in 1957, and 24th in 1960

-finished 18th in the NL MVP Award voting in 1962 

-hit three home runs off of Billy Pierce, two off of Warren Spahn, and one each off of Bob Feller, Jim Bunning, Bobby Shantz, Whitey Ford, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Sal Maglie 

-led the AL with 731 plate appearances and 167 singles in 1953 

-led the NL with 13.9 at bats per strikeout, while his 50.5 in 1954 were only second in the AL behind Hall of Famer Nellie Fox 

-his 679 at bats in 1953 are the 43rd most of all time 

-led AL shortstops in games in 1953 and 1954 with 155 in each season 

-also played 34 games at first base, 162 as a pinch hitter, and one as a pinch runner