Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 7 - Johnny Evers

    Johnny Evers was the second baseman in the famous early Chicago double play combination of "Tinker to Evers to Chance." He was a good player, but not a Hall of Famer. Let us take a look at his case. 

    Let's start by comparing Evers's lifetime statistics with another second baseman from a rival team who was never thought of as a Hall of Famer. 

Johnny Evers - 1,784 games, 919 runs scored, 1,659 hits, 216 doubles, 70 triples, 12 home runs, 536 RBI's, 324 stolen bases, 778 walks, 293 strikeouts, .270 batting average, .356 on base percentage, .334 slugging percentage 

Player B - 1,514 games, 676 runs scored, 1,450 hits, 254 doubles, 41 triples, 28 home runs, 574 RBI's, 188 stolen bases, 627 walks, 584 strikeouts, .271 batting average, .347 on base percentage, .350 slugging percentage 

Player B is none other than... Tom Herr (1979 - 1991). Obviously, there are a lot of differences that make each man's statistics more or less significant according to his era, but that is for a future post. 

    Evers's Hall of Fame plaque says, 

"Middle-man of the famous double play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance, with the pennant winning Chicago Cubs of 1906,-07-08-10 and with the Boston Braves' miracle team of 1914. Voted Most Valuable Player in N.L. in 1914. Served as player, coach and manager in Big Leagues and as a scout from 1902 through 1934. Shares record for making most singles in four game World Series." 

Seriously? Is that the best that one can say about Evers? Who cares if he hit the most singles in a four game World Series? The fact that he won an MVP Award is something of importance, however, but he was very lucky, to say the least, to beat out guys like teammate Bill James (26-7, 1.90 ERA) or Sherry Magee (.314, 15 home runs, 103 RBI's). Evers batted .279 with one home run and 40 RBI's. 

    Again, the plaque writer also made a simple mistake worth correcting. Joe Tinker and Frank Chance were not on the 1914 Boston Braves, as the plaque seems to imply. 

My opinion: Johnny Evers is not a Hall of Famer. 

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 6 - Tommy McCarthy

    Why in the world would anybody induct Tommy McCarthy into the Hall of Fame? McCarthy, an outfielder from 1884 through 1896, slashed .292/.364/.375 for an adjusted OPS of 102. He carried a .198 lifetime batting average in 119 games into his first season as a regular, 1888. From then on he did okay, batting over .345 in three seasons, but he also had two seasons under .250. He was through after his age 32 season. 

    McCarthy was also never really among the best in his league in many offensive categories, as he led his league once in at bats and once in stolen bases, but that was it. This proves that McCarthy wasn't worthy for his offensive contributions, but he was also a terrible outfielder, as his .897 fielding percentage is a dozen points below the league average, and a poor pitcher, as he was 0-8 with a 4.99 ERA (he is among the all time leaders for the most pitching losses without a win). 

    His Hall of Fame plaque says, 

"One of Boston's "Heavenly Twins" under manager Frank Selee. Outstanding base runner who stole 109 bases for the Browns in 1888. Pioneer in trapping fly balls in the outfield. Holds N.L. record for assists in outfield - 53 with Boston in 1893. Played 1,268 games in Major Leagues." 

    According to baseball-reference.com, the plaque made some simple statistical errors. For example, it says that McCarthy had 28 outfield assists in 1893, that he stole 93 bags in 1888, and that he played in 1,273 games. This isn't that important as to whether McCarthy is a worthy Hall of Famer, but I thought that I'd correct some simple mistakes. 

    The best argument for McCarthy's induction is that he invented hit and run. This is probably not enough to merit his selection, but nothing else even comes close. 

My opinion: Tommy McCarthy is not a Hall of Famer. 

By the way, the other "Heavenly Twin" was Hall of Famer Hugh Duffy. 

    

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 5 - Joe Tinker

    Joe Tinker was the shortstop on the early Cubs' famous double play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance. He played his whole career with the Chicago Cubs from 1902 through 1916. He was quite a good defensive shortstop and a good hitter considering the era in which he played, but he slashed .262/.308/.353 for an OPS+ (adjusted OPS) of 96 (the league averages 100). This is not particularly poor for a shortstop, and it looks good when combined with a fielding percentage 12 points above the league average (.938 vs .926), but the Hall of Fame is the Hall of Fame. Tinker batted .300 in only one season, never led his league in any offensive category, and played only 13 seasons as a regular. 

    Some point to his 336 stolen bases as a Hall of Fame worthy total, but caught stealing was only counted in one of his seasons, 1913, and he was actually caught more times than he succeeded. 

    

My opinion: Joe Tinker is not a Hall of Famer. 

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 4 - Cap Anson

    Cap Anson is in the Hall of Fame on account of his immense playing and managing skills, but he did much more to hurt baseball than to help it. He was widely known as a racist, refusing to play against black players, even in exhibition matches. This helped to start segregation in baseball. This was a serious issue and the worst fault in baseball history. Even though Cap Anson would have been worthy of the Hall as a player he did too much to ruin America's National Pastime. 

    As a player, there is no doubt that Anson played like a Hall of Famer. He had a career batting average of .334, won eight RBI titles, and had over 3,000 career hits, a total which is pretty much universally accepted to merit a player automatic election. Pete Rose, with 4,256 lifetime hits (821 more than Anson), is not in the Hall of Fame on account of some illegal betting that he did. Rose bet on ballgames during his time managing the Reds, but he only bet on his own team. This is indeed enough to exclude him from the Hall of Fame, but it doesn't hold a candle compared with what Anson did. The fact that Anson is in the Hall of Fame and that Rose is not is absolutely ludicrous. 

My opinion: Cap Anson was a disgrace to baseball, and definitely not a Hall of Famer. 

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 3 - Charlie Comiskey

    Charlie Comiskey was inducted to the Hall of Fame as the owner of the Chicago White Sox. I don't know if owners deserve to be in the Hall of Fame at all, but Comiskey certainly shouldn't be. Firstly, he was hated by pretty much everybody. To this day he has a reputation as a miser, a penny-pincher, a cheapskate (notice how these are all synonyms), and someone who didn't care at all for his players. It is said that he charged his players to launder their uniforms. When the players wouldn't stand for this, he refused to charge them. Instead, he took it out of their World Series money. When World War I started, attendance was way down, so he gave most of his players salary cuts, as salary was the most obvious expense. 

    Comiskey's Hall of Fame plaque reads, 

"Started 50 years of baseball as St. Louis Browns first-baseman in 1882 and was first man at this position to play away from the bag for batters. As Browns' manager - captain - player won 4 straight American Association pennants starting in 1885. World Champions first 2 years. Owner and president Chicago White Sox 1900 to 1931." 

First of all, he was not a good player. From 1882 through 1894, he slashed .264/.293/.337. Secondly, Joe Start (who I published on this blog a little while ago) was the first to play off first base for hitters, not Comiskey. Thirdly, who cares if someone owns a ball club for 30+ years? He didn't treat his players well, and though he did a good job at getting the right players, anyone with enough money can do that. 

My opinion: Charlie Comiskey is not a Hall of Famer. 

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 2 - Candy Cummings

    Candy Cummings is only in the Hall of Fame for inventing the curveball. However, whether he did or not is a subject of great disagreement among historians, and in one book, I read that he admitted that he was not the first to make a pitch break. Some sources say that he wasn't even the first to throw a breaking pitch in an MLB game, instead crediting Bobby Mathews with the distinction. I don't think that Cummings should have been elected unless there was suitable proof that he invented the curveball, and there simply is none. 

    As a pitcher, Cummings was very good, but lasted just six years in the Majors, and was through after his age 28 season, when he had a 4.34 ERA in 155 2/3 innings. He certainly was not good enough to be elected as a player. 

    Cummings's plaque reads, "Pitched first curve ball in baseball history. Invented curve as amateur ace of Brooklyn Stars in 1867. Ended long career as Hartford pitcher in National League's first year 1876." 

    There are a number of things wrong with this. First of all, nobody really knows if Cummings really had anything to do with the first curveball. Secondly, Cummings did not have a long career. Finally, the plaque writer made a simple mistake in saying that Cummings finished his career in 1876. He had that 4.34 ERA season in 1877. 

 

My opinion: Candy Cummings should not have been elected because there is no proof that he invented the curveball. 

R.I.P. Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have announced a name change for 2022. They will be called the Cleveland Guardians. In my opinion, this stinks. Guardians? What will they be guarding? The team's honor? I think not. The Indians have been so named since 1915, and are one of the most historically significant teams in the American League. Name change or no name change, they will still have the longest active World Series drought. 

World Championships 1920, 1948 

Rest in peace, Indians. 

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 1 - Morgan Bulkeley

What did Morgan Bulkeley do for baseball? His Hall of Fame Plaque says, 

"First president of the National League and a leader in its organization in 1876 which laid the foundation of the National Game for prosperity." 

Bulkeley's career lasted from 1874 through 1876. In 1874, he founded the Hartford Dark Blues, who finished seventh out of eight in the NA (National Association) that season. In 1875, they finished third, but were 18 1/2 games out. In 1876, he was selected as the NL president, a post that he would hold for the grand total of one year, until he left baseball. In 1876, his team finished in third place again. For further information, a good site that I found is 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Morgan_Bulkeley

My opinion: Morgan Bulkeley is not a Hall of Famer. 

WHY I THINK CURIOUS GEORGE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

For those of you who read my post entitled WHY I THINK THE THREE STOOGES SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN, this is the same kind of thing. 

Curious George has been around since the 1930's and has been one of the greatest sources of American entertainment since. He's the star of many books, movies, and even his own television series. He is also a great baseball player (as seen above), probably the greatest pinch runner of all time. 

So, why don't they take Curious George for Cooperstown? I'm sure that he'd really enjoy it in there. 

P.S. 

Curious George is a monkey, NOT AN APE! 

NOTICE X

    Once again, I am going on a road trip, this time until July 23. I will visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame during that time. I won't publish during that time, but you can read the archives. Just because I will be gone, though, doesn't mean that I won't see new comments when I get back. Hint hint. 

WHY I THINK JACK CLEMENTS SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK JACK CLEMENTS SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Jack Clements was the greatest left-handed catcher in the history of baseball. Take it from me, a former catcher of a few seasons - catching is a wearisome and mentally challenging job for a righthander. But for a lefty, having to learn all of the difficult changes in basic mechanics? Get out of town! Jack Clements could not only throw and field exceptionally well for any catcher, but he could also hit with the best of them. For example, despite playing in an era when many catchers hit below the .200 mark, he had a career batting average of .287. Jack Clements started his career with the Philadelphia Keystones for 41 games in 1884, and finished the season with nine games for the Philadelphia Quakers, batting a combined .275 at the age of 19. He stayed with Philadelphia for the next thirteen seasons, batting over .300 five times. He hit 17 home runs in one season and 13 in another, drove in 74 or more runs five times in a six year period, and hit a combined .374 from 1894 through 1896. After the 1897 season, Clements was traded away to the St. Louis Browns and batted .257. He played four games with the Cleveland Spiders in 1899 and 16 with the Boston Beaneaters in 1900, batting .310 in his last MLB stint. Jack Clements was one of the greatest catchers of the 19th century, but he made history as the only lefthanded catcher to have much of a career. That is definitely important to history, and considering how much he hit, it’s safe to say that Jack Clements should be in Cooperstown. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,160 season high: 109 in 1892 

At Bats career: 4,295 season high: 423 in 1891 

Hits career: 1,231 season high: 131 in 1891 

Doubles career: 226 season high: 29 in 1891 

Triples career: 60 season high: 8 in 1890 

Home Runs career: 77 season high: 17 in 1889 

Runs career: 619 season high: 64 in 1890, 1893 and 1895 

Runs Batted In  career: 687 season high: 80 in 1893 

Stolen Bases career: 55 season high: 10 in 1890 (stolen bases weren’t counted in 1884 or 1885) 

Walks career: 341 season high: 45 in 1890 

Strikeouts career: 348 season high: 40 in 1892 (strikeouts weren’t counted in the Union Association in 1884) 

Batting Average career: .287 season high: .394 in 1895 

On Base Percentage career: .348 season high: .459 in 1894 

Slugging Percentage career: .421 season high: .612 in 1895 

Total Bases career: 1,808 season high: 197 in 1895 

Sacrifice Hits career: 24 season high: 8 in 1894 and 1895 (sacrifice hits weren’t counted until 1893) 

Fielding Percentage career: .936 season high: .979 in 1890 led NL C: .971 in 1898 (the league fielding percentage was .924) 

Double Plays career: 102 season high: 14 in 1890 led NL C: 10 in 1891 

Putouts career: 4,905 season high: 557 in 1892 led NL C: 494 in 1888, 503 in 1890, 557 in 1892 

Assists career: 1,116 season high: 108 in 1891 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-went 13-6 as a manager in 1890 

-threw out 611 would-be base stealers (the 44th most of all time) and had a .333 career caught stealing percentage 

-led the NL in home run percentage in 1893 and 1895 

-hit two home runs each off of Hall of Famers Kid Nichols, Cy Young, John Clarkson, Amos Rusie, and Pud Galvin and one each off of Hank O’Day, Hoss Radbourn, Matt Kilroy, Clark Griffith, Bob Caruthers, Silver King, Dave Foutz, and Tony Mullane 

-led the NL in games caught in 1888 (85) 

-retired as the all time leader in home runs by a catcher both in a season and in a career 

-was the first catcher ever to wear a chest protector 

-was the first player ever to catch 1,000 MLB games 

-had a career fielding percentage a dozen points above the league average 

-ranks 34th in career assists by a catcher 

-also played eight games at first base, four at third base, four at shortstop, eight in leftfield, seven in centerfield, and 26 in rightfield