WHY I THINK GEORGE VAN HALTREN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK GEORGE VAN HALTREN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

George Van Haltren was easily one of the best players in baseball for most of his career, possessing all the skills that make for a superstar. He was remarkably consistent, with a .386 lifetime on base percentage, and very fast, with over 160 career triples and almost 600 stolen bases. He also had a very strong left arm, three times leading his league in outfield assists, and he also put it to use by pitching a few good ballgames in his time, with a 40-31 lifetime record. George Van Haltren started his career with the Chicago White Stockings in 1887, posting an 11-7 record and the most saves in the NL (one). He went 13-13 in 1888, leading the Majors in games finished, and also batted .283 in 81 games. In his first season as a regular outfielder, 1889, Van Haltren batted .322. He joined Brooklyn of the Players League in 1890, and after a year off he tried his hand at pitching again, recording a 15-10 mark, and additionally batted a lusty .335. In fact, Van Haltren topped .300 every season from 1889 through 1901 excepting a .293 in 1892. Despite hitting like nobody’s business, Van Haltren spent the next three seasons with three different teams. He settled down with the New York Giants in 1894, helped them win the Temple Cup, and made himself a fixture with the club for the next decade. Van Haltren continued his hitting ways throughout the 1890’s and led the Majors in steals in 1900. In 1901, his last year as a regular, he batted .335. Unfortunately, he broke his ankle early in 1902, ending his season and devastating the rest of his career. Van Haltren batted .257 in roughly half a season in 1903 before the Giants released him. He played for the PCL Seattle Siwashes in 1904, smacking 252 hits in 222 games and setting a few minor records, and hung around in class A ball through 1909, his age 43 season. George Van Haltren was an amazing hitter, a solid fielder, and a great baserunner. Again, not every .300 hitting outfielder can post a winning record on the mound. I cannot understand why he is not in the Hall of Fame today. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,990 season high: 156 in 1898 led NL: 139 in 1894, 133 in 1896, 156 in 1898 

At Bats career: 8,043 season high: 654 in 1898 led NL: 566 in 1897, 654 in 1898 

Hits career: 2,544 season high: 204 in 1898 

Doubles career: 286 season high: 30 in 1900 

Triples career: 161 season high: 21 in 1896 led NL: 21 in 1896 

Home Runs career: 69 season high: 9 in 1889 and 1891 

Runs career: 1,642 season high: 136 in 1891 and 1896 

Runs Batted In career: 1,015 season high: 105 in 1894 

Stolen Bases career: 583 season high: 75 in 1891 led NL: 45 in 1900 

Walks career: 871 season high: 82 in 1889 

Strikeouts career: 498 season high: 46 in 1891 

Batting Average career: .316 season high: .351 in 1896 

On Base Percentage career: .386 season high: .422 in 1893 

Slugging Percentage career: .418 season high: .503 in 1895 

Total Bases career: 3,359 season high: 272 in 1896 

Sacrifice Hits career: 65 season high: 13 in 1894 and 1900 (Van Haltren’s sacrifice hit information prior to 1894 is unavailable) 

Games Pitched career: 93 season high: 30 in 1888 

Starts career: 68 season high: 25 in 1890 

Complete Games career: 65 season high: 

Shutouts career: 5 season high: 4 in 1888 

Games Finished career: 23 season high: 5 in 1888 and 1891 led NL: 5 in 1888 

Wins career: 40 season high: 15 in 1890 

Losses career: 31 season high: 13 in 1888 

Winning Percentage career: .563 season high: .611 in 1887 

ERA career: 4.05 season low: 3.52 in 1888 

WHIP career: 1.528 season low: 1.315 in 1888 

Innings Pitched career: 689 ⅓ season high: 245 ⅔ in 1888 

Strikeouts career: 281 season high: 139 in 1888 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 3.7 season high: 5.1 in 1888 

Walks career: 244 (0 intentional) season high: 89 in 1890 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 1.15 season high: 2.32 in 1888 

Saves career: 4 season high: 2 in 1890 led NL: 1 in 1887 

Fielding Percentage career: .908 season high: .952 in 1896 

Double Plays career: 94 season high: 22 in 1891 

Putouts career: 3,761 season high: 325 in 1900 

Assists career: 750 season high: 185 in 1891 led NL CF: 23 in 1901 led NL OF: 31 in 1897, 28 in 1900, 23 in 1901 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Rip” 

-was once traded for Hall of Famer Joe Kelley and $2,000 (a testament to who was considered superior at the time) 

-led the NL in plate appearances (722) in 1898 

-four times led NL outfielders in games and led NL centerfielders in 1901 (135) 

-scored over 100 runs in a season eleven times 

-hit more triples than doubles in 1888 (14 to 9), 1890 (9 to 8), 1891 (15 to 14), 1896 (21 to 18), and 1902 (2 to 1) 

-managed the NL Baltimore Orioles for eleven games in 1892 (1-10) 

-hit two home runs each off of Hoss Radbourn, Clark Griffith, and Silver King and one each off of Kid Nichols and Bob Caruthers 

-ranks 21st in career stolen bases, 38th in both runs scored and triples, and 45th in singles (2,028) 

-among MLB outfielders, ranks 13th in career double plays and fourth in assists 

-also played 79 games at shortstop, two at first base, five at second base, and three at third base