WHY I THINK DEACON McGUIRE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK DEACON McGUIRE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Deacon McGuire was best known for his longevity. His career spanned from 1884 through 1906, a total of 22 seasons, not including short stints in 1907, 1908, 1910, and 1912. McGuire’s record of 26 seasons in Major League Baseball stood until 1993, when Nolan Ryan played his 27th. However, McGuire’s record is probably more impressive than Ryan’s since he was a catcher, playing mostly before the days of shin guards, and he caught his last game at age 48. During that time catchers took a wonderful beating, and McGuire in particular was famed for his mangled hands. While he lasted just about forever, McGuire was also a fine player, compiling a career batting average of .278, including five .300 seasons. He also held his own behind the plate, as he still holds career records at the post for both assists and caught stealing. However, his most important innovation may be that he was the first catcher ever to pad his mitt (1884). This made catching a whole lot safer, but all things considered somebody else probably would have done it if McGuire hadn’t. Deacon McGuire started his career with the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884, hitting .185 in 45 games. This was nothing unusual, as most catchers in that era hit below .200, but McGuire had a resounding season in 1887, hitting .307 for the Philadelphia Quakers. He played 41 games in 1888, hitting .259 for three teams in two different leagues, and was out of the Majors entirely in 1889. McGuire returned in 1890, hit .299, and established himself as probably the best catcher of the 1890’s. He hit the ball, threw out runners, and drove in runs at a blistering pace. His best season was probably 1895, when he batted .336 with 10 home runs and 97 RBI’s. McGuire had two more solid seasons come the turn of the 20th century but struggled in 1902, playing in 72 games and hitting only .227. He did a little better in 1903, and played three years with the New York Highlanders after that. He had one last good season in 1906, batting .299 in limited action, and scarcely played after that. McGuire came out of one year retirement in 1910, and in playing one game with Cleveland he became one of the first four decade players in MLB history. In 1912, he became the oldest player ever to catch an AL game, and additionally became the oldest to collect a base hit. Deacon McGuire was a good hitter, a sort of pioneer for padding his glove, and perhaps the most durable catcher of all time. Again, you can never say enough about the value of a durable catcher who can hit. For this reason and for all of his career accomplishments, McGuire gets my vote for the Hall of Fame. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,781 season high: 133 in 1895 

At Bats career: 6,291 season high: 538 in 1895 

Hits career: 1,750 season high: 181 in 1895 

Doubles career: 300 season high: 30 in 1895 

Triples career: 79 season high: 10 in 1891 

Home Runs career: 45 season high: 10 in 1895 

Runs career: 770 season high: 89 in 1895 

Runs Batted In career: 840 season high: 97 in 1895 (McGuire’s RBI total from 1884 AA is unavailable) 

Stolen Bases career: 118 season high: 17 in 1895 (McGuire’s stolen base information prior to 1886 is unavailable) 

Walks career: 515 season high: 61 in 1892 

Strikeouts career: 442 season high: 49 in 1892 (McGuire’s strikeout information from 1884 and 1891 AA is unavailable) 

Batting Average career: .278 season high: .343 in 1897 

On Base Percentage career: .341 season high: .388 in 1895 

Slugging Percentage career: .372 season high: .478 in 1895 

Total Bases career: 2,343 season high: 257 in 1895 

Sacrifice Hits career: 47 season high: 10 in 1898 (McGuire’s sacrifice hit information prior to 1894 is unavailable) 

Fielding Percentage career: .940 season high: .972 in 1899 

Double Plays career: 193 season high: 37 in 1898 led NL C: 12 in 1895, 14 in 1896 led AL C: 11 in 1904 

Putouts career: 7,743 season high: 707 in 1898 led NL C: 412 in 1895, 349 in 1896 

Assists career: 1,925 season high: 182 in 1895 led AA C: 130 in 1891 led NL C: 180 in 1895 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: .364 season high: .451 in 1904 (McGuire’s caught stealing information prior to 1890 is unavailable) 

Pickoffs career: N/A 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-went 1-for-2 in his final MLB game 

-pitched the last four innings of a game in 1890 

-led the NL in games caught in 1895 (133; setting a new MLB record) and 1896 (98) 

-led AA catchers in caught stealing in 1891 (120) and led NL catchers in 1895 (189) and 1899 (119) 

-threw out seven runners trying to steal second base and picked two more off of second and third in one game in 1900 

-was the oldest player in the AL in 1904, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1910, and 1912 

-among MLB catchers, ranks 14th in double plays and 24th in games caught 

-also played 93 games at first base, five at third base, four at shortstop, 33 in the outfield, and 12 as a pinch hitter 

-hit three home runs off of Hall of Famer Kid Nichols and one each off of John Clarkson and Tim Keefe 

-went 210-287 (.423) as a manager 

-umpired a few MLB games from 1886 through 1905 

fielding discrepancy between assists and caught stealing 

why a .364 cs% in 4,000 tries is better than a .364 cs% in 1,000 tries

WHY I THINK DEL PRATT SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK DEL PRATT SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

The best word to describe Del Pratt is consistent. He played 154 or more games in six different seasons, and had a lifetime batting average of .292. Pratt is one of the handful of players ever to bat .300 in his first and last seasons. What’s more, he topped .300 in each of his last five MLB seasons, and played productively in the minors for years after that. Del Pratt started his career with the St. Louis Browns in 1912, batting .302 and finishing 13th in the AL MVP Award voting. He led the AL in games in each of the next four seasons, averaging more than 30 stolen bases per season, and led the Majors in RBI’s in 1916. A second baseman, Pratt also established himself as a very strong fielder, leading the AL in assists at any position three times among other things. In 1918, Pratt was traded to the Yankees, and he proved to be a catalyst during his three seasons in New York. In 1920, Pratt batted .314 with 108 RBI’s, but seeing as how he was already 32, the Yanks decided to trade him to the Red Sox. Pratt let the Yankees know how he felt by batting .324 with 102 RBI’s. He played another season with the Bosox and two with the Tigers, hitting very well in each season, and he was still a top player when he stepped away from the Majors in 1924. He then played eight seasons in the Texas League, batting .368 in 1925 and winning the league’s Triple Crown in 1927 (.386, 32, 140). He finally hung up his spikes in 1932, his age 44 season. While it may have made sense for Pratt to leave Ty Cobb’s Tigers to play a little closer to home, it all but ruined his Hall of Fame chances. He fell a hair short of four major career milestones - 2,000 hits (1,996), 1,000 RBI’s (979), 400 doubles (392), and 250 stolen bases (247). He was a very good hitter, a fine fielder, and, most of all, a consistently good player for a very long time. It would be fitting if Del Pratt were someday elected to the Hall of Fame. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,836 season high: 159 in 1915 led AL: 155 in 1913, 158 in 1914 and 1916, 159 in 1915, 154 in 1920 

At Bats career: 6,826 season high: 607 in 1922 

Hits career: 1,996 season high: 183 in 1922 

Doubles career: 392 season high: 44 in 1922 

Triples career: 117 season high: 15 in 1912 

Home Runs career: 43 season high: 6 in 1922 

Runs career: 857 season high: 85 in 1914 

Runs Batted In career: 979 season high: 108 in 1920 led AL: 103 in 1916 

Stolen Bases career: 247 season high: 37 in 1913 and 1914 

Walks career: 513 season high: 54 in 1916 

Strikeouts career: 428 season high: 68 in 1912 

Batting Average career: .292 season high: .324 in 1921 

On Base Percentage career: .345 season high: .378 in 1921 

Slugging Percentage career: .403 season high: .461 in 1921 

Total Bases career: 2,751 season high: 259 in 1922 

Sacrifice Hits career: 233 season high: 32 in 1915 

Fielding Percentage career: .962 season high: .971 in 1920 

Double Plays career: 911 season high: 90 in 1921 led AL 2B: 82 in 1915, 84 in 1918, 75 in 1919 

Putouts career: 4,920 season high: 633 in 1924 led AL 2B: 364 in 1913, 358 in 1914, 417 in 1915, 438 in 1916, 340 in 1918 

Assists career: 5,238 season high: 515 in 1920 led AL 2B: 491 in 1916 and 1919, 515 in 1920 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-also finished tenth in the AL MVP Award voting in 1914 and 13th in 1922 

-went 2-for-4 on his MLB debut 

-hit one home run each off of Eddie Plank and Urban Shocker 

-led AL second basemen in games in seven separate seasons 

-ranks 50th in career sacrifice hits 

-among MLB second basemen, ranks 28th in career games, 18th in putouts, and 26th in assists 

-also played 80 games at first base, 19 at third base, 16 in the outfield, 25 as a pinch hitter, and two as a pinch runner

Something to Consider

   Dick Allen was a marvelous baseball player. He was one of the best hitters of the 1960's and 1970's, a great power hitter, and the best bet to win a Triple Crown for many years. However, he always had problems with management, contract disputes, and often showed up late to spring training. 

    Bob Johnson was another great player, a big time RBI man and consistently excellent for the entirety of his 13 year career. He had a reputation as a nice, quiet man, and was never paid more than $15,000 in any one season (a modest salary even considering that his career spanned the Great Depression and World War II). 

    Now, how much should these things matter when it comes to the Hall of Fame? After all, Major League Baseball is a job, and your most valuable employees are those who don't cause problems within your business and don't ask for too much. If an owner saves a lot of money on a star like Johnson, then he has a lot more power to build up a dynasty (unfortunately in his case Johnson played a lot of his career under Connie Mack and his notorious fire sales). It's definitely something to consider. 

WHY I THINK MIKE TIERNAN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK MIKE TIERNAN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Mike Tiernan was one of the best hitters of the 19th century. His lifetime batting average of .311 and adjusted OPS of 138 state his Hall of Fame case very nicely. A two time home run champion, his 106 career home runs tie him with Dan Brouthers at fourth among 19th century players. Not only was he a power hitter, but he was also a keen base thief and a fine defensive rightfielder. Mike Tiernan was originally a pitcher, and at the age of 17 he struck out 15 Providence Grays in one exhibition game. He joined the New York Giants in 1887 and wanted to play the outfield, but he still pitched five games, recording a win and a save. Tiernan batted .293 in 1888 and established himself as a genuine star in 1889, leading the NL in walks and runs scored at the age of 22. He then proceeded to lead the league in home runs in each of the next two seasons, including 16 in 1891. The mound was moved to its present distance from the plate in 1893, and Tiernan adjusted to the change very well, hitting .309 with 14 homers and 102 RBI’s. He soon became one of the best overall hitters of the 1890’s, even batting close to .350 across a three year stretch from 1895 through 1897, and became a fan favorite in New York. Tiernan had one last great season in 1898, but struggled in 1899 (.255 in 35 games). The Giants released him in midseason and he couldn’t find work with another Big League club. Mike Tiernan was a great hitter, a powerful slugger, and most importantly, a well rounded and complete player. He was far better than a great many players in the Hall of Fame today. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,478 season high: 134 in 1891 led NL: 133 in 1896 

At Bats career: 5,915 season high: 553 in 1890 

Hits career: 1,838 season high: 192 in 1896 

Doubles career: 257 season high: 30 in 1891 

Triples career: 162 season high: 21 in 1890 and 1895 

Home Runs career: 106 season high: 16 in 1891 led NL: 13 in 1890, 16 in 1891 

Runs career: 1,316 season high: 147 in 1889 led NL: 147 in 1889 

Runs Batted In career: 853 season high: 102 in 1893 

Stolen Bases career: 428 season high: 56 in 1890 

Walks career: 748 season high: 96 in 1889 led NL: 96 in 1889 

Strikeouts career: 376 season high: 53 in 1890 

Batting Average career: .311 season high: .369 in 1896 

On Base Percentage career: .392 season high: .452 in 1896 

Slugging Percentage career: .463 season high: .527 in 1895 led NL: .495 in 1890 

Total Bases career: 2,737 season high: 274 in 1890 led NL: 274 in 1890 

Sacrifice Hits career: 28 season high: 10 in 1898 (Tiernan’s sacrifice hit information prior to 1894 is unavailable) 

Fielding Percentage career: .924 season high: .973 in 1898 led NL OF: .960 in 1888 

Double Plays career: 32 season high: 5 in 1890 

Putouts career: 2,103 season high: 213 in 1896 

Assists career: 162 season high: 19 in 1889 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Silent Mike” since he rarely argued umpires’ calls 

-led the NL twice in OPS and once each in extra-base hits, times on base, and home run percentage 

-scored over 100 runs in a season seven times 

-batted .316/.416/.434 with two home runs and eight stolen bases in two postseason series (1888 and 1889), winning both 

-scored six runs in one game on June 15, 1887 

-twice hit for the cycle 

-led the NL in saves in 1887 

-hit six home runs off of Hall of Famer Kid Nichols, four off of John Clarkson, three off of Pud Galvin, two each off of Charlie Buffinton and Jack Taylor, and one each off of Hoss Radbourn, Tony Mullane, and Cy Young 

-is the Giants’ all time career leader in triples and stolen bases 

-ranks 37th in career triples 

-umpired one game in the NL

WHY I THINK A.J. PIERZYNSKI SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK A.J. PIERZYNSKI SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

A.J. Pierzynski’s Hall of Fame case rests on a lot of principles upon which Bob Boone’s lies: on the value of a good, durable catcher. Catchers have by far the toughest job of any player on a baseball team, and while this point is important and needs to be stressed, I won’t get into any of the details as I have several times before. Catchers have an insane amount of work to get done, and it is reflected in their lack of big hitting statistics compared with players from other positions. Pierzynski, however, was a superb hitter for his entire career, batting .300 or better in four full seasons and .280 for his career. He collected over 2,000 hits (13th among MLB catchers), including 407 doubles (fourth). He hit 188 homers (21st), including 27 in 2012, his age 35 season. Some may knock his defense, citing a relatively low caught stealing percentage of .245, which is almost Piazza-esque, but he backed it up with a nifty .995 career fielding percentage - 12th in history among MLB catchers (minimum 500 games caught). Pierzynski also ranks high in games caught (ninth) and putouts (fifth), and led the AL in double plays three times. He also caught two no-hitters in his career, including Phil Humber’s perfect game on April 21, 2012. This probably offsets a low caught stealing percentage. Pierzynski also had remarkable longevity (19 seasons), and a head for the game, which mostly went unnoticed but showed itself infamously in the 2005 ALCS. In Game 2, the score was 1-1 going into the bottom of the ninth, when Angels pitcher Kelvim Escobar retired the first two hitters and struck Pierzynski out. However, Pierzynski thought the ball might have skipped in the dirt, and ran to first base after Angels catcher Josh Paul rolled the ball back to the mound. Home plate umpire Doug Eddings let him stay, which caused a minor rhubarb. In the end, Pierzynski was called safe, replaced by a pinch runner, and the White Sox won the game when the pinch runner scored on a Joe Crede double. While the White Sox beat the Angels in five games, it was still a significant occurrence, and who knows if any other batter would have thought to do it. It’s just things like that. Pierzynski may not have peppered stat lines like, say, Johnny Bench did, but he was very good at baseball. He was a heady receiver, a talented hitter, and a complete player. To put A.J. Pierzynski in the Hall of Fame shows that the Hall really knows what it’s talking about. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,059 season high: 140 in 2006 

At Bats career: 7,290 season high: 534 in 2008 

Hits career: 2,043 season high: 152 in 2003 

Doubles career: 407 season high: 35 in 2003 

Triples career: 24 season high: 6 in 2002 

Home Runs career: 188 season high: 27 in 2012 

Runs career: 807 season high: 68 in 2012 

Runs Batted In career: 909 season high: 77 in 2004 and 2012 

Stolen Bases career: 15 season high: 3 in 2003 and 2010 

Walks career: 308 season high: 28 in 2012 

Strikeouts career: 895 season high: 78 in 2012 

Batting Average career: .280 season high: .312 in 2003 

On Base Percentage career: .319 season high: .360 in 2003 

Slugging Percentage career: .420 season high: .501 in 2012 

Total Bases career: 3,062 season high: 240 in 2012 

Sacrifice Hits career: 28 season high: 6 in 2010 

Fielding Percentage career: .995 season high: .999 in 2004 and 2005 led AL C: .999 in 2005, .995 in 2011, .998 in 2013 

Double Plays career: 101 season high: 8 in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013 led AL C: 8 in 2005, 2012, and 2013 

Putouts career: 12,600 season high: 913 in 2008 led AL C: 865 in 2010 

Assists career: 823 season high: 71 in 2012 led AL C: 71 in 2012 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: .245 season high: .329 in 2013 

Pickoffs career: 9 season high: 2 in 2001 and 2010 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-finished 30th in the AL MVP Award voting in 2006 

-was a two time all-star (in 2002 and 2006) 

-won a Silver Slugger award in 2012 

-was named AL Player of the Week on April 6, 2008 

-handled 962 consecutive errorless chances across two seasons, establishing the AL record at any position 

-went 1-for-3 in his final MLB game 

-batted .292/.367/.500 with five homers and 18 RBI’s in 32 career postseason games, and helped the White Sox to their first World Series victory in 88 years in 2005 

-became the sixth player in history to homer in five consecutive games in 2012 

-ranks 43rd in career hit by pitch (129) 

-also played 32 games as a DH and 165 as a pinch hitter 

-has been a full time MLB broadcaster since 2017, and called postseason games while still active in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015

WHY I THINK BOB BOONE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK BOB BOONE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Bob Boone’s Hall of Fame case is heavily based on the underappreciated job that every catcher has to play (see a previous post, Catchers and Third Basemen). As for Boone in particular, he was the most durable catcher of the modern era. He retired with the career record for games caught, played his last season at 42, and had two of his best offensive seasons at 40 and 41. Bob Boone started his career with the Phillies in 1972, batting .275 in 16 games. Boone took over as the Phils’ regular catcher in 1973, hitting 10 homers and driving in 61 runs en route to a third place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year Award balloting. In 1976, Boone batted .271 and was named to his first all-star team. He did better in 1977, batting .284 with 11 homers, but didn’t get the nod. No matter. He got it in 1978 with nearly identical offensive numbers and his first of seven Gold Glove awards. Boone had another fine season in 1979 but slumped in 1980, batting .229. He made up for his lackluster regular season performance by helping the Phillies to their first ever World Series Championship, batting .412 with four RBI’s and catching all six games against the Royals. In 1981, the strike hit, splitting the season in half. Boone led the Phillies to another postseason but was largely unappreciated because he led the players in negotiations during the strike. He was traded to the Angels after the season and helped the Angels to their second ever division title. Boone homered and drove in four runs in the ALCS, but they lost out to the Brewers. Boone had another all-star season in 1983 but hit solid ground in 1984, batting a career worst .202. At 36, it looked like his career was over, but in 1986 he helped the Angels to the postseason and started a mini-streak by winning four consecutive Gold Gloves. In 1988, Boone hit a robust .295, and had one last big year in 1989 with a .274 mark for the Royals. Boone played part of the 1990 season, but a broken finger led to his retirement. While Boone was a renowned defensive catcher and a convincing hitter, he was best known for his family ties. He was the son of Ray Boone, quite the player himself in the 1950’s. Two of his sons - Bret and Aaron - also made the Big Leagues and both became famous. Anyway, Bob Boone was a legendary defensive catcher, incredibly durable, and a strong hitter for a backstopper. Anyone who knows baseball and the Hall of Fame well enough can understand why Bob Boone is included here, and he really should be in Cooperstown today. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,264 season high: 150 in 1985 

At Bats career: 7,245 season high: 521 in 1973 

Hits career: 1,838 season high: 136 in 1973 

Doubles career: 303 season high: 26 in 1977 

Triples career: 26 season high: 4 in 1977 and 1978 

Home Runs career: 105 season high: 12 in 1978 

Runs career: 679 season high: 55 in 1977 

Runs Batted In career: 826 season high: 66 in 1977 

Stolen Bases career: 38 season high: 5 in 1977 

Walks career: 663 season high: 49 in 1979 and 1989 

Strikeouts career: 608 season high: 54 in 1977 

Batting Average career: .254 season high: .295 in 1988 

On Base Percentage career: .315 season high: .352 in 1988 

Slugging Percentage career: .346 season high: .436 in 1977 

Total Bases career: 2,508 season high: 192 in 1977 

Sacrifice Hits career: 142 season high: 23 in 1982 

Fielding Percentage career: .986 season high: .991 in 1989 led NL C: .991 in 1978 

Double Plays career: 155 season high: 16 in 1973 and 1986 led AL C: 12 in 1983, 15 in 1985, 16 in 1986 

Putouts career: 11,325 season high: 868 in 1973 led NL C: 825 in 1974 led AL C: 650 in 1982, 752 in 1989 

Assists career: 1,185 season high: 89 in 1973 led NL C: 89 in 1973 led AL C: 87 in 1982, 83 in 1983, 71 in 1984, 84 in 1986, 66 in 1988 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: .397 season high: .582 in 1982 led AL C: .582 in 1982, .441 in 1985, .463 in 1987 

Pickoffs career: 79 season high: 9 in 1973 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-finished 16th in the AL MVP Award voting in 1982 

-finished 23rd in the NL MVP Award voting in 1978 

-batted .400 with two RBI’s in four all-star games 

-went 2-for-3 with an RBI in his final MLB game 

-batted .311 in 36 career postseason games 

-caught 117 career shutouts 

-six times led the AL in games caught and three times led his league in caught stealing 

-caught Mike Witt’s perfect game on September 30, 1984 

-hit four home runs off of Hall of Famer Jack Morris, two off of Don Sutton, and one each off of Phil Niekro and Juan Marichal 

-went 371-444 as a manager and managed son Aaron on the Reds from 2001 to 2003 

-among MLB catchers, ranks third in career games caught, seventh in double plays, tenth in putouts, 26th in assists, and 27th in caught stealing 

-also played eight games at first base, seven at third base, one in leftfield, one as a DH, 50 as a pinch hitter, and one as a pinch runner 

-coached the Reds in 1994