The Big Post About Hall Of Fame Managers

    Most of the players I advocate for would "fit in" with the current crop of Hall of Famers. The standard I tend to use is the one given to us by history, and I usually write about players who compare favorably with those already in Cooperstown. With managers, it is a little different. In my opinion, there are too many managers in the Hall of Fame, many of doubtful pedigree. However, there are some managers outside of the Hall who I would be fine with, a couple who I think should be inducted, and a couple who would fit in with the established standard for managers. Let's take a look at all the greatest managers in MLB history and determine which ones were Hall-worthy. 

The Elite 

Tony LaRussa (2,884 wins, six pennants, three world championships) 

John McGraw (2,763 wins, ten pennants, three world championships) 

Bobby Cox (2,504 wins, four pennants, one world championship) 

Joe Torre (2,326 wins, six pennants, four world championships, plus a near-Hall worthy career as a player) 

Sparky Anderson (2,194 wins, five pennants, three world championships) 

Joe McCarthy (2,125 wins, nine pennants, seven world championships, MLB record .615 career winning percentage) 

Walter Alston (2,040 wins, seven pennants, four world championships) 

Harry Wright (1,225 wins, six pennants, managed first professional baseball team in 1869) 

The Rank And File 

Connie Mack has by far the most wins as a manager with 3,731... but also by far the most losses with 3,948, giving him a .486 winning percentage. So although he managed for 53 years, finally retiring at age 87, Mack was ultimately a below average manager. However, at the time of his induction in 1937, he was already the record holder for career manager wins, a nine time pennant winner, a five time world champion, and had a career winning percentage well over .500. After his induction, however, Mack managed several dreadful A's teams that eroded his winning percentage. Given his resume at the time of his induction, and the fact that, as owner and manager, he built up (and tore down) his club on his own, I am fine with him in the Hall of Fame. 

Casey Stengel won 1,905 games, lost 1,842, and tied 19 for a career winning percentage of .508, a bit low for a Hall of Famer. He was a sub-.500 manager before he joined the Yankees in 1949, the team he would lead to ten pennants and seven world championships in the next dozen years. Obviously, he had some magnificent horses in his chariot, so the run of dominance cannot be fully attributed to him, and he hurt his reputation by managing some deplorable Mets teams in the early 1960's before he was fired. It's hard to say no to a seven time world champion, but he is far from elite. 

Fred Clarke had a fantastic career as a player, batting .312 and providing stellar defense from 1894 through 1915, ultimately earning him a Hall of Fame plaque in 1945. For most of his career, Clarke worked as a player-manager, winning 1,602 games (.576 winning percentage) over 19 seasons while capturing four pennants and a world championship in 1909. 

Earl Weaver revolutionized the managerial role, keeping vastly more detailed notes about opposing players and matchups than previous managers. Weaver's constant attention to detail led win to a .583 winning percentage, four pennants, and a world championship in 1970. 

Miller Huggins followed a fairly successful playing career with an even better managerial career, winning 1,413 games (.555 w%), six pennants, and three world championships in 17 seasons. His resume could be even more impressive if not for his tragic death near the end of the 1929 season. 

As a player, Al Lopez was one of the top defensive catchers in history, ranking fourth in career caught stealing percentage (.541), 20th in double plays (137), and 29th in assists (1,115). As a manager, Lopez skippered two of the best teams of his generation; the 111-win 1954 Cleveland Indians and the "Go Go" 1959 Chicago White Sox. All told, his managerial record was 1,410 - 1,004 - 11 (.584 w%). 

Cap Anson, inducted as a player in 1939, was one of the greatest ever to take the field, batting .334 over a 27 year career with 2,075 RBI's, fifth on the all time list. Also a successful manager, he won 1,295 games (.578 w%) and five NL pennants. However, despite his many accomplishments on the diamond, he may have done more to hurt the game than help it (https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/07/lucky-hall-of-famer-number-4-cap-anson.html). 

Frank Selee was the first Hall of Fame manager never to play in the Major Leagues. The owner of 1,284 wins and a .598 winning percentage, Selee won five NL pennants during the 1890's. 

Hughie Jennings, best known as baseball's all-time hit by pitch king, was one of baseball's best players at the turn of the 20th century, batting .312 for his career and playing marvelous defense at shortstop. Inducted as a player in 1945, Jennings also found success as a manager, winning 1,184 games and three consecutive AL pennants from 1907 through 1909. 

Billy Southworth, a decent player in the 1910's and 1920's, managed thirteen seasons for the Cardinals and the Braves, winning four pennants and two world championships. His career record is 1,044 - 704 - 22, a bit low in the wins department but good for a sparkling .597 winning percentage. 

Okay...Fine! 

Bucky Harris had a career record of 2,158 - 2,219 - 33 for a winning percentage of .493, and you know how I feel about managers with sub-par winning percentages in the Hall of Fame... However, Harris should not be glanced over merely on account of his winning percentage. In 1924, he became the youngest non-interim manager in history up to that point, playing and managing for the Washington Senators full-time at the age of 27, leading the team to the world championship. The next year, he captured another AL pennant, this time falling to the Pirates in seven games. Not a selfish player-manager like some, Harris was always willing to sacrifice his at bat for the team when the situation called for it (in fact, he led the AL in sacrifices three times as a player-manager). He eventually managed for 29 seasons, winning another world championship in 1947 with the Yankees, but he also managed some bad teams, dragging his winning percentage under .500. While I remain uncomfortable with his low winning percentage, I guess the Hall can live with him. 

Bill McKechnie managed in the Big Leagues for 25 years, starting as a player-manager in 1915 for Newark in the Federal League, compiling a career record of 1,896 - 1,723 - 28, giving him a .524 winning percentage, a low number but not too bad given his win total and some of the other managers in Cooperstown. While McKechnie has four pennants and two world championships to his name, he also has the distinction of managing the worst team in modern NL history - the 1935 Boston Braves, who went 38-115 despite finishing fourth the previous season with largely the same roster. Considering the fact that he's already in the Hall of Fame, I don't want to clamor too loudly that he shouldn't be, but he is not an ideal Hall of Fame manager. 

Inducting Wilbert Robinson solely as a manager was foolish. His managerial record of 1,399 - 1,398 - 21 puts him on the lower end in both wins and winning percentage among Hall of Fame managers; in fact, he managed for 19 seasons, but was only one game better than .500 for his entire career. Uncle Robbie won two NL pennants, but lost the World Series each time. However, Robinson was a pretty good player, batting .273 from 1886 through 1902. A catcher, he worked well with pitchers, and was one of the first full-time pitching coaches from 1903 through 1913 before taking on a managerial role. I guess if you include what he did as a player and a coach, then he may be deserving, but not solely as a manager. NO. 

The Lucky Hall Of Famers 

Leo Durocher has quite the resume as a manager, but his associations with known gamblers cost him all of the 1947 season. If Pete Rose was kicked out of baseball for life for gambling, then why is Durocher in the Hall of Fame? https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/11/lucky-hall-of-famer-number-37-leo.html 

Jim Leyland, the Hall's newest inductee, was a pretty bad choice. His career record of 1,769 - 1,728 - 2 gives him only a .506 career winning percentage, and the wins are only 18th on the all-time list, so he shouldn't get away with his low winning percentage like Mack and Harris did. Additionally, there seems to be a lack of hardware in his trophy room - three pennants and one world championship (albeit a good one) probably aren't enough to put him over the top. I never thought of him as a Hall of Fame candidate, shrugged him off when I saw his name on the Contemporary Era ballot (https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2023/11/2024-contemporary-hall-of-fame-ballot.html), and was shocked when he was elected (https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2023/12/2024-contemporary-era-hall-of-fame.html). 

Tommy Lasorda, in addition to a career record of 1,599 - 1,439 - 2 (.526), was famous for his explosive temper tantrums, which stunted the careers of many players, particularly pitchers. https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/12/lucky-hall-of-famer-number-41-tommy.html 

Dick Williams, quite simply, had too short a career to overcome his .520 winning percentage. He had a career record of 1,571 - 1,471 - 1, winning two pennants and two world championships. https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/08/lucky-hall-of-famer-number-21-dick.html 

Whitey Herzog had a career record of 1,281 - 1,125 - 3, giving him a .532 winning percentage. He led the Cardinals to three pennants and one world championship in 1982. I just don't think Herzog had enough success to merit induction; like Williams, he was good, but his career was too short and his winning percentage too ordinary. https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/09/lucky-hall-of-famer-number-27-whitey.html 

Ned Hanlon had a career record of 1,313 - 1,164 - 53 (.530) and gained some infamy by being the ringleader of the hated Baltimore Orioles in the 1890's. https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/11/lucky-hall-of-famer-number-39-ned-hanlon.html 

Not Yet Eligible 

In addition to a fine playing career as a catcher (he was considered the best ever at blocking the plate from oncoming runners), Mike Scioscia had a great career as a manager, winning 1,650 games and the Angels' lone world championship in 2002. He spent the entirety of his 19 year career with the Angels, enduring the franchise's numerous ups and downs, and finding much success with a historically unsuccessful ballclub. 

Joe Maddon's career resume would fit in with many managers already enshrined in Cooperstown (1,382 wins, .532 winning percentage, two pennants, one world championship), not necessarily one that I'd support but certainly a fine career. However, Maddon will be forever remembered in baseball history as the one who broke the curse of the billy goat, leading the Cubs to their first world championship in 108 years in 2016, the longest championship drought in American sports history. Although I care nothing for the Cubs, this accomplishment is just too significant to leave Maddon out of Cooperstown, given his otherwise respectable career. 

I know, I know, Bruce Bochy has a sub-.500 regular season winning percentage as of this post, but it's over .500 if you include the postseason and will almost certainly climb above that mark in 2024. Best known for winning three world championships in five years with the Giants in the 2010's, Bochy won a fourth ring with the Rangers this year and has over 2,000 career wins. In addition, he is also the most successful manager in Padres history, winning a franchise record 951 games and a NL pennant in 1998. 

In addition to a fine playing career that included 242 homers and nearly 2,000 hits, Dusty Baker is one of the finest managers in MLB history, winning 2,183 games and three Manager of the Year Awards. Although he had previously won two pennants, Baker finally captured his long awaited world championship with the Astros in 2022. He followed up with another successful season in 2023 before his retirement after dropping his toothpick against Bochy's Rangers in the ALCS. He should make the Hall of Fame with little trouble. 

Terry Francona has a career record of 1,950 - 1,672 (.538). Only slightly less impressive than Maddon's Cubs are Francona's 2004 Red Sox, who broke an 86 year World Series drought by sweeping the 105-win Cardinals. Ironically, he was also the manager who Maddon beat in his curse-breaking 2016 season, as Francona's Indians fell to the Cubs in seven games (and are now the team with the longest World Series drought). Whether he breaks another 75 year drought or not, Francona should make it to Cooperstown. 

On The Bubble 

Davey Johnson would be a good addition to the Hall of Fame. He played 13 seasons in the Majors, making four all-star teams and hitting 43 homers in 1973, at the time the single season record for a second baseman. As a manager, he won 1,372 games and had a .562 career winning percentage, well above the Hall of Fame average. Johnson led the Mets to a world championship in 1986 and won two Manager of the Year Awards, one in each league. He appeared on the 2024 Contemporary Era Hall of Fame ballot, failing to gain entrance. He'd be an okay Hall of Famer, certainly better than Leyland, who gained election on the same ballot. 

The Overlooked 

Danny Murtaugh had a great managerial career that could have been much better if not for recurring health problems that forced him to step down on multiple occasions, eventually killing him in 1976 at age 59. What he was able to accomplish was impressive enough, including a lifetime record of 1,115 - 950 - 3 (.540 w%), all with the Pirates, and two world championships (1960 and 1971). https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/02/why-i-think-danny-murtaugh-should-be-in.html 

Charlie Grimm, one of the select few to have played and managed over 2,000 games each, found much success with a pitiful franchise - the Chicago Cubs. He spent the majority of his 20 year playing career with the Cubs, posting a .290 lifetime batting average. As a manager, he led the Cubs to pennants in 1932, 1935, and 1945, their last flag until 2016. "Jolly Cholly" later managed the Braves to three winning seasons before returning to the Cubs in 1960, where he closed out his career. Overall, Grimm had a record of 1,287 - 1,067 - 14, good for a .547 winning percentage. The original Mr. Cub gave over 20 years of service to his club, and his Hall of Fame case should be taken seriously. 

Steve O'Neill played in the Major Leagues from 1911 through 1928, winning the World Series with the Indians in 1920 and earning a reputation as an outstanding defensive catcher. As a manager, he had a career record of 1,040 - 821 - 18, a little low in the wins column but good enough for an impressive .559 winning percentage. O'Neill took over a sub-par Tigers team in 1943, immediately turned them into winners, and made them world champions in 1945. Given what he did as both a player and manager, I would like to see O'Neill in Cooperstown someday. https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2020/09/why-i-think-steve-oneill-should-be-in.html 

Honorable Mentions 

Ralph Houk won four World Series as a backup catcher for the Yankees from 1947 through 1954, and two more as their skipper from 1961 through 1973, except for a couple years in between when Yogi Berra and Johnny Keane were at the helm. He later managed the Tigers and the Red Sox, finishing up in 1984 with a career record of 1,619 - 1,531 - 7 (.514 w%), three pennants, and two world championships. Although I don't see a need to induct him, he would fit in well with many managers already enshrined. 

Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle's roommate during their playing days, won five World Series as a player and was an all-star in 1956. As a manager, he went 1,253 - 1,013 - 1, good for a .553 winning percentage. He was largely responsible for bringing the Yankees out of their lean 1965-75 period and back into championship form, winning back to back pennants in 1976 and 1977 and taking home the trophy in the latter campaign. However, Martin always had a harsh temper, which led to him being fired five times. He particularly struggled with Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, who fired him twice. Martin managed his last game in 1988, shortly before his death in an auto accident on Christmas Day 1989. I don't feel the need to actively advocate Martin's case, but I'd be fine if he were eventually inducted. 

Felipe Alou was a Major League outfielder from 1958 through 1974, and a good one at that, making three all-star teams and twice leading the NL in hits. After a Hall of Very Good career as a player, he managed for a decade above the border, becoming one of the few managers to find any kind of success while piloting the Montreal Expos. Alou later managed the Giants for four seasons, won 100 games in 2003, and finished up in 2006 with a managerial record slightly over .500 (1,033 - 1,021 - 3, .503 w%). If you combine his playing and managing career, plus his role as patriarch of the famed Alou family, then I guess he deserves at least a look. 

Charlie Manuel managed twelve seasons in the Majors, compiling a record of 1,000 - 826 (.548 w%). He led the Phillies to back to back pennants in 2008 and 2009, taking home the franchise's second world championship in 2008. I don't think the Hall needs him, but he found much success as manager of the Phillies, not something a lot of men can say :) 

Please Don't Elect Him! 

Lou Piniella appeared on the 2024 Contemporary Era Hall of Fame ballot, falling only one vote short of induction. I can't really understand why he keeps getting so close to getting in - despite a hefty win total (1,835 of them), Piniella had merely a .517 career winning percentage and only one pennant, when he led the 1990 Reds to a world championship (although he did manage the 116-win 2001 Mariners). Additionally, he had quite the reputation as an umpire screamer, hat thrower, and base kicker, earning him the facetious nickname "Sweet Lou." I wouldn't vote for him. 

I don't really know why the heck Cito Gaston was on the 2024 Contemporary Era Hall of Fame ballot. Other than his back to back championships in 1992 and 1993 with the Blue Jays, Gaston only managed two full winning seasons, ending his career with 894 wins and a .516 winning percentage. Any takers? 

Conclusion 

On a final note, I tried to keep this post as objective as possible, focusing primarily on results. However, to get the results that typically warrant induction into the Hall of Fame, a manager need not be the best if he has the right team. After all, the players are the ones who run and hit and field and throw, not the skipper. With that in mind, what makes a truly Hall-worthy manager? I like certain managers more than others in terms of strategy; for example, I like the way Bruce Bochy handles his pitchers way more than Dave Roberts does, and I like Earl Weaver's offensive tactics far better than Jim Leyland's. However, putting guys in the Hall solely on personal preference is inaccurate, not to mention selfish. That said, I think it's only fair to judge managers based solely on their results, their reputations, and their impact on the game. 

League Leaders

One of the best ways to determine the greatest players during a certain period is by looking for league leaders. How often was this guy the best in the entire league at something? If a player consistently leads the league in an important category, or a variety of categories, then it is typically a good indication that he is pretty great. However, it is not always that simple; leading the league in a category 100 years ago does not mean the same as leading in that same category today. Let's see why. 

    First of all, we must consider expansion. From the American League's inception in 1901 until 1961, there were only 16 teams in the Majors, eight in each league. This number has gradually crawled upward (and occasionally one league expanded faster than the other), today standing at 30 MLB teams, and there is good reason to think that it could be up to 32 in the near future (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpL3Sxa6Y4g). Additionally, today's roster size has not always been the norm; prior to 1910, roster sizes typically varied from 14-18 players. In 1910, the traditional 25 man roster was set, and became the norm up until the present, with minor adjustments at times. Fewer teams and smaller rosters mean fewer players in the league, and the better chance that John Doe would lead the league in something. Therefore, it is much more difficult to lead the league today than it was then, and thus a more impressive accomplishment. 

    Ever since 1997, Major League Baseball has been stricken with interleague play, meaning that an AL player could compile numbers against NL opponents that would count toward his AL leading totals, and vice-versa. This all blurs the picture, devaluing league leadership as a whole and depleting each individual league of its meaning. However, since the two leagues are more than fairly even in terms of quality of play - homogeneous, really - I trust modern day league leadership as a pretty hefty achievement, interleague play aside. 

    As an aside, some categories change in value as time goes on. Consider, for instance, home runs. Hitting home runs is great, but hitting a lot of home runs is even better. A home run has always been counted the same - one run, plus an additional run for each baserunner. Back in the dead ball era, when home runs were being hit at a much slower rate, it was far less important to lead the league in home runs than it is now. For example, Tommy Leach led the NL with six home runs in 1902. That's great, more than anyone else in the league, but how important was it? Leach's home run prowess benefited his team in six games (at most) over the course of the season. In contrast, Aaron Judge's league leading 62 homers last year was a much bigger deal. Judge was winning games with homers all throughout the season, and opposing pitchers had to be much more careful not to surrender one to him. The same argument can be made about a few other categories, such as pitchers' wins not being as important today as they were 100 years ago, when a starter typically pitched deeper into games and could help his own cause with the bat. 

    In writing a post about league leaders, I feel I must not leave without evaluating Bill James's black and gray ink metrics. Let me copy and paste a section from baseball-reference.com's glossary: 

Black-Ink Test

All-Time and Active Leaders

Named so because league-leading numbers are traditionally represented with Boldface type. The definition for the test that is being used here was written in Bill James's The Politics of Glory, p. 65-67. The essential point is to measure how often a player led the league in a variety of "important" stats. This method penalizes more recent players, because they have 14-16 teams per league, while the older players had just 8. To get a point you must lead the league in that category.

Batting Statistics
• Four Points for home runs, runs batted in or batting average
• Three Points for runs scored, hits or slugging percentage
• Two Points for doubles, walks or stolen bases
• One Point for games, at bats or triples

Pitching Statistics
• Four Points for wins, earned run average or strikeouts
• Three Points for innings pitched, win-loss percentage or saves
• Two Points for complete games, lowest walks per 9 innings or lowest hits per 9 innings
• One Point for appearances, starts or shutouts

Note that Hall of Famers have a wide variety of values for the Black Ink Test, and the method is unforgiving of positional differences, but it is a neat little metric.

Gray-Ink Test

All-Time and Active Leaders

Essentially the same as the Black-Ink above, but it counts appearances in the top ten of the league. For each appearance the values are below. As with the Black Ink, this method penalizes more recent players because they have 14-16 teams per league, while the older players had just 8. To get a point you must be in the top 10 in the league in that category.

Batting Statistics
• Four Points for home runs, runs batted in or batting average
• Three Points for runs scored, hits or slugging percentage
• Two Points for doubles, walks or stolen bases
• One Point for games, at bats or triples

Pitching Statistics
• Four Points for wins, earned run average or strikeouts
• Three Points for innings pitched, win-loss percentage or saves
• Two Points for complete games, lowest walks per 9 innings or lowest hits per 9 innings
• One Point for appearances, starts or shutouts

    First of all, Bill James just made up the statistics, adding his own values to leading the league in a different category. That is my first red flag. You could argue that runs scored are at least as valuable as runs batted in, or that slugging is as valuable as batting (and where the heck is OBP?). Similarly, James gives too much value to arbitrary statistics like wins and saves - sure they are flashy, but they are assigned; they are outside the game; a pitcher can't always control whether his team wins. Even if I agreed with 100% of James's assessments, I couldn't support his system because then I too would be guilty of trying to objectivize my subjective preferences for certain statistics over others. That's my problem with advanced statistics - they are too abstract, made up, and subjective to hold any real value in the context of the Hall of Fame. Results are results, and runs win games. It's just that simple. 

    Secondly, for the gray ink test, James does not distinguish between #2 and #10 on the list. Being in the top ten in the league in a certain category definitely has some value, but constantly being among the league leaders (top five, top three, often in second) means much more. The gray ink test simply does not make a distinction between the two, essentially treating them as equal. One way you could fix this would be giving one point to the tenth place finisher, two to the ninth... and ten to the first, but seeing as how I have no intention of pioneering a new advanced statistic, I will just leave it to Bill James to figure that out on his own. 

WHY I THINK GEORGE FOSTER SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK GEORGE FOSTER SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

George Foster was one of the most feared sluggers of his era. A late bloomer, establishing himself as a regular at age 26, Foster still managed to hit 348 career home runs, leading the NL two years in a row. Foster was the cleanup hitter for Cincinnati’s famous Big Red Machine in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, leading the club to three pennants and two World Championships. 

    George Arthur Foster was born on December 1, 1948, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. When he was eight he moved to Hawthorne, California, where he played in the same little league as Dave Kingman. Foster played multiple sports in high school, but broke his leg playing basketball as a senior and had to miss the baseball season. Instead, he focused on gaining muscle, and when he returned to the field in the fall, he impressed the Giants enough to earn their third round draft pick in 1968. Foster earned his first Big League call up in 1969, appearing in nine games. He spent most of 1970 in the minors, hitting .308 at AAA, before earning another cup of coffee late in the season. He spent 1971 in a platoon role, eventually being traded to the Reds in midseason, and established himself as a regular in 1975, batting .300 with 23 homers and 78 RBI’s, helping the Reds to their first World Series Championship since 1940. The next year, the Reds repeated as World Series champions, with Foster leading the club (and the Major Leagues) with 121 RBI’s, finishing second in the MVP voting behind teammate Joe Morgan and setting the stage for the best year of his career. Foster had a season for the ages in 1977, batting .320 with 52 home runs and 149 RBI’s, missing the Triple Crown by eighteen points in batting behind Dave Parker. Foster also led the league in runs scored, slugging, and total bases while playing brilliant defense in both left and centerfield, making him an easy choice for the NL MVP. Foster didn’t stop there, however, as he led the league in homers and RBI’s again in 1978 and belted another 30 homers in 1979. Foster slowed a little in 1980 (.273 average, 25 home runs), but rebounded big in the strike shortened 1981 season, batting .295 with 22 homers and 90 RBI’s in 108 games. Despite having the best record in the Majors (66-42), the Reds missed out on the playoffs, finishing second in each half. After the season, the Big Red Machine started to break up, and Foster was shipped to the Mets on February 10, 1982. After a subpar season, Foster appeared finished at 33. However, he came back with a vengeance in 1983, hitting 28 homers (sixth in the league) and 24 in 1984 (also sixth). Foster had one more 20 homer season in 1985 and played another partial season in 1986, capping his career with a third World Series ring.

    Despite a relatively short career, George Foster has a compelling case for Cooperstown. He was a dominant power hitter in his day, hitting 348 career home runs in just over 7,000 at bats. Foster had ten seasons with over 20 home runs, leading the league twice, and joined the illustrious 50 home run club in 1977. During his peak, he was arguably the best hitter in the game, slashing .297 / .369 / .543 from 1975 through 1981 and averaging 34 home runs per season. While Foster was best known for his awesome power, he was not just a fencebuster like his little league pal, Dave Kingman - he was a legitimate hitter, topping the .300 mark four times and collecting nearly 2,000 hits. On the defensive side, Foster provided value at all three outfield positions, winning five fielding titles. He had above average range (three times leading in range factor) and a strong arm. Additionally, Foster was a key contributor to Cincinnati’s only dynasty. The Reds won two World Series in Foster’s time, and probably wouldn’t have won either without him. In addition to his regular season feats, Foster batted .326 with six RBI’s in those two Series. In Game 6 of the 1975 Series, he threw out the potential winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning to keep the game going. Although Carlton Fisk eventually won the game with his famous homer, the Reds took Game 7 the next day. As manager Sparky Anderson said, “Having George in leftfield made the difference in our ballclub winning the World Series.” For all of his accomplishments, George Foster would be a good addition to the Hall of Fame. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,977 season high: 158 in 1977 and 1978 

At Bats career: 7,023 season high: 615 in 1977 

Hits career: 1,925 season high: 197 in 1977 

Doubles career: 307 season high: 31 in 1977 

Triples career: 47 season high: 9 in 1976 

Home Runs career: 348 season high: 52 in 1977 led NL: 52 in 1977, 40 in 1978 

Runs Scored career: 986 season high: 124 in 1977 led NL: 124 in 1977 

Runs Batted In career: 1,239 season high: 149 in 1977 led NL: 121 in 1976, 149 in 1977, 120 in 1978 

Stolen Bases career: 51 season high: 17 in 1976 

Walks career: 666 season high: 75 in 1980 

Strikeouts career: 1,419 season high: 138 in 1978 

Batting Average career: .274 season high: .320 in 1977 

On Base Percentage career: .338 season high: .386 in 1979 

Slugging Percentage career: .480 season high: .631 in 1977 led NL: .631 in 1977 

Total Bases career: 3,370 season high: 388 in 1977 led NL: 388 in 1977 

Sacrifice Hits career: 3 season high: 2 in 1974 

Fielding Percentage career: .984 season high: .997 in 1980 led NL OF: .994 in 1976 led NL LF: .995 in 1976, .990 in 1977, .997 in 1980, .991 in 1981, .988 in 1983 

Double Plays career: 28 season high: 4 in 1982 led NL LF: 2 in 1976, 4 in 1982 

Putouts career: 3,809 season high: 352 in 1977 

Assists career: 119 season high: 13 in 1982 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Yahtzee” 

-also finished third in the NL MVP Award voting in 1981, sixth in 1978, and 12th in 1979 

-slashed .273 / .385 / .727 with a homer and five RBI’s in five all-star games, taking home MVP honors in 1976 

-led the NL in home run percentage in 1977 (8.5) and 1978 (6.6); in extra-base hits in 1977 (85); and in OPS in 1977 (1.013) 

-slashed .289 / .353 / .434 with three homers and 12 RBI’s in 23 career postseason games 

-his 52 home runs and 149 RBI’s in 1977 were the highest totals of the 1970’s 

-hit three home runs in one game on July 14, 1977 

-In Riverfront Park’s 33 year history, only 35 home runs have landed in the upper deck. Foster hit six of them, the most of any player. 

-was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2003

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 51 - Pie Traynor

Harold Joseph "Pie" Traynor was generally regarded as the dominant third baseman of his day, with some considering him the greatest of all time at the position until Brooks Robinson came into prominence. Traynor, a polite man and a leader on the Pirates back in his day, was a very good player, but was quite overrated. In fact, a case can be made that he shouldn't even be in the Hall of Fame. Let us examine his career more closely, and see just how good Traynor was. 

    Traynor was a Pirate for the entirety of his career (1920-1937), and was the most popular Pirate of his generation. While the Waner brothers were also local stars, they were often crass and impatient with fans, often unavailable to do small favors for them, like sign autographs. Traynor, on the other hand, was much more friendly toward the fans, often greeting them with a smile and an x. Generally regarded as the leader of the club, he led the team to two pennants, including a World Championship in 1925. He eventually took over as player-manager in 1934, piloting the club through 1939. As beloved for his nickname as for his play, Traynor often awed fans with clutch hits or acrobatic plays at the hot corner. Traynor was widely regarded as the best fielding third baseman of his generation, and his good reputation helped propel him to Cooperstown in 1948. 

    When taking a closer look at his numbers, however, Pie doesn't seem like one of the greatest players of his era. While he batted .320 for his career and had seven 100-RBI seasons, these numbers are only superficially impressive, largely the product of time and place; for what it's worth, he never finished higher than fifth in batting and only once finished in the top three in RBI's. His best season, statistically, was 1930 (.366 / .423 / .509, 119 RBI's), the year the entire National League batted .303. While Traynor's stats look impressive on paper, they need to be contextualized. 

    As for his defense, there are a lot of mixed reviews on how good a fielder Traynor actually was. Originally a shortstop, he was moved to third base in the minors. While his range was good, and he made many difficult looking plays ("A hitter doubled down the line and Pie Traynor threw him out"), Traynor's fielding percentage was merely average, and he led NL third basemen in errors five times. His arm was particularly wild; as contemporary second baseman Billy Herman once said, "You'd hit a shot at him, a play he could take his time on, and he'd catch it and throw it right quick, so that if his peg was wild, the first baseman had time to get off the bag, take the throw, and get back on again. It was the only way Traynor could throw; if he took his time, he was really wild." The numbers seem to back up Herman's claim; Traynor led the league in throwing errors three times between 1930 and 1933, the first years for which such error-type breakdowns are available. As I wrote in October 2021 (https://thecooperstownadvocate.blogspot.com/2021/10/a-couple-of-things-that-id-like-to-see.html), throwing errors are more costly than fielding errors, often leading to -1 out and +2 bases for the opposing team instead of -1 out and +1 base. While Traynor had some good defensive tools, his throwing was often a liability, and overall he was not the defender that a lot of his advocates like to say he was. 

My opinion: Pie Traynor is probably not a Hall of Famer. 

OHTANI TO DODGERS?!

Dang it. 

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 50 - Tony Lazzeri

Tony Lazzeri was the second baseman for the dominant Yankees teams of the 1920's. Long a polarizing Hall of Fame candidate, he was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1991. However, he was likely inducted into Cooperstown more for his fame than his playing ability. Let's examine his case. 

    Lazzeri had a very good career, but was hardly a Hall of Famer. He was a good hitter (.292 / .380 / .467 slash line, 178 homers), but was rarely among the league leaders in offense. In fact, the only offensive category he ever led in was strikeouts, with 96 in 1926. Lazzeri's had seven seasons with over 100 RBI's, which seems impressive, especially for a second baseman, but they too are a product of place and time. Lazzeri usually hit fifth or sixth in the Yankee batting order, with guys like Ruth and Gehrig constantly on base in front of him, so he always had a lot of opportunities to drive them in. In the field, Lazzeri was an indifferent defender, as he led the league in errors three times and had below average range. Finally, his career was short for a Hall of Famer (only twelve years as a regular), leaving his overall counting stats a bit low. 

My opinion: Tony Lazzeri is not a Hall of Famer.  

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 49 - Earle Combs

Earle Combs was the centerfielder and leadoff hitter for the Yankees' famous Murderer's Row lineup in the 1920's. While he was a solid contributor to the most dominant team in history, he was probably overrated. Combs was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970 by the Veterans Committee, a selection that is not without its critics. Let's look a bit deeper into his case. 

    On the surface, Combs looks like a pretty good candidate. He batted .325 for his career and scored over 110 runs eight seasons in a row. He helped the Yankees to four World Series (three championships), hitting .350 in World Series play. However, while Combs's .325 average is flashy, he never finished higher than sixth in the AL batting race. Likewise, his other gaudy-looking stats are degraded by the high offense era in which he played, as he was rarely among the league leaders in offense. Sure Combs scored a ton of runs, but they are largely the product of hitting leadoff for the Yankees back then, as the lineup had a ton of guys who could knock him in with one swing. It's not too hard to score when you have Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and company hitting behind you. Finally, Combs's career was too short - only twelve seasons (1,455 games). Anyone with a career that short needs something special to offset his lack of longevity. Combs, with his good but not great offense, is found lacking. 

"I thought the Hall of Fame was for superstars, not just average players like me." - Earle Combs 

My opinion: Earle Combs is not a Hall of Famer. 

2024 Contemporary Era Hall Of Fame Ballot Results

The results of the 2024 Contemporary Era Hall of Fame ballot are in. 

Jim Leyland - 15 of 16 votes (.938) 

Lou Piniella - 11 votes (.688) 

Bill White - 10 votes (.625) 

Cito Gaston, Davey Johnson, Joe West, Ed Montague, Hank Peters - fewer than 5 votes each 

Aw man... another unworthy Hall of Fame manager. Jim Leyland achieved moderate success as a manager, but the Hall has way too many managers already, and we didn't need another one with a .506 winning percentage. At any rate, I would have really liked to see Bill White get in, and I'd want to see Joe West eventually get in, but that's just the way it goes. 

WHY I THINK MEL HARDER SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK MEL HARDER SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Mel Harder was born to toe the mound. Already a Big League pitcher at age 18, Harder pitched for twenty seasons in the Majors, all for the Cleveland Indians, winning 223 games and making four all-star teams. After his career, he became one of the most respected pitching coaches in the game, helping many stars come into prominence. All told, he gave 42 years to pitching, 36 with the Indians. 

Melvin Le Roy Harder was born on October 15, 1909 near Beemer, Nebraska. Nearsighted as a youngster, he wore glasses and didn’t play a lot of sports. As he matured he found his way to the mound, where he discovered he had natural sink on his fastball. Never a hard thrower, Harder eventually developed a nasty curve which propelled him to the Big Leagues in 1927. He worked as a reliever in his first two seasons but found his footing as a starter in 1930, going 11-10. Harder established himself as one of the better pitchers in the game in 1932, going 15-13 with a 3.75 ERA, and won the ERA Title the next year with a 2.95 mark. Harder followed up with back to back 20 win seasons in 1934 and 1935, and made four consecutive all-star teams. Harder continued to find success until arm surgery limited him to 15 appearances in 1941. He had a strong return in 1942, posting a 3.44 ERA, and lowered it to 3.06 in 1943. Harder pitched his last full season in 1944, and stayed with the team through 1947 as a part time starter and mentor to Cleveland’s young pitchers. 

Nicknamed “Chief” for his leadership on the staff, Harder was more reliable than flashy. Never a strikeout pitcher, Harder made his living with control and inducing soft contact. He was also extremely hard to run on, with a caught stealing percentage of .592 for his career. Harder achieved fame in his best seasons, but was overshadowed by Bob Feller when he came into prominence in the late 1930’s. His lifetime record was 223-186, which is better appreciated by the fact that he never pitched for a pennant winner. While Harder’s career falls a bit short of the Hall of Fame as a player, his case is strengthened by a remarkably successful career as a pitching coach. 

Back in Harder’s day, there were no modern pitching coaches. Usually a team’s “pitching coach” would be whatever coach volunteered for the job. Harder, one of the smartest pitchers in the game and one who enjoyed his craft, started coaching midway into his playing career. In 1941, a 20 year old third baseman named Bob Lemon made his Major League debut for the Indians. Struggling with the bat, he spent almost all of 1942 in the minors. Noticing Lemon’s strong arm and natural sink, Harder converted him to the mound in 1946. Two years later, Lemon threw ten shutouts, and went on to a Hall of Fame career. Harder also helped the rest of Cleveland’s “Big Four” - Feller, Mike Garcia, and Early Wynn - as well as Sal Maglie, who all praised the help and experience Harder had to offer. In fact, Harder is credited with teaching Early Wynn the curveball and the slider, which allowed him to pitch well into his forties and eventually win 300 games. Later in his career, Harder helped future stars Sam McDowell, Tommy John, and Luis Tiant find their footing. He was fired after the 1963 season, and later went on to coach the Mets, the Cubs, the Reds, and the Royals. 

Mel Harder is my pet candidate for coaches in general. Earlier this week, I explained my desire for fair induction among men who affect the game in all facets. Good coaches, particularly pitching coaches, are extremely important to the success of a good team, perhaps more than most people realize. Mel Harder revolutionized the role of a pitching coach, helping build many Hall of Fame careers. That achievement, not to mention a very good pitching career of his own, warrants at least discussion.  

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games Pitched career: 582 season high: 44 in 1934 

Starts career: 433 season high: 35 in 1935 

Complete Games career: 181 season high: 17 in 1932, 1934, and 1935 

Shutouts career: 25 season high: 6 in 1934 led AL: 6 in 1934 

Games Finished career: 94 season high: 12 in 1928 and 1934 

Wins career: 223 season high: 22 in 1935 

Losses career: 186 season high: 17 in 1933 

Winning Percentage career: .545 season high: .667 in 1935 

Earned Run Average career: 3.80 season low: 2.61 in 1934 led AL: 2.95 in 1933 

WHIP career: 1.408 season low: 1.269 in 1933 

Innings Pitched career: 3,426 ⅓ season high: 287 ⅓ in 1935 

Strikeouts career: 1,161 season high: 102 in 1938 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 3.0 season high: 3.8 in 1938 

Walks career: 1,118 season high: 86 in 1937 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 1.04 season high: 1.79 in 1935 

Saves career: 24 season high: 5 in 1934 

Fielding Percentage career: .958 season high: .986 in 1938 

Double Plays career: 38 season high: 5 in 1942 

Putouts career: 209 season high: 22 in 1933 led AL P: 18 in 1932 and 1935, 22 in 1933, 21 in 1938 

Assists career: 734 season high: 87 in 1933 led AL P: 65 in 1932, 87 in 1933, 81 in 1935 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: .592 season high: .944 in 1933 

Pickoffs career: 19 season high: 4 in 1932 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-allowed the fewest home runs (0.2) and walks (1.7) per nine innings in the AL in 1935 

-finished 16th in the AL MVP voting in 1934 and 1938 and 22nd in 1935 

-went 1-0 with two saves in all-star play, pitching an AL record 13 career innings without allowing an earned run 

-holds the Cleveland Indians franchise record for career mound appearances

-went 3-0 as the Indians’ interim manager in 1961 and 1962