WHY I THINK LUIS TIANT SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK LUIS TIANT SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Luis Tiant pitched from 1964 through 1982, most notably with the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox. He sometimes gets overlooked on account of his reputation as a legendary smoker, his odd pitching motion, and for the weird path of his career. Tiant seems to have had two peaks - from 1964 through 1968, and from 1972 through 1976. The three seasons in between were riddled with injuries, and it is a wonder how quickly and effectively he came back from them. Luis Tiant began his MLB career with the Indians in 1964, going 10-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 19 games. He was used more increasingly in relief, and in 1966 he led the Majors with five shutouts despite making only 16 starts. In 1968, Tiant had his best season to date, when he went 21-9 and led the AL with a microscopic ERA of 1.60. In 1969, however, Tiant slumped to 9-20 for a crummy Indians team that won only 62 games. He pitched in 1970 for the Twins, and the Red Sox got him in 1971. By 1972, Tiant seemed to have regained his old form, as he won 15 games and led the Majors in ERA. He then won 20 or more games in three of the next four seasons. He was a big part of the Red Sox’s pennant winner in 1975, as he won 18 games in the regular season, one in the LCS, and two in the World Series. Tiant had three more quality seasons with the Red Sox and the Yankees, but fell to 8-9 in 1980. He pitched for parts of the next two seasons before calling it quits. Luis Tiant was one of the greatest overall pitchers of the 1960’s and 1970’s, quite feared by batters, and quite loved by the fans. In Boston, there is an ongoing push for his induction, and just about every Red Sox fan wants to see him in the Hall of Fame. He would be a good choice. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games Pitched career: 573 season high: 46 in 1966 

Starts career: 484 season high: 38 in 1974 and 1976 

Complete Games career: 187 season high: 25 in 1974 

Shutouts career: 49 season high: 9 in 1968 led AL: 5 in 1966, 9 in 1968, 7 in 1974 

Games Finished career: 51 season high: 22 in 1966 

Wins career: 229 season high: 22 in 1974 

Losses career: 172 season high: 20 in 1969 led AL: 20 in 1969 

Winning Percentage career: .571 season high: .714 in 1972 

ERA career: 3.30 season low: 1.60 in 1968 led AL: 1.60 in 1968, 1.91 in 1972 

WHIP career: 1.199 season low: 0.871 in 1968 led AL: 1.085 in 1973 

Innings Pitched career: 3,486 ⅓ season high: 311 ⅓ in 1974 

Strikeouts career: 2,416 season high: 264 in 1968 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 6.2 season high: 9.2 in 1967 and 1968 led AL: 9.2 in 1967 

Walks career: 1,104 (53 intentional) season high: 129 in 1969 led AL: 129 in 1969 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 2.19 season high: 3.62 in 1968 

Saves career: 15 season high: 8 in 1966 

Fielding Percentage career: .946 season high: 1.000 in 1977 and 1978 led AL P: 1.000 in 1977 and 1978 

Double Plays career: 31 season high: 4 in 1973 and 1976 

Putouts career: 221 season high: 22 in 1969 and 1974 

Assists career: 389 season high: 34 in 1976 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: .399 season high: 1.000 in 1968 

Pickoffs career: 28 season high: 5 in 1975 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-son of Negro League star Luis Tiant 

-nicknamed “El Tiante” in Boston 

-pitched a shutout and struck out 11 batters on his MLB debut 

-set MLB records for batting average against (.168) and hits per nine innings (5.3) in 1968 

-finished fifth in the AL MVP Award voting in 1968, eighth in 1972, 11th in 1974, and 26th in 1976 

-finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 1974, fifth in 1976, and sixth in 1972 

-was the 1972 AL Comeback Player of the Year 

-won the AL Babe Ruth Award in 1975 

-won two AL Player of the Week awards and one Player of the Month award 

-had a career ERA of 3.00 in three career all-star games (1968, 1974, and 1976) 

-shut out the Reds in Game 1 of the 1975 World Series and threw 163 pitches in Game 4, another complete game victory 

-struck out 19 batters in ten innings on July 3, 1968 

-hurled four consecutive shutouts in 1968 

-his 23 complete games in 1973 are the most in MLB history without a shutout 

-batted .406 in 1970 and had 11 sacrifices in 1968 

-ranks 21st in career shutouts and 48th in strikeouts 

-was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997, the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011, and Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals in 2012

WHY I THINK LANCE BERKMAN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK LANCE BERKMAN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Lance Berkman: “What a hitter!” 

Lance Berkman is one of the elite power hitters so far in the 21st century. His batting, slugging, and on base skills made him one of the best overall hitters of the 2000’s. One of Houston’s famous “Killer B’s” (Biggio, Bagwell, and Berkman) and the only one of the three still outside of Cooperstown, he was probably the best hitter of them all. Berkman also helped his teams make five postseasons, and he simply dominated pitchers in the most important games of the season. Lance Berkman started his career with the Astros in 1999, knocking four homers in 93 at bats. He reached rookie status in 2000 and became one of the top hitters of the decade. In 2001, Berkman batted .331 with 34 homers and 126 RBI’s; in 2002, he upped his home run total by eight and led the NL with 128 RBI’s. In 2006, Berkman batted .315 with career highs in homers (45) and RBI’s (136), the latter two figures setting NL highs among switch hitters (he had also broken the records for doubles, 55 in 2001, and walks, 127 in 2004). Berkman hit 25 homers in 2009 but had an off year in 2010 (122 games, .248 average). He came back with the Cardinals in 2011 with one last signature performance, batting .301 with 31 homers. He was a vital part of the Cards’ World Series victory, as he batted .423 in the seven games and scored nine runs. Berkman played parts of the next two seasons before his retirement. Lance Berkman was a marvelous hitter, an awesome slugger, and a player who had a huge impact on his clubs. The only real success that the Astros ever had came in the Killer B years, and without Berkman, those teams wouldn’t have gotten very far. The top two hitters of the 2000’s (2000-2009) were probably Berkman and Albert Pujols, and when the two of them became teammates in 2011, their Cardinals won the World Series. Berkman should have been an easy Hall of Famer; his plaque is one of the Hall of Fame’s most glaring omissions. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,879 season high: 160 in 2004 

At Bats career: 6,491 season high: 578 in 2002 

Hits career: 1,905 season high: 191 in 2001 

Doubles career: 422 season high: 55 in 2001 led NL: 55 in 2001, 46 in 2008 

Triples career: 30 season high: 6 in 2003 

Home Runs career: 366 season high: 45 in 2006 

Runs career: 1,146 season high: 114 in 2008 

Runs Batted In career: 1,234 season high: 136 in 2006 

Stolen Bases career: 86 season high: 18 in 2008 

Walks career: 1,201 season high: 127 in 2004 

Strikeouts career: 1,300 season high: 125 in 2007 

Batting Average career: .293 season high: .331 in 2001 

On Base Percentage career: .406 season high: .450 in 2004 

Slugging Percentage career: .537 season high: .621 in 2006 

Total Bases career: 3,485 season high: 358 in 2001 

Sacrifice Hits career: 1 season high: 1 in 2003 

Fielding Percentage career: .991 season high: .996 in 2008 led NL 1B: .996 in 2008 

Double Plays career: 626 season high: 122 in 2008 and 2009 

Putouts career: 7,899 season high: 1,240 in 2008 

Assists career: 629 season high: 132 in 2008 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Puma” 

-finished third in the NL MVP Award voting in 2002 and 2006, fifth in 2001 and 2008, seventh in 2007 and 2011, and 14th in 2005 

-batted .300 in six career all-star games 

-finished sixth in the NL Rookie of the Year Award voting in 2000 

-was the 2011 NL Comeback Player of the Year 

-won two career NL Player of the Month awards and six NL Player of the Week awards 

-his 136 RBI’s in 2006 set a new Astros’ season record 

-three times had a seasonal OPS over 1.000 

-homered on September 21 every year from 2001 through 2007, the most consecutive years hitting a home run on the same date 

-batted .317/.417/.532 with nine homers in 52 career postseason games, including .410 in two World Series 

-singled in the tying run in the tenth inning of Game 6 of the World Series with two outs, staving off elimination 

-ranks 48th in career OBP, 40th in slugging percentage, 30th in OPS (.943), and 41st in intentional walks (160) 

-also played 166 games in centerfield, 104 as a DH, 77 as a pinch hitter, and three as a pinch runner 

-was inducted into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame in 2019 and into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2009

WHY I THINK ANDRES GALARRAGA SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK ANDRES GALARRAGA SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Andres Galarraga has a very interesting and unusual Hall of Fame case. On the surface, his statistics do not scream “HALL OF FAME!”, considering (1), the fact that he was a first baseman, (2), his Coors Field days, and (3), his career span (1985 - 2004). However, Galarraga hit 399 home runs, which is an impressive total, but it seems that it is what he is remembered for above anything else. Galarraga, despite his size, was a strong defensive first sacker, adept at turning the 3-6-3 double play and great at scooping up bad throws from the dirt. He also played much of his career with the Montreal Expos, which posed a number of challenges to him and his teammates, and is a forgotten franchise, which may have hurt his notoriety. Plus, in the middle of the steroid era, Galarraga is believed never to have touched the stuff. Finally, Galarraga fought through and beat two bouts of cancer (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), which probably cost him his 500th home run. He was also an inspiration to many who were suffering from cancer as he rolled with the punches and remained one of the biggest stars in baseball. Andres Galarraga started his career with the Expos in 1985, but wasn’t a regular until 1987, his age 26 season. He batted over .300 that season and followed up with another .300 season in 1988. Galarraga became a home run or strikeout hitter, and struggled with his batting averages until he came over to the Rockies in 1993. With the Coors Field boost, Galarraga batted .370 to lead the Majors. He hit 31 home runs in 103 games in 1994 (the strike season). In 1996 - 1997, Galarraga knocked in 290 runs, leading the NL in each season, and carried his talent over to Atlanta with the Braves in 1998, batting .305 with 44 home runs and 121 RBI’s at the age of 37. He lost the entire 1999 season to cancer treatment, but was an all-star in 2000 with 28 homers and 100 RBI’s. He bounced from team to team in his 40’s, but still produced, batting .301 with 12 homers in 272 at bats for the Giants in 2003. He retired after batting .300 in seven games with the Anaheim Angels in 2004. Andres Galarraga was an excellent hitter, a fine defensive first baseman, and an inspiration to all with cancer. For his heroic battles with the deadliest disease on Earth and for staying productive all the way to the end, Galarraga has proven that he belongs among the other all time greats in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,257 season high: 159 in 1996 

At Bats career: 8,096 season high: 626 in 1996 

Hits career: 2,333 season high: 191 in 1997 led NL: 184 in 1988 

Doubles career: 444 season high: 42 in 1988 led NL: 42 in 1988 

Triples career: 32 season high: 8 in 1988 

Home Runs career: 399 season high: 47 in 1996 led NL: 47 in 1996 

Runs career: 1,195 season high: 120 in 1997 

Runs Batted In career: 1,425 season high: 150 in 1996 led NL: 150 in 1996, 140 in 1997 

Stolen Bases career: 128 season high: 18 in 1996 

Walks career: 583 season high: 63 in 1998 

Strikeouts career: 2,003 season high: 169 in 1990 led NL: 153 in 1988, 158 in 1989, 169 in 1990, 146 in 1995 

Batting Average career: .288 season high: .370 in 1993 led NL: .370 in 1993 

On Base Percentage career: .347 season high: .403 in 1993 

Slugging Percentage career: .499 season high: .602 in 1993 

Total Bases career: 4,038 season high: 376 in 1996 led NL: 329 in 1988 

Sacrifice Hits career: 1 season high: 1 in 1986 

Fielding Percentage career: .991 season high: .995 in 1986 

Double Plays career: 1,648 season high: 176 in 1997 led NL 1B: 129 in 1995, 154 in 1996, 176 in 1997 

Putouts career: 18,244 season high: 1,528 in 1996 led NL 1B: 1,300 in 1987, 1,299 in 1995, 1,528 in 1996, 1,458 in 1997 

Assists career: 1,376 season high: 120 in 1995 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “El Gato” 

-was a five time all-star 

-won two Comeback Player of the Year Awards (1993 and 2000), two Silver Slugger awards, and two Gold Glove awards 

-finished sixth in the NL MVP Award voting in both 1996 and 1998, seventh in both 1988 and 1997, 10th in both 1993 and 1994, and 16th in 1995 

-won two career Player of the Month Awards and five Player of the Week awards 

-hit three home runs in one game on June 25, 1995 

-went 6-for-6 with a double and two home runs on July 3, 1995 

-hit a 524 foot home run off of Kevin Brown on May 31, 1997 

-led the NL twice in hit by pitch and once in extra-base hits 

-batted .278 with a double and two RBI’s in the 1995 NLDS 

-led NL first basemen in games (154) in 1990 

-was the oldest player in the AL in 2004 

-ranks 13th in career hit by pitch (178), sixth in strikeouts, and 21st in putouts 

-among MLB first basemen, ranks 12th in career games and double plays, 21st in putouts, and 15th in assists 

-his 176 double plays turned at first base in 1997 are the fourth most of all time, and his 154 in 1996 rank 33rd

-also played one game at third base, 48 as a DH, 152 as a pinch hitter, and four as a pinch runner

-was inducted into the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011

WHY I THINK TIM SALMON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK TIM SALMON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Tim Salmon was one of the best all around players of his time and the greatest retired Angel in history. Salmon was a solid rightfielder and a great hitter who could hit for power and a high batting average. He started his MLB career in 1992, belting a pair of home runs in 23 games. He was the 1993 AL Rookie of the Year (the first Angel to win the award) after batting .283 with 31 home runs and 95 RBI’s. Salmon hit .287 and 23 home runs in 100 games in 1994 before having his second of five 30-homer seasons in 1995. His .330 batting average earned Salmon a Silver Slugger award that year, and was the third highest mark in the AL. After two more 30-homer seasons Salmon hit 26 with an even .300 average in 1998. He slumped to .266 in 98 games in 1999 but enjoyed another 30-homer year in 2000. After he struggled to only .227 and 17 homers in 2001, some people thought that Salmon’s promising career was over. They were wrong. As the AL Comeback Player of the Year, Salmon hit .286 with 22 homers in 2002 to lead the Angels to their first ever World Series title. He belted a pair of homers and a double in the ALDS, slumped in the ALCS, and batted .346 with a double and two longballs in the World Series. Salmon hit .275 with 19 homers in 2003 and batted .253 in 60 games in 2004. Injuries kept him inactive for the entire 2005 season but he came back in 2006 to knock nine more dingers in 76 games before retiring as the Angels’ all time leader in home runs, runs scored, and walks. Tim Salmon was a great hitter, a team player, a man who never played for top dollar, and a winning ballplayer. Players with those skills and qualities have always made the Hall of Fame, so how come not Tim Salmon? 

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games career: 1,672 season high: 158 in 2000

At Bats career: 5,934 season high: 582 in 2000

Hits career: 1,674 season high: 177 in 1995

Doubles career: 339 season high: 37 in 2002

Triples career: 24 season high: 4 in 1996 and 2003

Home Runs career: 299 season high: 34 in 1995 and 2000

Runs career: 986 season high: 111 in 1995

Runs Batted In career: 1,016 season high: 129 in 1997

Stolen Bases career: 48 season high: 9 in 1997 and 2001

Walks career: 970 season high: 104 in 2000

Strikeouts career: 1,360 season high: 142 in 1997

Batting Average career: .282 season high: .330 in 1995

On Base Percentage career: .385 season high: .429 in 1995

Slugging Percentage career: .498 season high: .594 in 1995

Total Bases career: 2,958 season high: 319 in 1995

Sacrifice Hits career: 0

Fielding Percentage career: .978 season high: .989 in 2001

Double Plays career: 23 season high: 5 in 1997 and 2001 led AL RF: 4 in 1994, 5 in 1997, 4 in 2000, 5 in 2001

Putouts career: 2,695 season high: 353 in 1997 led AL RF: 334 in 1993, 219 in 1994, 320 in 1995, 302 in 1996, 353 in 1997

Assists career: 100 season high: 15 in 1997 led AL RF: 15 in 1997

DID YOU KNOW?

-nicknamed “Mr. Angel”, “Kingfish”, and “Slammin’ Salmon” 

-hit the most career homers by any player never to appear in an all-star game since the inaugural game in 1933

-played in the 2010 All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game and won the game's MVP Award for hitting two home runs

-tied a record in 1994 for the most hits in three sequential games with 14 (wow!)

-was the first MLB player ever to get a hit off of Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera

-won the 2002 Hutch Award

-won five Player of the Week awards

-was the July 1997 AL Player of the Month

-led the AL in games in rightfield in 1995 and 1996 

-hit over 30 doubles in a season five times and over 20 ten times

-had an OBP above .400 three times

-slugged over .500 eight times

-scored 90 or more runs five times

-had 95 or more RBI’s five times

-finished seventh in the AL MVP polls in both 1995 and 1997 and 14th in 1998

-coaxed 90 or more walks in a season six times

-also played four games in leftfied, one in centerfield, 358 as a designated hitter, 52 as a pinch hitter, and eight as a pinch runner  

-among MLB rightfielders, he ranks 31st in career putouts 

-was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2015

WHY I THINK NOMAR GARCIAPARRA SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK NOMAR GARCIAPARRA

SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Nomar Garciaparra was perhaps the greatest of the clean hitters of the steroid era. Hall of Famer Ted

Williams once said that Garciaparra’s swing and batting style reminded him greatly of that of fellow Hall of

Famer Joe DiMaggio, which is really saying something. He had a lifetime batting average of .313, batted

over .300 seven times, hit 30 or more home runs in a season twice and 20 or more five times, had 95 or

more RBI’s six times and captured two batting titles. He was also a good fielder at shortstop and a great

postseason hitter. Nomar Garciaparra started his career with the Red Sox in 1996 for 24 games. He was

the 1997 AL Rookie of the Year after batting .306 with 30 home runs. Garciaparra rose to .323 with 35 home

runs in 1998 and hit .357 in 1999 to capture his first batting title and .372 in 2000 for his second. He only

played in 21 games in 2001, hampered by a wrist injury, but came back strong in 2002 to bat .310. After

another .300 season Garciaparra split his 2004 season between the Red Sox and the Cubs, batting a

combined .308 in half a season. He played only 62 games for the Cubs in 2005 and was traded to the

Dodgers for the 2006 season. He was converted into a first baseman in 2006 and batted .303 and .283 in

two full seasons there and was traded to the A’s for the 2009 season after only 55 games in 2008, mostly

as the shortstop again. Garciaparra played 65 games for Oakland in 2009, providing a dangerous bat and a

useful glove, before retiring. Nomar Garciaparra was a phenomenal hitter with speed, power and consistency,

and he also played pretty good defense as well. He was better than most Hall of Famers. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games career: 1,434 season high: 156 in 2002 and 2003 

At Bats career: 5,586 season high: 684 in 1997 led AL: 684 in 1997 

Hits career: 1,747 season high: 209 in 1997 led AL: 209 in 1997 

Doubles career: 370 season high: 56 in 2002 led AL: 56 in 2002 

Triples career: 52 season high: 13 in 2003 led AL: 11 in 1997 

Home Runs career: 229 season high: 35 in 1998 

Runs career: 927 season high: 122 in 1997 

Runs Batted In career: 936 season high: 122 in 1998 

Stolen Bases career: 95 season high: 22 in 1997 

Walks career: 403 season high: 61 in 2000 

Strikeouts career: 554 season high: 92 in 1997 

Batting Average career: .313 season high: .372 in 2000 led AL: .357 in 1999, .372 in 2000 

On Base Percentage career: .361 season high: .434 in 2000 

Slugging Percentage career: .521 season high: .603 in 1999 

Total Bases career: 2,908 season high: 365 in 1997 

Sacrifice Hits career: 5 season high: 2 in 1997 

Fielding Percentage career: .975 season high: .996 in 2006 

Double Plays career: 765 season high: 113 in 1997 and 2006 led AL SS: 113 in 1997 

Putouts career: 3,422 season high: 1,059 in 2006 led AL SS: 249 in 1997 

Assists career: 3,211 season high: 467 in 2002 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Nomah” and “No Nonsense Nomar” 

-was a six time all-star 

-went 2-for-3 on his last MLB game 

-finished second in the AL MVP Award voting in 1998, seventh in both 1999 and 2003, eighth in 1997,

ninth in 2000 and 11th in 2002 

-was 13th in the 2006 NL MVP Award voting 

-was the 2006 NL Comeback Player of the Year 

-was the AL Player of the Month in May of 1999 

-led the AL with 20 intentional walks in 2000 

-batted .321 with 36 hits, seven doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 16 runs scored, 24 RBI’s, 12 walks

and two stolen bases in 32 career postseason games 

-was the first player in MLB history to hit safely and score runs in his first five career postseason games 

-had a 30-game hitting streak in 1997, which is the AL rookie record 

-set MLB records for the most RBI’s (98) in a season by a leadoff hitter and for the most homers by a rookie

shortstop in 1997 

-his 209 hits in 1997 are the Red Sox record for rookies 

-garnered his 1,000th hit in his 745th game, making him the fastest Red Sox player to reach that milestone,

even faster than Ted Williams 

-his .372 batting average in 2000 is currently the highest mark by a right handed batter since the end of WWII 

-hit three home runs, including two grand slams, on May 10, 1999, in a game in which he had ten RBI’s 

-hit three home runs and had eight RBI’s in one game on July 23, 2002, which was also his 29th birthday 

-also played 94 games at third base, one at second base, 25 at DH, 64 as a pinch hitter and three as a pinch runner 

-was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014 and into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall

of Fame in 2002