Benny Kauff

Benny Kauff's name is seldom mentioned anymore, and when it is, there are often negative connotations. Kauff is best known as one of the first people to be banned from baseball, as he was booted by Commissioner Landis in 1921 amid charges of automobile theft. However, I think his banishment and subsequent bad reputation were unjust and unwarranted. Here is an attempt to clear his name. 
    Benny Kauff made his Major League debut in 1912, playing five games for the New York Highlanders (later the Yankees). He spent the 1913 season in the minors, batting .345, and jumped to the newly-formed Federal League in 1914. The 24-year-old centerfielder had a breakout campaign that season, leading the new league in batting average, hits, runs scored, doubles, stolen bases, total bases, and OBP. Kauff had another fantastic year in 1915, topping the league in batting, OBP, slugging, and stolen bases, which earned him the nickname "The Ty Cobb of the Feds." 
    After the Federal League disbanded in 1915, Kauff played five years for the New York Giants. Although he never quite matched the heights he reached in the Feds, Kauff remained a productive hitter and a prolific base thief. He helped the Giants win the NL pennant in 1917 and hit two home runs in the World Series. 
    Throughout his time in baseball, Kauff was generally viewed as a fair and honest individual. He once turned down a $500 bribe from teammates to throw a game, instead reporting the incident to manager John McGraw, and he served in the military during World War I. Soon afterward, however, his good name was in serious peril. 
    In February of 1920, Kauff, a car dealer, was arrested on suspicion of auto theft when a used automobile sold by his dealership in 1919 was found to be stolen. Although he was released on bail, he was traded to a minor league club after 55 games. The trade caught everyone by surprise, as did his subsequent trial on May 10, 1921. Kauff pleaded that his employees had deceived him by producing a false bill of sale, convincing him that the car was obtained legally. He also provided evidence that he could not have stolen the car because he was dining with his wife at the time. After a very brief deliberation, Kauff was acquitted on May 13, and he attempted to refund the money he had made from the sale. Things were looking up for Kauff, and he was set to return to the Giants in 1921. 
    However, despite the results of the trial, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned Kauff for life before the start of the 1921 season. Landis claimed that the jury's ruling was a "miscarriage of justice" and thought that reinstating Kauff would be detrimental to the game for all the scandal surrounding his name. Although he scouted for 22 years, Kauff would never play again. He died on November 17, 1961, and was posthumously reinstated by Commissioner Rob Manfred on May 13, 2025, incidentally the 104th anniversary of his acquittal. 
    Benny Kauff was simply a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had no hand in stealing the car, as seen in his fairly cut-and-dry case. However, due to crooked employees and a rigid commissioner who regularly banned players despite court cases finding them innocent, Kauff was banned for life and is often remembered today as nothing but a crook. This reputation is appalling and grossly undeserved, and he should instead be remembered as a great hitter, "The Ty Cobb of the Feds," and an unfortunate victim of bad judgment. 

Lucky Hall of Famer Number 63 - Carlos Beltran (And a Word on the Sign-Stealing Scandal)

    The BBWAA's official voting criteria states that "[v]oting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played." Using this as our guideline, I am willing to make the bold assertion Beltran's election to the Hall is unwarranted. 
    There is little doubting Beltran's record, but due to his involvement in the Houston Astros' infamous sign-stealing scandal, every other criterion (including playing ability) comes into question. Astros players and certain staff members would use the centerfield camera to pick up the opposing catcher's signs, decipher them with a computer monitor, and relay the signs to the batter using a series of signals, including banging on a trash can. Per the commissioner's report, this was in clear violation of MLB policy, and it resulted in a massive scandal when it came to light. For what it's worth, in what seems to have been a largely player-driven scheme, Beltran was the only player mentioned by name in the report. 
    By cheating to gain an advantage, not only did Beltran break the rules, but in my mind he forfeited all right to benefit from the integrity, sportsmanship, and character criteria, and I would be hard-pressed to find anyone making a convincing argument to the contrary. As for his playing ability, he could have benefited from similar schemes across his entire career. According to another source, he was the one who told the Astros that their sign-stealing tactics were "behind the times," conceivably suggesting that he had previous experience with sign-stealing methods of this kind, and had been using them before he even arrived in Houston. However this contributed to his overall record, it is difficult to consider his statistics untainted, and it is possible that they would be considerably worse had he never illegally stolen signs. As for contributions to the team(s) on which he played, Beltran's time with Houston brought them one championship (albeit a tainted one), but it also brought the club massive scandal, cost them draft picks, incurred the largest fine allowable by MLB, and incited opposing pitchers to relentlessly pelt Astros batters with pitches after the story broke. The infamy around his name was enough to cost him a managing job with the New York Mets in 2020. 
    The Hall of Fame is supposed to honor baseball's all-time greats who made a positive impact on the sport, including through excellent play. While Beltran's career accomplishments are comparable to those of many players in the Hall of Fame, I cannot confidently say that he had a positive impact on the sport. He brought upon the game one of the greatest scandals in its history, and through his role in the cheating, which affected championships and ruined careers, I consider him a disgrace to the game and unworthy to be immortalized in Cooperstown, where fans from every generation might look on his plaque with admiration. Any other player who had a role in the scandal, particularly a leadership role, is equally disgraceful to our National Pastime. The fact that the Hall would induct players who harmed the game so much is frankly disgusting to me. 

My opinion: Carlos Beltran does not deserve his Hall of Fame plaque. 

Lucky Hall of Famer Number 60 - Larry Doby

It's hard to call any player from the Negro Leagues lucky. Despite Jackie Robinson having broken the color barrier before him, Doby still experienced his share of bigotry as the first black player in American League history in 1947. However, based on his baseball record alone, Doby can be considered lucky to have been chosen for the Hall of Fame. 

    While Major League Baseball declared the Negro Leagues Major Leagues in December of 2020, the quality of Negro League play is certainly questionable, and their records are very spotty. While Negro League statistics should not be ignored, they need to be taken with a grain of salt. 

    Even if we add Doby's existing Negro League numbers to his MLB totals, he nonetheless comes up short as a Hall of Fame candidate, in my opinion. His counting stats are still quite thin for an outfielder (1,697 hits, 1,080 runs, 1,099 RBI's) and he was finished at age 35. Considering Doby's high OPS+ and his historical significance as the first black player in the AL, I can live with his selection, but he is far from an ideal candidate. 

My opinion: Larry Doby is probably not a Hall of Famer. 

Lucky Hall of Famer Number 57 - Edd Roush

Edd Roush was a Major League centerfielder from 1913 through 1931, most notably with the Reds and the Giants. A two-time batting champion and lifetime .323 hitter, Roush was known as a strong defender and had the unusual ability to make outfield throws with both arms. He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1962. 

    While Roush was a fine player, in my opinion he falls a little short of the Hall's standards. Other than his two Batting Titles, he rarely topped his league in offense, leading once each in doubles, triples, and slugging percentage. He also played fewer than 2,000 career games, leaving his overall counting stats a little thin. In addition, Roush was frequently caught stealing, cutting heavily into his baserunning value. While his defense was very good and his 126 OPS+ is solid, they don't stand out enough to make up for his lack of volume. 

My opinion: Edd Roush is probably 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. 

WHY I THINK KENNY LOFTON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK KENNY LOFTON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Kenny Lofton was one of many stars unfortunate to play during the steroid era. Not only was he facing stiff competition, considering all the juiced pitchers he had to bat against, he also had to compete with guys like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa for fame and good press. At a time when steroid eaters were constantly in the headlines for their Ruthian home run feats, guys like Lofton, who played the more traditional, speedier version of the game, were often brushed under the rug. Lofton didn’t have remarkable power (he had 130 career home runs), but he still produced a ton of runs, scoring over 100 of them in six different seasons and posting six additional seasons with 90 or more. Lofton was best known for his speed, which helped him lead the AL in stolen bases five years in a row from 1992 through 1996 on his way to a career total of 622. On the defensive side, his speed helped him to incredible range in centerfield, covering more ground than nearly everyone else in the league. 

Kenneth Lofton was born on May 31, 1967. As a youth he played both baseball and basketball, and excelled at both. Lofton received a scholarship to the University of Arizona as a basketball player, but also began to build a reputation as a base thief for the baseball team. Lofton played basketball all throughout college, but turned full time to baseball as a pro. He played three years in the Astros’ farm system, and made his MLB debut on September 14, 1991, collecting a double, two singles, a walk, and three runs scored. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the offseason for little return, and immediately made an impact for his new team, batting .285 and leading the AL in stolen bases en route to a second place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting. Proving he was no fluke, he topped the league in steals again in 1993 and upped his batting average to .325. 

Lofton was a key member of the successful Indians teams of the late 1990’s, leading the team to three postseasons and one pennant from 1995 to 1999. Even in the one season he missed, 1997, when he was with the Atlanta Braves, he was instrumental in the Tribe’s success. Just before the start of the 1997 season, Lofton was traded to the Braves for David Justice and Marquis Grissom. While Lofton was busy hitting .333 for the Braves and leading them through the NL playoffs, Justice and Grissom were playing very well for the Indians, and were instrumental in leading them to the World Series. Then, on December 8, Lofton signed as a free agent for the Indians, returning to Cleveland in less than nine months, and helped them to the playoffs three more times. 

Lofton’s 2001 season wasn’t among his best, and he was granted free agency after the season. He began the 2002 season with the White Sox, but was traded to the Giants at the deadline. Lofton played well for the Giants down the stretch, helping them reach the playoffs, and batted .292 with six stolen bases in three rounds of postseason action. He again saw time with multiple teams the following year, and turned in another productive season. As Lofton aged, more teams seemingly gave up on him, but the more he produced at the Big League level, the more interest he got from different clubs around the league. In total, he played for eleven different MLB teams, not counting his three stints as an Indian. After posting an .811 OPS for Philadelphia in 2005, he was offered a deal with the Dodgers, where he enjoyed near everyday playing time. At 39, most observers probably didn’t expect the strong season he would have in 2006, as he batted .301 with 32 stolen bases in 129 games. Lofton’s final season was 2007, which he began with the Texas Rangers, where he batted .303 with 21 steals in the first half before being traded to the Indians at the deadline. He had a rewarding final season, retiring in his most recognizable jersey after playing in his 20th different playoff series. 

When you think about the best players of the 1990’s, Lofton’s name is seldom mentioned, but not for lack of talent. While his .299 / .372 / .423 slash line (.794 OPS) is solid, it amounts to only a 107 OPS+, a testament to the era in which he played. If not for the Bondses and the Cansecos and the A-Rods, who routinely posted seasonal OPS figures around 1.000, thanks purely to their, uh, special help, Lofton’s OPS+ would appear much more respectable, perhaps 120 or higher. He was also a great bunter, a skill widely underappreciated in this day and age. While Lofton was good with the bat, it was not what he was best known for. He was a terror on the bases, swiping 622 bags in his career (15th most of all time, including pre-1898 figures), and had six individual seasons with at least 54. Lofton’s baserunning skill was not demonstrated solely in his eye popping stolen base totals, however, as he took extra bases on a hit about 55% of the time across his career, compared to the league average of 42%. His running helped him to 1,528 runs scored, including as many as 132 in 1996, and an average of 118 runs scored per 162 games across his career. Lofton was also arguably the best defensive centerfielder of his era, leading in assists four times and double plays twice (showing off an above average arm in addition to his range), taking home four Gold Glove awards. Finally, Lofton was a catalyst in many great postseason teams. He was the leadoff man for the 1995 Cleveland Indians, widely considered one of the greatest teams of all time by historians. In total, he led six different teams to eleven postseasons (20 series) during his 17 year MLB career, playing in a total of 95 career playoff games, ninth on the all time list. Only once every three years did Lofton’s team fail to make the postseason. All this adds up to a strong Hall of Fame case. At a quick glance Lofton’s numbers aren’t overwhelming, but on looking just a little bit closer, he comes out a pretty darn good candidate. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,103 season high: 154 in 1996 and 1998 

At Bats career: 8,120 season high: 662 in 1996 led AL: 662 in 1996 

Hits career: 2,428 season high: 210 in 1996 led AL: 160 in 1994 

Doubles career: 383 season high: 35 in 1996 

Triples career: 116 season high: 13 in 1995 led AL: 13 in 1995 

Home Runs career: 130 season high: 15 in 2000 

Runs Scored career: 1,528 season high: 132 in 1996 

Runs Batted In career: 781 season high: 73 in 2000 

Stolen Bases career: 622 season high: 75 in 1996 led AL: 66 in 1992, 70 in 1993, 60 in 1994, 54 in 1995, 75 in 1996 

Walks career: 945 season high: 87 in 1998 

Strikeouts career: 1,016 season high: 84 in 1999 

Batting Average career: .299 season high: .349 in 1994 

On Base Percentage career: .372 season high: .412 in 1994 

Slugging Percentage career: .423 season high: .536 in 1994 

Total Bases career: 3,433 season high: 295 in 1996 

Sacrifice Hits career: 72 season high: 7 in 1996 and 2003 

Fielding Percentage career: .984 season high: 1.000 in 2002 

Double Plays career: 35 season high: 4 in 1998, 2004, and 2007 led AL CF: 3 in 1994, 4 in 1998 led AL OF: 4 in 2004 (find a way to explain this without adding the also played section) 

Putouts career: 4,856 season high: 420 in 1992 

Assists career: 142 season high: 19 in 1998 led AL CF: 14 in 1992, 13 in 1994, 11 in 1995, 19 in 1998 led AL OF: 13 in 1994, 19 in 1998 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-finished fourth in the AL MVP Award voting in 1994, 11th in 1996, 15th in 1993, and finished 26th in the NL MVP voting in 1997 

-batted .357 with five stolen bases in six all-star games (1994 - 1999) 

-his 66 stolen bases in 1992 set a new AL rookie record 

-holds Cleveland Indians franchise records for both career stolen bases (452) and stolen bases in a single season (75 in 1996) 

-stole more bases in postseason play than anyone else in MLB history (34) 

-played in the postseason with more teams than any other player 

-led the AL in singles in 1993 (148) and 1994 (107)

-tied an AL record by scoring a run in 18 consecutive games in 2000 

-stole an Indians record five stolen bases in one game on September 3, 2000, and later won the game in the 13th inning with a walk off home run 

-had a 26 game hitting streak from April 29 through May 30, 2003 

-was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2010 

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/ken-lofton-1.html

WHY I THINK JUAN GONZALEZ SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK JUAN GONZALEZ SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Almost all of the big power hitters of the 1990’s and early 2000’s are written off as potential cheaters, and Gonzalez is no exception. A lot of people dismiss this entire era (a terrible mistake no matter what happened) as “the steroid era”, an era which can be devoid of Hall of Famers. In my opinion, in order to rightly educate baseball fans and properly honor the game’s best players, each era should be represented fairly evenly (although, however, I have no tolerance for cheaters in the context of the Hall of Fame). But what about Gonzalez? Was he playing under the influence of illegal drugs? I think that there is good reason to doubt it. For one thing, Gonzalez’s career path is fairly normal for a Hall of Fame outfielder, with outstanding production for a while with a gradual decline at the end. He wasn’t a 30-homer man who suddenly hit 70 homers in his age 34 season. Gonzalez was far more consistent. Additionally, no evidence has really been related that Gonzalez may have been juiced. As far as I know, the only allegation against Gonzalez was a random accusation, which he denied. In the spirit of “innocent until proven guilty”, I feel comfortable including Gonzalez here. 

Juan Gonzalez was one of the best power hitters who ever lived. While his 434 homers suggest a very good career, his power numbers are best illustrated by his 6.62 home run percentage (the 15th highest of all time) and .561 career slugging percentage (18th). He had five seasons with 40 or more homers and eight with over 100 RBI’s. For every 162 games he played, Gonzalez averaged 42 home runs, 135 RBI’s, and 102 runs scored. Juan Gonzalez started his career with the Texas Rangers in 1989, hitting 9-for-60 at the age of 19. He had four homers in 25 games in 1990 and was a full time regular at the age of 21, hitting .264 with 27 homers and 102 RBI’s in 1991. Just entering his peak, Gonzalez led the Majors in homers in each of the next two seasons before being interrupted by the strike. In 1996, Gonzalez came back to hit .314 with 47 homers and 144 RBI’s, capturing the league MVP Award. In addition to his slugging, Gonzalez provided average defense at all three outfield positions, and occasionally took his turn at DH. He was a decent outfielder, known for his strong arm. After another strong offensive season in 1997, he repeated as the MVP in 1998 with a .318 mark and 157 RBI’s, including a record 101 ribbies in the first half. He reached his high water mark in batting in 1999 with a .326 mark and backed it up with 39 longballs. After the season, Gonzalez was traded to the Tigers, and didn’t produce at his usual pace (.289, 22 homers in 115 games). The Tigers made a deadly mistake in letting him go, as he had one of his biggest seasons with the Cleveland Indians in 2001 (.325-35-140). Gonzalez then spent a couple years back in Texas, producing one last big season in 2003 (70 RBI’s in 82 games). He hit .276 in limited action in ‘04 and played one game for the Indians in ‘05 before a season ending injury. The Cardinals invited Gonzalez to spring training in 2008, and Gonzalez performed well in those games, but didn’t make the regular season team. That marked the end of his MLB career, although he has taken part in Puerto Rican ball and the World Baseball Classic. 

Juan Gonzalez was a great power hitter, a two time MVP, and an adequate fielder. I think that one should look through Hall of Fame candidates from the 1990’s with caution, but Gonzalez would be a good choice for future induction. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,689 season high: 155 in 1992 

At Bats career: 6,556 season high: 606 in 1998 

Hits career: 1,936 season high: 193 in 1998 

Doubles career: 388 season high: 50 in 1998 led AL: 50 in 1998 

Triples career: 25 season high: 4 in 1994 

Home Runs career: 434 season high: 47 in 1996 led AL: 43 in 1992, 46 in 1993 

Runs career: 1,061 season high: 114 in 1999 

Runs Batted In career: 1,404 season high: 157 in 1998 led AL: 157 in 1998 

Stolen Bases career: 26 season high: 6 in 1994 

Walks career: 457 season high: 51 in 1999 

Strikeouts career: 1,273 season high: 143 in 1992 

Batting Average career: .295 season high: .326 in 1999 

On Base Percentage career: .343 season high: .378 in 1999 

Slugging Percentage career: .561 season high: .643 in 1996 led AL: .632 in 1993 

Total Bases career: 3,676 season high: 382 in 1998 

Sacrifice Hits career: 2 season high: 2 in 1989 

Fielding Percentage career: .983 season high: .991 in 1994 

Double Plays career: 19 season high: 3 in 1999 and 2001 

Putouts career: 2,595 season high: 379 in 1992 

Assists career: 91 season high: 10 in 2001 and 2003 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Juan Gone” and “Igor” 

-was a three time all-star (1993, 1998, and 2001) and a six time Silver Slugger 

-also finished fourth in the AL MVP Award voting in 1993, fifth in 2001, ninth in 1997, 13th in 1999, and 16th in 1992 

-won the Home Run Derby in 1993 

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

-slashed .290/.333/.742 with eight homers and 15 RBI’s in 15 career postseason games 

-hit a record five homers in the 1996 ALDS, a four game series 

-had the most RBI’s in the Majors from 1991 through 2001 (1,263) 

-three times had as many RBI as games played in a season (144 - 134 in 1996, 157 - 154 in 1998, 140 - 140 in 2001), and had 514 RBI’s in 511 games from 1995 through 1998 

-set the MLB record for RBI’s in the month of April (35) in 1998  

-had two 21-game hitting streaks in 1996 and a 15-game streak in 2001 

-had three career three homer games

-hit five home runs in three games in early 2003 

-hit his 300th career home run in his 1,096th game, the fewest in AL history 

-led the MLB with 16 sacrifice flies in 2001 

-topped the AL with an 8.58 home run percentage in 1993 

-ranks 48th in career home runs 

-also played 24 games as a pinch hitter and one as a pinch runner

WHY I THINK MIKE GRIFFIN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK MIKE GRIFFIN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Mike Griffin was probably the most dominant defensive centerfielder of all time. I say dominant because, compared to the average defender of his time, Griffin was otherworldly. His overall fielding percentage in the outfield - recorded mostly without a glove - was .956, a whopping 40 points higher than the league average. If a team wants to have a shot at a championship, it is vitally important that the centerfielder, who has higher priority and more space than any other fielder, is doing a good job out there. However, no matter how good a defensive centerfielder you are, that alone won’t get you into Cooperstown. Griffin was one of the handful of players ever to bat .300 or better in his first and last MLB seasons, retaining a lifetime mark of .296 across twelve seasons. Mike Griffin started his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles (AA) in 1887, batting .301 with 94 stolen bases. In a rather interesting statistical fluke, Griffin also had 94 RBI’s that season, and had the exact same totals (46 and 46) again the following season. Griffin led the Majors in runs scored in 1889 and jumped to the Players’ League in 1890. In its only season of operation, the PL welcomed an established star in Griffin, who put up a solid season with the Philadelphia Quakers. After the PL crumbled, Griffin found himself on the Brooklyn Grooms, and he led the MLB in doubles. After the mound was moved to its present distance in 1893, the whole league started hitting a lot more, and Griffin was no exception. In 1894 and 1895, he batted a combined .343 with a .453 on base percentage. Just think about what he could have done if the mound was never 50 feet away from the plate. You couldn’t afford to flinch if you wanted to hit the ball. Anyway, Griffin continued hitting steadily for the rest of his career, and was still at the top of his game in 1898, his age 33 season. He finished the year at .300 and filled in as an interim manager for a time, and signed a $3,500 contract to manage the club the following season. However, before the 1899 season started, Baltimore and Brooklyn merged together (as was not uncommon back then), and Ned Hanlon was named manager instead. Upset, Griffin sued the club and won $2,300. He then voluntarily retired from baseball. Mike Griffin was a fine hitter, a terrific defensive centerfielder, and a prolific base thief. Even though his lawsuit left a bad taste in everybody’s mouth and is what he’s best remembered for, we must not forget Mike Griffin the player, one of the greatest players of the 19th century and the game’s first great centerfielder. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,513 season high: 137 in 1888 and 1889 

At Bats career: 5,923 season high: 542 in 1888 

Hits career: 1,755 season high: 174 in 1895 

Doubles career: 314 season high: 38 in 1895 led NL: 36 in 1891 

Triples career: 108 season high: 14 in 1889 

Home Runs career: 42 season high: 6 in 1890 and 1893 

Runs career: 1,406 season high: 152 in 1889 led AA: 152 in 1889 

Runs Batted In career: 720 season high: 94 in 1887 

Stolen Bases career: 473 season high: 94 in 1887 

Walks career: 809 season high: 93 in 1895 

Strikeouts career: 284 season high: 36 in 1892 

Batting Average career: .296 season high: .357 in 1894 

On Base Percentage career: .388 season high: .466 in 1894 

Slugging Percentage career: .407 season high: .485 in 1894 

Total Bases career: 2,411 season high: 238 in 1895 

Sacrifice Hits career: 38 season high: 12 in 1897 (Griffin’s sacrifice hit information prior to 1894 is unavailable) 

Fielding Percentage career: .950 season high: .977 in 1892 led NL OF: .960 in 1891, .986 in 1892, .965 in 1893, .969 in 1895, .974 in 1898 

Double Plays career: 83 season high: 13 in 1889 led PL OF: 10 in 1890 led NL OF: 12 in 1895 

Putouts career: 3,598 season high: 357 in 1895 led NL OF: 353 in 1891, 357 in 1895 

Assists career: 338 season high: 91 in 1889 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-led AA outfielders in games (137) in 1888 

-averaged better than a run scored per game in six of his twelve seasons 

-hit three home runs each off of Hall of Famers Kid Nichols and Amos Rusie and one each off of Hank O’Day, Vic Willis, Charlie Buffinton, Silver King, and John Clarkson 

-ranks 45th in career stolen bases 

-among MLB outfielders, ranks seventh in career double plays and 23rd in assists 

-his 12 double plays from the outfield in 1895 are the fourth most of all time, and his ten in 1890 rank 27th 

-also played 28 games at shortstop, seven at second base, 14 in rightfield, and seven in leftfield

WHY I THINK GEORGE VAN HALTREN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK GEORGE VAN HALTREN SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

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

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

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

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

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

Doubles career: 286 season high: 30 in 1900 

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

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

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

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

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

Walks career: 871 season high: 82 in 1889 

Strikeouts career: 498 season high: 46 in 1891 

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

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

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

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

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

Games Pitched career: 93 season high: 30 in 1888 

Starts career: 68 season high: 25 in 1890 

Complete Games career: 65 season high: 

Shutouts career: 5 season high: 4 in 1888 

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

Wins career: 40 season high: 15 in 1890 

Losses career: 31 season high: 13 in 1888 

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

ERA career: 4.05 season low: 3.52 in 1888 

WHIP career: 1.528 season low: 1.315 in 1888 

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

Strikeouts career: 281 season high: 139 in 1888 

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

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

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

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

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

Double Plays career: 94 season high: 22 in 1891 

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

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

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Rip” 

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

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

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

-scored over 100 runs in a season eleven times 

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

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

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

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

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

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