WHY I THINK ROCKY COLAVITO SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK ROCKY COLAVITO SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Rocky Colavito was one of the top sluggers of the 1950’s and 1960’s. His home run feats include four in one game, 374 in a career, and seven seasons with 30 or more. Colavito was not simply a power hitter, however, as he set the standard for fielding by an outfielder with a perfect 1.000 in 1965, and went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a pair of strikeouts in 5 ⅔ innings across two relief appearances. He first pitched in a game because he threw so hard that he needed a catcher with a padded mitt to warm him up each day. One of his catchers said that he threw harder than anybody, including Herb Score and Ryne Duren. Manager Joe Gordon once said of Colavito, “He’s my rightfielder, period. But I’ll tell you this. As a pitcher, he’d be a 20 game winner. He has the greatest arm I ever saw.” Rocky Colavito started his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1955, batting .444 in five games. He hit 21 home runs in 1956, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year Award voting. He followed up with 25 in 1957 and had one of his best seasons to date in 1958, when he batted .303 with 41 home runs and 113 RBI’s in only 489 at bats and led the Majors in slugging percentage. That big season started a five year stretch in which he averaged exactly 40 home runs per season. When he was traded to the Tigers in 1960, Cleveland fans were infuriated. Their reactions were more enthusiastic than any other, proving that he was one of the most beloved local superstars in MLB history. Further, he was voted the most memorable player in Indians history in 1976. At any rate, he excelled in Detroit, hitting 45 home runs with 140 (!) RBI’s in 163 games in 1961. In 1965, Colavito drove in 100 runs for the sixth time, led the AL for the first time with 108 (his second lowest total among his 100 RBI seasons), and set his fielding record, playing in a Cleveland uniform once more. In 1966, he was named to his ninth all-star team and hit 30 homers for the final time, but after this he quickly declined. He had 16 homers left to split between four teams across his final two seasons, and played his last game in 1968 as a member of the Yankees. Rocky Colavito was a tremendous power hitter, a fine outfielder, a big time gate attraction (providing financial value to his club owners), and even a great pitcher. His batting statistics in the low offense 1960’s give him a decent Hall of Fame case, but the second criterion in the Hall of Fame voting is playing ability. His strong arm, tape measure home runs, and pitching performances are a great testament to how good a baseball player he really was. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,841 season high: 163 in 1961 led AL: 163 in 1961, 162 in 1965 

At Bats career: 6,503 season high: 601 in 1962 

Hits career: 1,730 season high: 170 in 1965 

Doubles career: 283 season high: 31 in 1964 

Triples career: 21 season high: 4 in 1956 

Home Runs career: 374 season high: 45 in 1961 led AL: 42 in 1959 

Runs career: 971 season high: 129 in 1961 

Runs Batted In career: 1,159 season high: 140 in 1961 led AL: 108 in 1965 

Stolen Bases career: 19 season high: 3 in 1959, 1960, 1964, and 1967 

Walks career: 951 season high: 113 in 1961 led AL: 93 in 1965 

Strikeouts career: 880 season high: 89 in 1958 

Batting Average career: .266 season high: .303 in 1958 

On Base Percentage career: .359 season high: .405 in 1958 

Slugging Percentage career: .489 season high: .620 in 1958 led AL: .620 in 1958 

Total Bases career: 3,177 season high: 338 in 1961 led AL: 301 in 1959, 309 in 1962 

Sacrifice Hits career: 16 season high: 4 in 1956 and 1957 

Fielding Percentage career: .979 season high: 1.000 in 1965 led AL LF: .992 in 1962, .993 in 1963 led AL RF: 1.000 in 1965 led AL OF: 1.000 in 1965 

Double Plays career: 31 season high: 6 in 1958 led AL RF: 6 in 1958, 5 in 1960 

Putouts career: 3,407 season high: 359 in 1962 led AL RF: 266 in 1957, 311 in 1959, 272 in 1960 led AL LF: 301 in 1961, 359 in 1962 

Assists career: 124 season high: 16 in 1961 led AL RF: 9 in 1960 led AL LF: 14 in 1961 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “The Rock” 

-finished third in the AL MVP Award voting in 1958, fourth in 1959, fifth in 1965, eighth in 1961, 16th in 1962, and 23rd in 1964 

-was a Sporting News all-star in 1961 

-had three career home runs and eight RBI’s in all-star play 

-had two career three homer games (not including his four homer game) 

-went 7-for-10 in one game on June 24, 1962 

-had eleven consecutive seasons with at least 20 home runs 

-was the first Indian ever to hit more than 40 home runs in back to back seasons 

-homered in his first at bat as a Yankee 

-led the AL five times in games in the outfield, twice in extra-base hits, and once each in plate appearances, times on base, and home run percentage 

-led AL rightfielders in games five times and led AL leftfielders twice 

-among MLB rightfielders, ranks 48th in career games and 50th in putouts 

-among MLB leftfielders, ranks 39th in career fielding percentage 

-also played eleven games at first base and 67 as a pinch hitter 

-was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2006

WHY I THINK CARLOS DELGADO SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

 WHY I THINK CARLOS DELGADO SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Carlos Delgado was a great power hitting first baseman who hit 473 career regular season home runs, only 27 shy of the magical 500 that would have guaranteed his enshrinement. His all time MLB total is 477, as he also hit four in the 2006 postseason. Delgado was much more than just a great power hitter, however, as he had a career batting average of .280 and three seasons over .300, including one at .344. Originally a catcher, Carlos Delgado started his career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, earning a World Series ring despite playing in only two games. Delgado hit nine home runs in 43 games in 1994 but wasn’t a regular or a real asset to his team until 1996, when he hit 25 home runs and drove in 92 runs. Delgado started a streak of ten straight 30 homer seasons in 1997 and established himself as one of the finest players in the league in 1998 with a .292 mark and 38 homers. He averaged 136 RBI’s across the next two seasons, including a career year in 2000 when he batted .344 with 99 extra-base hits. Delgado slumped a little in 2001 and 2002 but was the runner up for AL MVP Award honors in 2003, when he led the Majors with 145 RBI’s. The winner was Alex Rodriguez, who drove in 27 fewer runs and may have been on illegal drugs. He slipped in batting to .269 in 2004 and played in only 128 games, and despite his ever present power, the Blue Jays decided to grant him free agency. Delgado signed with the Marlins for the 2005 season and batted .301 with 33 home runs. He was traded again, this time to the Mets, for the 2006 season and hit 38 longballs at the age of 34. Delgado slumped again in 2007 but the Mets didn’t lose hope in him, and he rewarded the club with one last big season in 2008, his eleventh with at least 30 homers and his third with exactly 38. He batted .298 in 26 games in 2009 before being granted free agency again. He signed with the Red Sox in 2010 but didn’t appear in another game. Carlos Delgado was a fine hitter, a great slugger, and a fantastic run producer. His sub-5% vote tally on the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot was… controversial. He has definitely impressed me and tens of thousands of other fans and really should be in Cooperstown. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,035 season high: 162 in 2000 and 2001 led AL: 162 in 2000 and 2001 

At Bats career: 7,283 season high: 598 in 2008 

Hits career: 2,038 season high: 196 in 2000 

Doubles career: 483 season high: 57 in 2000 led AL: 57 in 2000 

Triples career: 18 season high: 3 in 1997 and 2005 

Home Runs career: 473 season high: 44 in 1999 

Runs career: 1,241 season high: 117 in 2003 

Runs Batted In career: 1,512 season high: 145 in 2003 led AL: 145 in 2003 

Stolen Bases career: 14 season high: 4 in 2007 

Walks career: 1,109 season high: 123 in 2000 

Strikeouts career: 1,745 season high: 141 in 1999 

Batting Average career: .280 season high: .344 in 2000 

On Base Percentage career: .383 season high: .470 in 2000 

Slugging Percentage career: .546 season high: .664 in 2000 

Total Bases career: 3,976 season high: 378 in 2000 led AL: 378 in 2000 

Sacrifice Hits career: 0 

Fielding Percentage career: .992 season high: .996 in 2004 

Double Plays career: 1,496 season high: 166 in 2001 led AL 1B: 134 in 1999, 157 in 2000, 166 in 2001, 137 in 2003 

Putouts career: 15,236 season high: 1,518 in 2001 led AL 1B: 1,306 in 1999, 1,1,416 in 2000, 1,518 in 2001, 1,232 in 2002, 1,355 in 2003 

Assists career: 1,067 season high: 105 in 2008 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-became the 15th player to hit the single game record of four home runs in a game on September 25, 2003, and is the only player to hit four in four at bats 

-hit the most career home runs among Puerto Rican players 

-retired with the Blue Jays’ career records in fourteen different categories 

-had nine RBI’s in one game on July 27, 2008, which is the New York Mets record 

-went 5-for-5 with three RBI’s and the walkoff hit on August 21, 2008, marking the first game in which he went 5-for-5 since 1998 

-had a Mets record seven games with multiple home runs in 2008, and had 65 RBI’s in a 65 game stretch that year 

-was the first visiting player to hit three splash home runs at AT&T Park and the first to hit a homer into Pepsi Porch in Citi Field 

-had a career batting average of .368 when putting the ball in play 

-batted .351/.442/.757 with eleven RBI’s in ten games during the 2006 postseason 

-batted .500 with a double and an RBI in two all-star games (2000 and 2003) 

-won three Silver Slugger awards (in 1999, 2000, and 2003) 

-was the 2000 Major League Player of the Year and AL Hank Aaron Award winner 

-won the 2006 Roberto Clemente Award and nine career Player of the Week awards 

-also finished fourth in the 2000 AL MVP Award voting, 12th in 1999, and 21st in 1998 

-finished sixth in the 2005 NL MVP Award voting, ninth in 2008, and 12th in 2006 

-scored over 100 runs in five consecutive seasons (1999-2003) 

-had nine 100 RBI seasons and one with 99 

-led the AL in hit by pitch (15) in 2000, OPS (1.019) in 2003, and in times on base in both seasons 

-led the NL with ten sacrifice flies in 2006 

-also played 58 games in leftfield, 185 as a DH, 56 as a pinch hitter, and one as a pinch runner 

-ranks 34th in career home runs, 28th in slugging percentage, 38th in OPS (.929), 44th in extra base hits (974), 16th in hit by pitch (172), 25th in intentional walks (186) 26th in home run percentage (6.5), and 43rd in putouts 

-among MLB first baseman, ranks 41st in career games, 25th in double plays, 44th in putouts, and 43rd in assists 

-is a member of both the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and the Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence

three home run games

WHY I THINK GIL HODGES SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK GIL HODGES SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Gil Hodges was one of the top sluggers of his era and one of the best defensive first basemen who ever lived. On those famous “Boys of Summer” Brooklyn Dodgers teams of the 1940s and 1950s, Hodges was both a superstar and a beloved hero. He started his big league career in 1943 for one game, going hitless but drawing a walk and stealing his first career base. Hodges spent the next two seasons in Military Service, winning a bronze star medal, and took the 1946 season off entirely. He played in only 28 games (24 as the catcher) in 1947, the year that teammate Jackie Robinson first came up, and finally earned regular status in 1948. Hodges caught 38 games that season but with his emergent power and fine defense at first he was planted there for good. He had his breakout season in 1949, with 23 homers and 115 RBI’s, and was an all-star and 100-RBI man for the next seven seasons. He earned the love of all of Brooklyn during that streak of consistent excellence, with five straight 30 homer seasons out of six overall and two with over 40. The Dodgers faced the Yankees in the World Series on six occasions since Hodges came up, losing every time, until 1956 when, to the joy of all in Brooklyn, they beat them for their first title ever. Hodges batted .304 with a homer and eight RBI’s during the Series. He had another fine season in 1957, earning his eighth all-star selection with 27 homers and 98 RBI’s, before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. He was one of the few Dodgers to have a good offensive season in 1958, connecting for 22 longballs in the oddly shaped Los Angeles Coliseum. Hodges had one more good season in 1959, picking up 25 homers and a second World Series ring (he batted .391 with a home run in the Series), before slumping in his next two seasons. He had nine homers for the Mets in 54 games in 1962 and retired after eleven games in 1963. After his retirement as a player, Hodges managed two clubs, including the Miracle Mets of 1969, before his death of a heart attack on April 2, 1972, one day before his 48th birthday. Gil Hodges was one of the greatest first basemen in the history of the game with one of the most amazing peaks of any player ever. For all of his home runs and his place in Brooklyn Dodgers lore, he really should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,071 season high: 158 in 1951 led NL: 158 in 1951, 154 in 1954 

At Bats career: 7,030 season high: 596 in 1949 

Hits career: 1,921 season high: 176 in 1954 

Doubles career: 295 season high: 29 in 1956 

Triples career: 48 season high: 7 in 1957 

Home Runs career: 370 season high: 42 in 1954 

Runs career: 1,105 season high: 118 in 1951 

Runs Batted In career: 1,274 season high: 130 in 1954 

Stolen Bases career: 63 season high: 10 in 1949 

Walks career: 943 season high: 107 in 1952 

Strikeouts career: 1,137 season high: 99 in 1951 led NL: 99 in 1951 

Batting Average career: .273 season high: .304 in 1954 

On Base Percentage career: .359 season high: .393 in 1953 

Slugging Percentage career: .487 season high: .579 in 1954 

Total Bases career: 3,422 season high: 335 in 1954 

Sacrifice Hits career: 56 season high: 11 in 1950 

Fielding Percentage career: .992 season high: .998 in 1961 led NL 1B: .995 in 1949, .994 in 1950, .992 in 1959 

Double Plays career: 1,632 season high: 171 in 1951 led NL 1B: 142 in 1949, 159 in 1950, 171 in 1951, 134 in 1958 

Putouts career: 15,722 season high: 1,381 in 1954 led NL 1B: 1,336 in 1949, 1,381 in 1954, 1,317 in 1957 

Assists career: 1,365 season high: 132 in 1954 led NL 1B: 126 in 1951, 116 in 1952, 132 in 1954 

Games Managed career: 1,414 season high: 163 in 1968 

Wins career: 660 season high: 100 in 1969 

Losses career: 753 season high: 100 in 1964 

Ties career: 1 season high: 1 in 1968 

Winning Percentage career: .467 season high: .617 in 1969 

Ejections career: 7 season high: 2 in 1966, 1970, and 1971 

Pennants 1969 NL 

World Series 1969 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-won the first three NL Gold Glove awards at first base 

-won the 1959 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award 

-was the first Dodger ever to hit 40 home runs in a single season, and also knocked in the last run in Brooklyn Dodgers history 

-hit the first home run in New York Mets history 

-drove in a run in his final MLB game 

-knocked in the only two runs for the Dodgers in Game 7 of the 1955 World Series 

-knocked in the Dodgers’ only run in their 1-0 win in Game 2 of the 1949 World Series, which was their only Series win that year 

-twice led the NL in sacrifice flies, setting a still standing season record in 1954 (19)

-hit for the cycle on June 25, 1949 

-hit a record four home runs in one game on August 31, 1950, and additionally had a single 

-finished seventh in the NL MVP Award voting in 1957, eighth in 1950, tenth in 1954, 11th in 1949, 14th in 1953, 16th in 1951, 18th in 1959, 19th in 1952, and 30th in 1948 

-batted .364 in the 1953 World Series and hit homers in five different Series 

-had a .571 career caught stealing percentage in 64 games as a catcher 

-led NL first basemen in games in 1949 (156), 1951 (158), 1954 (154), and 1956 (138) 

-his 171 double plays as a first baseman in 1951 are the seventh most of all time, and his 159 in 1950 rank 15th, and in both years he set the NL record 

-ranks 39th in career putouts and 17th in grand slams (14) 

-among MLB first basemen, ranks 28th in career games, 14th in double plays, 42nd in putouts, and 26th in assists 

-also played one game at second base, 32 at third base, 80 in the outfield, 94 as a pinch hitter, and four as a pinch runner 

-was the 1969 NL Sporting News Manager of the Year 

-was inducted into the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1982

-his uniform number 14 is retired by the Mets