WHY I THINK DAVE FOUTZ SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK DAVE FOUTZ SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Shohei Ohtani had an incredible 2021 season. He was the unanimous AL MVP for both his hitting prowess and pitching skills. He went 9-2 on the mound with a 3.18 ERA, and also batted .257 with 46 homers. He was easily the best player in baseball, as he provided much value both at bat and on the mound (something that nobody has been able to do since Babe Ruth, but even Ruth started hitting only after he stopped pitching), but he rightfully fell short of both the Hank Aaron Award (for the best hitter in the league) and the Cy Young Award. Dave Foutz was kind of like that, more of a pitcher than a hitter, but nonetheless the first pitcher to reach 1,000 career hits. He was a lifetime .276 hitter with two .300 seasons and two 100 RBI seasons, but he was one of the greatest pitchers of the 19th century, with a lifetime record of 147-66 (.690) and a 2.84 ERA. Dave Foutz started his career with the St. Louis Browns (American Association) in 1884, and went 15-6 with a 2.18 ERA. He got off to a very late start, as he made his MLB debut shortly before his 28th birthday. Foutz went 33-14 in 1885, completing each of his 46 starts, and had his best season to date in 1886. That season, he led the AA in wins (41), ERA (2.11), winning percentage, and saves. He also started hitting that year, as he batted .280. In 1887, he batted .357 with 108 RBI’s, and also went 25-12 on the mound. He averaged over 100 RBI’s per season over the next three years, and while he was still a good pitcher, he focused more on his hitting, as a broken thumb had inhibited him from throwing as many innings. In 1891, while with the Brooklyn Grooms (today’s Dodgers), he had an off year at the plate, and began to see more innings on the mound. In 1892, he went 13-8 and pitched more innings than he had since 1887. His hitting continued to suffer until 1894 when, at the age of 37, he batted .303. He pitched his final game in 1894 and stuck around until 1896 as an outfielder and first baseman. He died on March 5, 1897. Dave Foutz was a good hitter, a great pitcher, and one of the few successful two way players in history. It takes a lot of focus and practice to make yourself into a good pitcher, and the same goes for the making of a hitter. Most people can’t commit to both, and instead specialize in one. Some very special players, most notably Foutz, Mike Smith, Guy Hecker, Smoky Joe Wood, Bob Caruthers, Cy Seymour, Ruth, and Ohtani, could do both. The second criterion in the Hall of Fame voting system is playing ability, and if this wasn’t enough for Foutz’s induction, then the voters clearly haven’t been doing their jobs. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,136 season high: 140 in 1888 

At Bats career: 4,537 season high: 563 in 1888 

Hits career: 1,253 season high: 156 in 1888 

Doubles career: 186 season high: 26 in 1887 and 1891 

Triples career: 91 season high: 13 in 1887, 1888, and 1890 

Home Runs career: 31 season high: 7 in 1893 

Runs career: 784 season high: 118 in 1889 

Runs Batted In career: 750 season high: 113 in 1889 

Stolen Bases career: 280 season high: 48 in 1891 (Foutz’s stolen base information from before 1886 is unavailable) 

Walks career: 300 season high: 64 in 1889 

Strikeouts career: 183 season high: 34 in 1893 (Foutz’s batting strikeout information from before 1887 is unavailable) 

Batting Average career: .276 season high: .357 in 1887 

On Base Percentage career: .323 season high: .393 in 1887 

Slugging Percentage career: .378 season high: .508 in 1887 

Total Bases career: 1,714 season high: 220 in 1890 

Sacrifice Hits career: 10 season high: 8 in 1894 (Foutz’s sacrifice information from before 1894 is unavailable) 

Games Pitched career: 251 season high: 59 in 1886 

Starts career: 216 season high: 57 in 1886 

Complete Games career: 202 season high: 55 in 1886 

Shutouts career: 16 season high: 11 in 1886 

Games Finished career: 33 season high: 7 in 1892 

Wins career: 147 season high: 41 in 1886 led AA: 41 in 1886 

Losses career: 66 season high: 16 in 1886 

Winning Percentage career: .690 season high: .719 in 1886 led AA: .719 in 1886 

ERA career: 2.84 season low: 2.11 in 1886 led AA: 2.11 in 1886 

WHIP career: 1.178 season low: 0.982 in 1884 

Innings Pitched career: 1,997 ⅓ season high: 504 in 1886 

Strikeouts career: 790 season high: 283 in 1886 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 3.6 season high: 5.1 in 1886 

Walks career: 510 season high: 144 in 1886 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 1.55 season high: 2.64 in 1884 

Saves career: 4 season high: 2 in 1890 led AA: 1 in 1886 led NL: 2 in 1890 

Fielding Percentage career: .966 season high: .979 in 1889 

Double Plays career: 317 season high: 66 in 1889 

Putouts career: 6,763 season high: 1,376 in 1889 led AA P: 57 in 1886, 44 in 1887 

Assists career: 658 season high: 106 in 1885 led AA P: 101 in 1885 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: N/A

Pickoffs career: N/A

DID YOU KNOW? 

-brother of Frank Foutz 

-nicknamed “Scissors” 

-was famous for an unassisted pickoff of Pete Browning off first base that he pulled on September 12, 1886 

-batted .286 with a home run and 9 RBI’s in the 1889 World Series 

-had a 2.64 ERA in World Series play, including an 0.62 in 1885 

-hit two home runs off of Silver King and one each off of Kid Nichols, Cy Young, Mickey Welch, John Clarkson, Mike Smith, Matt Kilroy, and Tony Mullane 

-also played a game at shortstop in 1891

-went 264-257-11 (.507) in four seasons as a player-manager

-ranks fifth in career winning percentage

WHY I THINK MICHAEL YOUNG SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK MICHAEL YOUNG SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Michael Young should have been an easy Hall of Famer. Most of the players who I advocate for have pretty marginal cases, but Young was obviously one of the greatest players of all time. First of all, he was one of the most valuable defensive players in history. He started out as a second baseman, and was superb. After three seasons as the Rangers’ regular second sacker, they moved him to shortstop, and he not only hung on, but became one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball. In 2009, the Rangers moved him again - this time to third base to make way for Elvis Andrus - and (you guessed it) he handled the hot corner incredibly well. Secondly, he was a fantastic hitter who collected 2,375 hits (plus 36 more in the postseason) and won the AL Batting Title in 2005. Michael Young made his MLB debut on September 29, 2000, and made but two plate appearances (0-for-2) before the season’s end. In 2001, his age 24 season, Young attained rookie status but struggled at the plate until 2003, when he batted .306, the first of five straight .300 seasons out of seven overall. He led the AL in batting (.331) and hits in 2005 and drove in 103 runs in 2006. He slumped to .284 in 2008 but won his only Gold Glove award, at shortstop. He bounced back to .322 with 22 homers in 2009 and batted .338 with 106 RBI’s in 2011. He had one more quality season with the Rangers in 2012 and played his last season in 2013, splitting the season between the Phillies and the Dodgers. He batted .279 in 147 games. He was granted free agency on October 31, and that marked his last season in the Big Leagues. Michael Young was not only a top hitter, but one of the best and most versatile infielders in history. He was easily one of the best players of his time on both offense and defense, and aren’t those the players who are supposed to get inducted into the Hall of Fame? 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,970 season high: 162 in 2006 led AL: 162 in 2006 

At Bats career: 7,918 season high: 691 in 2006 

Hits career: 2,375 season high: 221 in 2005 led AL: 221 in 2005, 213 in 2011 

Doubles career: 441 season high: 52 in 2006 

Triples career: 60 season high: 9 in 2003 and 2004 

Home Runs career: 185 season high: 24 in 2005 

Runs career: 1,137 season high: 114 in 2004 and 2005 

Runs Batted In career: 1,030 season high: 106 in 2011 

Stolen Bases career: 90 season high: 13 in 2003 and 2007 

Walks career: 575 season high: 58 in 2005 

Strikeouts career: 1,235 season high: 115 in 2010 

Batting Average career: .300 season high: .338 in 2011 led AL: .331 in 2005 

On Base Percentage career: .346 season high: .385 in 2005 

Slugging Percentage career: .441 season high: .518 in 2009 

Total Bases career: 3,491 season high: 343 in 2005 

Sacrifice Hits career: 25 season high: 13 in 2002 

Fielding Percentage career: .979 season high: .988 in 2002 led AL SS: .984 in 2008 

Double Plays career: 1,014 season high: 118 in 2003 led AL 2B: 97 in 2002, 117 in 2003 led AL SS: 113 in 2006 and 2008 

Putouts career: 3,090 season high: 406 in 2012 

Assists career: 4,319 season high: 492 in 2006 led AL 2B: 420 in 2002 led AL SS: 492 in 2006 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-batted .308 in seven career all-star games and was the MVP of the 2006 contest 

-finished eighth in the AL MVP Award voting in both 2004 and 2011, 11th in 2005, 16th in 2009, and 30th in 2006 

-won three career AL Player of the Week awards 

-left the Rangers as their all time leader in career games, at bats, hits, doubles, triples, runs scored, total bases, and extra-base hits 

-had five straight 200 hit seasons from 2003 through 2007 and six overall 

-had four seasons with over 20 home runs 

-led the AL in singles (155) in 2011 

-batted .259 with four doubles and a home run in the 2011 World Series 

-led the AL in assists at any position in 2006 

-led AL second basemen in games in 2003 and AL third basemen in 2010 

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

-also played 111 games at first base, 167 as a DH, 22 as a pinch hitter, and six as a pinch runner 

-was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and his number 10 was retired by the club in 2019

WHY I THINK BRIAN DOWNING SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK BRIAN DOWNING SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Brian Downing has a rather unusual Hall of Fame case. Most fans have heard of him but don’t really think of him as anything other than a good defensive leftfielder who moved to DH in the later stages of his career, a decent power hitter in the 1980’s, and the Angels’ typical leadoff hitter. In reality, Downing was a good catcher for the first decade of his career (.337 caught stealing percentage in 675 games caught), and later established himself as one of the most prolific home run hitters of the 1980’s, his age 29-38 seasons. He was the face of the Angels franchise, the holder of most of their batting records for 20+ years, and one of the first to popularize weightlifting in baseball. Most managers at the time didn’t like the idea of heavy weight training because they thought that too much muscle would inhibit mobility and speed. Downing, Lance Parrish, and a few other notable players began lifting weights regularly in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, and they became the best sluggers of the oncoming decade. Downing played so well in 1992, his age 41 season, and was so muscular that weightlifting is now a common practice in the Major Leagues. Brian Downing started his career with the White Sox in 1973, but it was mostly just a disappointment, as he severely injured his knee on his very first play and wound up with only 73 at bats by the season’s end. He caught and played third base for the next four seasons in Chicago, and hit pretty well for the Sox during that time, but was traded to the Angels following the 1977 season. He was an instant favorite in California, as he provided power, patience, and consistency that helped the team to its first three postseasons. In 1979, the year the Angels won their first Division Title, Downing batted .326/.418/.462 with 12 home runs and 75 RBI’s, an amazing season for a catcher. A broken ankle sustained in 1980 forced Downing to leftfield, where he would set the post’s all time record for career fielding percentage (.995), a mark that still stands today. Downing hit 28 homers in 1982 and averaged over 20 per season for the rest of the 1980’s, a very good power figure considering the era. In 1987, the Angels moved 36 year old Downing to DH, and he responded to the change by hitting 29 homers and leading the AL with 106 walks. He hit 25 homers in 1988 and batted .283 in 1989. In 1990, he sacrificed ten points in batting for almost 75 in OPS, finishing at .841. He played two seasons with the Rangers after that, and was one of their best hitters. He hit .278 in each season and had an adjusted OPS of 138 in his final season, 1992. Brian Downing was a fine power hitter, a strong fielder at two very different defensive positions, and one of the best overall hitters of the 1980’s. A case can be made that this underrated star belongs in Cooperstown along with the rest of baseball’s greatest players. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,344 season high: 158 in 1982 

At Bats career: 7,853 season high: 623 in 1982 

Hits career: 2,099 season high: 175 in 1982 

Doubles career: 360 season high: 37 in 1982 

Triples career: 28 season high: 4 in 1986 

Home Runs career: 275 season high: 29 in 1987 

Runs career: 1,188 season high: 110 in 1987 

Runs Batted In career: 1,073 season high: 95 in 1986 

Stolen Bases career: 50 season high: 13 in 1975 

Walks career: 1,197 season high: 106 in 1987 led AL: 106 in 1987 

Strikeouts career: 1,127 season high: 87 in 1989 

Batting Average career: .267 season high: .326 in 1979 

On Base Percentage career: .370 season high: .418 in 1979 

Slugging Percentage career: .425 season high: .487 in 1987 

Total Bases career: 3,340 season high: 300 in 1982 

Sacrifice Hits career: 60 season high: 11 in 1975 

Fielding Percentage career: .990 season high: 1.000 in 1982 and 1984 led AL OF: 1.000 in 1982 and 1984 led AL LF: 1.000 in 1982 and 1984, .992 in 1985 

Double Plays career: 33 season high: 6 in 1978 

Putouts career: 4,881 season high: 730 in 1975 

Assists career: 373 season high: 84 in 1975 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: .337 season high: .426 in 1975 

Pickoffs career: 6 season high: 2 in 1978 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-was nicknamed “The Incredible Hulk” for his physique 

-finished 14th in the AL MVP Award voting in both 1979 and 1982 and was 18th in 1984 

-went 1-for-1 in his final MLB game 

-homered and drove in seven runs in the 1986 ALCS 

-his first career home run was an inside the park homer off of Mickey Lolich 

-was the AL Player of the Month for April 1987 

-was named the AL Player of the Week on August 12, 1990 

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

-led AL catchers in caught stealing (66) in 1975 

-had the most chances in an errorless season (330) in 1982 and played the most consecutive errorless games by an outfielder (244 from May 25, 1981 through July 21, 1983) 

-also played 43 games in rightfield, 137 as a pinch hitter, and 14 as a pinch runner

-was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2009

WHY I THINK JIM GILLIAM SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK JIM GILLIAM SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Jim Gilliam was really an ideal second baseman in that he did everything that one might expect out of one. He was a consistent contact hitter who rarely struck out, a good bunter, a potent base thief, a solid fielder who could also play third base, and was skilled at getting on base. He was also one of the few players who successfully made the transition from the Negro Leagues to the recognized Major Leagues. Allowing black players into the Majors was a very unpopular movement, and Gilliam must have felt intense racial pressures. It wasn’t his fault that he was black; why shouldn’t he realize his dream and make his living at the same time? At any rate, he started out with the Baltimore Elite Giants in 1946, batted .304 in 19 games, and established himself as one of the NN2’s biggest stars over the next two seasons. In 1953, he got his shot at the Brooklyn Dodgers and he wound up the NL Rookie of the Year. He scored 125 runs that season and also topped 100 in each of the next three seasons. He was a big part of the Dodgers’ World Champion in 1955, batting .292 with eight walks in the World Series. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles after the 1957 season, and the switch actually seemed to stimulate Gilliam’s career for a little while. You see, what most people might not realize is that Ebbets Field was a relatively hitter friendly park, while the Coliseum in L.A. was a really bad hitters’ park, as the mound was much taller than regulation height. That the new scenery positively affected his performance is a little peculiar. In 1959, Gilliam batted .282 and led the NL with 96 walks; he duplicated that total in 1960 and additionally scored 96 runs, the closest that he would get to 100 again. In 1962, he batted .270 with 93 walks and led the league in sacrifices. He had his last truly great year in 1963, but was off and on after that, as his average slid to .228 in 1964. He had a little bit of a resurgence in 1965 (.280/.374/.384 in 111 games), but was through following a poor 1966 season. Jim Gilliam was a fine leadoff hitter, a strong fielder, and one of the few former Negro Leaguers who rose to the occasion in the Bigs. For this accomplishment and for all of his contributions to some fine Dodger teams, I would have liked to see Gilliam in Cooperstown already. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,090 season high: 160 in 1962 

At Bats career: 7,583 season high: 617 in 1957 

Hits career: 2,016 season high: 178 in 1956 

Doubles career: 324 season high: 31 in 1953 

Triples career: 80 season high: 17 in 1953 led NL: 17 in 1953 

Home Runs career: 65 season high: 13 in 1954 

Runs career: 1,254 season high: 125 in 1953 

Runs Batted In career: 618 season high: 63 in 1953 

Stolen Bases career: 220 season high: 26 in 1957 

Walks career: 1,102 season high: 100 in 1953 led NL: 96 in 1959 

Strikeouts career: 416 season high: 39 in 1956 (Gilliam’s strikeout information from his time in the Negro Leagues is unavailabe) 

Batting Average career: .266 season high: .300 in 1956 

On Base Percentage career: .360 season high: .399 in 1956 

Slugging Percentage career: .355 season high: .418 in 1954 

Total Bases career: 2,695 season high: 254 in 1954 

Sacrifice Hits career: 115 season high: 15 in 1962 led NL: 15 in 1962 

Fielding Percentage career: .972 season high: .987 in 1957 led NL 2B: .986 in 1957 

Double Plays career: 806 season high: 102 in 1953 led NN2 2B: 24 in 1947, 37 in 1948 led NL LF: 2 in 1958 

Putouts career: 3,480 season high: 416 in 1957 led NN2 2B: 122 in 1947, 123 in 1948 led NL 2B: 407 in 1957 

Assists career: 4,368 season high: 426 in 1953 NN2 2B: 152 in 1947, 191 in 1948 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Junior” 

-was a switch hitter 

-was famous for helping Maury Wills break Ty Cobb’s single season stolen base record in 1962 by fouling off pitches that that catchers could make a good throw on and obstructing his view with his bat (he batted second that season, behind Wills) 

-won four World Series rings 

-was a four time all-star 

-finished fifth in the NL MVP Award voting in 1956, sixth in 1963, 19th in 1958, and 30th in 1965 

-led the NL in plate appearances (710) in 1953 and in times on base (277) in 1956 

-batted .333 in the 1948 NN2 Championship Series and .296 with three doubles and two home runs in the 1953 World Series 

-stole five World Series bases 

-was the hardest batter in the NL to strike out in five different seasons 

-led the NN2 in assists at any position in 1948 

-led NN2 second basemen in games in 1947 and 1948 and NL second basemen in 1953 

-hit two home runs each off of Hall of Famers Warren Spahn and Robin Roberts 

-also played 224 games in the outfield, eleven at shortstop, two at first base, 113 as a pinch hitter, and eight as a pinch runner 

-coached from 1964 until his death in 1978 

-his uniform number 19 is retired by the Dodgers

WHY I THINK GENE TENACE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK GENE TENACE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Even though I title each of my articles this way, I do not believe that every player who I advocate positively belongs in the Hall of Fame. For example, I wrote this article at the request of a friend. While I wouldn’t vote for him to be in, I can see that he was a very impressive player. I would classify him as a catcher, but he played 627 games at first base, compared with 893 behind the plate, and never caught more than 126 in a season. He was a solid defensive catcher with a rather peculiar slash line of .241/.388/.429, as he wasn’t a consistent hitter but he had power and walked a lot. He was a vital part of the World Champion A‘s of 1972-74 and of the Cardinals in 1982. Gene Tenace began his career with the A’s in the summer of 1969, for a 16 game trial. He played no more than 82 games in a season until 1973. That season Tenace hit 24 homers and walked 101 times and established himself as an everyday player in the Oakland lineup. In 1974, Tenace batted just .211, but his 26 homers and league leading 110 walks helped him to a healthy .778 OPS. In 1975, Tenace made his only AL all-star team as a first baseman. He was dealt to the Padres before the 1977 season and he was immediately appreciated in San Diego, as he led the Majors in walks (125) and hit by pitch (13) for an OBP of .415, a career high. Tenace had perhaps his best season in 1979, when he batted .263/.403/.445 with 20 homers and 67 RBI’s. He played two years with the Cardinals and one with the Pirates, working as a utilityman and pinch hitter for them in 1983. Gene Tenace was a good hitter, an important part of many postseason teams and World Series Champs, and an interesting baseball card (six seasons with 100+ hits and six with 100+ walks). I couldn’t vote for him on account of his low batting average and counting statistics, but he certainly was a valuable player in his prime. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,555 season high: 160 in 1973 

At Bats career: 4,390 season high: 510 in 1973 

Hits career: 1,060 season high: 132 in 1973 

Doubles career: 179 season high: 24 in 1977 

Triples career: 20 season high: 4 in 1977, 1978, and 1979 

Home Runs career: 201 season high: 29 in 1975 

Runs career: 653 season high: 83 in 1973 and 1975 

Runs Batted In career: 674 season high: 87 in 1975 

Stolen Bases career: 36 season high: 7 in 1975 

Walks career: 984 season high: 125 in 1977 led AL: 110 in 1974 led NL: 125 in 1977 

Strikeouts career: 998 season high: 127 in 1975 

Batting Average career: .241 season high: .263 in 1979 

On Base Percentage career: .388 season high: .415 in 1977 

Slugging Percentage career: .429 season high: .464 in 1975 

Total Bases career: 1,882 season high: 231 in 1975 

Sacrifice Hits career: 21 season high: 8 in 1973 

Fielding Percentage career: .989 season high: .993 in 1979 led NL C: .998 in 1979 

Double Plays career: 489 season high: 108 in 1973 

Putouts career: 8,731 season high: 1,218 in 1973 

Assists career: 743 season high: 112 in 1977 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: .360 season high: .475 in 1979 

Pickoffs career: 13 season high: 3 in 1972 and 1981 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-nicknamed “Steamboat” 

-was the MVP of the 1972 World Series (.348 average, a record four homers, nine RBI’s), and his .913 slugging percentage set the record for a seven game Series 

-tied Babe Ruth’s record of 11 walks in the 1973 World Series 

-won the 1972 Babe Ruth Award 

-finished 18th in the AL MVP Award voting in both 1975 and 1976 

-was the AL Player of the month in September 1975 

-won two career Player of the Week awards 

-was the first player ever to homer in his first two World Series at bats 

-hit the last home run in Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium 

-caught Vida Blue’s no-hitter on September 21, 1970 

-also played five games at second base, 17 at third base, 11 in the outfield, six as a DH, and eight as a pinch runner

Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 41 - Tommy Lasorda

    As I have mentioned before, there are way too many managers in the Hall of Fame, and most simply don't cut it. Their winning percentages are just far too low. A manager need not be extraordinarily talented to win a Big League game, as his players are ultimately the ones who win and lose the games. Lasorda was a particularly bad selection. 

    Lasorda managed from 1976 through 1996, a total of 3,040 games, all with the Dodgers. In his 21 seasons, he went 1,599-1,439 for a winning percentage of just .526. If an average manager wins 50% of the time, then why would one who wins 52.6% of the time be included among baseball's all time greats? It makes me wonder. 

    Lasorda was also perhaps not the most likable manager in the world. In one 1984 game, Orel Hershiser had a poor start, and Lasorda scolded him such that his teammates called it the "sermon on the mound." He also made some waves with his tirades over Dave Kingman in 1978 and Kurt Bevacqua in 1982. 

My opinion: Tommy Lasorda is not a Hall of Famer.