tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85593961560399138292024-03-13T23:32:26.866-05:00Baseball Junk DrawerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-72336100694175011542020-09-28T18:12:00.004-05:002020-09-28T18:12:58.217-05:00Oldest Ringless Players: 2020 Edition<p>You know how this works: Oldest player on the 40-man roster without a World Series ring. Let's see who this year's lucky candidates to get their first one are.<br /><br /><b>Atlanta Braves:</b> Darren O'Day (October 22, 1982)<br /><b>Chicago Cubs:</b> Yu Darvish (August 16, 1986)<br /><b>Chicago White Sox:</b> Edwin Encarnacion (January 7, 1983)<br /><b>Cincinnati Reds:</b> Joey Votto (September 10, 1983)<br /><b>Cleveland Indians:</b> Oliver Perez (August 15, 1981)<br /><b>Houston Astros:</b> Zack Greinke (October 21, 1983)<br /><b>Los Angeles Dodgers:</b> Justin Turner (November 23, 1984)<br /><b>Miami Marlins:</b> Brandon Kintzler (August 1, 1984)<br /><b>Milwaukee Brewers:</b> Ryan Braun (November 17, 1983)<br /><b>Minnesota Twins:</b> Rich Hill (March 11, 1980)<br /><b>New York Yankees:</b> Adam Ottavino (November 22, 1985)<br /><b>Oakland Athletics:</b> Joakim Soria (May 18, 1984)<br /><b>San Diego Padres:</b> Craig Stammen (March 9, 1984)<br /><b>St. Louis Cardinals:</b> Matt Wieters (May 21, 1986)<br /><b>Tampa Bay Rays:</b> Chaz Roe (October 9, 1986)<br /><b>Toronto Blue Jays:</b> Matt Shoemaker (September 27, 1986)</p><p>Sixteen guys. That's way too many to have to do. In a matter of a few days, this number will be cut in half. So let's go. Let's complete this whirlwind of a postseason.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-79266466721235001552020-09-28T17:42:00.000-05:002020-09-28T17:42:13.463-05:002020 Playoff Predictions<p>Hey, everyone! I'm back! For the few of you who read this blog, you might have noticed that it's been a long time since I've posted. That's because it's been hard for me to get too excited about this bizarre anomaly season, and I know that it'll be hard to accurately rank any of these teams among the all-timers, since the sample size is so small. Also, if stuff like a 16-team playoff field and universal DH are the future of MLB, I'm not terribly happy about that. Baseball's history is more exciting to me than the current-day iteration. Maybe this era will be more fun to study once there's a historical context I can view it in.<br /><br />But anyway, let's try to make some predictions for this wacky playoff bracket that's akin to the crapshoot of March Madness. I guarantee you these predictions won't come true exactly, but we can have some fun anyway. Here's what I'm going to say:<br /><br /><u><b>First Round</b></u><br /><br /><b>National League</b><br /><br /><b>Dodgers over Brewers:</b> The talent disparity between these two teams is too large for me to pick against the Dodgers.<br /><b>Cardinals over Padres:</b> They're the Cardinals. They have to do something evil in the postseason. I'd love to see the Padres make some noise, but...it's the Cardinals.<br /><b>Marlins over Cubs:</b> The Marlins have never lost a playoff series in their history. They'll probably do so this year, but I have a feeling they're hungry enough to pull off this upset.<br /><b>Braves over Reds:</b> The Reds have some momentum, but I'll go with the safe pick.<br /><br /><b>American League</b><br /><br /><b>Rays over Blue Jays:</b> Do I have the guts to pick against the top seed? Nah.<br /><b>Yankees over Indians:</b> I always pick the Yankees in hopes of jinxing them.<br /><b>Astros over Twins:</b> Even though the numbers favor the Twins, I'll pick the upset here. Just a gut feeling I have.<br /><b>White Sox over Athletics:</b> These teams are more closely matched than their seeding indicates, and the Sox are arguably the better team. Since Oakland is one of those teams that never seems to get the job done in October, I'm taking Chicago.<br /><br /><u><b>Second Round</b></u> ("Divisional Round" doesn't seem quite right here)<br /><br /><b>National League</b><br /><br /><b>Dodgers over Cardinals:</b> The Cardinals are evil, but are they this evil? Eh. I'll underestimate them, though I may do so at my own peril.<br /><b>Marlins over Braves:</b> For some reason, I'm getting a hunch that the Marlins will stick around long enough to get people talking about them, and that their postseason invincibility will become a topic of discussion.<br /><br /><b>American League</b><br /><br /><b>Yankees over Rays:</b> I guess I'm once again picking the Yankees just to jinx them, but there's also the fact that...they're the Yankees. Sure, they haven't won a pennant in eleven years, but they'll never not scare me. I still have bad memories of the 2000 postseason.<br /><b>White Sox over Astros:</b> The Astros aren't the powerhouse they've been the last three years, and I think these White Sox just might be the team to knock them off. Besides, no one wants to see another Astros-Yankees ALCS.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>League Championship Series</b></u><br /><br />Phew. And onto the next round we go. This is getting tiring. Just imagine how the players feel.<br /><br /><b>Dodgers over Marlins:</b> The Marlins have an intriguing little run, but it comes to an end against the Dodgers, who win their third pennant in four years.<br /><b>White Sox over Yankees:</b> I don't know why, but I've got a feeling about these Sox, I do. They're newcomers to the postseason, and they're looking to prove themselves.<br /><br /><u><b>World Series</b></u><br /><br /><b>Dodgers over White Sox:</b> 1959 rematch! And unfortunately for me as White Sox fan, the same result. Clayton Kershaw finally get his ring, and the White Sox get a memorable season that falls just short.<br /><br />I'd be more or less satisfied with these predictions all coming true. The Dodgers have been good long enough that I'd be happy with them winning it all, even if it's at the expense of the White Sox.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-57516892458717539722020-01-21T18:33:00.000-06:002020-01-21T18:33:06.588-06:00Hall of Fame Class of 2020Congratulations to the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2020: Ted Simmons, Marvin Miller, Derek Jeter, and Larry Walker!<br />
<br />
All are picks I have no objection to, so I'm happy. Simmons is one of those guys whose omission didn't bother me too much, but if they're going to put him in, I won't complain; he had a great career. Despite all the love Yadier Molina gets, I still have Simmons as the #1 Cardinals catcher of all time.<br />
<br />
I've updated my list of <a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2009/08/hall-of-famers-first-major-league-home.html">first major league home runs by Hall of Famers</a> to reflect the three new player inductees (electees, technically?). There are also three new pitchers added to the list, as Roberto Rodriguez, Ron Darling, and Dennis Martinez weren't any other Hall of Famer's first victim.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-27106283419174309082019-11-15T20:49:00.002-06:002019-11-15T20:49:39.048-06:00A Few UpdatesNot a big post here. Just letting you know I've updated the following pages in light of this year's award winners being announced:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2010/01/rookie-of-year-facts.html">Rookie of the Year Facts</a><br />
<a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2009/12/second-place-award-winners.html">The Second Place Award Winners</a><br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-6848814644389972792019-10-31T13:52:00.001-05:002019-10-31T13:52:40.558-05:00Congrats Nats! plus some Updates2019 has been a year for franchises' first championships: The NHL's St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup, the NBA's Toronto Raptors won their first NBA title, and now the Washington Nationals have won their first World Series!<br />
<br />
I've always had a place in my heart for the Nationals, as I live in an area where their games are broadcast, so they're semi-local. I also was a fan of the Expos, and seeing the franchise finally win it all was pretty exciting to me. From the beginning of the playoffs, they were the team I was hoping would take home the World Series trophy, and they did it. They got one for Mr. National, Ryan Zimmerman, who's nearing the end of his career, and a long list of veterans got their first as well. Really glad this happened. The Astros were a tough opponent, but the Nats stepped up when it counted most and got the job done. I can't think of a better ending to the 2019 baseball season.<br />
<br />
Now that it's over, I've updated a few of my lists. You can check them out here:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-run-that-clinched-it.html">The Run That Clinched It</a><br />
<a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2012/10/back-to-back-world-series-with.html">Back-to-Back World Series With Different Franchises</a><br />
<a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2009/12/one-at-bat-one-home-run.html">One At-Bat, One Home Run</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-78566124875711325102019-10-22T23:28:00.000-05:002019-10-22T23:28:19.325-05:00A List Updated After Nine Years: First World Series Homer in Franchise HistorySome of you longtime readers may remember <a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2010/10/first-world-series-home-run-in.html">a list I made when the Rangers were in their first World Series back in 2010</a>. Mitch Moreland was the first Ranger to homer in World Series play, and I thought it'd be fun to look back on who held the distinction for other franchises.<br />
<br />
Now that the Nationals have played their first World Series game, it's time to update it. Instead of editing that old post with my outdated Google Sheet embed method, I'll put a table here:<br />
<br />
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<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Franchise</th><th>Batter</th><th>Pitcher</th><th>Date</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Pirates</td><td>Jimmy Sebring</td><td>Cy Young</td><td>10/1/1903</td></tr>
<tr><td>Red Sox</td><td>Patsy Dougherty</td><td>Sam Leever</td><td>10/2/1903</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cubs</td><td>Joe Tinker</td><td>Bill Donovan</td><td>10/11/1908</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tigers</td><td>Davy Jones</td><td>Babe Adams</td><td>10/13/1909</td></tr>
<tr><td>Athletics</td><td>Danny Murphy</td><td>Harry McIntire</td><td>10/20/1910</td></tr>
<tr><td>Giants</td><td>Larry Doyle</td><td>Charley Hall</td><td>10/15/1912</td></tr>
<tr><td>Braves</td><td>Hank Gowdy</td><td>Joe Bush</td><td>10/12/1914</td></tr>
<tr><td>Phillies</td><td>Fred Luderus</td><td>Rube Foster</td><td>10/13/1915</td></tr>
<tr><td>Dodgers</td><td>Hi Myers</td><td>Babe Ruth</td><td>10/9/1916</td></tr>
<tr><td>White Sox</td><td>Happy Felsch</td><td>Slim Sallee</td><td>10/6/1917</td></tr>
<tr><td>Indians</td><td>Elmer Smith</td><td>Burleigh Grimes</td><td>10/10/1920</td></tr>
<tr><td>Yankees</td><td>Babe Ruth</td><td>Phil Douglas</td><td>10/9/1921</td></tr>
<tr><td>Twins</td><td>Goose Goslin</td><td>Jack Bentley</td><td>10/5/1924</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cardinals</td><td>Billy Southworth</td><td>Urban Shocker</td><td>10/3/1926</td></tr>
<tr><td>Reds</td><td>Jimmy Ripple</td><td>Schoolboy Rowe</td><td>10/3/1940</td></tr>
<tr><td>Orioles</td><td>George McQuinn</td><td>Mort Cooper</td><td>10/4/1944</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mets</td><td>Donn Clendenon</td><td>Dave McNally</td><td>10/12/1969</td></tr>
<tr><td>Royals</td><td>Amos Otis</td><td>Bob Walk</td><td>10/14/1980</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brewers</td><td>Ted Simmons</td><td>Bob Forsch</td><td>10/12/1982</td></tr>
<tr><td>Padres</td><td>Kurt Bevacqua</td><td>Dan Petry</td><td>10/10/1984</td></tr>
<tr><td>Blue Jays</td><td>Joe Carter</td><td>Tom Glavine</td><td>10/17/1992</td></tr>
<tr><td>Marlins</td><td>Moises Alou</td><td>Orel Hershiser</td><td>10/18/1997</td></tr>
<tr><td>Diamondbacks</td><td>Craig Counsell</td><td>Mike Mussina</td><td>10/27/2001</td></tr>
<tr><td>Angels</td><td>Troy Glaus</td><td>Jason Schmidt</td><td>10/19/2002</td></tr>
<tr><td>Astros</td><td>Mike Lamb</td><td>Jose Contreras</td><td>10/22/2005</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rockies</td><td>Matt Holliday</td><td>Hideki Okajima</td><td>10/27/2007</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rays</td><td>Carl Crawford</td><td>Cole Hamels</td><td>10/22/2008</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rangers</td><td>Mitch Moreland</td><td>Jonathan Sanchez</td><td>10/30/2010</td></tr>
<tr><td>Nationals</td><td>Ryan Zimmerman</td><td>Gerrit Cole</td><td>10/22/2019</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mariners</td><td>???</td><td>???</td><td>???</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you go back and read that original post, you can see I classified each of these guys based on how fitting they were for the distinction, and I think Ryan Zimmerman definitely falls into the "Franchise Stars" category. Congrats, Mr. National, and let's go Nats!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-50520584529106058572019-10-01T02:01:00.000-05:002019-10-01T02:01:42.529-05:00Oldest Ringless Players and Playoff Predicitons: 2019 EditionYes, folks, I'm still alive. I decided to take a break from compulsively updating this blog because it was getting to be too much of a distraction. But I'm back for playoff time, the part we all look forward to each season.<br />
<br />
To start out, here's the annual Oldest Ringless Players list:<br />
<br />
<b>Atlanta Braves:</b> Darren O'Day (b. October 22, 1982)<br />
<b>Houston Astros:</b> Zack Greinke (b. October 21, 1983)<br />
<b>Los Angeles Dodgers:</b> Rich Hill (b. March 11, 1980)<br />
<b>Milwaukee Brewers:</b> Matt Albers (b. January 20, 1983)<br />
<b>Minnesota Twins:</b> Nelson Cruz (b. July 1, 1980)<br />
<b>New York Yankees:</b> Edwin Encarnacion (b. January 7, 1983)<br />
<b>Oakland Athletics:</b> Joakim Soria (b. May 18, 1984)<br />
<b>St. Louis Cardinals:</b> Matt Wieters (b. May 21, 1986)<b><br />Tampa Bay Rays:</b> Eric Sogard (b. May 22, 1986)<br />
<b>Washington Nationals:</b> Fernando Rodney (b. March 18, 1977)<br />
<br />
I can still remember when it was rare for any players on this list to have been born in the 1980s. I've been doing this for a long time. Wouldn't it be great if Fernando Rodney, who seems to frequently show up on this blog around this time of year, finally got that ring? Hey, it could happen. The NHL's St. Louis Blues and the NBA's Toronto Raptors both won their first championships this season, so maybe 2019 is the year of franchises' first titles. The Nats would be perfect for that in baseball, and it'd be funny if it happened right after Bryce Harper left town. I can dream.<br />
<br />
My <a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2019/04/2019-predictions.html">preseason predictions</a> actually weren't terribly far off, though obviously I didn't get everything right. For my predictions now that we have the real thing, here we go:<br />
<br />
<b>Stupid Wild Card Games That Nobody Wanted</b><br /><br />Washington over Milwaukee<br />Tampa Bay over Oakland<br /><br />Trying to predict a one-game playoff is a fool's errand, since it's basically a coin flip, but what the heck.<br /><br />I think Washington is a better team than Milwaukee in terms of actual talent, and they don't have the injury problems the Brewers are facing. Throw in the fact that they're at home and Milwaukee's probably out of gas after going on a late-season tear to clinch a postseason spot, and I give the Nats the edge here. Personally, I'm rooting for them as well.<br /><br />I pick Tampa Bay to beat Oakland because that's what my gut says. I'm rooting for Oakland, but I get a feeling that Charlie Morton's going to pitch a gem to put the Rays in the real playoffs. <br />
<br /><b> </b><br />
<b>National League Division Series</b><br /><br />St. Louis over Atlanta<br />Los Angeles over Washington<br /><br />I pick the Cardinals to beat the Braves because they're the Cardinals. Old school readers know how much I hate them and believe them to be evil. Mentally, I always give them the upper hand until they lose. The Dodgers have been too much of a powerhouse this year for me to think they'll be upset in the first round. You gotta go with them here.<br />
<br /><br />
<b>American League Division Series</b><br /><br />Houston over Tampa Bay<br />New York over Minnesota<br /><br />While New York's starting rotation is a question mark and I'd love to see the Twins beat them, I just can't bring myself to pick against the Evil Empire in this matchup. The Twins seem jinxed against the Yankees in the playoffs, and until they beat them, I'm going to be pessimistic about their chances. I pick Houston over Tampa Bay because the Astros are simply the best team in baseball this year.<br /><br /><b> </b><br />
<b>National League Championship Series</b><br /><br />Los Angeles over St. Louis<br /><br />The Cardinals might be evil, but the Dodgers are so good that I think it would be a huge upset for the Cardinals to beat them. Nothing's impossible in a short series, of course, but I'm still not convinced that the Cardinals haven't played above their heads this year. I pick L.A. to win its third straight pennant.<br /><br /><b> </b><br />
<b>American League Championship Series</b><br /><br />New York over Houston<br /><br />Yes, Houston is the better team and they'll have home field advantage, but as I said at the beginning of the season, do you really think we're going to get out of this decade without seeing the Yankees win a pennant? Just when you think they're down, they come back to break your heart. That's the kind of franchise they are. Besides that, they're out for revenge after the Astros beat them in 2017, so this would seem the time to exact it.<br /><br /><b> </b><br />
<b>World Series</b><br /><br />New York over Los Angeles<br /><br />Oh wow, look at this classic matchup. Why, it harkens back to the good old days of the 1950s when no one outside of New York ever won anything in October. It's also reminiscent of the battles between Lasorda's men and the Bronx Zoo pinstripers from the '70s and '80s. It doesn't get any better for baseball than this big-market matchup, does it? So who wins? Eh, let's go with the Yankees, because what could be more fitting? It would be terribly wrong if CC Sabathia couldn't close out his career with one more World Series ring and Brett Gardner retired hitless in World Series play. It's gotta happen. It's just gotta.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-24485707690338917832019-05-26T04:48:00.000-05:002019-05-26T04:48:26.745-05:00The Old Home BoysAs a follow-up to <a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-home-boys.html">this post</a>, I thought it'd be fun to look at who played the most games for each of today's current franchises when they played under different polity names. In this case, there are two that were so short-lived they had none. Let's see who they were:<br />
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<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Franchise</th><th>Player</th><th>Games</th></tr>
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<tr><td>Philadelphia Athletics</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dykesji01.shtml">Jimmy Dykes</a></td><td>1702</td></tr>
<tr><td>California Angels</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/downibr01.shtml">Brian Downing</a></td><td>1661</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston Braves</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morrijo01.shtml">John Morrill</a></td><td>1219</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis Browns</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tobinja01.shtml">Jack Tobin</a></td><td>1133</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York Giants</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/friscfr01.shtml">Frankie Frisch</a></td><td>1000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Florida Marlins</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsch04.shtml">Charles Johnson</a></td><td>587</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brooklyn Dodgers</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/keelewi01.shtml">Willie Keeler</a></td><td>566</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington Senators (I)</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moranch01.shtml">Charles Moran</a></td><td>160</td></tr>
<tr><td>Baltimore Orioles (I)</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/keistbi01.shtml">Bill Keister</a></td><td>115</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kansas City Athletics</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o'donjo02.shtml">John O'Donoghue</a></td><td>80</td></tr>
<tr><td>Milwaukee Braves</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/ueckebo01.shtml">Bob Uecker</a></td><td>46</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington Senators (II)</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/klippjo01.shtml">Johnny Klippstein</a></td><td>42</td></tr>
<tr><td>Montreal Expos</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bouchde01.shtml">Denis Boucher</a></td><td>15</td></tr>
<tr><td>Milwaukee Brewers (I)</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcbrige01.shtml">George McBride</a></td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Anaheim Angels</td><td>none</td><td>0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Seattle Pilots</td><td>none</td><td>0</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Would've been cool if the Pilots or Anaheim Angels could've participated, but no such luck.<br />
<br />
It's amazing that the Milwaukee teams have had so few players born in the city. If you recall the other list, the Brewers' leader is <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wagnepa01.shtml">Paul Wagner</a> with 15. It looks like there's a good reason Bob Uecker has such a long-standing relationship with the Brewers: He's Milwaukee's all-time leading native son to play in the majors with a Milwaukee team. 46 whole games!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-28542024520958351842019-04-17T14:12:00.000-05:002019-04-17T14:12:15.878-05:002019 PredictionsIt's a little late, I know, but I thought I'd chime in with my 2019 predictions, which I guarantee will be wrong. But what's baseball without some speculation? I'm going with my gut on these, so these predictions will be a testament to my gut's value.<br />
<br />
<b>Regular Season Standings:</b><br />
<br />
<b>AL West</b><br />
<br />
Houston Astros<br />
Los Angeles Angels<br />
Oakland Athletics <br />
Texas Rangers<br />
Seattle Mariners<br />
<br />
<b>AL Central</b><br />
<br />
Cleveland Indians<br />
Minnesota Twins<br />
Chicago White Sox<br />
Detroit Tigers<br />
Kansas City Royals<br />
<br />
<b>AL East</b><br />
<br />
New York Yankees<br />
Boston Red Sox*<br />
Tampa Bay Rays*<br />
Toronto Blue Jays<br />
Baltimore Orioles<br />
<br />
<b>NL West</b><br />
<br />
Los Angeles Dodgers<br />
San Diego Padres<br />
Colorado Rockies<br />
Arizona Diamondbacks<br />
San Francisco Giants<br />
<br />
<b>NL Central</b><br />
<br />
St. Louis Cardinals<br />
Chicago Cubs*<br />
Milwaukee Brewers<br />
Pittsburgh Pirates<br />
Cincinnati Reds<br />
<br />
<b>NL East</b><br />
<br />
Atlanta Braves<br />
Washington Nationals*<br />
Philadelphia Phillies<br />
New York Mets <br />
Miami Marlins<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Playoffs:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Wild Card games:</b><br />
<br />
Nationals over Cubs<br />
Red Sox over Rays<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Division Series:</b><br />
<br />
Dodgers over Nationals<br />
Cardinals over Braves <br />
Astros over Red Sox<br />
Yankees over Indians<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>League Championship Series:</b><br />
<br />
Cardinals over Dodgers<br />
Yankees over Astros<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>World Series: </b><br />
<br />
Yankees over Cardinals<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
Come on, you really think we're going to get out of this decade without getting stuck seeing the Yankees in the World Series? It's been 100 years since the Yankees completed a calendar decade without a World Series appearance, so the odds are good that this is the year the current crew finally gets their coronation. Borderline Hall of Famer CC Sabathia will get to ride into the sunset a champion, former small-market star Troy Tulowitzki will show the world that that the big city is where it's really at if you want a ring, and hot young stars like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, Miguel Andujar, and Gleyber Torres will be seen as the building blocks of a new Yankee dynasty, all of whom are destined to have their numbers retired. And losing with class will be the National League's grandest franchise, the St. Louis Cardinals, who do everything the right way, including applauding their opponents as they lose to them. The media will talk about how baseball richly deserved such a beautiful ending to the 2010s. Oh, it'll be sickening.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-21111050712898162382019-03-11T01:32:00.000-05:002019-03-11T01:32:59.416-05:00The Home BoysSometimes a player is simply a perfect fit for the team he plays for. Sometimes it's because he embodies the city's personality, sometimes his skill set fits the team's plan to a a T, and sometimes he was born in the very city where he now wears the uniform. As always, I started wondering. Of the current 30 MLB franchises, who is each one's all-time leader in games played having been born in the polity they represent?<br />
<br />
Most of the rules should be straightforward. For a team that represents a city, such as the St. Louis Cardinals, we're looking for the player born in St. Louis who played the most games as a Cardinal. For a team that represents, a state, such the Minnesota Twins, the player only has to have been born in Minnesota, not necessarily the city the Twins play in.<br />
<br />
For franchises that have changed polity names, we only count games played under the current polity name. The Los Angeles Angels, for example, were inaugurated under that name, before changing to the California Angels, then to the Anaheim Angels, then back to Los Angeles again. We're looking for an Angeleno player who played with the franchise during the years 1961-65 and 2005-present. Any games played for the Angels under the California or Anaheim names don't count.<br />
<br />
For New York, I only went by New York City, since I don't believe either the Yankees or Mets franchise is supposed to represent the state as a whole. I counted the various boroughs, although the leaders for both franchises have their birthplaces listed as "New York, NY" in the records.<br />
<br />
The only one that was tricky was the Rays, since Tampa Bay is a geographical feature, not a political entity. I decided to count anyone born in the Tampa Bay metro area, mainly the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, plus whatever smaller towns in the area I could find.<br />
<br />
So with that said, let's take a look at the list:<br />
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<tr><td>Cincinnati Reds</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosepe01.shtml">Pete Rose</a></td><td>2722</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York Yankees</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gehrilo01.shtml">Lou Gehrig</a></td><td>2164</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago Cubs</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cavarph01.shtml">Phil Cavarretta</a></td><td>1953</td></tr>
<tr><td>Minnesota Twins</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mauerjo01.shtml">Joe Mauer</a></td><td>1858</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York Mets</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kraneed01.shtml">Ed Kranepool</a></td><td>1853</td></tr>
<tr><td>Detroit Tigers</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/freehbi01.shtml">Bill Freehan</a></td><td>1774</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia Phillies</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/ennisde01.shtml">Del Ennis</a></td><td>1630</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cleveland Indians</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bradlbi01.shtml">Bill Bradley</a></td><td>1231</td></tr>
<tr><td>Houston Astros</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reynocr01.shtml">Craig Reynolds</a></td><td>1170</td></tr>
<tr><td>Los Angeles Dodgers</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/crawfwi01.shtml">Willie Crawford</a></td><td>989</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago White Sox</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mostijo01.shtml">Johnny Mostil</a></td><td>972</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pittsburgh Pirates</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomafr03.shtml">Frank Thomas</a></td><td>925</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis Cardinals</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shannmi01.shtml">Mike Shannon</a></td><td>882</td></tr>
<tr><td>Texas Rangers</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda07.shtml">David Murphy</a></td><td>826</td></tr>
<tr><td>San Diego Padres</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzaad01.shtml">Adrian Gonzalez</a></td><td>799</td></tr>
<tr><td>Atlanta Braves</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francje02.shtml">Jeff Francoeur</a></td><td>730</td></tr>
<tr><td>Seattle Mariners</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/olerujo01.shtml">John Olerud</a></td><td>702</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tampa Bay Rays</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/joycema01.shtml">Matthew Joyce</a></td><td>633</td></tr>
<tr><td>Los Angeles Angels</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderga01.shtml">Garret Anderson</a></td><td>536</td></tr>
<tr><td>Oakland Athletics</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/eckerde01.shtml">Dennis Eckersley</a></td><td>525</td></tr>
<tr><td>San Francisco Giants</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgeewi01.shtml">Willie McGee</a></td><td>444</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston Red Sox</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/delcama01.shtml">Manny Delcarmen</a></td><td>289</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kansas City Royals</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mingost01.shtml">Steve Mingori</a></td><td>264</td></tr>
<tr><td>Arizona Diamondbacks</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hillesh02.shtml">Shea Hillenbrand</a></td><td>233</td></tr>
<tr><td>Toronto Blue Jays</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/duceyro01.shtml">Rob Ducey</a></td><td>188</td></tr>
<tr><td>Baltimore Orioles</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/phoebto01.shtml">Tom Phoebus</a></td><td>134</td></tr>
<tr><td>Colorado Rockies</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/freelky01.shtml">Kyle Freeland</a></td><td>68</td></tr>
<tr><td>Miami Marlins</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sanchga01.shtml">Gaby Sanchez</a></td><td>55</td></tr>
<tr><td>Milwaukee Brewers</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wagnepa01.shtml">Paul Wagner</a></td><td>15</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington Nationals</td><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burriem01.shtml">Emmanuel Burriss</a></td><td>5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some of these records are very impressive. For the guys at the top of the list, it's easy to see why they're so beloved by the hometown fans.<br />
<br />
The bottom of the list is much more curious. I'm surprised that San Francisco, Boston, Baltimore, and Milwaukee have all been around for so long without more impressive representatives than the ones they have. Perhaps the city proper doesn't have a lot of little league activity in their cases.<br />
<br />
For Rockie fans, they're blessed that after only two seasons in the bigs, Kyle Freeland is already their all-time leader in games among players born in the Centennial State. May he have many more, and not fall prey to Coors Field.<br />
<br />
A shame that Emmanuel Burriss is the best National born in the capital city. If we were doing this by franchise, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willsma01.shtml">Maury Wills</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kirbycl01.shtml">Clay Kirby</a>, and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pridecu01.shtml">Curtis Pride</a> are all guys who'd have him beat.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-26881309537599953202019-02-27T22:42:00.000-06:002019-02-27T22:42:28.127-06:00The First of His First NameBaby names see their popularity come and go. Some names at this point are only associated with people of a certain generation, and no doubt many of today's popular names will go down in history the same way.<br />
<br />
Being the kind of thinker I am, I started to wonder who the first Major League ballplayers were who had certain names. After all, many names common among today's young men were rare in the old days. Since it often takes a while for a name to become seen as "common," I thought I'd look at the most popular boy's baby names for 1984. Boys born in 1984 are turning 35 this year, and it means their names have probably been a part of the MLB landscape long enough to feel commonplace.<br />
<br />
The Social Security <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html">database for baby names</a> allows you to sort by sex, by number of births, by year, and even view the change in popularity over time. For 1984, the Top 25 were:<br />
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<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th></th><th>1984 Boys</th></tr>
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<tr><td>1</td><td>Michael</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>Christopher</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>Matthew</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>Joshua</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>David</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>Daniel</td></tr>
<tr><td>7</td><td>James</td></tr>
<tr><td>8</td><td>John</td></tr>
<tr><td>9</td><td>Robert</td></tr>
<tr><td>10</td><td>Joseph</td></tr>
<tr><td>11</td><td>Jason</td></tr>
<tr><td>12</td><td>Ryan</td></tr>
<tr><td>13</td><td>Justin</td></tr>
<tr><td>14</td><td>Andrew</td></tr>
<tr><td>15</td><td>Brandon</td></tr>
<tr><td>16</td><td>William</td></tr>
<tr><td>17</td><td>Brian</td></tr>
<tr><td>18</td><td>Adam</td></tr>
<tr><td>19</td><td>Jonathan</td></tr>
<tr><td>20</td><td>Nicholas</td></tr>
<tr><td>21</td><td>Anthony</td></tr>
<tr><td>22</td><td>Eric</td></tr>
<tr><td>23</td><td>Steven</td></tr>
<tr><td>24</td><td>Kevin</td></tr>
<tr><td>25</td><td>Thomas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some of these names have a long history, while others wouldn't have been heard of in decades past. I decided to look at the names which at some point between 1900 and 1984 were not in the Top 100 boys' names, and use <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/">Baseball-Reference</a> to determine the first MLBer with that first name. Let's see who pioneered these monikers.<br />
<br />
<b>Christopher</b><br />
<br />
This name didn't crack the Top 100 until 1949, and it really picked up popularity in the 1960s. However, it wasn't so uncommon that no one in the old days had it. The first Christopher in MLB was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcfarch01.shtml">Chris McFarland</a>, who played three games for the Union Association's Baltimore Monumentals, debuting on April 19, 1884.<br />
<br />
<b>Matthew</b><br />
<br />
While this name didn't crack the Top 100 until 1956, it's still a good Biblical name that was usually in the Top 200. The first guy in MLB to use this name was another three-gamer in the Union Association, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/portema01.shtml">Matthew Porter</a>. Porter played for the Kansas City Cowboys and made his debut on June 27, 1884. Interestingly enough, Porter apparently went by both his given name and his middle name "Sheldon" throughout his life, so it's possible he didn't play under the name "Matthew" during his brief baseball career. If you want to read about the mysterious Matthew Porter, the SABR Biographical Research Committee has a nice article about him in the <a href="http://sabr.box.com/shared/static/yb5ctq5kgdck8p2sbust.pdf">December 2011 newsletter</a>.<br />
<br />
Porter, incidentally, beat out a more noteworthy Matthew by a couple of years: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kilroma01.shtml">Matt Kilroy</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Joshua</b><br />
<br />
It wasn't a terribly uncommon name in the old days, as there were five Joshuas who played in the 19th Century. The first among them was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/snydejo01.shtml">Josh Snyder</a>, who debuted on May 18, 1872 for the National Association's Brooklyn Eckfords. As for the name itself, it's possible it was more common during the 19th Century, as in the early 20th Century, it dips pretty low on the popularity list, and doesn't start picking up again until the 1960s.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Jason</b><br />
<br />
Here's one that didn't appear until the 1970s, and it came in the form of three-time All-Star first baseman <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thompja01.shtml">Jason Thompson</a>, who debuted on April 23, 1976. Thompson was born in 1954, when the name "Jason" was the 411th most popular boy's name in America. Going to guess he didn't know many other Jasons growing up, as this is another name that didn't start gaining significant popularity until the 1960s. There wasn't a second Jason until <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grimsja01.shtml">Jason Grimsley</a> came along in 1989.<br />
<br />
<b>Ryan</b><br />
<br />
This name was almost unheard of as a given name for many years. As a family name, sure, especially in baseball with its significant Irish contingent. In America, it didn't crack the Top 200 until 1966, possibly due to the popularity of Ryan O'Neal on <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057779/"><i>Peyton Place</i></a>.<b> </b>MLB's first boy named "Ryan" was the Hawaiian pitcher <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kurosry01.shtml">Ryan Kurosaki</a>, who debuted on May 20, 1975, and whose brief career consisted of seven games with the Cardinals.<br />
<br />
<b>Justin</b><br />
<br />
This is another name that makes me wonder, as it's extremely low in popularity until the late 1960s, yet there are a few Major Leaguers from the old days who have it as a given or middle name. I'd like to see some 19th Century records. The first to have it as a given name was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bennepu01.shtml">Pug Bennett</a>, who debuted on April 12, 1906 and played two seasons with the Cardinals, although he apparently went by a nickname. The earliest player who BBRef has using it as his playing name is <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/steinju01.shtml">Justin Stein</a>, who played in 1938.<br />
<br />
<b>Brandon</b><br />
<br />
This one didn't crack the Top 100 until 1971, and it's also got the latest debut date on the list. The first Brandon in the big leagues was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kolbbr01.shtml">Brandon Kolb</a>, who debuted on May 12, 2000. He narrowly beat out <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/villabr01.shtml">Brandon Villafuerte</a>, who came along less than two weeks later.<br />
<br />
A footnote should be given to an outfielder who played for the Pirates in 1952 and '53 named <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisbr01.shtml">Brandy Davis</a>. His full name was Robert Brandon Davis, and the "Brandy" is presumably derived from his middle name. You coulda been a pioneer, but instead, you chose to play under a girl's name!<br />
<br />
<b>Brian</b><br />
<br />
I sort of assumed this name was more popular over the years due to people like Brian Dennehy (born 1938), Brian Wilson (born 1942), and so on. It appears that the name was gaining popularity when those guys were born, but still outside the Top 100, which it didn't reach until 1947, and it didn't reach the Top 50 until 1954. Believe it or not, the first Brian to reach the majors was the Incredible Hulk, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/downibr01.shtml">Brian Downing</a>, who debuted on May 31, 1973.<br />
<br />
However, I know what some of you are thinking: What about "Bryan," with a Y? There actually is a Bryan who played earlier, that being pitcher <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stephbr01.shtml">Bryan Stephens</a>, who played in 1947 and 1948. This less common spelling of the name ascended in popularity alongside its "I" counterpart, but always trailed behind it.<br />
<br />
<b>Adam</b><br />
<br />
This one didn't reach the Top 100 until 1970, but there actually is an Adam from the olden days. We're going all the way back to the National Association and the Philadelphia Athletics, where <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rocapad01.shtml">Adam Rocap</a> began his 16-game career on May 5, 1875.<br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan</b><br />
<br />
This one didn't reach the Top 100 until 1962, which is surprising, given that it seems to have been a not-uncommon name in early America, and there were famous people like Jonathan Winters. There seemed to be about one Jonathan per decade for a while, and the earliest was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morrijo03.shtml">Jon Morrison</a>, who debuted on August 1, 1884. The first Major League player who went by the name "Jonathan" as opposed to "Jon" or a nickname was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hurstjo01.shtml">Jonathan Hurst</a>, who debuted in 1992.<br />
<br />
<b>Nicholas</b><br />
<br />
This name stayed in the 100-200 range during the 20th Century, until it reached #99 in 1972 and continued to rise. No ballplayer has ever gone by the full name "Nicholas," but there have been plenty who went by "Nick." The first was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wiseni01.shtml">Nick Wise</a>, a one-game wonder from June 20, 1888.<br />
<br />
<b>Eric</b><br />
<br />
This one didn't find its way to the Top 100 until 1950, but there was a Swedish-born pitcher named <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/ericker01.shtml">Eric Erickson</a> who debuted on October 6, 1914. Figures that it took an actual Scandinavian to get this name into the Majors.<br />
<br />
The alternate spelling "Erik" is less common, and the first to have it was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/saxol01.shtml">Ollie Sax</a>, who played in 1928 under his middle name. The first to use it as his regular playing name was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hansoer01.shtml">Erik Hanson</a> in 1988.<br />
<br />
<b>Steven</b><br />
<br />
Perhaps I should start by noting that the spelling "Stephen" used to be the more popular one, hovering around the lower reaches of the Top 100 in the early part of the 20th Century. I guess that makes sense, given that that's the Biblical spelling. There were two guys named "Steve" (both Stephens) who debuted on May 9, 1871, those being <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bellast01.shtml">Steve Bellan</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kingst01.shtml">Steve King</a>.<br />
<br />
The first Steven, however, was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sundrst01.shtml">Steve Sundra</a>, who debuted on April 17, 1936, five years before the name with that spelling reached the Top 100.<br />
<br />
<b>Kevin</b><br />
<br />
The first man with the first name "Kevin" was none other than "the Rifleman," <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/connoch01.shtml">Chuck Connors</a>, whose real name was Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors. He made his Major League debut on May 1, 1949. The first player to go by the name "Kevin" was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/collike01.shtml">Kevin Collins</a>, who came along in 1965.<br />
<br />
Just as these guys were mostly outliers in terms of their name's popularity at the time of their birth, with the current crop of popular baby names, we'll be looking back at some of today's players as the first of their kind. The top boy's name for 2017 was "Liam," and as of right now, the only Liam in MLB history is <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hendrli01.shtml">Liam Hendriks</a>, who was born in Australia. Give it a few decades or so, and ballplayers named "Liam" will be as commonplace as ones named "Brandon" are now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-17051216391798198092019-01-23T19:38:00.000-06:002019-01-23T19:38:07.458-06:00Thoughts on the 2019 Hall of Fame classThis year's inductees to Cooperstown are a tale of two electoral bodies. While I hate the media, I'll give the BBWAA credit for getting this year's election right: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/riverma01.shtml">Mariano Rivera</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martied01.shtml">Edgar Martinez</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mussimi01.shtml">Mike Mussina</a>, and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hallaro01.shtml">Roy Halladay</a> are all, in my mind, worthy of induction, so congratulations to them. It was well deserved.<br />
<br />
The Veterans Committee, on the other hand, laid a giant egg. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baineha01.shtml">Harold Baines</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithle02.shtml">Lee Smith</a> were both fine players, but neither one reached the heights I would expect from a legitimate Hall of Famer.<br />
<br />
I suppose you could make the argument that Lee Smith was one of the most dominant relievers in the game in the '80s, but once the '90s came around, he became a consistent-but-not-dominant one-inning closer. To me, that makes him nothing but a guy who had a good career. By the time I started following baseball in the '90s, I don't recall anyone talking about him as though he were a legend. He was most notable for being the all-time saves leader for a while, but then, so was Jeff Reardon. Granted, it's not as though a great player can't slip below the radar, but in this case, I think the general perception is about right.<br />
<br />
Baines is another guy who got a lot of talk but ultimately no induction from the writers. He was a beloved player on Chicago's South Side during the '80s, and in the '90s he made a good career out of being a veteran bat for potential contenders to round out their lineup with. Like the word "feared" with Jim Rice, the label Baines acquired was "professional hitter." It suited him well, as he was primarily a DH from 1987 on, and he was pretty consistent year after year. He was never, however, a serious MVP candidate, nor did he ever hit more than 29 homers in a season. According to Baseball Reference, his 162 Game Average is 22 homers, 93 RBI, and a .289/.356/.465 batting line. Not bad, but when the only reason you have a job is to wield the lumber, you need to do much better than that if you want to be considered an immortal. Really disappointed in this choice, even more so than Smith.<br />
<br />
The Hall of Fame voters have made a lot of blunders over the years, and the more they make in this era of better data, it gets harder for me to take induction all that seriously. Still, it's nice to see the truly great players get recognized, so my hat is off to them. <br />
<br />
The <a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2009/08/hall-of-famers-first-major-league-home.html">Hall of Famers' First Major League Home Runs</a> post has been appropriately updated. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-69934820920787476312018-12-21T18:06:00.000-06:002018-12-21T18:06:30.186-06:00Who Was the Lowest Drafted Signee to Make the Majors?Drafting in professional sports, as we all know, is an inexact science. History is littered with "can't-miss" prospects who did just that, and unheralded players who rose to stardom. The general trend, however, is in the direction of higher draft picks succeeding more often than lower ones.<br />
<br />
The vast majority of players drafted in baseball never make it to the majors, and some choose not to play professional baseball at all. But of those late-rounders who ended up signing with the teams that drafted them, which ones actually defied the odds and made it to the big leagues?<br />
<br />
That was the question on my mind when I compiled the following list. I went year by year to find out who the lowest drafted signee to make the majors was. There are some cases where a future major leaguer was drafted later than the player on the list, but he's disqualified because he didn't sign that year.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th></th><th>Name</th><th>Team</th><th>Round</th><th>WAR</th></tr>
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<tr><td>1965</td><td>Otis Thornton</td><td>Astros</td><td>68</td><td>-0.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>1966</td><td>Rusty Torres</td><td>Yankees</td><td>54</td><td>-0.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>1967</td><td>Roger Hambright</td><td>Yankees</td><td>67</td><td>0.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>1968</td><td>Tim Plodinec</td><td>Cardinals</td><td>33</td><td>-0.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>1969</td><td>Al Cowens</td><td>Royals</td><td>75</td><td>15.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>1970</td><td>Bake McBride</td><td>Cardinals</td><td>37</td><td>22.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>1971</td><td>Keith Hernandez</td><td>Cardinals</td><td>42</td><td>60.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>1972</td><td>Butch Alberts</td><td>Pirates</td><td>28</td><td>-0.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>1973</td><td>Eric Rasmussen</td><td>Cardinals</td><td>32</td><td>5.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>1974</td><td>Bobby Cuellar</td><td>Rangers</td><td>29</td><td>0.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>1975</td><td>LaRue Washington</td><td>Rangers</td><td>23</td><td>-0.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>1976</td><td>Jay Howell</td><td>Reds</td><td>31</td><td>15.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>1977</td><td>Neil Fiala</td><td>Cardinals</td><td>32</td><td>0.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>1978</td><td>Vance Law</td><td>Pirates</td><td>39</td><td>10.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>1979</td><td>Joel Skinner</td><td>Pirates</td><td>37</td><td>0.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>1980</td><td>Walt Terrell</td><td>Rangers</td><td>33</td><td>10.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>1981</td><td>Glen Cook</td><td>Rangers</td><td>24</td><td>-1.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>1982</td><td>Mike York</td><td>Yankees</td><td>40</td><td>-0.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>1983</td><td>Joe Klink</td><td>Mets</td><td>36</td><td>0.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>1984</td><td>Tom Gilles</td><td>Yankees</td><td>47</td><td>0.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>1985</td><td>Rico Rossy</td><td>Orioles</td><td>33</td><td>1.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>1986</td><td>Doug Linton</td><td>Blue Jays</td><td>43</td><td>-0.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>1987</td><td>Jeff Conine</td><td>Royals</td><td>58</td><td>19.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>1988</td><td>Mike Piazza</td><td>Dodgers</td><td>62</td><td>59.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>1989</td><td>Mike Garcia</td><td>Tigers</td><td>55</td><td>-0.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>1990</td><td>Danny Young</td><td>Astros</td><td>83</td><td>-0.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>1991</td><td>Charles Gipson</td><td>Mariners</td><td>63</td><td>0.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>1992</td><td>Anthony Chavez</td><td>Angels</td><td>50</td><td>0.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>1993</td><td>Jason Maxwell</td><td>Cubs</td><td>74</td><td>-0.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>1994</td><td>Jose Santiago</td><td>Royals</td><td>70</td><td>1.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>1995</td><td>Gabe Kapler</td><td>Tigers</td><td>57</td><td>8.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>1996</td><td>Travis Phelps</td><td>Devil Rays</td><td>89</td><td>0.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>1997</td><td>Orlando Hudson</td><td>Blue Jays</td><td>43</td><td>30.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>1998</td><td>Scott Atchison</td><td>Mariners</td><td>49</td><td>3.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>1999</td><td>Jason Botts</td><td>Rangers</td><td>46</td><td>0.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>2000</td><td>Anthony Ferrari</td><td>Expos</td><td>44</td><td>0.0</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
As one quickly observes via the WAR column, most of these guys didn't have very noteworthy careers. Only eleven finished their careers with more than five wins above replacement, as many as finished with a negative value. Still, you have to hand it to these guys, proving every doubter wrong and outplaying the apparent better choices. One of them, Mike Piazza, is even in the Hall of Fame, and the WAR leader is Keith Hernandez, who has a good case of his own.<br />
<br />
I stopped the list at 2000 because I wanted to give any late-drafted guys who might have a late-career major league debut a chance to get to the Show. I may update this thing in the future.<br />
<br />
Since this'll probably be my last post of the year, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-54668427851316284212018-11-27T13:17:00.002-06:002018-11-27T13:18:17.437-06:00Annual Updates 2018After an anticlimactic postseason that saw the Red Sox win it <i><u>again</u></i> (and where <a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2018/10/playoff-predictions-2018-edition.html">my predictions</a> were a big pile of LOL), it's time for the annual updates to our ongoing lists.<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2010/01/rookie-of-year-facts.html">Rookie of the Year Facts</a><br />
<a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2009/12/second-place-award-winners.html">The Second Place Award Winners</a><br />
<a href="https://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-run-that-clinched-it.html">The Run That Clinched It</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-2493318054166092302018-10-02T03:06:00.000-05:002018-10-02T03:06:19.217-05:00Playoff Predictions: 2018 EditionOn what I believe was the first day in Major League history with two tiebreakers played, both teams I was rooting for lost. Needless to say, I'm not terribly thrilled as I write this post. But I have a duty to the baseball community to record these predictions which will almost certainly be wrong so that we can all have a good laugh over them someday. My preseason prediction was a Yankees-Dodgers World Series. Do I stand by that prediction? Let's just take this round by round.<br />
<br />
<b>Stupid Wild Card Games That Nobody Wanted</b><br />
<br />
Cubs over Rockies<br />
Yankees over Athletics<br />
<br />
While it was fun pulling for the Rockies as they marched to the playoffs, the fact remains that they simply are not a great team. The Cubs have much more depth, and when you throw in the fact that Chicago has home field advantage, they're the easy favorite here. Obviously, anything can happen in one game, but I'm going with what I think is the more likely outcome.<br />
<br />
As for the American League, I think the Yankees have just a bit more magic on their side, and I'm not going to bet against them.<br />
<br />
<b>Division Series</b><br />
<br />
Brewers over Cubs<br />
Dodgers over Braves<br />
Yankees over Red Sox<br />
Indians over Astros<br />
<br />
The way the Brewers have been playing lately, I don't think my beloved Cubs are in a very favorable position if they face them. They've been unbeatable. If you recall, I actually picked them at the beginning of the season to be the surprise division winner, so I'm not <i>always</i> wrong.<br />
<br />
I'm taking the Dodgers over the Braves, just because I'm not confident that the Braves are all there yet. The Dodgers have been a lot better in recent postseasons than earlier this decade, and I think they have the be the favorite this year too.<br />
<br />
Yankees over the Red Sox? The Red Sox team that won 108 games? Yes, I'm going to make a bold prediction that the juggernaut from Boston is actually overrated and will choke in the first round like the Indians did last year. Besides, this Yankee team ain't exactly Jell-O pudding, with 100 wins of their own.<br />
<br />
But wait...I'm also predicting the Indians will beat the powerhouse Astros? Now I'm just loony, right? Two huge first round upsets in the same league? I'll admit that the Astros are a much better team than this year's Indians, but the postseason really is a crapshoot, and I think these Indians could pull it off. They have unfinished business from last year, and they might be just a little more determined than the defending champs.<br />
<br />
<b>League Championship Series</b><br />
<br />
Brewers over Dodgers<br />
Indians over Yankees<br />
<br />
So it looks like I'm not sticking with my preseason pennant predictions! I have both of them losing in the LCS.<br />
<br />
First, the Brewers. I think their momentum has given them the confidence to ride this thing all the way to the World Series. They're playing like a team whose time has come, and despite them beating the Cubs, I have to tip my hat to them. This team looks special.<br />
<br />
Indians over the Yankees? Yup. The Indians looked like a team of destiny last year, but the Yankees spoiled the party in the first round. Remember that unfinished business I mentioned above? Yep. It's time for the Indians to get their payback.<br />
<br />
<b>World Series</b><br />
<br />
Indians over Brewers<br />
<br />
Remember the Cardinals of 2004-06? In 2004, they won 100 games and the pennant, but lost to the Red Sox, who were breaking the once-famous 86-year drought. In 2005, they won 100 games again, but this time they lost in the LCS to the Astros. In 2006, they squeaked into the playoffs by winning a weak division, but unlike the prior two years, they won the whole thing. Go figure.<br />
<br />
I'm predicting the Indians to follow a similar pattern: Lose to a team getting a monkey off its back, lose before the World Series, then win the World Series with a team whose record isn't that impressive but played in a weak division. We have the precedent. It's all there for the Indians' taking. Can this be Cleveland's year? That's what I'm going with. And unlike last year, I might even be correct.<br />
<br />
So there you have my predictions. Be sure to come back in a month and have a good chuckle at how wrong they were!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-51392733593756219132018-09-29T20:00:00.000-05:002018-09-29T20:00:07.094-05:00Oldest Ringless Players: 2018 EditionAnd then there were ten! With the elimination of the Cardinals this afternoon, we now know who our ten postseason teams are, and we can check out this year's edition of the Oldest Ringless Players!<br />
<br />
Atlanta Braves: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moylape01.shtml">Peter Moylan</a> (b. December 2, 1978)<br />Boston Red Sox: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/phillbr01.shtml">Brandon Phillips</a> (b. June 28, 1981)<br />Chicago Cubs: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosajo01.shtml">Jorge De La Rosa</a> (b. April 5, 1981)<br />Cleveland Indians: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisra01.shtml">Rajai Davis</a> (b. October 19, 1980)<br />Colorado Rockies: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/iannech01.shtml">Chris Iannetta</a> (b. April 8, 1983)<br />Houston Astros: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maldoma01.shtml">Martin Maldonado</a> (b. August 16, 1986)<br />Los Angeles Dodgers: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hillri01.shtml">Rich Hill</a> (b. March 11, 1980)<br />Milwaukee Brewers: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grandcu01.shtml">Curtis Granderson</a> (b. March 16, 1981)<br />New York Yankees: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkene01.shtml">Neil Walker</a> (b. September 10, 1985)<br />Oakland Athletics: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodnefe01.shtml">Fernando Rodney</a> (b. March 18, 1977)<br />
<br />
This crew feels different than most past editions. Fernando Rodney seems like he's shown up here a lot, but the others, not so much. The Rockies deserve an asterisk, since <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ohse01.shtml">Seunghwan Oh</a> is older than Iannetta and has never won a Major League World Series, but he's won several Korean Series, so I don't think he should count.<br />
<br />
I'll be back with my predictions for the playoffs once we have all the races settled.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-81828515081180723582018-08-28T20:09:00.000-05:002018-08-28T20:09:04.504-05:00Ultimate Number Players: #21-25It's time for another installment of Ultimate Number Players! In case you've forgotten how this works, the Ultimate Number Player has to have worn a particular uniform number with every stint with every franchise he played for, and he must be (in my judgment) the best player to have played with the most franchises wearing that number. We've done them all from 1 to 20, so now we'll do another block of five.<br />
<br />
<b>Ultimate #21: Warren Spahn</b><br />
<br />
It's hard to find a good photo of Spahn in a Giants uniform with his #21 visible. The closest thing I've found is grainy black-and-white footage from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5xuLON30AU">the infamous Marichal-Roseboro brawl</a> where the back of his jersey can be seen among the chaos. For the photo collage, I chose the only other qualifying player with three franchises: Mike Hargrove. I know this looks terrible compared to some of the others I've made, but it was the best I could do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/21%20-%20mikehargrove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/21%20-%20mikehargrove.jpg" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="800" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ultimate #22: Walt Weiss</b><br />
<br />
Thank goodness he wore #22 for one season with the Athletics before embarking on his journey around the majors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/22%20-%20waltweiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/22%20-%20waltweiss.jpg" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="643" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ultimate #23: Ted Simmons</b><br />
<br />
Several 23s had three franchises, but Simmons was by far the best of the lot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/23%20-%20tedsimmons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/23%20-%20tedsimmons.jpg" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="625" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ultimate #24: Willie Mays</b><br />
<br />
24 proved to be a difficult number to keep one's entire career, but the greatest player ever to wear it takes the prize here with his two franchises.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/24%20-%20williemays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/24%20-%20williemays.jpg" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="800" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Ultimate #25: Jim Thome</b><br />
<br />
I don't know how he did it, but Thome bounced around a ton, somehow always holding on to the coveted #25. This collage is a thing of beauty in my eyes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/25%20-%20jimthome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/ian2813/25%20-%20jimthome.jpg" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="800" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-43556242837855210882018-07-31T05:15:00.000-05:002018-07-31T05:15:36.732-05:00Half the Guys Are GoneFor today's post, I''m just going to share some data I've compiled and you can make of it what you will.<br />
<br />
At what point are half the players on a team deceased? If the total number of players (let's call it variable <i>n</i>) is odd, it'd be when the number of deceased players is equal to (<i>n </i>+ 1 / 2). If you have an even number of players, it's when the number of deceased players is (<i>n</i> / 2). I looked at the years that were multiples of ten between 1910 and 1960 to see which players marked the halfway point of the players being deceased for each of them, and also how long it took to occur. For a couple from 1960, they didn't even reach that level till earlier this year. I also looked at how it compared to the average age of the team to see how strong the correlation was.<br />
<br />
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<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>1910</th><th>Name</th><th>Death Date</th><th>Years</th><th>Avg Age</th></tr>
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<tr><td>Pittsburg</td><td>Howie Camnitz</td><td>3/2/1960</td><td>50</td><td>28.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (AL)</td><td>Jack Coombs</td><td>4/15/1957</td><td>47</td><td>27.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cincinnati</td><td>Frank Roth</td><td>3/27/1955</td><td>45</td><td>26.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cleveland</td><td>Heinie Berger</td><td>2/10/1954</td><td>44</td><td>28.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (AL)</td><td>Bunny Madden</td><td>1/20/1954</td><td>44</td><td>25.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (AL)</td><td>Fred Payne</td><td>1/16/1954</td><td>44</td><td>27.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brooklyn</td><td>Rube Dessau</td><td>5/6/1952</td><td>42</td><td>25.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (NL)</td><td>Doc Crandall</td><td>8/17/1951</td><td>41</td><td>25.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington</td><td>Doc Ralston</td><td>8/29/1950</td><td>40</td><td>27.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (NL)</td><td>Jim Riley</td><td>3/25/1949</td><td>39</td><td>26.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Detroit</td><td>Marv Peasley</td><td>12/27/1948</td><td>38</td><td>27.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (AL)</td><td>Walter Blair</td><td>8/20/1948</td><td>38</td><td>27.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (NL)</td><td>Rebel Oakes</td><td>3/1/1948</td><td>38</td><td>26.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (NL)</td><td>Mordecai Brown</td><td>2/14/1948</td><td>38</td><td>29.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (AL)</td><td>Hub Northen</td><td>10/1/1947</td><td>37</td><td>28.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (NL)</td><td>Kitty Bransfield</td><td>5/1/1947</td><td>37</td><td>29.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>MLB AVG</td><td></td><td></td><td>41.4</td><td>27.3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>r</b> = -0.18<br />
<br />
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<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>1920</th><th>Name</th><th>Death Date</th><th>Years</th><th>Avg Age</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Pittsburgh</td><td>Billy Southworth</td><td>11/15/1969</td><td>49</td><td>27.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (AL)</td><td>Chick Galloway</td><td>11/7/1969</td><td>49</td><td>24.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (AL)</td><td>Rip Collins</td><td>5/27/1968</td><td>48</td><td>27.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cleveland</td><td>Ray Caldwell</td><td>8/17/1967</td><td>47</td><td>29.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brooklyn</td><td>Doug Baird</td><td>6/13/1967</td><td>47</td><td>30.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (NL)</td><td>Hippo Vaughn</td><td>5/29/1966</td><td>46</td><td>29.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (NL)</td><td>Gene Paulette</td><td>2/8/1966</td><td>46</td><td>28.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington</td><td>Bill Hollahan</td><td>11/27/1965</td><td>45</td><td>27.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cincinnati</td><td>Jimmy Ring</td><td>7/6/1965</td><td>45</td><td>29.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (AL)</td><td>Wally Schang</td><td>3/6/1965</td><td>45</td><td>28.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Detroit</td><td>Oscar Stanage</td><td>11/11/1964</td><td>44</td><td>28.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (AL)</td><td>Roy Sanders</td><td>7/8/1963</td><td>43</td><td>28.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (AL)</td><td>Dickey Kerr</td><td>5/4/1963</td><td>43</td><td>29.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (NL)</td><td>Ray Powell</td><td>10/16/1962</td><td>42</td><td>27.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (NL)</td><td>Burt Shotton</td><td>7/29/1962</td><td>42</td><td>26.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (NL)</td><td>Frank Snyder</td><td>1/5/1962</td><td>42</td><td>26.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>MLB AVG</td><td></td><td></td><td>45.2</td><td>28.1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>r</b> = -0.06<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
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<br />
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>1930</th><th>Name</th><th>Death Date</th><th>Years</th><th>Avg Age</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>New York (NL)</td><td>Hughie Critz</td><td>1/10/1980</td><td>50</td><td>27.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cleveland</td><td>Milt Shoffner</td><td>1/19/1978</td><td>48</td><td>27.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (NL)</td><td>Lance Richbourg</td><td>9/10/1975</td><td>45</td><td>29.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cincinnati</td><td>Marty Callaghan</td><td>6/23/1975</td><td>45</td><td>29.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (AL)</td><td>Ownie Carroll</td><td>6/8/1975</td><td>45</td><td>27.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Detroit</td><td>Jimmy Shevlin</td><td>10/30/1974</td><td>44</td><td>26.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pittsburgh</td><td>Steve Swetonic</td><td>4/22/1974</td><td>44</td><td>26.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (AL)</td><td>Bennie Tate</td><td>10/27/1973</td><td>43</td><td>27.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (NL)</td><td>Frankie Frisch</td><td>3/12/1973</td><td>43</td><td>29.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (NL)</td><td>Danny Taylor</td><td>10/11/1972</td><td>42</td><td>29.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (AL)</td><td>Charlie Berry</td><td>9/6/1972</td><td>42</td><td>28.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (AL)</td><td>General Crowder</td><td>4/3/1972</td><td>42</td><td>28.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brooklyn</td><td>Ray Phelps</td><td>7/7/1971</td><td>41</td><td>28.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (NL)</td><td>Tripp Sigman</td><td>3/8/1971</td><td>41</td><td>27.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington</td><td>Bobby Burke</td><td>2/8/1971</td><td>41</td><td>29.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (AL)</td><td>Pinky Higgins</td><td>3/21/1969</td><td>39</td><td>28.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>MLB AVG</td><td></td><td></td><td>43.4</td><td>28.2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>r</b> = -0.35<br />
<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
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<br />
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>1940</th><th>Name</th><th>Death Date</th><th>Years</th><th>Avg Age</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Boston (NL)</td><td>Hank Majeski</td><td>8/9/1991</td><td>51</td><td>26.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (AL)</td><td>Wally Moses</td><td>10/10/1990</td><td>50</td><td>26.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (NL)</td><td>Mickey Witek</td><td>8/24/1990</td><td>50</td><td>28.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (NL)</td><td>Neb Stewart</td><td>6/8/1990</td><td>50</td><td>27.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (NL)</td><td>Creepy Crespi</td><td>3/1/1990</td><td>50</td><td>27.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (AL)</td><td>Lefty Gomez</td><td>2/17/1989</td><td>49</td><td>28.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (NL)</td><td>Zeke Bonura</td><td>3/9/1987</td><td>47</td><td>28.9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cincinnati</td><td>Vince DiMaggio</td><td>10/3/1986</td><td>46</td><td>28.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Detroit</td><td>Hank Greenberg</td><td>9/4/1986</td><td>46</td><td>29.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (AL)</td><td>George Susce</td><td>2/25/1986</td><td>46</td><td>28.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington</td><td>Sam West</td><td>11/23/1985</td><td>45</td><td>26.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (AL)</td><td>Joe Glenn</td><td>5/6/1985</td><td>45</td><td>28.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cleveland</td><td>Hank Helf</td><td>10/27/1984</td><td>44</td><td>26.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brooklyn</td><td>Gus Mancuso</td><td>10/26/1984</td><td>44</td><td>28.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (AL)</td><td>Joe Kuhel</td><td>2/26/1984</td><td>44</td><td>29.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pittsburgh</td><td>Ed Leip</td><td>11/24/1983</td><td>43</td><td>27.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>MLB AVG</td><td></td><td></td><td>46.9</td><td>27.9</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>r</b> = -0.31<br />
<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
table.tableizer-table {
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font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
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<br />
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>1950</th><th>Name</th><th>Death Date</th><th>Years</th><th>Avg Age</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Washington</td><td>Sandy Consuegra</td><td>11/16/2005</td><td>55</td><td>28.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (AL)</td><td>Ribs Raney</td><td>7/7/2003</td><td>53</td><td>25.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (AL)</td><td>Joe Ostrowski</td><td>1/3/2003</td><td>53</td><td>29.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (NL)</td><td>Harry Chiti</td><td>1/31/2002</td><td>52</td><td>27.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (AL)</td><td>Bob Gillespie</td><td>11/4/2001</td><td>51</td><td>29.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York (NL)</td><td>Bill Rigney</td><td>2/20/2001</td><td>51</td><td>27.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis (NL)</td><td>Tom Poholsky</td><td>1/6/2001</td><td>51</td><td>29.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston (NL)</td><td>Willard Marshall</td><td>11/5/2000</td><td>50</td><td>29.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (AL)</td><td>John Perkovich</td><td>9/16/2000</td><td>50</td><td>28.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (NL)</td><td>Ken Heintzelman</td><td>8/14/2000</td><td>50</td><td>26.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brooklyn</td><td>Pee Wee Reese</td><td>8/14/1999</td><td>49</td><td>27.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cleveland</td><td>Early Wynn</td><td>4/4/1999</td><td>49</td><td>29.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia (AL)</td><td>Ben Guintini</td><td>12/2/1998</td><td>48</td><td>31.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Detroit</td><td>Hal Newhouser</td><td>11/10/1998</td><td>48</td><td>28.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pittsburgh</td><td>Stan Rojek</td><td>7/9/1997</td><td>47</td><td>28.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cincinnati</td><td>Bobby Adams</td><td>2/13/1997</td><td>47</td><td>27.5</td></tr>
<tr><td>MLB AVG</td><td></td><td></td><td>50.3</td><td>28.3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>r</b> = -0.19<br />
<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
table.tableizer-table {
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font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
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<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>1960</th><th>Name</th><th>Death Date</th><th>Years</th><th>Avg Age</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Cleveland</td><td>Tito Francona</td><td>2/13/2018</td><td>58</td><td>28.2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Los Angeles</td><td>Wally Moon</td><td>2/9/2018</td><td>58</td><td>27.7</td></tr>
<tr><td>Detroit</td><td>Chico Fernandez</td><td>6/11/2016</td><td>56</td><td>28.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>San Francisco</td><td>Jim Davenport</td><td>2/18/2016</td><td>56</td><td>26.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kansas City</td><td>Ken Johnson</td><td>11/21/2015</td><td>55</td><td>28.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Louis</td><td>Ray Sadecki</td><td>11/17/2014</td><td>54</td><td>28.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Philadelphia</td><td>Al Dark</td><td>11/13/2014</td><td>54</td><td>26.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (AL)</td><td>Gene Freese</td><td>6/19/2013</td><td>53</td><td>30.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Milwaukee</td><td>Stan Lopata</td><td>6/15/2013</td><td>53</td><td>30.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston</td><td>Tom Borland</td><td>3/2/2013</td><td>53</td><td>29.0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chicago (NL)</td><td>Ed Bouchee</td><td>1/23/2013</td><td>53</td><td>28.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington</td><td>Don Mincher</td><td>3/4/2012</td><td>52</td><td>27.4</td></tr>
<tr><td>New York</td><td>Andy Carey</td><td>12/15/2011</td><td>51</td><td>28.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pittsburgh</td><td>Gino Cimoli</td><td>2/12/2011</td><td>51</td><td>28.6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Baltimore</td><td>Al Pilarcik</td><td>9/20/2010</td><td>50</td><td>27.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cincinnati</td><td>Whitey Lockman</td><td>3/17/2009</td><td>49</td><td>27.3</td></tr>
<tr><td>MLB AVG</td><td></td><td></td><td>53.5</td><td>28.2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>r</b> = -0.05<br />
<br />
<br />
The <i>r </i>variable, for anyone unaware, shows the strength of correlation. A negative number, as we see in each of these cases, shows that the higher the number of years until a team reaches the halfway point, the younger the average age of the team is. That's consistent with what we'd expect, but as we can see, the correlation isn't particularly strong in any of these cases. There's no higher than a 35% correlation in any instance, and in some cases it's close to zero.<br />
<br />
I'm also not sure why from 1920 to 1930 the average number of years till a team reached the halfway point actually dropped. You'd think we'd see a steady rise, considering the increases in life expectancy over time.<br />
<br />
I suppose I'll have to compile the data for more years than just these, to see if we can spot any trends, because six different years isn't exactly the largest sample size. We'll see what comes of that. To be continued? Maybe?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-90285967636191986582018-06-29T16:27:00.000-05:002018-06-29T16:27:38.360-05:00Missed It By That MuchMy earlier post about "<a href="http://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2018/04/interregnum-players.html">Interregnum Players</a>" has an interesting variant: Players whose stints with a team include the years before and after a championship, but not the championship years themselves. This happens more often than you might realize, and who has the full list? Baseball Junk Drawer, of course!<br />
<br />
Here are the guys who were there on the way up and the way down, but not at the pinnacle. In addition to having played for the franchise in the years bookending a World Series championship, I also made the requirement that they may not have won a World Series with the franchise in question in a different year, though winning one with a different club is acceptable. That's why you'll see a World Series MVP on this list, but no <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wainwad01.shtml">Adam Wainwright</a>.<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
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<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Name</th><th>Years With Team</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marshdo01.shtml">Doc Marshall</a></td><td>1904, 1906 NYG</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tragewa01.shtml">Walt Tragesser</a></td><td>1913, 1915-19 BSN</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/muellwa01.shtml">Walter Mueller</a></td><td>1922-24, 1926 PIT</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/puccige01.shtml">George Puccinelli</a></td><td>1930, 1932 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkedi02.shtml">Dixie Walker</a>*</td><td>1931, 1933-36 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsoch02.shtml">Charlie Wilson</a></td><td>1932-33, 1935 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/phillre01.shtml">Red Phillips</a></td><td>1934, 1936 DET</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chartmi01.shtml">Mike Chartak</a></td><td>1940, 1942 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/levyed01.shtml">Ed Levy</a></td><td>1942, 1944 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gentrru01.shtml">Rufe Gentry</a></td><td>1943-44, 1946-48 DET</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gorsijo01.shtml">Johnny Gorsica</a></td><td>1940-44, 1946-47 DET</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/higgipi01.shtml">Pinky Higgins</a></td><td>1939-44, 1946 DET</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wakefdi01.shtml">Dick Wakefield</a></td><td>1941, 1943-44, 1946-49 DET</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/souchst01.shtml">Bud Souchock</a></td><td>1946, 1948 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/darnebo01.shtml">Bob Darnell</a></td><td>1954, 1956 BRO</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willidi02.shtml">Dick Williams</a></td><td>1951-54, 1956 BRO</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/robinhu01.shtml">Humberto Robinson</a></td><td>1955-56, 1958 MLN</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roselbo01.shtml">Bob Roselli</a></td><td>1955-56, 1958 MLN</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksal01.shtml">Al Jackson</a></td><td>1959, 1961 PIT</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moelljo01.shtml">Joe Moeller</a></td><td>1962, 1964, 1966-71 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shirlba01.shtml">Bart Shirley</a></td><td>1964, 1966, 1968 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jorgemi01.shtml">Mike Jorgensen</a></td><td>1968, 1970-71, 1980-83 NYM</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garbege01.shtml">Gene Garber</a></td><td>1969-70, 1972 PIT</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/knighra01.shtml">Ray Knight</a></td><td>1974, 1977-81 CIN</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gamblos01.shtml">Oscar Gamble</a></td><td>1976, 1979-84 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beckwjo01.shtml">Joe Beckwith</a></td><td>1979-80, 1982-83, 1986 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/motama01.shtml">Manny Mota</a></td><td>1969-80, 1982 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rayfofl01.shtml">Floyd Rayford</a></td><td>1980, 1982, 1984-87 BAL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hurdlcl01.shtml">Clint Hurdle</a></td><td>1983, 1985, 1987 NYM</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/duncama01.shtml">Mariano Duncan</a></td><td>1985-87, 1989 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bielemi01.shtml">Mike Bielecki</a></td><td>1991-92, 1994, 1996-97 ATL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pendlte01.shtml">Terry Pendleton</a></td><td>1991-94, 1996 ATL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stanlmi02.shtml">Mike Stanley</a></td><td>1992-95, 1997 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hammoch01.shtml">Chris Hammond</a></td><td>1993-96, 1998 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/larkian01.shtml">Andy Larkin</a></td><td>1996, 1998 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mantema01.shtml">Matt Mantei</a></td><td>1995-96, 1998-99 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/klassda01.shtml">Danny Klassen</a></td><td>1998-2000, 2002 ARI</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stottto01.shtml">Todd Stottlemyre</a></td><td>1999-2000, 2002 ARI</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/miadiba01.shtml">Bart Miadich</a></td><td>2001, 2003 ANA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nunezab02.shtml">Abraham Nunez</a></td><td>2002, 2004 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alomasa02.shtml">Sandy Alomar</a></td><td>2001-04, 2006 CHW</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hansecr01.shtml">Craig Hansen</a></td><td>2005-06, 2008 BOS</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pauleda01.shtml">David Pauley</a></td><td>2006, 2008 BOS</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moellch01.shtml">Chad Moeller</a></td><td>2008, 2010 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderbr05.shtml">Bryan Anderson</a></td><td>2010, 2012 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hillst01.shtml">Steven Hill</a></td><td>2010, 2012 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/surkaer01.shtml">Eric Surkamp</a></td><td>2011, 2013 SFG</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/noonani01.shtml">Nick Noonan</a>*</td><td>2013, 2015 SFG</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosscza01.shtml">Zac Rosscup</a>*</td><td>2013-15, 2017 CHC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Nick Noonan and Zac Rosscup are still active, so it's theoretically possible that they could win a World Series with their respective franchises. I didn't look into the 2017 Astros, since you really can't determine whether someone belongs on this list until a team is no longer defending its title.<br />
<br />
The only other asterisked player is Dixie Walker, who missed out on the 1932 Yankees' season. I put him on this list despite the fact that he briefly played with the 1936 champions, because they got rid of him early in the season, and I doubt he got a share of the World Series money.<br />
<br />
It's true that some of these guys were in the dugout when their teams won, either as coaches or injured players, but not getting to participate in any game itself during the season has to sting just a little.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-78249744361298020802018-05-29T18:11:00.000-05:002018-05-29T18:11:56.603-05:00The Pythagorean PennantThe game isn't played on paper. This we all know. But that doesn't stop us from asking whether the results we see were the ones we should have expected.<br />
<br />
One concept that has gained popularity over the years in advanced sports analysis is the concept of Pythagorean Won-Lost Record. For those unfamiliar, Pythagorean Won-Lost Record uses a formula to determine the number of wins and losses a team should be expected to have based on the number of runs scored versus runs allowed. Few teams play precisely to their Pythagorean expectations, but most fall within three games of it. There are always, however, teams that wildly exceed or fall short of their expectations, and in a pennant race, those games can be the difference between a trip to the World Series and an early winter break.<br />
<br />
Before the divisional play era, only one team from each league made it to the postseason. Based on Pythagorean W-L, how often did we see the World Series matchup that should've been expected? The chart below shows who won the Pythagorean pennant each year during that era. Teams marked with <span style="color: red;">red</span> are different than the actual winners, and boxes marked with <span style="color: blue;">blue</span> are ones where tiebreakers would've had to be played to determine the winner.<br />
<br />
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<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th></th><th>NL</th><th>AL</th></tr>
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<tr><td>1903</td><td>Pittsburg Pirates (86-54)</td><td>Boston Americans (90-48)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1905</td><td>New York Giants (105-48)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Chicago White Sox (97-55)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1906</td><td>Chicago Cubs (115-37)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Cleveland Naps (98-55)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1907</td><td>Chicago Cubs (102-50)</td><td>Detroit Tigers (93-57)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1908</td><td><span style="color: red;">New York Giants (101-53)</span></td><td><span style="color: red;">Cleveland Naps (92-62)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1909</td><td><span style="color: red;">Chicago Cubs (109-44)</span></td><td><span style="color: red;">Philadelphia Athletics (102-51)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1910</td><td>Chicago Cubs (101-53)</td><td>Philadelphia Athletics (103-47)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1911</td><td>New York Giants (99-54)</td><td>Philadelphia Athletics (99-52)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1912</td><td>New York Giants (100-51)</td><td>Boston Red Sox (102-50)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1913</td><td>New York Giants (95-57)</td><td>Philadelphia Athletics (97-56)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1914</td><td>Boston Braves (89-64)</td><td>Philadelphia Athletics (99-53)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1915</td><td>Philadelphia Phillies (92-60)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Chicago White Sox (100-54)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1916</td><td>Brooklyn Robins (92-62)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Chicago White Sox (90-64)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1917</td><td>New York Giants (100-54)</td><td>Chicago White Sox (101-53)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1918</td><td>Chicago Cubs (83-46)</td><td>Boston Red Sox (76-50)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1919</td><td>Cincinnati Reds (92-48)</td><td>Chicago White Sox (84-56)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1920</td><td><span style="color: blue;">Brooklyn Robins/New York Giants (93-61)</span></td><td><span style="color: blue;">Cleveland Indians/New York Yankees (97-57)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1921</td><td>New York Giants (95-58)</td><td>New York Yankees (96-57)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1922</td><td>New York Giants (95-59)</td><td><span style="color: red;">St. Louis Browns (98-56)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1923</td><td>New York Giants (92-61)</td><td>New York Yankees (95-57)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1924</td><td>New York Giants (96-57)</td><td>Washington Senators (92-62)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1925</td><td>Pittsburgh Pirates (93-60)</td><td>Washington Senators (90-61)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1926</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (90-64)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Cleveland Indians (90-64)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1927</td><td>Pittsburgh Pirates (92-62)</td><td>New York Yankees (109-45)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1928</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (94-60)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Philadelphia Athletics (97-56)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1929</td><td>Chicago Cubs (94-58)</td><td>Philadelphia Athletics (100-50)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1930</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (94-60)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Washington Senators (95-59)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1931</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (97-57)</td><td><span style="color: red;">New York Yankees (100-53)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1932</td><td>Chicago Cubs (86-68)</td><td>New York Yankees (99-55)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1933</td><td><span style="color: blue;">Chicago Cubs/New York Giants </span></td><td>Washington Senators (93-59)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1934</td><td><span style="color: red;">New York Giants (95-58)</span></td><td>Detroit Tigers (98-56)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1935</td><td>Chicago Cubs (101-53)</td><td>Detroit Tigers (97-54)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1936</td><td><span style="color: red;">Chicago Cubs (93-61)</span></td><td>New York Yankees (102-51)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1937</td><td><span style="color: blue;">Chicago Cubs/New York Giants </span></td><td>New York Yankees (103-51)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1938</td><td>Chicago Cubs (88-64)</td><td>New York Yankees (97-55)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1939</td><td>Cincinnati Reds (95-59)</td><td>New York Yankees (111-40)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1940</td><td>Cincinnati Reds (96-57)</td><td>Detroit Tigers (92-62)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1941</td><td>Brooklyn Dodgers (99-55)</td><td>New York Yankees (96-58)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1942</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (107-47)</td><td>New York Yankees (107-47)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1943</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (101-53)</td><td>New York Yankees (92-62)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1944</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (107-47)</td><td>St. Louis Browns (88-66)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1945</td><td>Chicago Cubs (99-55)</td><td><span style="color: blue;">NYY/DET/WSH/SLB </span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1946</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (97-59)</td><td>Boston Red Sox (97-57)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1947</td><td><span style="color: red;">St. Louis Cardinals (91-63)</span></td><td>New York Yankees (100-54)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1948</td><td>Boston Braves (93-60)</td><td>Cleveland Indians (104-51)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1949</td><td>Brooklyn Dodgers (98-56)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Boston Red Sox (97-57)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1950</td><td><span style="color: red;">Brooklyn Dodgers (88-66)</span></td><td>New York Yankees (96-58)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1951</td><td><span style="color: red;">Brooklyn Dodgers (96-61)</span></td><td>New York Yankees (94-60)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1952</td><td>Brooklyn Dodgers (94-59)</td><td>New York Yankees (95-59)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1953</td><td>Brooklyn Dodgers (99-55)</td><td>New York Yankees (101-50)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1954</td><td>New York Giants (97-57)</td><td>Cleveland Indians (104-50)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1955</td><td>Brooklyn Dodgers (95-58)</td><td>New York Yankees (97-57)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1956</td><td><span style="color: red;">Milwaukee Braves (92-62)</span></td><td>New York Yankees (98-56)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1957</td><td>Milwaukee Braves (93-61)</td><td>New York Yankees (98-56)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1958</td><td>Milwaukee Braves (92-62)</td><td>New York Yankees (96-58)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1959</td><td><span style="color: red;">Milwaukee Braves (89-67)</span></td><td><span style="color: red;">Cleveland Indians (87-67)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1960</td><td>Pittsburgh Pirates (92-62)</td><td><span style="color: red;">Chicago White Sox (90-64)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1961</td><td><span style="color: red;">San Francisco Giants (89-65)</span></td><td>New York Yankees (103-59)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1962</td><td>San Francisco Giants (100-65)</td><td>New York Yankees (94-68)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1963</td><td><span style="color: red;">St. Louis Cardinals (94-68)</span></td><td>New York Yankees (100-61)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1964</td><td><span style="color: red;">Cincinnati Reds (92-70)</span></td><td><span style="color: red;">Chicago White Sox (99-63)</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>1965</td><td><span style="color: red;">Cincinnati Reds (93-69)</span></td><td>Minnesota Twins (100-62)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1966</td><td>Los Angeles Dodgers (97-65)</td><td>Baltimore Orioles (96-64)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1967</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (97-64)</td><td>Boston Red Sox (93-69)</td></tr>
<tr><td>1968</td><td>St. Louis Cardinals (96-66)</td><td>Detroit Tigers (103-59)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
It's heartening to see that most years the "correct" team wins.There are some long stretches here of black ink.<br />
<br />
It's interesting to note that based on this data, several historical teams could be considered overrated or underrated. Connie Mack's Athletics from the "$100,000 Infield" era should've won five of six pennants, rather than the mere four of five they actually won. Their American League successors should've been the Chicago White Sox, if only they hadn't underperformed. The Red Sox of that era would've been the exceptions to two dynasties, rather than one of their own.<br />
<br />
Cleveland could've had an additional four American League pennants in their history had their on-field play matched the on-paper expectations. Napoleon Lajoie wouldn't have gone down in history as one of the best players never to reach the postseason, with two World Series appearances during his time leading the "Naps."<br />
<br />
The powerhouse Athletics from 1929-31 would've won only one pennant during that span, but they would've had an additional one in 1928, perhaps giving Ty Cobb a World Series title in his final season.<br />
<br />
The National League also sees some teams look more dynastic than reality proved them to be. The Cubs might've potentially won an astounding six pennants in seven years between 1932 and 1938. Those Cubs always came up short in the World Series, but history should remember them much more favorably than it does.<br />
<br />
The Brooklyn Dodgers stole the 1947 pennant from their rivals in St. Louis in Jackie Robinson's debut season, but it appears that they, not the Yankees, should've won five straight pennants between 1949 and 1953. While the Red Sox should've captured the 1949 AL flag, we would've had a Yankees-Dodgers matchup four straight seasons to start the 1950s.<br />
<br />
And how about those Milwaukee Braves? That immensely talented club should've won four in a row during the 1956-59 seasons, not just the two they did.<br />
<br />
The Koufax-era Dodgers also appear to be overrated, winning pennants only in 1955, when he was a benchwarming rookie, and 1966, when he pitched his arm off in his final season. The Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants are the great forgotten teams of the '60s.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-18913802548720435782018-04-17T00:00:00.000-05:002018-04-17T00:00:12.276-05:00Interregnum PlayersNot every player gets to be a part of the championship teams. Some lucky (or unlucky) few do, however, get to join the roster in the aftermath of a championship and skip out just before the next one. In so doing, they become icons of the years in between.<br />
<br />
The term I have coined for such a man is an "Interregnum Player." What are the exact criteria?<br />
<br />
1. He must not have played for the franchise in question the season they won a World Series (though I do make a slight exception for one player).<br />
<br />
2. He must have played for the franchise in question in at least 80% of the seasons between two championships. The Eighty-Percenters are marked with an asterisk below.<br />
<br />
Here's the full list, in alphabetical order:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/adamsmi01.shtml">Mike Adamson</a></td><td>1967-1969 BAL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bakerdo01.shtml">Doug Baker</a></td><td>1988-1990 MIN</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bergda01.shtml">Dave Berg*</a></td><td>1998-2001 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bowdemi01.shtml">Michael Bowden</a></td><td>2008-2012 BOS</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brockgr01.shtml">Greg Brock*</a></td><td>1982-1986 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cimolgi01.shtml">Gino Cimoli</a></td><td>1956-1958 BRO/LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clenddo01.shtml">Donn Clendenon*</a></td><td>1961-1968 PIT</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopewi01.shtml">Wilbur Cooper*</a></td><td>1912-1924 PIT</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/darenvi01.shtml">Vic Darensbourg</a></td><td>1998-2002 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dempsry01.shtml">Ryan Dempster</a></td><td>1998-2002 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/doylela01.shtml">Larry Doyle*</a></td><td>1907-16, 1918-1920 NYG</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/drescbi01.shtml">Bill Drescher</a></td><td>1944-1946 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dwyerji01.shtml">Jim Dwyer</a></td><td>1988-1990 MIN</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fletcar01.shtml">Art Fletcher*</a></td><td>1909-1920 NYG</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frankfr02.shtml">Fred Frankhouse</a></td><td>1927-1930 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/giambja01.shtml">Jason Giambi*</a></td><td>2002-2008 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/honeyri01.shtml">Rick Honeycutt*</a></td><td>1983-1987 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksra01.shtml">Randy Jackson</a></td><td>1956-1958 BRO/LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lindsfr01.shtml">Freddie Lindstrom*</a></td><td>1924-1932 NYG</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lowrije01.shtml">Jed Lowrie*</a></td><td>2008-2011 BOS</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/ludwiry01.shtml">Ryan Ludwick</a></td><td>2007-2010 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mattido01.shtml">Don Mattingly*</a></td><td>1982-1995 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcbeaal01.shtml">Al McBean*</a></td><td>1961-68, 1970 PIT</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgeebi01.shtml">Bill McGee</a></td><td>1935-1941 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/millake01.shtml">Kevin Millar</a></td><td>1998-2002 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mizejo01.shtml">Johnny Mize*</a></td><td>1936-1941 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mosesjo01.shtml">John Moses</a></td><td>1988-1990 MIN</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/motama01.shtml">Manny Mota*</a></td><td>1969-1980 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mussimi01.shtml">Mike Mussina</a></td><td>2001-2008 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roserst01.shtml">Steve Roser</a></td><td>1944-1946 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ryanbr01.shtml">Brendan Ryan</a></td><td>2007-2010 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sanchje01.shtml">Jesus Sanchez*</a></td><td>1998-2001 FLA</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sheriro01.shtml">Roy Sherid</a></td><td>1929-1931 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/simmote01.shtml">Ted Simmons*</a></td><td>1968-1980 STL</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sotoma01.shtml">Mario Soto*</a></td><td>1977-1988 CIN</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suttodo01.shtml">Don Sutton</a></td><td>1966-1980 LAD</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vanatru01.shtml">Russ Van Atta</a></td><td>1933-1935 NYY</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsopr01.shtml">Preston Wilson</a></td><td>1998-2002 FLA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some of you are now rightfully pointing out that Don Sutton rejoined the Dodgers for the 1988 season, when they won the World Series, so he technically shouldn't qualify for this list based on the original criteria. However, I decided to make an exception for him, because A. there was a significant gap between his rejoining the Dodgers and his original stint, B. he was released before the end of the 1988 season and didn't get to participate in the World Series, and C. how often do you get a chance to include a guy who fits a 15-year championship gap so precisely? He had to be in here. He might be the most perfect example of the Interregnum Player if not for that technicality.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-50307884756465055462018-03-28T21:24:00.001-05:002018-03-28T21:24:39.434-05:002018 PredictionsThe 2018 season is upon us, and that means it's time to make some predictions. If you recall, <a href="http://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2017/04/2017-predictions-one-month-in.html">last year I predicted a World Series matchup between Los Angeles and Houston</a>, so clearly Baseball Junk Drawer is the place to be if you want the dope. What do I predict for 2018? Let's dive in!<br /><br /><br /><b>NL WEST</b><br /><br />Los Angeles<br />San Francisco*<br />Colorado<br />Arizona<br />San Diego<br /><br /><b>NL CENTRAL</b><br /><br />Milwaukee<br />Chicago*<br />St. Louis<br />Cincinnati<br />Pittsburgh<br /><br /><b>NL EAST</b><br /><br />Washington<br />New York<br />Philadelphia<br />Atlanta<br />Miami<br /><br /><b>AL WEST</b><br /><br />Houston<br />Los Angeles*<br />Oakland<br />Seattle<br />Texas<br /><br /><b>AL CENTRAL</b><br /><br />Cleveland<br />Minnesota<br />Chicago<br />Kansas City<br />Detroit<br /><br /><b>AL EAST</b><br /><br />New York<br />Boston*<br />Baltimore<br />Toronto<br />Tampa Bay<br /><br /><br /><b>PLAYOFFS:</b><br /><br /><b>WILD CARD GAMES</b><br /><br />San Francisco over Chicago<br />Boston over Los Angeles<br /><br /><b>DIVISIONAL SERIES</b><br /><br />Washington over Milwaukee<br />Los Angeles over San Francisco<br />Boston over Houston<br />New York over Cleveland<br /><br /><b>LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES</b><br /><br />Los Angeles over Washington<br />New York over Boston<br /><br /><b>WORLD SERIES</b><br /><br />Los Angeles over New York<br /><br /><br />As you can see, I predict this season to have a pretty boring outcome. Milwaukee is the only "surprise" team I went with, and the only real postseason surprise is Washington finally getting past the first round. But take heart: I'm sure a few games will be fun to watch. Let's hope I'm not as accurate as I was last year!<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-83716979643582448792018-03-12T19:25:00.000-05:002018-03-12T19:25:23.095-05:00Is the 1990s Cub Pitcher Death Phenomenon Unusual?With the recent release of the <a href="https://sabr.box.com/shared/static/n937jvdruflxoovvvgwbro8v4s90y6qu.pdf">February 2018 SABR Biographical Research Committee newsletter</a>, it was revealed that a few deaths from years past slipped through the cracks. One of them was former lefty reliever <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/slatedo01.shtml">D</a><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/slatedo01.shtml">oug Slaten</a>, who last played in 2012, but whose 2016 death somehow evaded the notice of the baseball world. Another was former journeyman righty reliever <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/veresra01.shtml">Randy Veres</a>, who also died in 2016. The thing about Veres, though, is that he is yet another deceased pitcher from the 1990s-era Cubs, as he showed up on their staff in 1994.<br />
<br />
The tally of Cub pitcher deaths from 1991 to 2000 (yes, I shifted the window slightly to include one player) now stands as follows:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beckro01.shtml">Rod Beck</a> (June 23, 2007)<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzaje01.shtml">Geremi Gonzalez</a> (May 25, 2008)<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fosteke01.shtml">Kevin Foster</a> (October 11, 2008)<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithda02.shtml">Dave Smith</a> (December 17, 2008)<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hollije01.shtml">Jessie Hollins</a> (July 9, 2009)<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castifr01.shtml">Frank Castillo</a> (July 28, 2013)<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/q/queveru01.shtml">Ruben Quevedo</a> (June 7, 2016)<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/veresra01.shtml">Randy Veres</a> (November 7, 2016)<br />
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngan01.shtml">Anthony Young</a> (June 27, 2017)<br />
<br />
That's nine players, all hurlers. No Cub non-pitcher deaths have been reported from that same era, and no deaths at all have been reported from the 1986-90 Cubs.<br />
<br />
Out of curiosity, I've decided to compare the number of Cub deaths from 1991-2000 to other teams from the same era. Let's see how many individual players have been reported dead from each franchise:<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
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font-size: 12px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
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<br />
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th></th><th>Deaths</th><th>Pitchers</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Angels</td><td>4</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Astros</td><td>10</td><td>6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Athletics</td><td>4</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Blue Jays</td><td>5</td><td>4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Braves</td><td>4</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Brewers</td><td>3</td><td>0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cardinals</td><td>2</td><td>1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cubs</td><td>9</td><td>9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Devil Rays</td><td>2</td><td>1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Diamondbacks</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Dodgers</td><td>3</td><td>1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Expos</td><td>5</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Giants</td><td>5</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Indians</td><td>4</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mariners</td><td>3</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Marlins</td><td>4</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mets</td><td>5</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Orioles</td><td>9</td><td>6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Padres</td><td>5</td><td>0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Phillies</td><td>7</td><td>4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pirates</td><td>2</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rangers</td><td>5</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Red Sox</td><td>5</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Reds</td><td>2</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rockies</td><td>4</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Royals</td><td>5</td><td>4</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tigers</td><td>9</td><td>5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Twins</td><td>3</td><td>0</td></tr>
<tr><td>White Sox</td><td>3</td><td>0</td></tr>
<tr><td>Yankees</td><td>3</td><td>3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The data show the Astros with the most total player deaths, but the Cubs have the lead in pitcher deaths, with three more than the Orioles and Astros, who tie for second. While it's probably nothing more than a statistical anomaly, it does seem odd that <a href="http://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2013/11/why-are-so-many-1990s-cub-pitchers.html">I picked up on the trend in 2013</a> and it's only continued since then. You'd think at some point it would even out a bit. We'll have to keep our eyes on this phenomenon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-60886160811423597152018-02-28T20:49:00.000-06:002018-02-28T20:49:20.787-06:00Final 12 Players By DecadeActive players from the 1990s have been dwindling year by year, and the only ones left in Spring Training 2018 are Bartolo Colon and Adrian Beltre, both of the Texas Rangers. Colon seems to be close to the end, but Beltre has become something of an ageless wonder, putting up productive seasons even into his late 30s.<br />
<br />
In honor of a decade's players dropping off the scene, I thought it would be fun to look at previous decades and who their final representatives at the major league level were. Some of these are pretty interesting.<br />
<br />
<b>1900s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 89pt;" width="119"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2742; mso-width-source: userset; width: 56pt;" width="75"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Stuffy McInnis</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63" style="width: 56pt;" width="75">8/1/1927</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Zack Wheat</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">9/21/1927</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Walter Johnson</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">9/30/1927</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tris Speaker</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">8/30/1928</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Ty Cobb</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">9/11/1928</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jimmy Austin</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">10/6/1929</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Johnny Evers</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">10/6/1929</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Eddie Collins</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">8/5/1930</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Gabby Street</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">9/20/1931</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jack Quinn</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">7/7/1933</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Nick Altrock</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">10/1/1933</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Charley O'Leary</td>
<td align="right" class="xl63">9/30/1934</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We have four Hall of Famers at the ends of their careers, five coaches making publicity stunt appearances, one Hall of Famer who was basically just a coach at that point, and two guys who just played a long time. A nice snapshot of the era. An interesting note is that four of the five Hall of Famers played their final game with the Philadelphia Athletics.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1910s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 89pt;" width="119"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2742; mso-width-source: userset; width: 56pt;" width="75"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Dazzy Vance</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="width: 56pt;" width="75">8/14/1935</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Bob O'Farrell</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/23/1935</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Sad Sam Jones</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/28/1935</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rabbit Maranville</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/29/1935</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tom Zachary</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/28/1936</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">George Uhle</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/22/1936</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Charlie Grimm</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/23/1936</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rogers Hornsby</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">7/20/1937</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Frankie Frisch</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">8/5/1937</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jesse Haines</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/10/1937</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Waite Hoyt</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/15/1938</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jimmy Dykes</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/1/1939</td><td align="right" class="xl65"></td><td align="right" class="xl65"></td><td align="right" class="xl65"></td><td align="right" class="xl65"><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The legendary Babe Ruth just missed the cut here. Here we see six Hall of Famers (about half of which probably shouldn't be in, and one of which only achieving that status thanks to one of the legitimate Hall of Famers on the list). The last man standing though, like Charley O'Leary the decade before, wasn't primarily a player, but a member of the dugout staff taking the field.<br />
<br />
<b>1920s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 89pt;" width="119"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2742; mso-width-source: userset; width: 56pt;" width="75"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Bill Dickey</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="width: 56pt;" width="75">9/8/1946</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rollie Hemsley</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">4/17/1947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Art Herring</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">6/15/1947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Mel Ott</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">7/11/1947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Mel Harder</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/7/1947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rick Ferrell</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/14/1947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Red Ruffing</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/15/1947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Al Lopez</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/16/1947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Si Johnson</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/25/1947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Doc Cramer</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/12/1948</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Earl Caldwell</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/15/1948</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Bobo Newsom</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/17/1953</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now here's an odder list. A lot of mediocre players on this one. There are three I'd consider legit Hall of Fame players, one I'd consider a legit Hall of Fame manager, and one who was a fine player but not a deserving Hall of Famer. And none of the Hall of Famers appear in the final four. And the last guy standing wasn't a coach or manager giving the fans a token appearance. How times change.<br />
<br />
<b>1930s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 89pt;" width="119"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2742; mso-width-source: userset; width: 56pt;" width="75"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Phil Cavarretta</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="width: 56pt;" width="75">5/8/1955</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Hank Majeski</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">7/26/1955</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Eddie Joost</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/25/1955</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Walt Masterson</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/24/1956</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Bob Feller</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/30/1956</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Dizzy Trout</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/11/1957</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Bob Kennedy</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/29/1957</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Murry Dickson</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/14/1959</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Enos Slaughter</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/29/1959</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Mickey Vernon</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/27/1960</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Ted Williams</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/28/1960</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Early Wynn</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/13/1963</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Looks like old Early was late to leave the game, hanging on for a full three seasons as the only active player from the 1930s. On this list we have four Hall of Famers, two of which I'd definitely put in my personal Hall, while the others are borderline choices. I'll bet even the most hardcore fans couldn't have named Walt Masterson. I know I almost certainly wouldn't have thought of him.<br />
<br />
<b>1940s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 89pt;" width="119"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2742; mso-width-source: userset; width: 56pt;" width="75"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Billy Pierce</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="width: 56pt;" width="75">10/3/1964</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Duke Snider</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/3/1964</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Yogi Berra</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/9/1965</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Roy Sievers</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/9/1965</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Nellie Fox</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">7/25/1965</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Satchel Paige</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/25/1965</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Warren Spahn</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/1/1965</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Robin Roberts</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/3/1966</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Del Crandall</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/25/1966</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Joe Nuxhall</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/2/1966</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Smoky Burgess</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/1/1967</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Curt Simmons</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/1/1967</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Minnie Minoso</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/5/1980</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is actually a final 13, since Pierce and Snider played their last game on the same day. Once again, we see six Hall of Famers, though none are in the last five. Minoso has his supporters, though. Paige's appearance was a publicity stunt too, of course.<br />
<br />
<b>1950s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 89pt;" width="119"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2742; mso-width-source: userset; width: 56pt;" width="75"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Frank Robinson</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="width: 56pt;" width="75">9/18/1976</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tony Taylor</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/29/1976</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tommy Davis</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/2/1976</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Billy Williams</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/2/1976</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Hank Aaron</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/3/1976</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Mike Cuellar</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/3/1977</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Brooks Robinson</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">8/13/1977</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Ron Fairly</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/23/1978</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Willie McCovey</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">7/6/1980</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tim McCarver</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/5/1980</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Minnie Minoso</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/5/1980</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jim Kaat</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">7/1/1983</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Like Early Wynn before him, Jim Kaat was the sole player repping the fabulous '50s for three seasons. Five Hall of Famers on this list, and one who, as mentioned before, has his supporters. Minnie Minoso was brilliant for making that cameo in a non-contending season for the White Sox. I've noticed that if you look at the last "serious" players for each of these decades, the guy you come up with has always been a pitcher so far. Will that change?<br />
<br />
<b>1960s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 89pt;" width="119"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2742; mso-width-source: userset; width: 56pt;" width="75"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Joe Niekro</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="width: 56pt;" width="75">4/29/1988</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Gene Garber</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">7/1/1988</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Don Sutton</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">8/9/1988</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Graig Nettles</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/1/1988</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Ted Simmons</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/2/1988</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tommy John</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/25/1989</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Darrell Evans</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/1/1989</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Bill Buckner</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/30/1990</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jerry Reuss</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/3/1990</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rick Dempsey</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/27/1992</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Carlton Fisk</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">6/22/1993</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Nolan Ryan</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/22/1993</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Not yet. But interestingly, only three Hall of Famers on this list, two of which were the last two out the door. Nettles and Simmons have supporters, though.<br />
<br />
<b>1970s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 89pt;" width="129"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2742; mso-width-source: userset; width: 56pt;" width="85"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Ozzie Smith</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="width: 56pt;" width="85">10/17/1996</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rick Honeycutt</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/2/1997</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Eddie Murray</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/20/1997</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Danny Darwin</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/22/1998</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Dave Stieb</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/25/1998</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Paul Molitor</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/27/1998</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Dennis Eckersley</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/2/1998</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Dennis Martinez</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/14/1998</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Mike Morgan</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/2/2002</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tim Raines</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/29/2002</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rickey Henderson</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/19/2003</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jesse Orosco</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/27/2003</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Another pitcher closing out the list. Good old lefty specialists like Jesse Orosco who play forever. Six Hall of Famers once again.<br />
<br />
<b>1980s</b><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 194px;"><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 89pt;" width="119">Kent Mercker</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="width: 56pt;" width="75">5/30/2008</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tom Glavine</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">8/14/2008</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Kenny Rogers</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/14/2008</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rudy Seanez</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/28/2008</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Greg Maddux</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/15/2008</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tom Gordon</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/3/2009</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Gary Sheffield</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">9/30/2009</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Randy Johnson</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/4/2009</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">John Smoltz</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/10/2009</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Ken Griffey Jr.</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/31/2010</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jamie Moyer</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">5/27/2012</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Omar Vizquel</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">10/3/2012</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Finally! The last guy on the list isn't a pitcher! Five Hall of Famers make the cut here. Kent Mercker and Rudy Seanez seem like the most unlikely guys to pop up here.<br />
<br />
Before we know it, we'll be counting down the last guys from the 2000s. Enjoy the players of this era while they're still with us. One day you wake up, see lists this, and find yourself feeling old.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-88686351372231004472018-01-24T19:29:00.003-06:002018-01-24T19:29:57.684-06:00Obligatory Hall of Fame Update: 2018We have six new Hall of Famers for 2018, and that means the list of <a href="http://baseballjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/2009/08/hall-of-famers-first-major-league-home.html">Hall of Famers' first major league home runs</a> has been updated.<br />
<br />
My thoughts on our new inductees? In brief:<br />
<br />
<b>Chipper Jones</b>, <b>Jim Thome</b>, and <b>Alan Trammell</b> are all deserving, and I'm glad they got in.<br />
<br />
<b>Vladimir Guerrero</b> was more of a borderline case, but he had the traditional numbers and the peak value to be a selection I won't complain too much about.<br />
<br />
<b>Trevor Hoffman</b> was one of the most overrated players of all-time, but he was perceived as a future Hall of Famer throughout his career, so I guess it was inevitable. It's a shame that those save totals mean so much to voters. Billy Wagner was probably just as good, but with less-gaudy numbers.<br />
<br />
And then there's <b>Jack Morris</b>. There's a selection that makes me angry. When he finally dropped off the BBWAA ballot, I breathed a sigh of relief that we wouldn't have to hear about his overrated career any longer. But then this Veteran's Committee thing decides to put him in. What a joke. The guy was never anything but a good, sturdy starter. He never had any dominant seasons. Yes, Pitching a 10-inning shutout in Game 7 of the World Series is a fine achievement, but it puts him in the Mazeroski Zone of worthiness. A fine career plus a legendary Game 7 are enough for a Cooperstown Plaque, apparently. I'm calling it now: Madison Bumgarner has already got his spot locked up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0