On this day (March 29) in 2008, a record 115,300 baseball fans attended an exhibition game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox at the  Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  (Still the largest crowd for a game between two MLB teams). The game, which raised more than $1 million for the Dodgers’ “Think Cure!” cancer research charity, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Dodgers’ 1958 move from Brooklyn to LA.  The Dodgers played in the Coliseum from 1958 to 1961. (Dodger Stadium at Chavez Ravine opened in 1962.)

Note: While the newly transferred LA Dodgers awaited the 1962 completion of Dodger Stadium, they had a trio of potential sites for regular season games: LA’s Wrigley Field (most famous as the site of the Home Run Derby television series); the Rose Bowl; and the Coliseum.

The site of the March 29, 2008 game (and the Dodgers’ first four Los Angeles seasons), the Coliseum was originally built in 1923 primarily as a football stadium (also hosted Olympic events in 1932 and 1984).   The oval-shaped Coliseum proved difficult to transform into a baseball park.  The Dodgers ended up with: a VERY short left field porch (250-feet down the line, topped with a 40-foot-high screen);  320-feet to the left-center alley;  425-feet to center; a VERY deep 440-feet to right center; a right-field fence angling sharply to a  300-foot right field line.  BBRT note: For the 2008 exhibition game, left field – adorned with a sixty-foot-high fence –  was just 201 feet from the batters’ box.

By the way, for those who are interested in such things, the Red Sox won that March 29, 2008 game 7-4. Tim Wakefield started and threw five shutout innings, supported by a pair of Kevins – catcher Kevin Cash hit a three-run homer and first baseman Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run shot. For the Dodgers, Esteban Loiaza took the loss (five runs, two earned, in three innings) and first baseman James Loney hit a solo shot.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow and Like Baseball Roundtable on Facebook for more on the national pastime.

Member: Society for American Baseball Research  (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Baseball Bloggers Alliance. 

Follow on Twitter @DavidBBRT for notification of new posts.

Happy Holidays to all!  To kick of the season, BBRT is providing an alternative to the usual in-depth posts found here. Instead I am posting are a trio of stocking stuffers focusing on the most powerful one-inning display of batsmanship ever (Gene Rye); the Today’s Game Era Hall of Fame ballot (John Schuerholz, Bud Selig); and my favorite comic book (Mickey Mantle).

ONE POWERFUL INNING

Gene Rye. Photo: Society for American Baseball Research.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Gene Rye came by his nickname naturally – the 5’ 6”, 165-pounder was known around baseball as “Half Pint.”  However, for one inning of one game, this small-of-stature ballplayer carried professional baseball’s biggest and most powerful bat.  On August 6, 1930, playing for the Class A Texas League Waco Cubs (against the Beaumont Exporters), Rye became the first (and still only) professional ballplayer to hit three home runs in a single inning.

It came about in the bottom of the eighth inning – which opened with Waco trailing Beaumont 6-2 and Rye leading off.  The left-handed swinging Rye took Gerald Mallet deep to left for a solo round tripper.  That blast sparked the Waco offense and the team batted around – bringing Rye to the plate for a second time in the frame, now facing reliever Walter Newman with Waco up 9-6 and two men on base. Rye upped the lead to 12-6, this time pulling the ball over the right field fence.   Beaumont may have decided the game was out of reach because Newman was still on the mound when Rye came up for a third time in the inning – with the bases loaded. In his third at bat of the inning, Rye again pulled the ball over the right field wall for a Grand Slam. By the time the inning was over, Waco had scored 18 runs and held at 20-6 lead. (They would eventually win 20-7.)  Gene “Half Pint” Rye (whose real name was Eugene Mercantelli) had set the professional records for home runs (3), total bases (12) and RBI (8) in an inning.  Rye still holds all three records – although the RBI record for an inning has since been tied by:  Ken Myers of the Class C (Sunset League) Las Vegas Wranglers on May 2, 1947; Armando Flores of the 1952 Class B (Gulf Coast League) Laredo Apaches on June 25, 1953; Lance Junker of the Class A (California League) Redwood Pioneers on June 30, 1983; and, at the Major League level, Fernando Tatis of the Cardinals on April 23, 1999.  All four of these players tied the single-inning RBI mark by virtue of two Grand Slams in the inning.

Rye, who began his professional baseball career in 1925 (at age 18), had been on the rise when he fashioned his record-setting inning. In 1928, he hit .289 with 12 home runs for Winston-Salem in the Class C Piedmont League. In 1929, he moved up to the Class A Waco squad and  hit .284, with 19 round trippers.  In 1930 – the season of his three-homer inning – the 24-year-old Rye hit .367 with 26 home runs.

Not surprisingly, Rye’s emerging power attracted interest at baseball’s highest level.  In 1930, Half-Pint Rye found himself playing for the Boston Red Sox. However, a broken wrist in Spring Training limited his effectiveness and he played in only 17 games (.179 average with no home runs and one RBI) before being sent to the minors in June. He played in the minors until 1936, but never made it back to the major leagues.

BBRT note:  In his big inning, Rye nearly hit for the “Home Run Cycle” – a solo, two-run, three-run and Grand Slam homer.  Only once player – Tyrone Horne – had his for the Home Run cycle in a single game.  You can read that story here.

BBRT on the Today’s Game Era Hall of Fame Ballot

John Schuerholz – unanimous selection on BB HOF Today’s Game ballot. Photo by The SABR Office

BBRT was two-for-three in predicting electees on the Today’s Game Era Hall of Fame ballot.  BBRT predicted three of the ten candidates would get the necessary 75 percent support: Executives John Schuerholz and Bud Selig, and manager Lou Piniella. Schuerholz and Selig made it. Piniella finished third in the voting, but received only seven of the 12 votes necessary. You can read BBRT’s take on the entire list of candidates here. 

As far as the results. Schuerholz – with his fine work with the Royals and (especially) the Braves was an easy pick.  Like many “old-schoolers,” I had reservations about Selig (especially given how his contraction talked affected Minnesota), but MLB did flourish (and work through some tough challenges) during his tenure as commissioner.  I also thought Piniella’ 23 managerial seasons, 1,835 wins and three Manager of the Year Awards should have earned him at least 75 percent support. (Piniella has the 14^th most managerial wins in MLB history. Thirteen of the 14 managers ahead of him are in the Hall of Fame – as well as a host of those who trail him.  Looking to recent history, for example, Piniella has 236 more wins than Tommy Lasorda, 264 more than Dick Williams, and 355 more than Earl Weaver.

Note: For BBRT’s take on the traditional BBWAA player HOF ballot (results announced next month), click here.

My Favorite Comic Book

Twenty-five years ago this month (December 1991), Magnum Comics released the first issue of Mickey Mantle Comics – dedicated to exploring the life (in comic book form) of this Yankee icon. The comic book also included a section on the Boston Braves’ “Super-Sub” Sibby Sisti, as well as Mantle and Sisti commemorative post cards. On its inside back cover, Magnum Comics previewed upcoming issues on Brooks Robinson and Duke Snider.

I tweet baseball @ DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Baseball Roundtable Game Three Wrap Up will be posted early- to mid-afternoon.  Have to attend the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Halsey Hall Chapter Meeting (9 a.m.-lunch). Will be posting on Terry Francona’s ability to consistently “pull the right lever,” key moments in Game Three, Cleveland’s bullpen, wild fans in Cleveland and Chicago,  Jose Altuve’s Player of the Year Award, the Cubs’ last World Series Championship (Ty Cobb on one side and Tinker-to Evers-to Chance on the other). Stop in at BBRT before the game.  

Game One of the 2016 World Series is in the  books – a 6-0 Cleveland win.  There were expected (Corey Kluber) and unexpected (Roberto Perez) heroes, a notable turning point (seventh inning), 24 strikeouts (15 recorded by Cleveland pitchers) and three players who started the Series with three-hit games (Ben Zobrist, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez).

How meaningful will this Indians win be?  That remains to be seen, but since the best-of -seven format came into play, Game One Winners have a 109-60 edge in World Championships.  Still, with Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks on tap for the next two games, I like the Cubs’ chances.

Here are a few random observations from Game One.

A is for Apple. B is for Bat. … K is for Kluber – an Expected Hero

Photo by apardavila

Corey Kluber, who started on the mound for the Indians, was an expected hero.  The 2014 Cy Young Award winner was the staff ace in 2016, going 18-9, 3.14 and fanning 227 batters in 215 innings. He set the tone from the start, fanning eight over the first three innings (a WS record for the first three frames) and whiffing nine (versus four hits and no walks) over six shutout innings.  Andrew Miller and Cody Allen added six more strikeouts to wrap up the 6-0 shutout.  A couple of observations: Kluber threw just 88 pitches, which opens options for how he is used (three starts or two starts and a relief appearance) later in the Series.  ALCS MVP Andrew Miller threw 46 pitches in relief, which may limit how he is used in Game Two.

Core Kluber’s outing works to magnify Bob Gibson’s dominance when he fanned a World Series single-game record of 17 – as his Cardinals topped the Tigers 4-0 in Game One of the 1968 WS. Gibson threw three complete games in that Series (1.67 ERA), fanning 35 in 27 innings.

An Unexpected Hero

Number-nine hitter Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez  – who hit .183, with just three home runs in 61 games in the regular season and was hitting just .174 in the post season –  was hardly considered a likely offensive hero.   All he did was belt two home runs in four at bats and drive in four of the Indians’ six runs.

Before Roberto Perez’ two-home run inaugural World Series game, the only other catcher to homer twice in his first WS game was the Oakland A’s Gene Tenace in 1972.  Tenace, who had hit .225 with five home runs in 82 regular season games and was hitting .059 in the post season (ALCS), went on to hit .348 in the WS, with a Series-leading eight hits, five runs, four home runs and nine RBI. The A’s topped the Red in seven games, despite being outscored 21-16. Tenace was the WS MVP.

Turning Point

Some may say the turning point came when Corey Kluber took the mound.  For my money, it came in the top of the seventh when Cubs’ LF Ben Zobrist opened the inning with a single off Kluber – followed by a walk to DH Kyle Schwarber and a single to 2B Javier Baez (both given up by Andrew Miller, who had replaced Kluber), loading the bases with no outs.   Miller went on to retire pinch hitter Wilson Contreras on a short fly (runners holding) to center and SS Addison Russell and C David  Ross on swinging strikeouts. The Cubs failed to score after loading the sacks with no outs.  Game. Set. Match.  Kudos to manager Terry Francona to sticking to his pitching plan in that tense inning.

It’s Not Always Power

While four of the Indians’ tallies came on home runs (Roberto Perez with two), the other two runs scored on a bases-loaded infield single (3B Jose Ramirez) and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch (LF Brandon Guyer).  That Guyer should “take on for the team” should be no surprise. Guyer led the American League in HBP with 31 this past season (in just 101 games). Guyer was also the AL HBP leader in 2015, with 24.

 A Perfect World Series 9-0

Terry Francona – plenty to smile about. Photo by Keith Allison

Indians’ Manager Terry Francona is piloting his third World Series and has yet to lose a Fall Classic game.  In 2004, his Red Sox swept the Cardinals and in 2007 his Boston squad topped the Rockies 4-0. Now, if only the TV commentators would stop referring to him as “Tito.”  Yes, I know it’s his nickname, but my mind always seems to revert to his dad –  John Patsy “Tito” Francona – whom I saw play often in his 15-seeason (1956-70) career as an MLB OF/1B.  Terry, by the way, was an MLB OF/1B from 1981-90.

While Terry Francona s’ streak of managing nine World Series wining games (still active) without a loss is an MLB record, the record for consecutive  World Series game wins managed belongs to Joe Torre at 14 (1996 – Games Three-through-Six versus Braves; 1998 – four-game sweep versus Padres; 1999 – four-game sweep versus Braves; 2000 – Games One and Two versus Mets.  

Hope from Rehab

Cubs’ DH Kyle Schwarber, out with an injury since early April, was activated for the World Series.  Schwarber who had knee surgery in mid-April was not expected back this season.  He surprised a lot of people yesterday, picking up a double and a walk in four plate appearances. In 2015, as a rookie, Schwarber hit .246, with 16 home runs and 43 RBI in 69 games and then hit five home runs in nine post-season contests.   The Cubs are hoping his power has an impact in the 2016 Series.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Matt Moore, moved from Tampa Bay to San Francisco for the stretch drive, notched a near no-no yesterday. Photo by Keith Allison

Yesterday, August 25, Matt Moore picked up his first win since his trade to the San Francisco Giants – giving up just one hit (a single to Dodgers’ shortstop Corey Seager) in  8 2/3 innings (no runs, one hit, three walks, seven strikeouts.)

Despite the masterful performance and the 4-0  win over the rival Dodgers, there was a tinge of disappointment to the game.  You see, Seager’s hit (on Corey Seager Bobblehead Night) came with two-outs in the bottom of the ninth – spoiling Moore’s no hit bid.

Losing a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth is truly disappointing, but what about the ultimate let-down – losing a perfect game with two outs in the ninth? Appropriately, this has occured fouteen times in MLB history.  To read the stories of those “oh-so-close-to-perfection” outings click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance. 

Photo by apardavila

Today, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame – and, as expected, much was made of their respective places at the farthest ends of the MLB draft spectrum. Let’s get that “trending” fact out of the way right off the bat. Griffey is the earliest draft pick – in fact, the first-ever “first overall” pick (1987) elected to the HOF  – while Piazza is the latest draft pick ever elected (the 1,390th player picked in the 1988 draft).  BBRT did comment on Griffey and Piazza at that time of their election (January), and today seems like an appropriate day to again look back on the careers that earned them their spots in Baseball’s Hall of Fame. (I’ll also look ahead, briefly, at some of the 2017 “favorites.” ) Today, baseball honored a fleet centerfielder with an MLB pedigree and a grinding backstop, who got little love in the draft –  a pair who, ultimately, were selected to a combined 25 All Star teams.

As long as I have fun playing, the stats will take care of themselves.

                                                                                       Ken Griffey, Jr.

The stats did, indeed, take care of themselves for Ken Griffey, Jr.  – even after he retired.  Not only was Griffey the “first-ever, first overall” draft pick elected to the Hall, he was a first-ballot electee and was named on an all-time record 99.3 percent of the ballots.

Griffey was considered a potential star right from the start – thanks to his sweet swing and baseball genes.  Young Ken – actually George Kenneth Griffey, Jr. – was the son Ken Griffey, Sr.; a three-time All Star outfielder who was still active in 1989 (in his 17^th of 19 Major League seasons), when Griffey, Jr.  made his MLB debut at age 19.

“The Kid” (also known as “The Natural”) went on to play 22 seasons (1989-2010 … Mariners, Reds and White Sox), putting up some undeniably Hall of Fame numbers.  His 2,781 hits earned him a .284 lifetime average and his 630 home runs are sixth all time.  Griffey also collected 1,836 RBI; ten Gold Gloves; 13 All Star selections; and an AL MVP Award (1997). He led his league in home runs four times (with a high of 56 in 1997 and 1998); drove in 100+ runs eight times (leading the AL with a high a 147 in 1997); scored 100 or more runs six times (leading the AL with 125 in 1997); and hit over .300 eight times. Griffey is also tied for the most consecutive MLB games hitting a home run (eight, with Don Mattingly and Dale Long) and he and his father Ken Griffey, Sr. are the only father-son combination to hit back-to-back homers in major league history.

Ken Griffey, Jr.’s Best Season: In 1997, Griffey was selected the AL MVP after a season in which he played in 157 games and led the league in home runs (56), runs scored (125), RBI (147), total bases (393), slugging percentage (.646) and intentional walks (23), while also hitting .304, stealing 15 bases in 19 attempts and winning a Gold Glove.

Nobody wanted me. Scouts told me to go to school, to forget baseball.  Coaches said, “You’re never going to make it.” I appreciated their honesty, because I think when someone tells you something you may not like, you have to use that as fuel for motivation.

                                                                                                 Mike Piazza

As much as Ken Griffey Jr. was considered a natural, Mike Piazza was considered a long-shot … not for the Hall of Fame, but for a spot on a big league roster. Piazza was the 1,390^th pick of the 1988 draft (62^nd round), and the story has it that he was drafted by the Dodgers as a favor to Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda, who was a long-time friend of Piazza’s father. It worked out pretty well. Piazza was in the major by 1992, was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1993 and, in 16 major league seasons (1992-2007),  put up: a .308 career average; 427 home runs (an MLB-record 396 as a catcher); 12 All Star Selections; and ten Silver Slugger Awards as the best hitter at his position (most ever by a catcher). Over his career, he collected 2,127 hits; 1,335 RBI; and scored 1,048 runs. Piazza topped 30 home runs in nine seasons, with a high of 40 in 1997 and 1999. He also topped 100 RBI six times – and was the first MLB catcher to collect 200 hits in a season (201 in 1997).

Mike Piazza’s Best Season: In 1997, the Dodgers’ backstop hit .362, with 201 hits, 104 runs, 40 HR, 124 RBI.

_________________________________

Griffey and Piazza – Similarities

As different as their careers were: Griffey and Piazza did have some similarities. For example, both doubled to center in their first MLB at bats, both were replaced by pinch runners in their final MLB games, both made their first All Star teams in their second seasons and both had (arguably) their best seasons in 1997.

First At Bat Doubles

Griffey played his first major league game on April 3, 1989 – and it was a one-run affair, as Griffey’s Mariners lost to the A’s in Oakland by a score of 3-2. The 19-year-old started in CF (batting second) and went one-for-three with a walk. In his first at bat (and first plate appearance), Griffey doubled to center on an 0-1 pitch from Oakland’s Dave Stewart.

Piazza played his first major league game on September 1, 1992 – and (like Griffey’s first game) it was a one-run contest.  Piazza’s Dodgers beat the Cubs 5-4 (13 innings) in Chicago. Like Griffey, the 23-year-old Piazza doubled to center in his first official MLB at bat (off  Cubs’ starter Mike Harkey in the fourth). It was not, however, Piazza’a first plate appearance. Starting at catcher and batting sixth, Piazza’s first plate appearance was a five-pitch walk off Harkey in the top of the second. For the game, Piazza went three-for-three (plus the walk), but neither scored nor drove in a run.

Last Game – Lifted for Pinch Runners

Griffey played his final MLB game on May 31, 2010 – another one-run affair, with Griffey’s Mariners losing to the Twins 5-4 in Seattle. In his last MLB at bat, Griffey (then 40) pinch hit for Mariners’ catcher Rob Johnson in the bottom of the ninth with the Mariners trailing 5-4 and Seattle shortstop Josh Wilson on first base. Griffey grounded to shortstop (on an 0-1 pitch from Twins’ reliever Jon Rauch) and reached first on a fielder’s choice (the Twins forcing Wilson at second). In his last MLB appearance, Griffey was replaced by a pinch runner (Michael Saunders)..

Piazza’s final at bat came on September 30, 2007 – and, yes, it also was a one-run game, with Piazza’s Athletics topping the Angels 3-2 in Oakland. Piazza (then 39) started the game at DH batting fifth. He went 1-for-4, getting a single to right on a 1-0 pitch from Angels’ reliever Chris Bootcheck leading off the ninth inning of a 2-2 game. It was Piazza’s final major league at bat and, like Griffey, in that final appearance, he was lifted for a pinch runner (Shannon Stewart, who scored the game-winning run).

A few other similarities:

• Both Griffey and Piazza made their first All Star team in their second major league season – Griffey in 1990, Piazza in 1993.

• Both Griffey and Piazza were All Star Game MVPs – Griffey in 1992, Piazza in 1996.

• Griffey and Piazza each had six post-season home runs – Griffey in 18 games, Piazza in 32.

_____________________________

2017 Hall of Fame Ballot

Finally, looking ahead to the 2017 HOF Ballot.  Here are a few BBRT observations:

BBRT sees three eturnees with a good chance for election:

Trevor Hoffman (Relief Pitcher, 1993-2010 )

Hoffman returns for his second time on the ballot. He got 67.3 percent (of the required 75 percent) this past election and (in BBRT’s opinion) deserved better.  BBRT sees Hoffman making it in his second try.

Hoffman is one of only two relievers to reach 600 saves (601) – trailing only Mariano Rivera (652). Hoffman and Rivera, in fact, are the only closers to reach 500 saves. (Note: Hoffman was also the first pitcher to reach the 500- and 600-save mark.) Hoffman led the NL in saves twice and reached 30 or more saves 14 times (with a high of 53 in 1998). He had a career record of 61-75, with a 2.87 ERA over 1,089 1/3 innings in 1,035 games – averaging 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Hoffman pitched for the Marlins (1993), Padres (1993-2008) and Brewers (2009-10).

Trevor Hoffman’s best season: In 1998, Hoffman went 4-2 for the San Diego Padres, with a NL-leading 53 saves (in 54 opportunities). He put up a 1.48 ERA and fanned 86 batters in 73 innings.

Tim Raines (Outfield, 1979-2001)

Raines returns for his tenth year on the ballot.  After getting 69.8 percent last year, Raines should  make it in 2017.

Raines hit .294 over his 23-season MLB career, collecting 2,605 hits, 1,571 runs scored, 170 home runs, 980 RBI and 808 stolen bases (fifth  all time). He was a seven-time All Star; led the NL in stolen bases four consecutive years (1981-84); had a streak of six seasons with at least 70 steals; won the NL batting title in 1986 with a .334 average; led the league in runs scored twice and doubles once. In 34 post-season games, he hit .270 with one home run, six RBI, 18 runs scored and three steals. Raines played for the Expos (1979-1990 and 2001)), White Sox (1991-1995), Yankees (1996-1998), A’s (1999), Orioles (2001) and Marlins (2002).

Tim Raines’ best season:  Despite his  1986 batting title (.334 average), BBRT thinks Raines top season was 1983 (Expos) – 156 games, 179 hits, .298 average, league-leading 133 runs scored, 11 homers, 71 RBI, league-leading 90 steals.

Jeff Bagwell (First Base, 1991-2005)

Bagwell  returns for his seventh time on the ballot, after receiving 71.6 percent in the most recent vote.

In his 15-year MLB career, Bagwell collected 2,314 hits; smashed 449 home runs; stole 202 bases; and put up a .297 average. He also earned a Rookie of the Year Award (1991); a Most Valuable Player Award (1994); one Gold Glove; and four All Star selections.  He twice recorded seasons of 40 or more homers and 30 or more steals.  Bagwell drove in 100 or more runs in eight seasons, leading the league with 116 RBI in 1994 and reaching a high of 135 in 1997. He also led the NL in runs scored three times, with a high of 152 in 2000. His .297 career average was bolstered by six seasons over .300. Bagwell’s chances are hurt a bit by the fact that first base has been manned by so many power hitters over time.  Bagwell, who played his entire career with the Houston Astros, stands a good chance of reaching the 75 percent threshhool in 2017.  However, the presence of Hoffman and Raines (in his tenth season on the ballot) may hurt his chances.

Jeff Bagwell’s best season: In 1994, Bagwell earned the NL MVP Award with a season in which he hit .368, with 39 home runs, scored a NL-leading 104 runs, led the league with 116 RBU, stole 15 bases (in 19 attempts) – and won a Gold Glove.

________________________________

New to the Hall of fame Ballot

There are a handful of first-timers on the ballot, who may get a significant number of votes, but BBRT thinks will fall victim to the first-ballot prejudice.

Ivan Rodriguez (C – 1991-2011)

Ivan Rodriguez played 21 MLB seasons (Rangers Marlins, Tigers, Yankees, Astros, Nationals), putting up 2,844 hits, a .296 average, 311 home runs and 1,332 RBI. He was a 14-time All Star, 13-time Gold Glove Winner and won the AL MVP Award in 1999. If any of the first-timers on the ballot captured the necessary votes, it’s likely to be I-Rod – with his combination of leather (13 Gold Gloves) and lumber (seven Silver Slugger Awards).

Manny Ramirez (OF  – 1993-2011)

Manny Ramirez played 19 MLB seasons (Indians, Red Sox, Dodgers, White Sox, Rays), collecting 2,574 hits, a  .312 batting average, 555 home runs and 1,.831 RBI. Ramirez was a 12-time All Star and led the AL in average (2002), home runs (2004) and RBI (1999) once each.  Ramirez won nine Silver Slugger Awards, including eight consecutive (1999-2006), hit .285 with 29 home runs in 111 post season games and was the 2004 World Series MVP.  Ramirez clearly put up HOF-caliber numbers, but my guess is that voters will remember “Manny being Manny” and make him wait a year or two.

Vladimir Guerrero (OF – 1996-2011)

In a 16-year MLB career (Expos, Angels, Rangers, Orioles) Vladimir Guerrora hit a solid .318 (13 seasons of .300 or better), smacked 449 home runs (a high of 44 in 2000), drove in 1,496 runs (10 seasons of 100+) and stole 181 bases (with a high of 40 in 2002.)  Guerrero was the AL MVP in 2004 (when he  hit .337, with 39 home runs and a 126 RBI). He was a nine–time All Star and eight-time  Silver Slugger Award winner. Still his stats may fall short of the voters proven reluctance to elect “first-timers” on the ballot to the Hall.

A very ealry prediction – BBRT’s Best Best for 2017 HOF Election:  Trevor Hoffman, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez. 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.