Quote:
Originally Posted by clydepepper
I hope that Mr. Research, Bill Gregory notices this thread and shares his opinion...always a good read.
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Yes I like to do research as well, but he articulates his better than me (maybe because he has more time
).
I have been reading a HOF book that goes through each HOFer and lists their stats and bio. I found it surprising when I would see certain players put in by the Veteran's Committee instead of when they were first eligible.
Mize is a very surprising one considering he lost 3 of his prime years (age 30-32 to the war) yet was a NL home run leader twice prior and twice after his war years. In both 1947 and 1948 he led the NL in home runs (51 and 40 respectively) and had less SO than he did home runs both years ( 42 and 37 respectively). His career BB out pace his career SO 856-524. His 7 years prior to wartime was 184 HR, 763 RBI , 331 BA, 413 OBP, 588 SLG, 1.001 OPS. He still ended his 15 year career with a .562 SLG good enough still to rank him 15th all time (above Mays, Mantle, Aaron, and Musial). His WAR7 (best 7 War year total) ranks him as 4th all time for 1st basemen and his JAWS is good enough for 8th.
Yet when it came to the BBWAA he only got 16.7% in his first year and his max never made it past 50% with a 43.6% in 1971.