An evidence based discussion about the players who've been overlooked for Cooperstown

[KCRfan1]

Nice work Bill.

[the 'stache]

Thanks, Lou and Clyde.

I love that '53 Bowman. The '53 Color set ranks right up there with the T206 set as my favorites of all-time. I don't need a bunch of information. Just show me baseball players in their old time uniforms, and in those wonderful old stadiums.

John Thorn just put up a gallery of long gone stadiums, some wonderful shots of Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds, the Baker Bowl (which was pretty much responsible for Chuck Klein's Hall of Fame induction. Think a pre-war version of Coors Field. If you sneezed, and hit the ball in the direction of right field, you had a home run. Straightaway right field was 280 feet, right-center was 300 feet.)

Klein was a lifetime .354 hitter at home, and a .286 hitter on the road. And those numbers were wider before he was traded from the Phillies. In 2,599 at bats at the Baker Bowl, he was a career .395 hitter. LOL.

[frankbmd]

A shortstop for the Os named Belanger
Kept Earl's birds well out of danger
For he couldn't hit a lick
But the balls they did stick
In his glove they were never a stranger.



There once was a batter named "Minnie"
Who twas neither fat nor skinny
He'd slide on his face
To steal second base
And then wipe the dirt off his chinny.



The verbage of 'stache astounds us
With charts of stats he hounds us
We're forced to see
Until we agree
Or he'll continue to pound us.

[clydepepper]

Those are great, Frank!


Bill- I wonder how much of an effect having Brooks to his right had on Belanger...did he feel like he could take chances that other might not? What kind of effect did Belanger have on Brooks' attitude and positioning?

I can't think of another SS-3B combo who were anywhere near them defensively. It just had to help knowing that you had someone next to you like that.

Along with Blair in CF, Boog must have gotten the lion's share of Boots.

[Davino]

interesting discussion.

[the 'stache]

Imagine coming to the plate, and knowing that the Orioles had Gold Glovers at third, short, second-Davey Johnson then Bobby Grich, center and on the mound, if it was Palmer. You'd better pull that ball to the right or hit it out of the park, because if the ball goes anywhere else, it's going to be an out.

I think that Belanger, knowing he had the human vacuum to his right, was able to take chances he normally wouldn't dream of taking.

As far as a shortstop-third base combo, maybe Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa. Add in Manny Trillo at second, and that's a pretty tight infield. Anybody with Schmidt was going to be good though, or at least better because of him.

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Those are great, Frank!


Bill- I wonder how much of an effect having Brooks to his right had on Belanger...did he feel like he could take chances that other might not? What kind of effect did Belanger have on Brooks' attitude and positioning?

I can't think of another SS-3B combo who were anywhere near them defensively. It just had to help knowing that you had someone next to you like that.

Along with Blair in CF, Boog must have gotten the lion's share of Boots.

[frankbmd]

In 1971 the Orioles won and were tenth in the AL in Double Plays.

Tinker to Evers to Chance were not an outstanding double play combo either statistically.

I like numbers to be sure
Math is simple and clearly pure
But twisted stats can mislead
Best to remember when you read
That figures lie and liars figure

The Hall of Fame is clearly flawed
Including chums not to be awed
Accept the Hall for what it is
As PeeWee said to ol' Diz
"It's a great day for baseball"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/120433379

Watch Diz struggle saying Amalfitano.

And listen as Diz sings his favorite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q0X_26gcQs

[KCRfan1]

Frank Burkett is quite the poet
By reading his words we would all know it
It's a very good time
As we read Franks rhymes
And we look forward to the next time he posts it.