Card Values for Golden Era Player if Elected

[Exhibitman]

I had a lunch with Don Newcombe some years ago (I did a write-up of what he told me here) and one thing that stuck with me was that he was adamant that being locked out of the majors cost him a shot at the HOF. He was stuck in the minors for what he felt was two unnecessary seasons because the Dodgers flat out told him that they were bringing up black ballplayers one at a time and he had to wait for the other guys they brought up first. He thought that had he been allowed to go to 'organized' baseball without the racism he'd have won over 200 games and had probably another 1-2 20 game winning seasons. That said, he also would admit that he drank himself out of the majors by age 34.

[cardsagain74]

Always has to be a devil's advocate, right? But I have never agreed with the Minoso HOF push.

At least not based on his numbers. His year by year statline reads like the standard hall of very good hitter. I'm not even sure how his WAR and OPS+ are as high as they are (when you break everything down). I don't think a couple extra MLB years in the late '40s to start his career would've changed any of that much.

Also, his DWAR numbers don't support the gold gloves he won at all, and (despite being considered a top stolen base guy for his time), his SB success rate was very subpar. Most of the black ink from his career numbers comes from leading the league in caught stealing and HBP.

If you want to factor in how he likely helped clear the path for Latin American players to get to the big leagues, then that's different. But imo, that's the only way he'd deserve to be in.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I had a lunch with Don Newcombe some years ago (I did a write-up of what he told me here) and one thing that stuck with me was that he was adamant that being locked out of the majors cost him a shot at the HOF. He was stuck in the minors for what he felt was two unnecessary seasons because the Dodgers flat out told him that they were bringing up black ballplayers one at a time and he had to wait for the other guys they brought up first. He thought that had he been allowed to go to 'organized' baseball without the racism he'd have won over 200 games and had probably another 1-2 20 game winning seasons. That said, he also would admit that he drank himself out of the majors by age 34.

Wow.

Great story Adam

Thanks for sharing

[Bridwell]

I bought 3 of Minoso's cards this year. I think he will be elected. His prior MLB stats are a little light but the addition of the Negro League stats helps. I expect MLB will look to add a couple more of the Negro League players with verified stats this year as a follow up to their validation of the Negro Leagues. Minoso is the most obvious one to choose. He could have had 3 more years of American League stats with 154 games each if he was born a few years later. However, the speculators have already jumped up the values of his cards to HOF levels.

[tjb1952tjb]

My only Minoso card. And yes, he deserves to be a HOF'er, IMO.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I had a lunch with Don Newcombe some years ago (I did a write-up of what he told me here) and one thing that stuck with me was that he was adamant that being locked out of the majors cost him a shot at the HOF. He was stuck in the minors for what he felt was two unnecessary seasons because the Dodgers flat out told him that they were bringing up black ballplayers one at a time and he had to wait for the other guys they brought up first. He thought that had he been allowed to go to 'organized' baseball without the racism he'd have won over 200 games and had probably another 1-2 20 game winning seasons. That said, he also would admit that he drank himself out of the majors by age 34.

Don Newcombe was a star. Being a Dodgers fan, I saw him pitch on 2 occasions. He was overpowering on the mound, a hulking presence which must have been terrifying for the batters. And he was a great hitter to boot. The Dodgers sometimes you used him as a pinch hitter.