Calling All True Pre-War Buffs: Rank The T206 HOFers

[michael3322]

Great thread.

I've long wondered why Willie Keeler hasn't received more due. At 5'7" 140lb, he compiled nearly 3k hits, was the hardest guy to strike out in baseball history (only Sewell was close), had the longest hitting streak of his era, etc. In terms of doing the most with the body you were given, he gets my vote.

Rank Player (yrs, age) AB per SO Bats
1. Willie Keeler+ (19) 63.17 L
2. Joe Sewell+ (14) 62.56 L
3. Lave Cross (21) 45.08 R
4. Lloyd Waner+ (18) 44.92 L
5. Joe Start (16) 43.51 L
6. Nellie Fox+ (19) 42.74 L
7. Tommy Holmes (11) 40.92 L
8. Emil Verban (7) 39.34 R
9. Homer Summa (10) 34.10 L
10. Andy High (13) 33.85 L

Source: Baseball Reference

Also, Joss has the best WHIP of any pitcher ever.

Rank Player (yrs, age) Walks & Hits per IP Throws
1. Addie Joss+ (9) 0.9678 R
2. Mariano Rivera (17, 42) 0.9981 R
3. Ed Walsh+ (14) 0.9996 R
4. Monte Ward+ (17) 1.0435 R
5. Pedro Martinez (18) 1.0544 R
6. Christy Mathewson+ (17) 1.0581 R
7. Trevor Hoffman (18) 1.0584 R
8. Walter Johnson+ (21) 1.0612 R
9. Mordecai Brown+ (14) 1.0658 R
10. Charlie Sweeney (6) 1.0673 R

Source: Baseball Reference

That technically makes him the hardest pitcher for a batter to face in baseball history. His career was tragically short, but he would be high on my list too.

[drumback]

When did they put Hal Chase in the Hall of Fame?

[bundy462]

I think you missed the little commentary before the list in the original post. Threw him in for the hell of it.