Now that Jackie Robinson has been elected, I wanted to check in with you guys on your interest in considering Negro League players. If people were interested they could volunteer to do a write-up on a player (that they would want to vote for) and they could be added to the ballot. Either a special Negro League ballot or we could just add them sporadically as we go along.
Are you interested in voting on Negro League Players?
- Yes (83%, 5 Votes)
- No (17%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 6
Loading ...Are you interested in doing a write up on a Negro League Player?
- Yes (67%, 4 Votes)
- No (33%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 6
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It's been pretty white up in here until now. Not only did Jackie Robinson do good, he is our only unanimous inductee for this ballot.
Dimaggio skates in with 94% of the vote. Hey, he wasn't Ted Williams.
Steak, brown rice, black beans, guacamole, cheese, hot salsa, and 94% of the vote.
With 83% of the vote, I would say that's game, set, match.
The electorate was clearly on the side of clearly very talented. At least 83% of us were.
Is that Joseph Gordon-Levitt with 83% of the vote? Anyway, Gabby gets in on his fourth ballot.
Below you'll find plaques for those votes in last time. Thanks hungry joe!
Staying On The Ballot
Boudreau and Kiner have nice debuts which will likely get them elected. Joe Gordon makes the biggest leap, crossing that coveted 50% line. Nearly everyone else drops.
Lou Boudreau (67%)
Ralph Kiner (67%)
Ted Lyons (67%) +2
Joe Gordon (56%) +11
Wes Ferrell (44%) -6
Joe Medwick (44%) -11
Red Ruffing (44%) -6
Dizzy Dean (39%) -11
Ernie Lombardi (39%) -1
Lefty Gomez (33%) -12
Bobby Doerr (28%)
Falling off the Ballot
Bill Terry came close at times and made his final ballot push but just didn't impress enough of us to get in. Meanwhile Bob Johnson who I have a soft spot for sputtered out, as did Stan Hack.
The legendary Phil Rizzuto did not impress and is promptly booted before anyone even had a chance to do a write-up on him.
Bill Terry (61%) +11
Bob Johnson (33%) -7
Stan Hack (22%) -13
Dutch Leonard (17%)
Charlie Keller (11%)
Bobo Newsom (11%)
Phil Rizzuto (11%)
Bob Elliott (6%)
Eddie Stanky (6%)
Harry Brecheen (0%)
Bill Nichsolon (0%)
Vern Stephens (0%)
Nice to see Ted Lyons pick up a bit more support.
Phil Rirruto?
Oh neat -- glad I could do Arky's "acceptance speech".
So, Wes Ferrell. I've been voting for him based on his combined career value (61.6 rWAR), which sits comfortably above my HoF threshold. His 58.3 JAWS is in a pretty good ballpark for post-Deadball pitchers:
That said, it's his raw pitching lines that are hardest to swallow: 4.04 ERA (4.23 FIP, 116 ERA+), 1.481 WHIP, 0.95 K/BB. Those numbers mask his consistent placement in the top ten in categories like innings pitched, K/9, (fewest) HR/9, even ERA. He averaged 4.6 rWAR for his pitching between his age-19 and age-29 seasons, which is 2/3 starter material on a great team; Ferrell never played for one.
In the end, I've been voting for him because he was a pretty decent pitcher in his era who, thanks to the rules of his league at the time, was able to add quite a bit to his overall value by being an exceptional hitter for his position (.280/.351/.446 in 1344 PA, good for 100 OPS+ in a high-offense environment). He accomplished all that and retired before rosters were depleted by WWII, which is a point in his favor. In the same way that I'll have to consider Seligula-era DHs as a product of their environment, Wes Ferrell seems like a HoFer in his.
First, immortalized.
Second, you can trust him.
Great story.