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KCRoyals15 · 01-23-2025, 06:25 PM

A Century of Excellence

One of the principle tasks of the centennial committee commissioned by the United States Baseball Federation in 1998 to commemorate the organization's 100th anniversary was to name an All-Century Team.

The task featured voting by fans and media members and in the end, 30 players were selected: 15 batters, 15 pitchers, plus a manager. The team was unveiled before Game 1 of the 1999 National Championship.

Among those 30 men, one hitter and one pitcher were named the Player of the Century and the Pitcher of the Century:

Jason Flores
Seattle Rainiers 1955-77

A tireless backstop, Flores caught for Seattle for an impressive 23 seasons, racking up 3,281 hits (sixth all-time), 1,346 runs, 620 doubles, 231 home runs, and 1,609 RBI, playing the most games, and collecting the most hits and RBI by any catcher in USBF history. Flores won five Platinum Stick awards for his position and was instrumental in winning three Pacific Coast League championships, plus the 1965 National Championship. After catching for the Rainiers until he was 45 years old, Flores was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 1983.

Brent Murphy
New Orleans Pelicans 1948-70

Another 23-year veteran, Murphy hit .295 for his career with 3,024 hits, 596 doubles, 212 home runs, and 1,352 RBI, establishing himself as one of the top offensive catchers of all-time. He was named a Southern Conference All-Star a record 19 times and won the Platinum Stick on seven occasions. He was elected to the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1981.

David Zimmerman
Los Angeles Angels 1935-40
Oakland Oaks 1941-47

Though his career was one of the shortest on the team, Zimmerman made it count, batting .326 lifetime, the highest of any catcher in USBF history. He won three batting titles, also a record for catchers, and ended his career with 2,568 hits, 1,115 hits, 419 doubles, 148 home runs, and 1,244 RBI. He won seven Platinum Sticks, three Great Gloves, and was a key cog on three Pacific Coast League championship squads. Zimmerman was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 1951.

Marco Adams
Seattle Rainiers 1985-93
San Francisco Seals 1993-98
Pittsburgh Ironmen 1999

One of two active players on the team, Adams has more than earned his spot due to his record-breaking slugging. A two-time Triple Crown winner, Adams holds the USBF single-season home run record (63 in 1987), and ranks fourth all-time with 593 home runs and third with 1,911 RBI, in addition to a lifetime .314 batting average and 2,710 hits. Adams is a four-time Pacific Coast League MVP, a 10-time All-Star, a six-time Platinum Stick winner, once won a Great Glove, and has won two PCL championships, plus the 1998 National Championship.

Bryan Kunkel
San Francisco Seals 1929-46

If there was one thing Kunkel could do, it was flat-out hit. To this day, he is the only player in USBF history to top 4,000 hits, finishing his career with a USBF-record 4,082 hits, while also setting a national record with 816 doubles and scoring 2,020 runs, third-most all-time. He also added 245 home runs and 1,950 RBI, ranking second all-time. A lifetime .336 hitter, Kunkel was the 1934 Pacific Coast League MVP, won four Platinum Sticks, three Great Gloves, and played for seven PCL title teams, including National Championship teams in 1932-33, and '36. Kunkel was elected into the PCL Hall of Fame in 1950 with 99.4% of the vote, still the highest in league history.

Steve Bishop
Jacksonville Tars/Suns 1959-77

Arguably the best player in Southern Conference history, Bishop manned second base for 19 seasons in Jacksonville and was conference MVP in nearly half of them—nine in total, tying a national record. A .296 hitter, he swatted 2,680 hits, scored 1,705 runs, added 378 doubles, hit 606 homers (third all-time), and drove in 1,866 runs, while also stealing 434 bases. Bishop was named to 16 All-Star Games, won nine Platinum Sticks, and two Great Gloves, while driving the Tars to a 1967 Southern Conference title and National Runner-Up finish. He was elected to the EBF Hall of Fame in 1983.

Joseph Miller
Seattle Rainiers 1962-78

The USBF's all-time leader in home runs, Miller clubbed a record 677 homers during his 17-year career, adding 2,506 hits, 1,690 runs, and driving in 1,870 runs (fourth-most all-time). Miller led the Pacific Coast League in home runs on nine occasions, while winning a PCL-record eight MVP awards, plus 11 Platinum Sticks. He slugged Seattle to three PCL championships and the 1965 National Championship. Miller was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 1982.

Player of the Century Mark Oxford
Milwaukee Black Hawks 1969-91

Named the USBF Player of the Century, Oxford could just about do it all in his career, becoming the most decorated player in history. Over his 23 years in Milwaukee, Oxford racked up 3,748 hits, 2,066 runs, 528 doubles, 301 home runs, 1,416 RBI, 891 stolen bases, and hit .306 lifetime. He ranks first all-time in runs, second in hits, and seventh in steals. Oxford won a record nine-straight Northern Conference MVPs from 1971-79 and also was an 18-time All-Star, a 13-time Great Glove winner, and 13-time Platinum Stick recipient. He led the Black Hawks to four Conference Championships and National Championships in 1969, '72, and '76. He was inducted into the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1997.

Sam Melendez
Indianapolis Hoosiers 1927-47

Melendez ended his 21-year career with 3,483 hits, 1,851 runs, and 1,709 RBI, all of which led the Eastern Baseball Federation at the time (he still ranks third nationally in career hits). In addition, Melendez hit .323 lifetime and added 684 doubles (third all-time), 192 triples, and 233 home runs, while earning five Platinum Sticks and leading the Indianapolis Hoosiers to a National Championship in 1937. He was elected to the EBF Hall of Fame in 1953.

Aaron Vergara
Milwaukee Black Hawks 1949-67

A key cog in the rise of the Milwaukee Black Hawks in the 50's, Vergara hit .309 with 3,331 hits (fourth all-time), 1,579 runs, 526 doubles, 479 home runs, and 1,827 RBI. Vergara was named Northern Conference MVP in 1957 and 1963 while earning 12 All-Star selections and 10 Platinum Sticks. Even in the twilight of his 19-year career, he was an integral piece in Milwaukee's 1966 Conference Championship and National Runner-Up finish, their best-ever season to that point. Vergara was inducted into the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1973.

Tom Clark
Philadelphia Quakers 1958-79

One of the best defensive outfielders of all-time, Clark also was a stellar hitter, finishing his career with 3,042 hits, 1,710 runs, 576 doubles, 516 home runs, and 1,816 RBI. He is still the only player in USBF history to reach 3,000 hits and 500 homers. In addition, he earned Northern Conference MVP in 1959, was named to 11 All-Star teams, won 10 Great Gloves, and a pair of Platinum Sticks over his 21-year career in Philadelphia, which also included three Conference Championships and the 1973 National Championship. He was elected to the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1985.

Cory Gilmore
Manhattan Yankees 1960-76

Gilmore made an impression from the start, winning Northern Conference MVP as a rookie in 1960, part of a run of six MVPs in his first eight seasons, including four straight from 1964-67. The Manhattan outfielder finished his 17-year career with a .304 lifetime average, 2,839 hits, 1,473 runs, 473 doubles, 414 homers, 1,602 RBI, and 235 stolen bases. He earned 12 All-Star nods, eight Platinum Sticks, and was a key part of Conference Championship squads in 1963 and '74. Gilmore was inducted into the Eastern Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 as the Hall's only unanimous selection.

Jared Krieger
Los Angeles Angels 1926-38

The first superstar of the Pacific Coast League's major-league era, Krieger played the fewest games of anyone on the team (1,991) and only played ten full seasons, but in that time he destroyed PCL pitching to the tune of a .356 lifetime batting average, 2,655 hits, 391 doubles, 211 triples, 220 homers, and 1,442 RBI, while stealing 240 bases. He won a then-record six MVPs, including three-straight from 1926-28 and eight Platinum Sticks and serving as the heartbeat for the Los Angeles Angels in three National Championship runs: 1926, '28, and '31. He was the first player to earn PCL Hall of Fame induction on the merits of his big-league career, getting the call in 1947.

Jarrett Messing
Seattle Rainiers 1955-72

The third member of the 60's-era Seattle Rainiers on the team, Messing was the most well-rounded of the bunch, batting .309 with 3,094 hits, 1,671 runs, 494 doubles, 395 home runs, 1,558 RBI, and 236 stolen bases. A winner of four batting titles, Messing won Pacific Coast League MVPs in 1957, '60, and '68, while adding 11 Platinum Sticks. He won three PCL championships and the 1965 National Championship with Seattle before being inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame in 1976.

Randy Shaddon
San Francisco Seals 1943-51
Toronto Maple Leafs 1952-56
Jacksonville Tars 1957-61
Oklahoma City Indians 1962

The final position player on the team was the most controversial selection, but ultimately the most-decorated defender of all-time got the call. Shaddon also hit enough, racking up 3,128 hits, 1,853 runs, 506 doubles, 173 triples, 235 homers, and 1,300 RBI, along with 372 stolen bases. He won Pacific Coast League MVPs in 1946 and '48, along with a record 15 Great Gloves—all consecutively, despite appearing in the PCL and both Northern and Southern Conferences during that run. He also made three All-Star teams and won a pair of Platinum Sticks during his 20-year career, which included four league championships (three PCL, one EBF) and the 1948 National Championship with San Francisco.

Jim Alvarez
Omaha Golden Spikes 1926-33
New York Gothams 1934-44
St. Paul Saints 1945
Detroit Wolverines 1945

Alvarez kept going and going, pitching at an ace level for nearly all of his 20-year career, finishing fourth all-time with 357 wins, posting a 3.04 ERA and striking out 2,268 over 5,294.2 innings. He won Eastern Baseball Federation Pitcher of the Year awards in 1934 and '42, winning a Triple Crown in the former year. He also logged 329 complete games and 53 shutouts in his career and won two EBF titles, plus the 1935 National Championship, with New York. He was inducted into the EBF Hall of Fame in 1951.

Jason Confer
Kansas City Blues 1918-38

Confer began his career at the tail-end of the Dead Ball Era, but adjusted seamlessly to the lively ball, winning 20 or more games seven times and a total of 371 over his 21-year career, second-most in USBF history. Confer logged a 3.27 ERA and struck out 2,526 over 5,349.2 innings and threw 328 complete games. He won the 1935 Eastern Baseball Federation Pitcher of the Year Award, it's oldest winner ever (42), and led Kansas City to four EBF titles and National Championships in 1920 and '24. he was elected to the EBF Hall of Fame in 1944.

Kevin Corbett
Hollywood Stars 1964-69
Albany Adirondacks 1970-85

Corbett began his career as a hotshot who won three Pitcher of the Year awards in the Pacific Coast League, then 16 steady seasons on the other side of the country, ending his career with 331 wins, a 2.98 ERA, 5,998.0 innings, 3,134 strikeouts, and 210 complete games, including 54 shutouts. The ironman logged the second-most innings all-time and his 812 starts are the most in USBF history as he never missed a start or logged time on the injured list during his entire 23-year career. In addition to his three POTY trophies, Corbett was a 13-time All-Star and won two Conference Championships with Albany. He was inducted into the EBF Hall of Fame in 1991.

Nicky Croucher
Cleveland Buckeyes 1908-25
Oakland Oaks 1926-27

A winner of 20 games 13 times in 14 years (and 19 games in the 14th), no one won more than Croucher, whose 383 wins is most in USBF history. Not only that, he logged a 2.47 career ERA, led by a miniscule 1.20 mark during his Pitcher of the Year campaign in 1917. Croucher worked 5,565.0 innings and struck out 2,523 batters, completing 426 games and spinning 67 shutouts, also an all-time record. He led Cleveland to National Championships in 1913 and '16 and earning induction into the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1931.

Andy Epperson
Brooklyn Dodgers 1906-23
Chicago Whales 1924-25

The owner of the third-most wins in USBF history, Epperson won 359 games over 20 seasons, posting a 2.53 ERA over 5,364.0 innings with 2,736 strikeouts. Epperson won 20 or more games 11 times and was the 1914 Eastern Baseball Federation Pitcher of the Year. He also was the ace of the Brooklyn teams that won National Championships in 1917 and '19. Epperson was inducted into the EBF Hall of Fame in 1931.

Jim Greene
Rochester Stars 1900-15

The only member of the team who played in the inaugural USBF season in 1900, Greene plied away in tiny Rochester, winning the very first Eastern Baseball Federation Pitcher of the Year award. Greene won 32 games that season on his way to 330 wins in 16 seasons, which made him the first-ever 300-game winner and the all-time leader at his retirement. In his addition to his 330-224 record, Greene logged a 2.32 ERA over 5182.1 innings and 2,903 strikeouts, which remained a record for a quarter-century. Greene headlined the first-ever EBF Hall of Fame class in 1927.

Pitcher of the Century Roy Hendricks
Oklahoma City Indians 1961-80

The Pitcher of the Century earned his title on large part of being the most decorated hurler in major league history. Over his 20-year career, Hendricks was Pitcher of the Year exactly half the time, winning a 10 POTY trophies, including four in a row from 1963-66. He added the 1972 Texas League MVP, with his 11 major awards the most in big league history. He went 273-199 with a 2.69 ERA, striking out 3,128 batters in 4,489.1 innings and adding 193 complete games and 63 shutouts, second-most in USBF history. A 16-time All-Star, he led Oklahoma City to the Texas League title and National Runner-Up status in 1976. Hendricks was inducted into the Texas League Hall of Fame in 1986, coming one vote away from unanimous induction.

Carlos Pena
El Paso Texans 1965-74
Dallas Lone Stars 1974-84

The strikeout king of the nation, Pena obliterated all previous strikeout records, punching out a record 4,182 batters over his 20 seasons, over than 750 strikeouts more than the second-place hurler, despite having just 4,003.1 innings, over 500 less than any other starter on the team. He logged 234 wins and posted a 3.16 ERA in his career. Despite never winning a Pitcher of the Year, he led the league in strikeouts ten times, was a 13-time All-Star and was a two-time Texas League champion. He was inducted into the TL Hall of Fame in 1990.

Kevin Popp
San Diego Padres 1956-61
Chicago Cyclones 1962-65
Jacksonville Tars/Suns1965-77

Popp won 22 games in his first season and 20 in his 20th season, winning 324 games when it was all said and done. Over three teams, Popp worked 5,642.1 innings over 774 starts in 22 seasons, logging the second-most starts and fourth-most innings. He also posted a 3.31 ERA and struck out 2,972 batters, eighth-most all-time. Popp was a 10-time All-Star who did not miss a start over his final 20 seasons and won two PCL titles in San Diego, plus a Conference Championship in Jacksonville. He was inducted into the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1989.

Justin Rodrigues
Milwaukee Black Hawks 1910-25

One of the first individual dynasties, Rodrigues won three Pitchers of the Year in his first four years, plus another one in 1920. In 16 years, he won 311 games, boasted a 2.30 ERA and struck out 2,399 batters in 4,952.1 innings. He also led the Eastern Baseball Federation in ERA four times, posting a total of nine seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA. He was elected to the EBF Hall of Fame in 1931.

D.J. Schreck
New York Gothams 1927-44
Birmingham Barons 1945

Schreck only won a single Pitcher of the Year award (in 1931), but he posted an incredible 337-143 record, his .702 winning percentage far and away the best of all-time for anyone with at least 200 decisions. He also posted a 2.82 ERA and struck out 1,949 batters in 4,531 innings. Schreck won 20 or more games ten times (and 29 games twice), added four Great Gloves, and was integral to four Eastern Baseball Federation titles for New York, plus the 1930 and '35 National Championships.

Scott West
San Diego Padres (1980-Present)

The second and final active player on the team, West has continued to be excellent despite pitching the back half of his career through the brunt of the highest-scoring era in baseball history. West has won 333 games and posted a 3.56 ERA over 4,828.1 innings, striking out 3,086 batters along the way. While he has never won Pitcher of the Year, West has the fifth-most strikeouts of all-time and is a 13-time All-Star who has been instrumental in seven Pacific Coast League titles and National Championships in 1984-85, and '94 for San Diego.

Seth Boring
San Francisco Seals 1968-72
Indianapolis Hoosiers 1972
Oklahoma City Indians 1972-75
Tampa Tarpons 1976-87

Boring's career was anything but, as the rubber-armed reliever appeared in a record 1,461 games over 20 seasons, winning 181 games and saving 446 more. He logged a 2.77 ERA over 2,418.2 innings, all of them in relief, while striking out 1,729 batters. Boring leads all relievers in wins, saves, games, and innings. He made 12 All-Star Games, earned Reliever of the Year twice in the Texas League and once in the Southern Conference, while also winning two PCL titles and a Conference Championship.

Jay Latko
Seattle Rainiers 1969-82
Oakland Oaks 1983
Cleveland Spiders 1984-86

Latko pitched 18 seasons and logged 1,177 games, all but two in relief. He won 145 games and saved 438 more, second-most all-time. He also posted a 2.83 ERA over 1,589.1 innings, striking out 1,387. Latko was a nine-time All-Star and the 1970 Pacific Coast League Reliever of the Year. He closed out games for three PCL championship teams, including the 1979 National Champion Seattle Rainiers. He was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 1990, the first reliever to be enshrined.

Ricky Velasquez
Milwaukee Black Hawks 1964-74
Portland Beavers 1974

The shortest career on the team also was the most dominant, as Velasquez was a fearsome reliever way ahead of his time. In 787 games, the lefty won 115 games, saved 278, and had an ERA of just 2.30 ERA. However, he struck out 1,958 batters, far and away the most of any reliever, and did so in just 1,212.0 innings, with his 14.5 K/9 rate more than 40% higher than anyone in major league history with at least 1,000 innings. A three-time Northern Conference Reliever of the Year, he struck out 200 batters in relief four times (no one else has done it even once) and five times he finished in the top five in the conference in punchouts. He won three Conference Championships in Milwaukee, including National Championships in 1969 and '72.

The Skipper
Kansas City Blues 1900-16
Los Angeles Angels 1926-29 (minor league 1917-25)
New York Gothams 1930-34

The leader of the hypothetical team is The Skipper, who built dynasties in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and New York, winning National Championships in all three cities. He went 2,561-1,639 (.610) as a big-league manager and won nearly 1,200 additional games over nine minor league seasons with the Angels. All told, in 26 big-league seasons, Skipper reached the postseason 16 times, won 7 league championships, and 6 National Championships, a record that still stands.

01-23-2025, 06:25 PM	#112
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	Unveiling the USBF All-Century Team A Century of Excellence One of the principle tasks of the centennial committee commissioned by the United States Baseball Federation in 1998 to commemorate the organization's 100th anniversary was to name an All-Century Team. The task featured voting by fans and media members and in the end, 30 players were selected: 15 batters, 15 pitchers, plus a manager. The team was unveiled before Game 1 of the 1999 National Championship. Among those 30 men, one hitter and one pitcher were named the Player of the Century and the Pitcher of the Century: Jason Flores Seattle Rainiers 1955-77 A tireless backstop, Flores caught for Seattle for an impressive 23 seasons, racking up 3,281 hits (sixth all-time), 1,346 runs, 620 doubles, 231 home runs, and 1,609 RBI, playing the most games, and collecting the most hits and RBI by any catcher in USBF history. Flores won five Platinum Stick awards for his position and was instrumental in winning three Pacific Coast League championships, plus the 1965 National Championship. After catching for the Rainiers until he was 45 years old, Flores was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 1983. Brent Murphy New Orleans Pelicans 1948-70 Another 23-year veteran, Murphy hit .295 for his career with 3,024 hits, 596 doubles, 212 home runs, and 1,352 RBI, establishing himself as one of the top offensive catchers of all-time. He was named a Southern Conference All-Star a record 19 times and won the Platinum Stick on seven occasions. He was elected to the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1981. David Zimmerman Los Angeles Angels 1935-40 Oakland Oaks 1941-47 Though his career was one of the shortest on the team, Zimmerman made it count, batting .326 lifetime, the highest of any catcher in USBF history. He won three batting titles, also a record for catchers, and ended his career with 2,568 hits, 1,115 hits, 419 doubles, 148 home runs, and 1,244 RBI. He won seven Platinum Sticks, three Great Gloves, and was a key cog on three Pacific Coast League championship squads. Zimmerman was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 1951. Marco Adams Seattle Rainiers 1985-93 San Francisco Seals 1993-98 Pittsburgh Ironmen 1999 One of two active players on the team, Adams has more than earned his spot due to his record-breaking slugging. A two-time Triple Crown winner, Adams holds the USBF single-season home run record (63 in 1987), and ranks fourth all-time with 593 home runs and third with 1,911 RBI, in addition to a lifetime .314 batting average and 2,710 hits. Adams is a four-time Pacific Coast League MVP, a 10-time All-Star, a six-time Platinum Stick winner, once won a Great Glove, and has won two PCL championships, plus the 1998 National Championship. Bryan Kunkel San Francisco Seals 1929-46 If there was one thing Kunkel could do, it was flat-out hit. To this day, he is the only player in USBF history to top 4,000 hits, finishing his career with a USBF-record 4,082 hits, while also setting a national record with 816 doubles and scoring 2,020 runs, third-most all-time. He also added 245 home runs and 1,950 RBI, ranking second all-time. A lifetime .336 hitter, Kunkel was the 1934 Pacific Coast League MVP, won four Platinum Sticks, three Great Gloves, and played for seven PCL title teams, including National Championship teams in 1932-33, and '36. Kunkel was elected into the PCL Hall of Fame in 1950 with 99.4% of the vote, still the highest in league history. Steve Bishop Jacksonville Tars/Suns 1959-77 Arguably the best player in Southern Conference history, Bishop manned second base for 19 seasons in Jacksonville and was conference MVP in nearly half of them—nine in total, tying a national record. A .296 hitter, he swatted 2,680 hits, scored 1,705 runs, added 378 doubles, hit 606 homers (third all-time), and drove in 1,866 runs, while also stealing 434 bases. Bishop was named to 16 All-Star Games, won nine Platinum Sticks, and two Great Gloves, while driving the Tars to a 1967 Southern Conference title and National Runner-Up finish. He was elected to the EBF Hall of Fame in 1983. Joseph Miller Seattle Rainiers 1962-78 The USBF's all-time leader in home runs, Miller clubbed a record 677 homers during his 17-year career, adding 2,506 hits, 1,690 runs, and driving in 1,870 runs (fourth-most all-time). Miller led the Pacific Coast League in home runs on nine occasions, while winning a PCL-record eight MVP awards, plus 11 Platinum Sticks. He slugged Seattle to three PCL championships and the 1965 National Championship. Miller was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 1982. Player of the Century Mark Oxford Milwaukee Black Hawks 1969-91 Named the USBF Player of the Century, Oxford could just about do it all in his career, becoming the most decorated player in history. Over his 23 years in Milwaukee, Oxford racked up 3,748 hits, 2,066 runs, 528 doubles, 301 home runs, 1,416 RBI, 891 stolen bases, and hit .306 lifetime. He ranks first all-time in runs, second in hits, and seventh in steals. Oxford won a record nine-straight Northern Conference MVPs from 1971-79 and also was an 18-time All-Star, a 13-time Great Glove winner, and 13-time Platinum Stick recipient. He led the Black Hawks to four Conference Championships and National Championships in 1969, '72, and '76. He was inducted into the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1997. Sam Melendez Indianapolis Hoosiers 1927-47 Melendez ended his 21-year career with 3,483 hits, 1,851 runs, and 1,709 RBI, all of which led the Eastern Baseball Federation at the time (he still ranks third nationally in career hits). In addition, Melendez hit .323 lifetime and added 684 doubles (third all-time), 192 triples, and 233 home runs, while earning five Platinum Sticks and leading the Indianapolis Hoosiers to a National Championship in 1937. He was elected to the EBF Hall of Fame in 1953. Aaron Vergara Milwaukee Black Hawks 1949-67 A key cog in the rise of the Milwaukee Black Hawks in the 50's, Vergara hit .309 with 3,331 hits (fourth all-time), 1,579 runs, 526 doubles, 479 home runs, and 1,827 RBI. Vergara was named Northern Conference MVP in 1957 and 1963 while earning 12 All-Star selections and 10 Platinum Sticks. Even in the twilight of his 19-year career, he was an integral piece in Milwaukee's 1966 Conference Championship and National Runner-Up finish, their best-ever season to that point. Vergara was inducted into the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1973. Tom Clark Philadelphia Quakers 1958-79 One of the best defensive outfielders of all-time, Clark also was a stellar hitter, finishing his career with 3,042 hits, 1,710 runs, 576 doubles, 516 home runs, and 1,816 RBI. He is still the only player in USBF history to reach 3,000 hits and 500 homers. In addition, he earned Northern Conference MVP in 1959, was named to 11 All-Star teams, won 10 Great Gloves, and a pair of Platinum Sticks over his 21-year career in Philadelphia, which also included three Conference Championships and the 1973 National Championship. He was elected to the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1985. Cory Gilmore Manhattan Yankees 1960-76 Gilmore made an impression from the start, winning Northern Conference MVP as a rookie in 1960, part of a run of six MVPs in his first eight seasons, including four straight from 1964-67. The Manhattan outfielder finished his 17-year career with a .304 lifetime average, 2,839 hits, 1,473 runs, 473 doubles, 414 homers, 1,602 RBI, and 235 stolen bases. He earned 12 All-Star nods, eight Platinum Sticks, and was a key part of Conference Championship squads in 1963 and '74. Gilmore was inducted into the Eastern Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 as the Hall's only unanimous selection. Jared Krieger Los Angeles Angels 1926-38 The first superstar of the Pacific Coast League's major-league era, Krieger played the fewest games of anyone on the team (1,991) and only played ten full seasons, but in that time he destroyed PCL pitching to the tune of a .356 lifetime batting average, 2,655 hits, 391 doubles, 211 triples, 220 homers, and 1,442 RBI, while stealing 240 bases. He won a then-record six MVPs, including three-straight from 1926-28 and eight Platinum Sticks and serving as the heartbeat for the Los Angeles Angels in three National Championship runs: 1926, '28, and '31. He was the first player to earn PCL Hall of Fame induction on the merits of his big-league career, getting the call in 1947. Jarrett Messing Seattle Rainiers 1955-72 The third member of the 60's-era Seattle Rainiers on the team, Messing was the most well-rounded of the bunch, batting .309 with 3,094 hits, 1,671 runs, 494 doubles, 395 home runs, 1,558 RBI, and 236 stolen bases. A winner of four batting titles, Messing won Pacific Coast League MVPs in 1957, '60, and '68, while adding 11 Platinum Sticks. He won three PCL championships and the 1965 National Championship with Seattle before being inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame in 1976. Randy Shaddon San Francisco Seals 1943-51 Toronto Maple Leafs 1952-56 Jacksonville Tars 1957-61 Oklahoma City Indians 1962 The final position player on the team was the most controversial selection, but ultimately the most-decorated defender of all-time got the call. Shaddon also hit enough, racking up 3,128 hits, 1,853 runs, 506 doubles, 173 triples, 235 homers, and 1,300 RBI, along with 372 stolen bases. He won Pacific Coast League MVPs in 1946 and '48, along with a record 15 Great Gloves—all consecutively, despite appearing in the PCL and both Northern and Southern Conferences during that run. He also made three All-Star teams and won a pair of Platinum Sticks during his 20-year career, which included four league championships (three PCL, one EBF) and the 1948 National Championship with San Francisco. Jim Alvarez Omaha Golden Spikes 1926-33 New York Gothams 1934-44 St. Paul Saints 1945 Detroit Wolverines 1945 Alvarez kept going and going, pitching at an ace level for nearly all of his 20-year career, finishing fourth all-time with 357 wins, posting a 3.04 ERA and striking out 2,268 over 5,294.2 innings. He won Eastern Baseball Federation Pitcher of the Year awards in 1934 and '42, winning a Triple Crown in the former year. He also logged 329 complete games and 53 shutouts in his career and won two EBF titles, plus the 1935 National Championship, with New York. He was inducted into the EBF Hall of Fame in 1951. Jason Confer Kansas City Blues 1918-38 Confer began his career at the tail-end of the Dead Ball Era, but adjusted seamlessly to the lively ball, winning 20 or more games seven times and a total of 371 over his 21-year career, second-most in USBF history. Confer logged a 3.27 ERA and struck out 2,526 over 5,349.2 innings and threw 328 complete games. He won the 1935 Eastern Baseball Federation Pitcher of the Year Award, it's oldest winner ever (42), and led Kansas City to four EBF titles and National Championships in 1920 and '24. he was elected to the EBF Hall of Fame in 1944. Kevin Corbett Hollywood Stars 1964-69 Albany Adirondacks 1970-85 Corbett began his career as a hotshot who won three Pitcher of the Year awards in the Pacific Coast League, then 16 steady seasons on the other side of the country, ending his career with 331 wins, a 2.98 ERA, 5,998.0 innings, 3,134 strikeouts, and 210 complete games, including 54 shutouts. The ironman logged the second-most innings all-time and his 812 starts are the most in USBF history as he never missed a start or logged time on the injured list during his entire 23-year career. In addition to his three POTY trophies, Corbett was a 13-time All-Star and won two Conference Championships with Albany. He was inducted into the EBF Hall of Fame in 1991. Nicky Croucher Cleveland Buckeyes 1908-25 Oakland Oaks 1926-27 A winner of 20 games 13 times in 14 years (and 19 games in the 14th), no one won more than Croucher, whose 383 wins is most in USBF history. Not only that, he logged a 2.47 career ERA, led by a miniscule 1.20 mark during his Pitcher of the Year campaign in 1917. Croucher worked 5,565.0 innings and struck out 2,523 batters, completing 426 games and spinning 67 shutouts, also an all-time record. He led Cleveland to National Championships in 1913 and '16 and earning induction into the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1931. Andy Epperson Brooklyn Dodgers 1906-23 Chicago Whales 1924-25 The owner of the third-most wins in USBF history, Epperson won 359 games over 20 seasons, posting a 2.53 ERA over 5,364.0 innings with 2,736 strikeouts. Epperson won 20 or more games 11 times and was the 1914 Eastern Baseball Federation Pitcher of the Year. He also was the ace of the Brooklyn teams that won National Championships in 1917 and '19. Epperson was inducted into the EBF Hall of Fame in 1931. Jim Greene Rochester Stars 1900-15 The only member of the team who played in the inaugural USBF season in 1900, Greene plied away in tiny Rochester, winning the very first Eastern Baseball Federation Pitcher of the Year award. Greene won 32 games that season on his way to 330 wins in 16 seasons, which made him the first-ever 300-game winner and the all-time leader at his retirement. In his addition to his 330-224 record, Greene logged a 2.32 ERA over 5182.1 innings and 2,903 strikeouts, which remained a record for a quarter-century. Greene headlined the first-ever EBF Hall of Fame class in 1927. Pitcher of the Century Roy Hendricks Oklahoma City Indians 1961-80 The Pitcher of the Century earned his title on large part of being the most decorated hurler in major league history. Over his 20-year career, Hendricks was Pitcher of the Year exactly half the time, winning a 10 POTY trophies, including four in a row from 1963-66. He added the 1972 Texas League MVP, with his 11 major awards the most in big league history. He went 273-199 with a 2.69 ERA, striking out 3,128 batters in 4,489.1 innings and adding 193 complete games and 63 shutouts, second-most in USBF history. A 16-time All-Star, he led Oklahoma City to the Texas League title and National Runner-Up status in 1976. Hendricks was inducted into the Texas League Hall of Fame in 1986, coming one vote away from unanimous induction. Carlos Pena El Paso Texans 1965-74 Dallas Lone Stars 1974-84 The strikeout king of the nation, Pena obliterated all previous strikeout records, punching out a record 4,182 batters over his 20 seasons, over than 750 strikeouts more than the second-place hurler, despite having just 4,003.1 innings, over 500 less than any other starter on the team. He logged 234 wins and posted a 3.16 ERA in his career. Despite never winning a Pitcher of the Year, he led the league in strikeouts ten times, was a 13-time All-Star and was a two-time Texas League champion. He was inducted into the TL Hall of Fame in 1990. Kevin Popp San Diego Padres 1956-61 Chicago Cyclones 1962-65 Jacksonville Tars/Suns1965-77 Popp won 22 games in his first season and 20 in his 20th season, winning 324 games when it was all said and done. Over three teams, Popp worked 5,642.1 innings over 774 starts in 22 seasons, logging the second-most starts and fourth-most innings. He also posted a 3.31 ERA and struck out 2,972 batters, eighth-most all-time. Popp was a 10-time All-Star who did not miss a start over his final 20 seasons and won two PCL titles in San Diego, plus a Conference Championship in Jacksonville. He was inducted into the Eastern Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 1989. Justin Rodrigues Milwaukee Black Hawks 1910-25 One of the first individual dynasties, Rodrigues won three Pitchers of the Year in his first four years, plus another one in 1920. In 16 years, he won 311 games, boasted a 2.30 ERA and struck out 2,399 batters in 4,952.1 innings. He also led the Eastern Baseball Federation in ERA four times, posting a total of nine seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA. He was elected to the EBF Hall of Fame in 1931. D.J. Schreck New York Gothams 1927-44 Birmingham Barons 1945 Schreck only won a single Pitcher of the Year award (in 1931), but he posted an incredible 337-143 record, his .702 winning percentage far and away the best of all-time for anyone with at least 200 decisions. He also posted a 2.82 ERA and struck out 1,949 batters in 4,531 innings. Schreck won 20 or more games ten times (and 29 games twice), added four Great Gloves, and was integral to four Eastern Baseball Federation titles for New York, plus the 1930 and '35 National Championships. Scott West San Diego Padres (1980-Present) The second and final active player on the team, West has continued to be excellent despite pitching the back half of his career through the brunt of the highest-scoring era in baseball history. West has won 333 games and posted a 3.56 ERA over 4,828.1 innings, striking out 3,086 batters along the way. While he has never won Pitcher of the Year, West has the fifth-most strikeouts of all-time and is a 13-time All-Star who has been instrumental in seven Pacific Coast League titles and National Championships in 1984-85, and '94 for San Diego. Seth Boring San Francisco Seals 1968-72 Indianapolis Hoosiers 1972 Oklahoma City Indians 1972-75 Tampa Tarpons 1976-87 Boring's career was anything but, as the rubber-armed reliever appeared in a record 1,461 games over 20 seasons, winning 181 games and saving 446 more. He logged a 2.77 ERA over 2,418.2 innings, all of them in relief, while striking out 1,729 batters. Boring leads all relievers in wins, saves, games, and innings. He made 12 All-Star Games, earned Reliever of the Year twice in the Texas League and once in the Southern Conference, while also winning two PCL titles and a Conference Championship. Jay Latko Seattle Rainiers 1969-82 Oakland Oaks 1983 Cleveland Spiders 1984-86 Latko pitched 18 seasons and logged 1,177 games, all but two in relief. He won 145 games and saved 438 more, second-most all-time. He also posted a 2.83 ERA over 1,589.1 innings, striking out 1,387. Latko was a nine-time All-Star and the 1970 Pacific Coast League Reliever of the Year. He closed out games for three PCL championship teams, including the 1979 National Champion Seattle Rainiers. He was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 1990, the first reliever to be enshrined. Ricky Velasquez Milwaukee Black Hawks 1964-74 Portland Beavers 1974 The shortest career on the team also was the most dominant, as Velasquez was a fearsome reliever way ahead of his time. In 787 games, the lefty won 115 games, saved 278, and had an ERA of just 2.30 ERA. However, he struck out 1,958 batters, far and away the most of any reliever, and did so in just 1,212.0 innings, with his 14.5 K/9 rate more than 40% higher than anyone in major league history with at least 1,000 innings. A three-time Northern Conference Reliever of the Year, he struck out 200 batters in relief four times (no one else has done it even once) and five times he finished in the top five in the conference in punchouts. He won three Conference Championships in Milwaukee, including National Championships in 1969 and '72. The Skipper Kansas City Blues 1900-16 Los Angeles Angels 1926-29 (minor league 1917-25) New York Gothams 1930-34 The leader of the hypothetical team is The Skipper, who built dynasties in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and New York, winning National Championships in all three cities. He went 2,561-1,639 (.610) as a big-league manager and won nearly 1,200 additional games over nine minor league seasons with the Angels. All told, in 26 big-league seasons, Skipper reached the postseason 16 times, won 7 league championships, and 6 National Championships, a record that still stands. Last edited by KCRoyals15; 01-23-2025 at 06:33 PM.