Six of the best we have seen are taking their leave of the game, a vacuum that will take some filling with more than 500 WAR walking out in one fell swoop.
Willie Foster's #86 is retired by the Pirates, for whom he won 255 of his 305 wins and with whom he won eight titles.
Lefty Grove leaves the game as its fifth-most winningest pitcher and also has his #10 retired by the A's.
Chick Hafey and his close buddy Chuck Klein struck fear into NL pitchers during the 1920s and '30s. He ends up with a lifetime 312 BA and 341 HR, and his #70 is retired by the Phils.
Al Simmons' career line finishes at a superlative 318/363/533 to go with 385 homers and over 1500 ribbies. His number 49 is retired by the A's.
Turkey Stearnes is really the first NeL position player I think I did full justice to; certainly among the first, anyway. His place in C-Town seems assured by dint of his stellar all-round game.
And, finally,
El Inmortal himself -
Martin Dihigo. I don't know that it is possible to fully and accurately replicate Martin in the simulated form. He's just too unique. Certainly beyond v22, although I am having much better luck with him in 23 courtesy of the changes Ohtani-san has wrought. Still, Martin did OK and I loved having him with us these past eight years or so. I doubt he'll get a plaque, but that doesn't bother me so much. He'll be getting my vote for as long as he's on the ballot, that's for sure.
