OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

FuzzyRussianHat · 01-06-2023, 08:55 AM

One player was inducted in the 1932 MLB Hall of Fame class. Outfielder Jonathon Gillette on his fourth try made it in with 79.6% of the vote. Pitcher Karl Maurer came very close on his seventh try at 64.4%. Closer Dan Wagner and first baseman Christopher Ross both were above the 50% mark.

Three players were dropped after surviving ten years on the ballot. Second baseman Don Holland was dropped with his best tally coming in his last year at 45.0%. He was primarily with the New York Yankees, but also played with Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, and Calgary, as well as in Costa Rica. Holland had 2453 hits and a .320 average with a 77.7 career WAR as an excellent defensive 2B, but his lack of power hitting sunk his chances.

Israel Villalobos peaked at 54.3% on his first time up for voting, gradually dropping from there. He played mostly with Kansas City and Dallas, with brief stays with Atlanta and Cincinnati. Villalobos posted 77.5 WAR with strong defense at third base, 2746 career hits, 1518 runs, and 1227 walks. But like Holland, his lack of power and extra base hits lowered his odds.

Reliever Jorge Espinoza also made it 10 years, peaking at 44.4% his first time on the ballot but dropping to single digits by the end. Best known for his time in Denver, he had 243 saves and 2.24 ERA, but those numbers seemed very pedestrian as other impressive closers emerged.

In the CABA Hall of Fame voting, Dave Walsh was elected on the first ballot at 89.0%. Matt Determan came close at 60.6% on his second try with Jimmy Pike at 53.2%.

Jonathon Gillette – Outfielder – Houston Hornets – 79.6% Fourth Ballot

Jonathon Gillette was a 6’0’’, 205 right-handed outfielder from Chicopee, Massachusetts. The hard-working Gillette was considered a solid all-around hitter with good contact, power, and a good eye. His biggest downfall was being very slow, but despite this, he played centerfield mostly in his 20s.. Generally thought of as a lousy defensive CF, he spent roughly 40% of his career in center, 40% in right, and 20% in left. Gillette was statistically a respectable defender in the corner. He also was an occasional relief pitcher, picking up 19 saves on 39.2 career innings with a 0.45 ERA.

Gillette’s pro career coincided with the start of MLB. At age 22, he was picked 53^rd overall in the inaugural draft by Kansas City. In his first year, he put up a career-best 7.7 WAR and was a solid starter for five years with the Cougars. He became a free agent and signed for eight years and $28,300 with St. Louis, one of the biggest contracts of the time.

In his Cardinals debut, he won his lone MVP, hitting a career high 38 home runs. St. Louis would make it to the National Association final in 1907 and win it in 1908, losing the World Series to Houston. That offseason, Gillette stunned the Cardinals by opting out of his contract and joined the Hornets. At age 30, his missed half the year due to injury, having also done the same the prior year. Houston went out in the first round and Gillette was again the move, signing for one season with Dallas.

After one season with the Dalmatians, Gillette signed again with Houston and started what would become his signature run. Gillette started for five seasons in the middle of the Hornets dynasty, winning the World Series in 1911 and 1912 with Gillette the AACS MVP in 1912. After falling in the AACS in 1913 and 1914, Houston entered a rebuild for a few years and Gillette was again on the move.

At age 37, Denver signed Gillette and he spent two years with the Dragons, still putting up respectable production. At age 39, he began a third stint with Houston and played two years there. Still contributing, he was signed again by Denver at age 41 in 1920. In 1921, he went back to Houston for a fourth stint and as a 42 year old, put up a 5.3 WAR, 33 home run season. He just missed another ring with the Hornets, as his fourth stint was in between their 1920 and 1922 rings.

In 1922, he played with Montreal, then played in 1923 in his final year with Cincinnati. Although he usually missed a few weeks each year due to small injuries, Gillette is one of a very select few to have played to age 44. His final statistics; 2927 hits, 1740 runs, 1866 RBI, 530 home runs, 489 doubles, 1161 walks, and a 92.4 WAR.

He was the third MLB player to reach 500 home runs and his 1866 RBI was the most all-time at retirement, although it would soon be passed by Corey Patrizio. He never was a league leader in statistics, but he was consistently a solid hitter for three decades and a key postseason contributor for Houston and St. Louis. It was somewhat surprising that he wasn’t inducted until the fourth ballot, but Gillette definitely has a place with the hallowed greats.

Dave Walsh – Starting Pitcher – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 89.0% First Ballot

Dave Walsh was a 5’8’’, 190 pound left handed pitcher from Southbridge, Massachusetts. His velocity topped out at 96-98 miles per hour and had five pitches with solid stuff, but at times inconsistent control and movement. He was known for a stellar changeup and could also fool you with a slider, forkball, and splitter.

Walsh played college baseball at Ohio State, but his junior year suffered a terrible torn labrum, which ended his junior season early. San Francisco still liked his potential and picked him with the 42^nd overall pick in 1907, but a setback and surgery from the torn labrum meant he would miss all of 1908.

His debut justified the Gold Rush faith in him, as he led the American Association in ERA and took third in Pitcher of the Year voting. But his second and third seasons with San Francisco would be middling and at the end of 1911, his contract was sold to the Panama Parrots.

Walsh became a dominant strikeout pitcher with Panama, leading the league three years in a row and posting a 387 strikeout, 12.4 WAR season in 1913, which earned him second in PotY voting. After three great seasons with the Parrots and an iffy 1915, the 28-year old Walsh was traded partway through the 1916 season to Santo Domingo. This is where he’d spend the next decade in his signature run.

In 1917 and 1918, the Dolphins would win the Caribbean League title and they took the CABA crown in 1917. In seven postseason starts in that run, he tossed 53.1 innings with only six earned runs and 52 strikeouts. He was the 1917 CLCS MVP. In June 1917, Walsh also threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts against Honduras.

Walsh was a solid starter into his early 30s with Santo Domingo, although recurring back issues often caused him to miss a few starts each year. In 1924, he reached his 3500^th career CABA strikeout, the second player to reach the milestone. In the 1925 season debut, a torn rotator cuff ended his season. He tried a comeback at age 38 the following season but struggled, retiring that offseason.

His overall career had 234 wins and more than 4231 strikeouts. In CABA, he finished with a 195-125 record with a 2.73 ERA, 3684 strikeouts, and an 82.1 WAR. One of the top early CABA pitchers who came south from America and a key piece in two Caribbean titles for Santo Domingo, Walsh earned a spot in the CABA Hall of Fame.

01-06-2023, 08:55 AM	#96
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,649	1932 Hall of Fame One player was inducted in the 1932 MLB Hall of Fame class. Outfielder Jonathon Gillette on his fourth try made it in with 79.6% of the vote. Pitcher Karl Maurer came very close on his seventh try at 64.4%. Closer Dan Wagner and first baseman Christopher Ross both were above the 50% mark. Three players were dropped after surviving ten years on the ballot. Second baseman Don Holland was dropped with his best tally coming in his last year at 45.0%. He was primarily with the New York Yankees, but also played with Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, and Calgary, as well as in Costa Rica. Holland had 2453 hits and a .320 average with a 77.7 career WAR as an excellent defensive 2B, but his lack of power hitting sunk his chances. Israel Villalobos peaked at 54.3% on his first time up for voting, gradually dropping from there. He played mostly with Kansas City and Dallas, with brief stays with Atlanta and Cincinnati. Villalobos posted 77.5 WAR with strong defense at third base, 2746 career hits, 1518 runs, and 1227 walks. But like Holland, his lack of power and extra base hits lowered his odds. Reliever Jorge Espinoza also made it 10 years, peaking at 44.4% his first time on the ballot but dropping to single digits by the end. Best known for his time in Denver, he had 243 saves and 2.24 ERA, but those numbers seemed very pedestrian as other impressive closers emerged. In the CABA Hall of Fame voting, Dave Walsh was elected on the first ballot at 89.0%. Matt Determan came close at 60.6% on his second try with Jimmy Pike at 53.2%. Jonathon Gillette – Outfielder – Houston Hornets – 79.6% Fourth Ballot Jonathon Gillette was a 6’0’’, 205 right-handed outfielder from Chicopee, Massachusetts. The hard-working Gillette was considered a solid all-around hitter with good contact, power, and a good eye. His biggest downfall was being very slow, but despite this, he played centerfield mostly in his 20s.. Generally thought of as a lousy defensive CF, he spent roughly 40% of his career in center, 40% in right, and 20% in left. Gillette was statistically a respectable defender in the corner. He also was an occasional relief pitcher, picking up 19 saves on 39.2 career innings with a 0.45 ERA. Gillette’s pro career coincided with the start of MLB. At age 22, he was picked 53^rd overall in the inaugural draft by Kansas City. In his first year, he put up a career-best 7.7 WAR and was a solid starter for five years with the Cougars. He became a free agent and signed for eight years and $28,300 with St. Louis, one of the biggest contracts of the time. In his Cardinals debut, he won his lone MVP, hitting a career high 38 home runs. St. Louis would make it to the National Association final in 1907 and win it in 1908, losing the World Series to Houston. That offseason, Gillette stunned the Cardinals by opting out of his contract and joined the Hornets. At age 30, his missed half the year due to injury, having also done the same the prior year. Houston went out in the first round and Gillette was again the move, signing for one season with Dallas. After one season with the Dalmatians, Gillette signed again with Houston and started what would become his signature run. Gillette started for five seasons in the middle of the Hornets dynasty, winning the World Series in 1911 and 1912 with Gillette the AACS MVP in 1912. After falling in the AACS in 1913 and 1914, Houston entered a rebuild for a few years and Gillette was again on the move. At age 37, Denver signed Gillette and he spent two years with the Dragons, still putting up respectable production. At age 39, he began a third stint with Houston and played two years there. Still contributing, he was signed again by Denver at age 41 in 1920. In 1921, he went back to Houston for a fourth stint and as a 42 year old, put up a 5.3 WAR, 33 home run season. He just missed another ring with the Hornets, as his fourth stint was in between their 1920 and 1922 rings. In 1922, he played with Montreal, then played in 1923 in his final year with Cincinnati. Although he usually missed a few weeks each year due to small injuries, Gillette is one of a very select few to have played to age 44. His final statistics; 2927 hits, 1740 runs, 1866 RBI, 530 home runs, 489 doubles, 1161 walks, and a 92.4 WAR. He was the third MLB player to reach 500 home runs and his 1866 RBI was the most all-time at retirement, although it would soon be passed by Corey Patrizio. He never was a league leader in statistics, but he was consistently a solid hitter for three decades and a key postseason contributor for Houston and St. Louis. It was somewhat surprising that he wasn’t inducted until the fourth ballot, but Gillette definitely has a place with the hallowed greats. Dave Walsh – Starting Pitcher – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 89.0% First Ballot Dave Walsh was a 5’8’’, 190 pound left handed pitcher from Southbridge, Massachusetts. His velocity topped out at 96-98 miles per hour and had five pitches with solid stuff, but at times inconsistent control and movement. He was known for a stellar changeup and could also fool you with a slider, forkball, and splitter. Walsh played college baseball at Ohio State, but his junior year suffered a terrible torn labrum, which ended his junior season early. San Francisco still liked his potential and picked him with the 42^nd overall pick in 1907, but a setback and surgery from the torn labrum meant he would miss all of 1908. His debut justified the Gold Rush faith in him, as he led the American Association in ERA and took third in Pitcher of the Year voting. But his second and third seasons with San Francisco would be middling and at the end of 1911, his contract was sold to the Panama Parrots. Walsh became a dominant strikeout pitcher with Panama, leading the league three years in a row and posting a 387 strikeout, 12.4 WAR season in 1913, which earned him second in PotY voting. After three great seasons with the Parrots and an iffy 1915, the 28-year old Walsh was traded partway through the 1916 season to Santo Domingo. This is where he’d spend the next decade in his signature run. In 1917 and 1918, the Dolphins would win the Caribbean League title and they took the CABA crown in 1917. In seven postseason starts in that run, he tossed 53.1 innings with only six earned runs and 52 strikeouts. He was the 1917 CLCS MVP. In June 1917, Walsh also threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts against Honduras. Walsh was a solid starter into his early 30s with Santo Domingo, although recurring back issues often caused him to miss a few starts each year. In 1924, he reached his 3500^th career CABA strikeout, the second player to reach the milestone. In the 1925 season debut, a torn rotator cuff ended his season. He tried a comeback at age 38 the following season but struggled, retiring that offseason. His overall career had 234 wins and more than 4231 strikeouts. In CABA, he finished with a 195-125 record with a 2.73 ERA, 3684 strikeouts, and an 82.1 WAR. One of the top early CABA pitchers who came south from America and a key piece in two Caribbean titles for Santo Domingo, Walsh earned a spot in the CABA Hall of Fame. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)