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FuzzyRussianHat · 03-04-2023, 06:22 AM

Two players were inducted in Major League Baseball’s 1943 Hall of Fame Class. Two-way player Dylan D’Ippolito and 2B Norris Thuston both made it on the first ballot with the former at 91.1% and the latter at 80.6%. Pitcher Dee Walters on his fifth ballot came close but just short at 63.8%. 3B Brantley Lloyd had a solid debut but was also just out at 62.9%. Franz Bolt, Rush Anest, and Emanuel McCain were the others to top 50%.

Getting dropped on his 10^th ballot was shortstop Joe Thibault. He joins George Showalter as the only eligible players with 3000+ hits at this point in history to not get inducted. He played the majority of his 22 years with Montreal and had 3257 hits, 1438 runs, 451 doubles, 264 HR, 1473 RBI, a .271/.316/.390 slash and 87.8 WAR with five Gold Gloves. His lack of power stats and lower slash sank him despite having some tallies that suggest induction. His 87.8 WAR is the highest of a hitter to be left out thus far. His highest tally was 54.6% on his sixth ballot.

Dylan D’Ippolito – Pitcher/Left Fielder – Washington Admirals – 91.1% First Ballot

Dylan D’Ippolito is a 5’8’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher and hitter from New York City. He was Major League Baseball’s first real two-way star player, although his biggest contributions were as a pitcher. He had great stuff with 98-100 mph velocity and strong movement, although his control could be spotty. D’Ippolito had four great pitches; a fastball, slider, curveball, and splitter.

As a hitter, he had respectable contact and power and rarely struck out, although he also rarely drew walks and was not a great baserunner. The vast majority of his starts away from the mound were in left field, where he was a below average but passible fielder. He was generally thought of as an average to above average defensive pitcher.

D’Ippolito played college baseball at Cincinnati and did play both ways, although he was expected to make his mark as a pitcher. Washington selected him 32^nd overall in the 1922 MLB Draft. He immediately made a mark, leading the National Association in ERA at 2.33 as a rookie. The pitching earned him Rookie of the Year, as his limited batting exploits were unremarkable.

His second through fifth seasons were truly full-time two-way seasons and these also included his best years as a pitcher. In his third season, he won Pitcher of the Year with the National Association lead in wins (22), ERA (1.90), inning (289.2), quality starts (29/34) with 18 complete games and 9.1 WAR. He did that while hitting 32 home runs with 82 RBI in 116 total starts, posting 12.5 WAR for the entire season. That combined tally was higher than any individual pitching or hitting WAR in a single season to that point in MLB history.

In 1927 at age 25, he won his second Pitcher of the Year award with a 21-6 record, 2.45 ERA, and 6.8 WAR while adding 109 RBI and 3.2 WAR as a hitter. This season also saw a no-hitter on April 7 against Minneapolis with 10 strikeouts and one walk. In both 1925 and 1927, he was second in MVP voting.

Through his first five seasons, D’Ippolito had posted 42.2 total WAR between his pitching and hitting exploits. But that workload did a toll on his body and he wouldn’t again be physically able to maintain that for a full season. Each year, various injuries would usually cost him one to two months of action for the rest of his Washington run. He was still generally good for around 20 starts on the mound and around 40-50 games in the field. This got him around 2-3 WAR pitching and another 1-2 WAR with his bat on average, making him still a very important part of the squad.

In his peak seasons, the Admirals were typically in the top half of the standings in the Eastern League, but not good enough to make the playoffs. They finally broke through in 1930 and D’Ippolito was able to have his first playoff action and help Washington to a World Series title.

In 1932 at age 30, D’Ippolito struggled on the mound and wanted to remain a two-way player regardless. He had signed a six-year extension at the start of the season, but with his struggles and a hamstring strain midseason, Washington decided to cut their losses and release him on August 29. Detroit signed him for the remainder of the 1932 campaign. Still only 31 entering 1933, Phoenix felt he still had a lot of offer and signed D’Ippolito to a six-year, $63,600 deal.

His debut season with the Firebirds was the closest he had gotten to a full pitching season since 1927 and he still gave them decent batting numbers, although his patching stats were merely decent. The signing was ultimately a win, as Phoenix won the American Association title, losing in the World Series to Louisville.

The Firebirds wouldn’t make the playoffs again during D’Ippolito’s tenure and his body began to fall apart hard. A torn back muscle in spring training put him out most of 1934 and he needed surgery for bone chips in his elbow mid-1935, putting him out of the game for a calendar year. When he returned in late 1936 at age 34, he put up solid pitching numbers in his limited play, giving Phoenix hope. He had a full pitching season in 1937, but struggled with production. D’Iippolito opted to retire at the end of the year at age 36. He was able to mend his relationship with Washington the next year, as they retired his #33 jersey.

His final pitching stats alone warranted Hall of Fame consideration: 200-109, 2.82 ERA, 2899.1 innings with 2320 strikeouts and 978 walks, 264/372 quality starts and 58.3 WAR. As a hitter, he added 24.3 WAR with a .291 average, 222 home runs, 746 RBI, 1283 hits, and 586 runs. These stats come too with the fact that he generally missed chunks of each year in the final decade of his career. One of the most fascinating talents in MLB history and certainly one deserving of his spot in the Hall of Fame.

Norris Thuston – Second Baseman – Baltimore Orioles – 80.6% First Ballot

Norris Thuston was a 5’9’’, 200 pound right-handed second baseman from Cazenovia, a small town in central New York State. Thuston played almost exclusively at 2B and joins Archie Meredith as the only 2Bs in the MLB Hall of Fame. He was considered a pretty solid defender early in his career, but closer to below average in his 30s. Thuston was an excellent contact hitter and a smart (but not super quick) baserunner who rarely struck out. He had deceptive power with three 30+ home run seasons. Thuston also was considered a great leader and team captain.

Thurston played college baseball at Minnesota, winning a Silver Slugger as a sophomore and a Gold Glove as a junior. In the 1919 MLB Draft, Baltimore selected him 12^th overall and he would spend his entire 18-year professional career as an Oriole. He immediately made a huge impact, earning Rookie of the Year with an 8.8 WAR debut and .358 average.

In his second season, he earned the National Association MVP, a Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger with a 10.5 WAR season. Thuston hit .347 with 37 home runs and 110 RBI. This year, Baltimore made it to the playoffs for the first time ever and won the NA title, falling to San Francisco in the 1921 World Series. He had a stellar junior season (second in MVP voting) and good fourth year, although injury caused him to miss a month. He was back just in time to lead them to the 1923 World Series title, the franchise’s first.

Baltimore would fall off hard to close the 1920s and didn’t find notable success again until the end of the 1930s. But Thuston remained the loyal soldier and captain throughout. In 1925, a torn PCL caused him to miss nearly the entire season. Other nagging injuries kept him out a few weeks most years, but he still had reliable production, winning four Silver Sluggers in total.

In 1930 at age 31, he finished second in MVP voting with a 10.2 WAR campaign. He got his only batting title with a .356 average, while also leading the NA in OBP at .422 and adding 35 home runs. The next season would be his last full year as a start with the nagging injuries and age catching up into his 30s. More knee trouble, as well as a concussion in 1936, made it tough for Thuston. In 1937, another torn PCL finally made him call it quits at age 39.

The final statistics: 2701 hits, 1409 runs, 342 doubles, 136 triples, 353 home runs, 1206 RBI, a .314/.365/.509 slash, and 89.9 WAR. Unsurprisingly, his #9 was the first number retired by Baltimore and he remained an Oriole ambassador for years after. An elite 2B of the 1920s and 30s and a big part of a World Series title, Thuston was a well-deserved first ballot Hall of Fame pick.

03-04-2023, 06:22 AM	#159
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,805	1943 MLB Hall of Fame Two players were inducted in Major League Baseball’s 1943 Hall of Fame Class. Two-way player Dylan D’Ippolito and 2B Norris Thuston both made it on the first ballot with the former at 91.1% and the latter at 80.6%. Pitcher Dee Walters on his fifth ballot came close but just short at 63.8%. 3B Brantley Lloyd had a solid debut but was also just out at 62.9%. Franz Bolt, Rush Anest, and Emanuel McCain were the others to top 50%. Getting dropped on his 10^th ballot was shortstop Joe Thibault. He joins George Showalter as the only eligible players with 3000+ hits at this point in history to not get inducted. He played the majority of his 22 years with Montreal and had 3257 hits, 1438 runs, 451 doubles, 264 HR, 1473 RBI, a .271/.316/.390 slash and 87.8 WAR with five Gold Gloves. His lack of power stats and lower slash sank him despite having some tallies that suggest induction. His 87.8 WAR is the highest of a hitter to be left out thus far. His highest tally was 54.6% on his sixth ballot. Dylan D’Ippolito – Pitcher/Left Fielder – Washington Admirals – 91.1% First Ballot Dylan D’Ippolito is a 5’8’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher and hitter from New York City. He was Major League Baseball’s first real two-way star player, although his biggest contributions were as a pitcher. He had great stuff with 98-100 mph velocity and strong movement, although his control could be spotty. D’Ippolito had four great pitches; a fastball, slider, curveball, and splitter. As a hitter, he had respectable contact and power and rarely struck out, although he also rarely drew walks and was not a great baserunner. The vast majority of his starts away from the mound were in left field, where he was a below average but passible fielder. He was generally thought of as an average to above average defensive pitcher. D’Ippolito played college baseball at Cincinnati and did play both ways, although he was expected to make his mark as a pitcher. Washington selected him 32^nd overall in the 1922 MLB Draft. He immediately made a mark, leading the National Association in ERA at 2.33 as a rookie. The pitching earned him Rookie of the Year, as his limited batting exploits were unremarkable. His second through fifth seasons were truly full-time two-way seasons and these also included his best years as a pitcher. In his third season, he won Pitcher of the Year with the National Association lead in wins (22), ERA (1.90), inning (289.2), quality starts (29/34) with 18 complete games and 9.1 WAR. He did that while hitting 32 home runs with 82 RBI in 116 total starts, posting 12.5 WAR for the entire season. That combined tally was higher than any individual pitching or hitting WAR in a single season to that point in MLB history. In 1927 at age 25, he won his second Pitcher of the Year award with a 21-6 record, 2.45 ERA, and 6.8 WAR while adding 109 RBI and 3.2 WAR as a hitter. This season also saw a no-hitter on April 7 against Minneapolis with 10 strikeouts and one walk. In both 1925 and 1927, he was second in MVP voting. Through his first five seasons, D’Ippolito had posted 42.2 total WAR between his pitching and hitting exploits. But that workload did a toll on his body and he wouldn’t again be physically able to maintain that for a full season. Each year, various injuries would usually cost him one to two months of action for the rest of his Washington run. He was still generally good for around 20 starts on the mound and around 40-50 games in the field. This got him around 2-3 WAR pitching and another 1-2 WAR with his bat on average, making him still a very important part of the squad. In his peak seasons, the Admirals were typically in the top half of the standings in the Eastern League, but not good enough to make the playoffs. They finally broke through in 1930 and D’Ippolito was able to have his first playoff action and help Washington to a World Series title. In 1932 at age 30, D’Ippolito struggled on the mound and wanted to remain a two-way player regardless. He had signed a six-year extension at the start of the season, but with his struggles and a hamstring strain midseason, Washington decided to cut their losses and release him on August 29. Detroit signed him for the remainder of the 1932 campaign. Still only 31 entering 1933, Phoenix felt he still had a lot of offer and signed D’Ippolito to a six-year, $63,600 deal. His debut season with the Firebirds was the closest he had gotten to a full pitching season since 1927 and he still gave them decent batting numbers, although his patching stats were merely decent. The signing was ultimately a win, as Phoenix won the American Association title, losing in the World Series to Louisville. The Firebirds wouldn’t make the playoffs again during D’Ippolito’s tenure and his body began to fall apart hard. A torn back muscle in spring training put him out most of 1934 and he needed surgery for bone chips in his elbow mid-1935, putting him out of the game for a calendar year. When he returned in late 1936 at age 34, he put up solid pitching numbers in his limited play, giving Phoenix hope. He had a full pitching season in 1937, but struggled with production. D’Iippolito opted to retire at the end of the year at age 36. He was able to mend his relationship with Washington the next year, as they retired his #33 jersey. His final pitching stats alone warranted Hall of Fame consideration: 200-109, 2.82 ERA, 2899.1 innings with 2320 strikeouts and 978 walks, 264/372 quality starts and 58.3 WAR. As a hitter, he added 24.3 WAR with a .291 average, 222 home runs, 746 RBI, 1283 hits, and 586 runs. These stats come too with the fact that he generally missed chunks of each year in the final decade of his career. One of the most fascinating talents in MLB history and certainly one deserving of his spot in the Hall of Fame. Norris Thuston – Second Baseman – Baltimore Orioles – 80.6% First Ballot Norris Thuston was a 5’9’’, 200 pound right-handed second baseman from Cazenovia, a small town in central New York State. Thuston played almost exclusively at 2B and joins Archie Meredith as the only 2Bs in the MLB Hall of Fame. He was considered a pretty solid defender early in his career, but closer to below average in his 30s. Thuston was an excellent contact hitter and a smart (but not super quick) baserunner who rarely struck out. He had deceptive power with three 30+ home run seasons. Thuston also was considered a great leader and team captain. Thurston played college baseball at Minnesota, winning a Silver Slugger as a sophomore and a Gold Glove as a junior. In the 1919 MLB Draft, Baltimore selected him 12^th overall and he would spend his entire 18-year professional career as an Oriole. He immediately made a huge impact, earning Rookie of the Year with an 8.8 WAR debut and .358 average. In his second season, he earned the National Association MVP, a Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger with a 10.5 WAR season. Thuston hit .347 with 37 home runs and 110 RBI. This year, Baltimore made it to the playoffs for the first time ever and won the NA title, falling to San Francisco in the 1921 World Series. He had a stellar junior season (second in MVP voting) and good fourth year, although injury caused him to miss a month. He was back just in time to lead them to the 1923 World Series title, the franchise’s first. Baltimore would fall off hard to close the 1920s and didn’t find notable success again until the end of the 1930s. But Thuston remained the loyal soldier and captain throughout. In 1925, a torn PCL caused him to miss nearly the entire season. Other nagging injuries kept him out a few weeks most years, but he still had reliable production, winning four Silver Sluggers in total. In 1930 at age 31, he finished second in MVP voting with a 10.2 WAR campaign. He got his only batting title with a .356 average, while also leading the NA in OBP at .422 and adding 35 home runs. The next season would be his last full year as a start with the nagging injuries and age catching up into his 30s. More knee trouble, as well as a concussion in 1936, made it tough for Thuston. In 1937, another torn PCL finally made him call it quits at age 39. The final statistics: 2701 hits, 1409 runs, 342 doubles, 136 triples, 353 home runs, 1206 RBI, a .314/.365/.509 slash, and 89.9 WAR. Unsurprisingly, his #9 was the first number retired by Baltimore and he remained an Oriole ambassador for years after. An elite 2B of the 1920s and 30s and a big part of a World Series title, Thuston was a well-deserved first ballot Hall of Fame pick. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder) Last edited by FuzzyRussianHat; 03-04-2023 at 06:23 AM.