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FuzzyRussianHat · 04-12-2023, 07:18 PM

The 1952 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class was another impressive one with four first-ballot selections; three of which made it at 93% or higher. 1B Kaby Silva and SP Domingo Martinez were absolute no-doubters at 99.7% and 99.0%, respectively. 1B Brad Berg got 93.8% and would be the headliner in just about any other class. The fourth inductee was RF Dale Brooks, just sneaking over the threshold at 69.2%. Two others had very good first time showings above 60%; C Hernan Ortega and CF Luke Marray. SP Andy Cowan barely missed the cut on his third try at 64.4%.

There were four players dropped from the MLB ballot following their tenth attempt. RF Kayden Lindsey had a 22 year professional career primarily with Columbus in MLB, but spent time with four other MLB franchises and three in CABA. He won MVP in 1920 and had 2421 hits, 1198 runs, 230 home runs, 1147 RBI, a .314 average, and 74.8 WAR in MLB. He had 12.6 WAR in CABA that might have gotten him over the hump if added, but the lack of power meant he peaked at 38.6% on his ninth attempt. Closer Anthony Van Schoonhooven was another drop, putting up 38.0 WAR and 334 saves with a 2.63 ERA over 23 seasons. He was viewed as more of a compiler and playing for 14 teams is viewed as a negative by voters. He peaked at 44.8% on the second ballot.

2B Todd Donnelly also was dropped, peaking at 31.2% on his second try. In 16 years with four teams, he had 2488 hits, 1270 runs, 112 homers, a .318 average, and 56.0 WAR. The fourth player dropped after 10 tries was 1B Colt Marshall, who played exclusively with Louisville. He had 2390 hits, 1039 runs, 229 homers, 1071 RBI, a .337 average, and 57.2 WAR. Solid singles hitter, but that’s not exciting, especially from a 1B. He peaked at 34.6% on his second attempt.

Kaby Silva – First Baseman- Omaha Hawks – 99.7% First Ballot

Kaby Silva was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed first baseman from Praia, the capital of the west African island nation of Cape Verde. He would be come to known as a prolific contact and power hitter, leading the National Association in homers five times and posting a career .321 batting average. He had a respectable eye, but was a slow baserunner. He didn’t hit too many doubles, but he didn’t need to with so many balls going over the fence. Silva’s entire defensive career was at first base and he was considered generally above average with the glove.

Silva wasn’t immediately immersed in baseball being in Cape Verde, which was a Portuguese colonial property until 1975. Silva had family connections which introduced him to the game, but he didn’t exactly have an avenue to play at home. He came to America for college at North Carolina and with little experience, walked on and became a successful player. He was picked in the 1926 MLB Draft, but as a non-American or Canadian, he was excluded from the early regional rounds. He went 158^th overall in round four to Omaha and even at the time, wasn’t thought to be a stellar prospect. But as he continued to immerse himself in the game in his 20s, he quickly became an elite bat for the Hawks.

In his third season, Silva had 48 home runs, his first of nine seasons with 40+. The next year, he led in homers (50) and RBI (118) in the National Association, finishing third in MVP voting. 1932 was his first MVP season with 55 home runs and 8.5 WAR. Silva won it again in 1934 and 1935 with the former being a historic season. Silva had a Triple Crown with a .387 average, 52 home runs, and 137 RBI. He also led the NA in hits (235), OBP (.441), slugging (.697), OPS (1.138), and WAR (10.8). This season often gets cited on why baseball is a team game though, as despite this incredible effort from Silva, Omaha still was an abysmal 69-93 team.

The Hawks would be a wild card the next year, but they were an early exit and continuously a bottom-tier team during Silva’s best years. He had six 50+ home run seasons and nine 100+ seasons, earning five Silver Sluggers against a loaded 1B field. Omaha would finally see some success in the early 1940s with Silva getting his fourth MVP in 1941 at age 34. The Hawks won the Midwest League twice and had two wild cards from 1940-43, but were ousted in the first round each time. Age also started to catch up to him, as various injuries put him out a month or two in 1937, 39, 42, 43, 44, and 45. Even in less than full seasons, he was still putting up 4-5 WAR and 25-35 homers in the down years and 50+ when healthy.

Silva started to rack up milestones, including 3000 hits, 1500+ runs, 1500+ RBI, and 100+ WAR. But the big one was 700+ homers with many thinking Silva could catch the all-time mark of Elijah Cashman of 750, set in 1936. Silva was the second to get to 700+, doing it at age 38 in1945. It was his last season with Omaha and they’d ultimately retire his #21 and use the beloved Silva as a team ambassador. But he signed with Calgary for the 1946 season to a two-year deal with the Cheetahs hoping he could catch the home run record if moved to a DH. He hit 26 homers in 1946, but struggled otherwise, posting -1.3 WAR. Silva decided to retire there at age 40, ending second in all-time homers at 731.

The final statistics: 3218 hits, 1665 runs, 351 doubles, 731 home runs, 1895 RBI, 892 walks, a .321/.376/.580 slash and 108.1 WAR. One of the all-time great hitters and a bright spot for an Omaha franchise that was often a stinker in the 1930s and 40s. Silva also become a legend back home in Cape Verde and helped introduce the game to the islands and to west Africa as a whole and would play a role in helping form West African Baseball in 1975 and creating a Cape Verde-based franchise.

Domingo Martinez – Starting Pitcher – Charlotte Canaries – 99.0% First Ballot

Domingo Martinez was a 5’10’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher form Culiacan, a city in northwestern Mexico. Martinez was known for a stellar fastball that regularly hit 97-99 mph, mixed with generally solid control and movement between the fastball, a stellar slider, and a solid changeup. He was generally considered a good defensive pitcher and someone with strong stamina. He left for the United States and played college baseball at Wisconsin. After that run, Martinez was picked 153^rd overall in the 1931 MLB Draft by Charlotte, where he’d spend his entire career.

Martinez saw some work as a solid reliever in his rookie season and then became a full-time starter in year two and a bona fide ace in year three. Charlotte made it to the American Association Championship in 1933 with Martinez posting three quality starts in that run. He’d struggle a bit in his 20s afterward in the postseason, although the Canaries would still pull off four playoff berths and the 1937 World Series title. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1934 and second in 1938.

It was the late 1930s and his late 20s when Martinez became exceptional. In 1938, he had 11.5 WAR over 294.2 innings, at the time setting a single-season WAR record for pitchers with a 24-6 record, 2.69 ERA, 294 strikeouts, 19 complete games, and six shutouts. He was second in PotY In 1939, then did even better in 1940 to win his second award with 11.7 WAR, 297 strikeouts, a 2.80 ERA and 23 complete games. The 11.7 WAR stood as the pitcher MLB single-season record until 1991.

He was third in voting in 1941, but was most importantly able to shake off some playoff gremlins as Charlotte won the American Association title, falling in the World Series to the fledging Philadelphia dynasty. In that postseason, Martinez had a 2.18 ERA over 41.1 innings and five starts. He had two more solid seasons in 1942 and 1943, leading in WAR for a third time, although the Canaries were one-and-done in the postseason.

By this point, the now 33-year old Martinez was established as one of the best pitchers of the last decade. But in the late spring of 1944, he needed surgery in his throwing elbow to remove a bone spur. He was never the same after this. He came back for a middling 1945, then stunk it up in 1946, opting to retire at the end of the season at age 36. Still, he got two important milestones at the end; 250 wins and 3000+ strikeouts. Charlotte quickly retired his #30 uniform, the first retired by the Canaries and one of only three in franchise history.

The final statistics: 250-140, 3.22 ERA, 3471.2 innings, 3145 strikeouts, 868 walks, 263/430 quality starts, 223 complete games, 51 shutouts, and 98.6 WAR. Had he been able to stay healthy, he had a shot at being in the upper echelon of the all-time pitchers. Still, hitting the milestones he did considering shows how impressive and dominant Martinez was at his best. It is no surprise he not only got in on the first ballot, but at 99.0%.

Brad Berg – First Baseman – Cincinnati Reds – 93.8% First Ballot

Brad Berg was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch hitting first baseman from Hammond, Indiana; located just outside of Chicago. Berg was a solid contact hitter with very good power. He had a decent eye, but did strike out more than the average hitter. He made up for It by posting 35+ home runs 10 times in his career. Berg was a slow baserunner and played entirely at first base, although he was thought of as an above average to good defender. Berg stayed in the Midwest by playing college baseball at Eastern Michigan, helping the Eagles to the 1929 National Championship. This attention earned him the 12^th overall pick in the 1929 MLB Draft by Cincinnati.

He spent 1930 in the minor league affiliate in Dayton and was the minor league MVP. Berg became a part-time starter for the Reds in 1931 and 32, then became a full-time starter after for the next decade. He would win Silver Sluggers in 1936, 38, and 42 and became a top-tier hitter in the mid to late 1930s, although he wouldn’t always get the notice with Kaby Silva sharing a position and league with him, plus Cincinnati’s general mediocrity.

In 1936, he won the National Association MVP by leading in WAR (8.2), runs (115), and RBI (137). He won it again In 1938 with career bests in home runs (52) and RBI (139). He remained a consistent strong slugger and the Reds finally saw some playoff action in Berg’s later years. They made the playoffs in 1937, 39, 42, and 43; winning the Midwest League in each. However, their deepest runs saw elimination at the NACS In 1939 and 1942.

After the 1943 season, the now 35-year old Berg opted for free agency and signed with Albuquerque. He was on his way to an MVP caliber season in his Isotopes debut with a 1.045 OPS, but back spasms put him out for six weeks. The next two seasons, Berg struggled and put up below average production. He picked up his 2500^th hit, but opted to retire at age 38 as his contract with Albuquerque expired.

The final statistics: 2551 hits, 1404 runs, 394 doubles, 559 home runs, 1722 RBI, 829 walks, a .293/.355/.536 slash, and 81.8 WAR. He was a reliable presence in the middle of the lineup for about 15 years, but was often overshadowed by other stud 1Bs. Still, his #19 uniform was retired by Cincinnati and the Hall of Fame voters didn’t forget about the popular slugger, giving him a first ballot induction at 93.8%.

Dale Brooks – Right Fielder – Calgary Cheetahs – 69.2% First Ballot

Dale Brooks was a 5’7’’, 180 pound left-handed right fielder from Red Deer, Alberta; a city located midway between Calgary and Edmonton. Brooks was an excellent contact hitter with decent power, averaging around 20-30 home runs a season and 30-40 doubles. He was decent at drawing walks and a below average baserunner. He played almost exclusively at right field and was considered a lousy defender. Brooks was a well-liked team leader and incredibly durable. Brooks played college baseball at Ohio University and was picked 40^th overall by Calgary in the 1926 MLB Draft, keeping him relatively close to home.

He was a part-time starter as a rookie, then became a full-time starter for around 17 seasons. Year two was his peak at age 22, leading the American Association in hits (222), runs (113), average (.357) and OBP (.402). His two Silver Sluggers came in 1928 and 1929. He never again had seasons that strong, but he was a reliable each year for 3-5 WAR, around a .300 average, 35 or so doubles, around 90 runs, and 20-30 homers. The Cheetahs only made the playoffs twice in Brooks’ tenure; making it to the AACS in 1935 and a first round exit in 1937. With Calgary, Brooks had 2157 hits, 1118 runs, 259 home runs, 1051 RBI, and 48.5 WAR. His #16 uniform would be retired once Brooks was finished as a local favorite.

In summer 1938, the 32-year old Brooks was part of a five-player trade that sent him to Buffalo. He spent the rest of that season and the next five years with the Blue Sox. There, he had 968 hits, 484 runs, 146 home runs, and 22.3 WAR. In Buffalo, Brooks earned his 3000^th hit, 1500^th run, 1500^th RBI, and 400^th home run. At age 38, he signed with Philadelphia mid-dynasty for the 1944 season. Brooks was done as a solid full-time starter, but was a decent bench piece as the Phillies won the 1944 World Series and got to it in 1945 and 46. Brooks retired after the 1946 season at age 40.

The final statistics: 3364 hits, 1724 runs, 595 doubles, 442 home runs, 1663 RBI, a .309/.365/.495 slash and 72.8 WAR. At retirement, his 595 doubles was #1 on the all-time leaderboard and was also sixth in hits. He compiled some solid numbers, but Brooks was rarely considered elite. Still, his reliable production gave him some stats you couldn’t ignore and he earned first ballot selection, albeit at only 69.2%. He’s the fourth guy in a stacked 1952 HOF class, but a Hall of Famer regardless.

04-12-2023, 07:18 PM	#239
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,640	1952 MLB Hall of Fame The 1952 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class was another impressive one with four first-ballot selections; three of which made it at 93% or higher. 1B Kaby Silva and SP Domingo Martinez were absolute no-doubters at 99.7% and 99.0%, respectively. 1B Brad Berg got 93.8% and would be the headliner in just about any other class. The fourth inductee was RF Dale Brooks, just sneaking over the threshold at 69.2%. Two others had very good first time showings above 60%; C Hernan Ortega and CF Luke Marray. SP Andy Cowan barely missed the cut on his third try at 64.4%. There were four players dropped from the MLB ballot following their tenth attempt. RF Kayden Lindsey had a 22 year professional career primarily with Columbus in MLB, but spent time with four other MLB franchises and three in CABA. He won MVP in 1920 and had 2421 hits, 1198 runs, 230 home runs, 1147 RBI, a .314 average, and 74.8 WAR in MLB. He had 12.6 WAR in CABA that might have gotten him over the hump if added, but the lack of power meant he peaked at 38.6% on his ninth attempt. Closer Anthony Van Schoonhooven was another drop, putting up 38.0 WAR and 334 saves with a 2.63 ERA over 23 seasons. He was viewed as more of a compiler and playing for 14 teams is viewed as a negative by voters. He peaked at 44.8% on the second ballot. 2B Todd Donnelly also was dropped, peaking at 31.2% on his second try. In 16 years with four teams, he had 2488 hits, 1270 runs, 112 homers, a .318 average, and 56.0 WAR. The fourth player dropped after 10 tries was 1B Colt Marshall, who played exclusively with Louisville. He had 2390 hits, 1039 runs, 229 homers, 1071 RBI, a .337 average, and 57.2 WAR. Solid singles hitter, but that’s not exciting, especially from a 1B. He peaked at 34.6% on his second attempt. Kaby Silva – First Baseman- Omaha Hawks – 99.7% First Ballot Kaby Silva was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed first baseman from Praia, the capital of the west African island nation of Cape Verde. He would be come to known as a prolific contact and power hitter, leading the National Association in homers five times and posting a career .321 batting average. He had a respectable eye, but was a slow baserunner. He didn’t hit too many doubles, but he didn’t need to with so many balls going over the fence. Silva’s entire defensive career was at first base and he was considered generally above average with the glove. Silva wasn’t immediately immersed in baseball being in Cape Verde, which was a Portuguese colonial property until 1975. Silva had family connections which introduced him to the game, but he didn’t exactly have an avenue to play at home. He came to America for college at North Carolina and with little experience, walked on and became a successful player. He was picked in the 1926 MLB Draft, but as a non-American or Canadian, he was excluded from the early regional rounds. He went 158^th overall in round four to Omaha and even at the time, wasn’t thought to be a stellar prospect. But as he continued to immerse himself in the game in his 20s, he quickly became an elite bat for the Hawks. In his third season, Silva had 48 home runs, his first of nine seasons with 40+. The next year, he led in homers (50) and RBI (118) in the National Association, finishing third in MVP voting. 1932 was his first MVP season with 55 home runs and 8.5 WAR. Silva won it again in 1934 and 1935 with the former being a historic season. Silva had a Triple Crown with a .387 average, 52 home runs, and 137 RBI. He also led the NA in hits (235), OBP (.441), slugging (.697), OPS (1.138), and WAR (10.8). This season often gets cited on why baseball is a team game though, as despite this incredible effort from Silva, Omaha still was an abysmal 69-93 team. The Hawks would be a wild card the next year, but they were an early exit and continuously a bottom-tier team during Silva’s best years. He had six 50+ home run seasons and nine 100+ seasons, earning five Silver Sluggers against a loaded 1B field. Omaha would finally see some success in the early 1940s with Silva getting his fourth MVP in 1941 at age 34. The Hawks won the Midwest League twice and had two wild cards from 1940-43, but were ousted in the first round each time. Age also started to catch up to him, as various injuries put him out a month or two in 1937, 39, 42, 43, 44, and 45. Even in less than full seasons, he was still putting up 4-5 WAR and 25-35 homers in the down years and 50+ when healthy. Silva started to rack up milestones, including 3000 hits, 1500+ runs, 1500+ RBI, and 100+ WAR. But the big one was 700+ homers with many thinking Silva could catch the all-time mark of Elijah Cashman of 750, set in 1936. Silva was the second to get to 700+, doing it at age 38 in1945. It was his last season with Omaha and they’d ultimately retire his #21 and use the beloved Silva as a team ambassador. But he signed with Calgary for the 1946 season to a two-year deal with the Cheetahs hoping he could catch the home run record if moved to a DH. He hit 26 homers in 1946, but struggled otherwise, posting -1.3 WAR. Silva decided to retire there at age 40, ending second in all-time homers at 731. The final statistics: 3218 hits, 1665 runs, 351 doubles, 731 home runs, 1895 RBI, 892 walks, a .321/.376/.580 slash and 108.1 WAR. One of the all-time great hitters and a bright spot for an Omaha franchise that was often a stinker in the 1930s and 40s. Silva also become a legend back home in Cape Verde and helped introduce the game to the islands and to west Africa as a whole and would play a role in helping form West African Baseball in 1975 and creating a Cape Verde-based franchise. Domingo Martinez – Starting Pitcher – Charlotte Canaries – 99.0% First Ballot Domingo Martinez was a 5’10’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher form Culiacan, a city in northwestern Mexico. Martinez was known for a stellar fastball that regularly hit 97-99 mph, mixed with generally solid control and movement between the fastball, a stellar slider, and a solid changeup. He was generally considered a good defensive pitcher and someone with strong stamina. He left for the United States and played college baseball at Wisconsin. After that run, Martinez was picked 153^rd overall in the 1931 MLB Draft by Charlotte, where he’d spend his entire career. Martinez saw some work as a solid reliever in his rookie season and then became a full-time starter in year two and a bona fide ace in year three. Charlotte made it to the American Association Championship in 1933 with Martinez posting three quality starts in that run. He’d struggle a bit in his 20s afterward in the postseason, although the Canaries would still pull off four playoff berths and the 1937 World Series title. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1934 and second in 1938. It was the late 1930s and his late 20s when Martinez became exceptional. In 1938, he had 11.5 WAR over 294.2 innings, at the time setting a single-season WAR record for pitchers with a 24-6 record, 2.69 ERA, 294 strikeouts, 19 complete games, and six shutouts. He was second in PotY In 1939, then did even better in 1940 to win his second award with 11.7 WAR, 297 strikeouts, a 2.80 ERA and 23 complete games. The 11.7 WAR stood as the pitcher MLB single-season record until 1991. He was third in voting in 1941, but was most importantly able to shake off some playoff gremlins as Charlotte won the American Association title, falling in the World Series to the fledging Philadelphia dynasty. In that postseason, Martinez had a 2.18 ERA over 41.1 innings and five starts. He had two more solid seasons in 1942 and 1943, leading in WAR for a third time, although the Canaries were one-and-done in the postseason. By this point, the now 33-year old Martinez was established as one of the best pitchers of the last decade. But in the late spring of 1944, he needed surgery in his throwing elbow to remove a bone spur. He was never the same after this. He came back for a middling 1945, then stunk it up in 1946, opting to retire at the end of the season at age 36. Still, he got two important milestones at the end; 250 wins and 3000+ strikeouts. Charlotte quickly retired his #30 uniform, the first retired by the Canaries and one of only three in franchise history. The final statistics: 250-140, 3.22 ERA, 3471.2 innings, 3145 strikeouts, 868 walks, 263/430 quality starts, 223 complete games, 51 shutouts, and 98.6 WAR. Had he been able to stay healthy, he had a shot at being in the upper echelon of the all-time pitchers. Still, hitting the milestones he did considering shows how impressive and dominant Martinez was at his best. It is no surprise he not only got in on the first ballot, but at 99.0%. Brad Berg – First Baseman – Cincinnati Reds – 93.8% First Ballot Brad Berg was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch hitting first baseman from Hammond, Indiana; located just outside of Chicago. Berg was a solid contact hitter with very good power. He had a decent eye, but did strike out more than the average hitter. He made up for It by posting 35+ home runs 10 times in his career. Berg was a slow baserunner and played entirely at first base, although he was thought of as an above average to good defender. Berg stayed in the Midwest by playing college baseball at Eastern Michigan, helping the Eagles to the 1929 National Championship. This attention earned him the 12^th overall pick in the 1929 MLB Draft by Cincinnati. He spent 1930 in the minor league affiliate in Dayton and was the minor league MVP. Berg became a part-time starter for the Reds in 1931 and 32, then became a full-time starter after for the next decade. He would win Silver Sluggers in 1936, 38, and 42 and became a top-tier hitter in the mid to late 1930s, although he wouldn’t always get the notice with Kaby Silva sharing a position and league with him, plus Cincinnati’s general mediocrity. In 1936, he won the National Association MVP by leading in WAR (8.2), runs (115), and RBI (137). He won it again In 1938 with career bests in home runs (52) and RBI (139). He remained a consistent strong slugger and the Reds finally saw some playoff action in Berg’s later years. They made the playoffs in 1937, 39, 42, and 43; winning the Midwest League in each. However, their deepest runs saw elimination at the NACS In 1939 and 1942. After the 1943 season, the now 35-year old Berg opted for free agency and signed with Albuquerque. He was on his way to an MVP caliber season in his Isotopes debut with a 1.045 OPS, but back spasms put him out for six weeks. The next two seasons, Berg struggled and put up below average production. He picked up his 2500^th hit, but opted to retire at age 38 as his contract with Albuquerque expired. The final statistics: 2551 hits, 1404 runs, 394 doubles, 559 home runs, 1722 RBI, 829 walks, a .293/.355/.536 slash, and 81.8 WAR. He was a reliable presence in the middle of the lineup for about 15 years, but was often overshadowed by other stud 1Bs. Still, his #19 uniform was retired by Cincinnati and the Hall of Fame voters didn’t forget about the popular slugger, giving him a first ballot induction at 93.8%. Dale Brooks – Right Fielder – Calgary Cheetahs – 69.2% First Ballot Dale Brooks was a 5’7’’, 180 pound left-handed right fielder from Red Deer, Alberta; a city located midway between Calgary and Edmonton. Brooks was an excellent contact hitter with decent power, averaging around 20-30 home runs a season and 30-40 doubles. He was decent at drawing walks and a below average baserunner. He played almost exclusively at right field and was considered a lousy defender. Brooks was a well-liked team leader and incredibly durable. Brooks played college baseball at Ohio University and was picked 40^th overall by Calgary in the 1926 MLB Draft, keeping him relatively close to home. He was a part-time starter as a rookie, then became a full-time starter for around 17 seasons. Year two was his peak at age 22, leading the American Association in hits (222), runs (113), average (.357) and OBP (.402). His two Silver Sluggers came in 1928 and 1929. He never again had seasons that strong, but he was a reliable each year for 3-5 WAR, around a .300 average, 35 or so doubles, around 90 runs, and 20-30 homers. The Cheetahs only made the playoffs twice in Brooks’ tenure; making it to the AACS in 1935 and a first round exit in 1937. With Calgary, Brooks had 2157 hits, 1118 runs, 259 home runs, 1051 RBI, and 48.5 WAR. His #16 uniform would be retired once Brooks was finished as a local favorite. In summer 1938, the 32-year old Brooks was part of a five-player trade that sent him to Buffalo. He spent the rest of that season and the next five years with the Blue Sox. There, he had 968 hits, 484 runs, 146 home runs, and 22.3 WAR. In Buffalo, Brooks earned his 3000^th hit, 1500^th run, 1500^th RBI, and 400^th home run. At age 38, he signed with Philadelphia mid-dynasty for the 1944 season. Brooks was done as a solid full-time starter, but was a decent bench piece as the Phillies won the 1944 World Series and got to it in 1945 and 46. Brooks retired after the 1946 season at age 40. The final statistics: 3364 hits, 1724 runs, 595 doubles, 442 home runs, 1663 RBI, a .309/.365/.495 slash and 72.8 WAR. At retirement, his 595 doubles was #1 on the all-time leaderboard and was also sixth in hits. He compiled some solid numbers, but Brooks was rarely considered elite. Still, his reliable production gave him some stats you couldn’t ignore and he earned first ballot selection, albeit at only 69.2%. He’s the fourth guy in a stacked 1952 HOF class, but a Hall of Famer regardless. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)