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FuzzyRussianHat · 04-17-2023, 05:23 PM

For the third straight season, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame was a loaded four-person class. All four in the 1953 class were first ballot picks above 84% with two inner-circle level guys. 3B Caleb Yang had 99.1% and 1B Blake Wynn had 96.3% as no doubters. Closer Rovaldis Arvelo at 85.9% and LF Ethan Ayala at 84.2% both got in with very firm numbers as well. CF Luke Murray wasn’t too far off the 66% threshold at 60.3% on his second attempt. SP Andy Cowan and C Hernan Ortega both were above 50% as well. No players were 10^th ballot drops in 1953.

Caleb “Graveyard” Yang – Third Baseman – Baltimore Orioles – 99.1% First Ballot

Caleb Yang was a 5’10’’, 175 pound right-handed third baseman from Sint Nicolas in southeast Aruba. The first Aruban member of the MLB Hall of Fame, Yang was an excellent all-around hitter with stellar contact ability and reliably solid power despite his small frame. He wasn’t anything notable at drawing walks, but didn’t strikeout a ton. Yang was an average baserunner and generally an above average to good defender at third base, where he spent almost his entire career. He won one Gold Glove in 1935 and was considered a “sparkplug” throughout his run.

With the first three rounds of the MLB Draft limited to American and Canadian players on a regional basis, Yang wasn’t selected until the fourth round in the 1927 MLB Draft. But he was considered by many as the top prospect, having won college player of the year in both 1926 and 1927 with Miami; only the third player to win the award multiple seasons. Indianapolis had the first pick of the fourth round and scooped up Yang. He made his debut in 1928 and only played just over half the season on the big club, but he posted a 5.6 WAR season in just 88 starts and still finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Some small injuries knocked him out for about a month of his first few seasons, but he still won Silver Sluggers with Indianapolis in 1930, 32, 33, and 35. In 1931 and 1932, the Racers had two sneaky good seasons after struggling previously. Yang established himself as a playoff performer, picking up eight home runs, 21 hits, and 18 RBI in their 1931 run that saw the franchise’s first National Association title.

In 1932, Yang was second in MVP voting with a batting title (.368), 1.092 OPS, and 9.9 WAR. In 1933, he won what would ultimately be his only MVP with a NA best 10.1 WAR, 51 home runs, and 142 RBI. In 1935, he was second in voting despite career bests in 11.2 WAR, 214 hits, and 113 runs. In total with Indy, Yang had 1341 hits, 734 runs, 266 home runs, 772 RBI, a .338 average, and 59.1 WAR. Despite that, Indianapolis wasn’t even his signature run, although his overall stats in the Circle City were comparable to his noted Baltimore run.

Yang left Indianapolis for free agency and signed an eight-year, $204,600 deal with the Orioles starting with the 1936 season. The now 29-year old Yang would play all eight years of that deal, winning four more Silver Sluggers (1936, 39, 40, 42). He was second in MVP voting in both 39 and 42, posting 9.7 and 9.6 WAR in those years, respectively. 1942 was especially impressive since he did it in only 126 starts. 1939 is the run Baltimore fans remember most fondly, as the team made it the World Series and won it all for only the second time. In the postseason, Yang had 19 hits, 11 runs, 4 home runs, and 8 RBI and earned NACS MVP. In total with the Orioles, he had 1372 hits, 795 runs, 291 home runs, 809 RBI, and 59.4 WAR. His #41 uniform would get retired by the team as well.

With his contract up at age 37, Yang signed a two-year deal with St. Louis. Injuries put him out a good chunk of the first year and his production dropped well below his prior standards. Yang signed for his final two seasons with Denver, where he crossed the 600 home run and 3000 hit thresholds. After going unsigned in 1948, Yang retired at age 41.

The final statistics: 3208 hits, 1772 runs, 456 doubles, 108 triples, 625 home runs, 1831 RBI, a .320/.363/.574 slash and 127.5 WAR. At retirement, his WAR was second best in MLB among all hitters and as of 2036 is ninth best all time and first for any 3B. He’s almost always the first name suggested when discussing the all-time greatest third baseman in MLB history. Beloved back in his home of Aruba and by MLB fans alike, Yang was truly an inner-circle level Hall of Famer and the star in a loaded 1953 group.

Blake Wynn – First Baseman – Boston Red Sox – 96.3% First Ballot

Blake Wynn was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed batting first baseman from Revere, Massachusetts; just outside of Boston. Wynn was a good contact and power hitter, reliably hitting around .300 and 35+ home runs each season. Despite his power, he very rarely walked, but didn’t strike out much either. He was a very slow baserunner, but was stellar with the glove at first and is considered by many to be the GOAT defender at 1B. He picked up 12 Gold Gloves in his career and his career ZR at first is 122.5; the highest mark of any MLB 1B. Wynn was a sparkplug and an ironman, making him one of the most popular players of his era.

Wynn played college baseball for East Carolina and was selected 14^th overall in the 1931 MLB Draft by his hometown Boston Red Sox. He spent 1932 in the minors, debuting in 1933 with a Rookie of the Year season with 6.5 WAR and 37 home runs. He was the model of consistency over nine season with the Red Sox, hitting 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI each season with around 5.5 WAR per year. He was one of the only reasons to go to Fenway in the 1930s, as Boston was consistently a bottom tier team.

1940 was Wynn’s signature season and the only time he got to play in the postseason with the Red Sox, who fell in the NACS. Wynn won his lone MVP with 59 home runs; at the time, second only to Elijah Cashman’s’ 61 for the single season record. His 171 RBI was second only to Aitor Cerda’s 175 and would remain the second most in a season until 2036. He also led the National Association in runs (119), slugging (.645) and WAR (8.5). The next year, he finished third in MVP voting with 46 home runs and 132 RBI. In total with the Red Sox, Wynn had 1747 hits, 839 runs, 369 HRs, 1129 RBI, a .313 average, and 54.7 WAR. Unsurprisingly, his #43 was the first number retired in Boston and he remained a beloved figure for decades afterward.

At age 31 in 1942, Wynn left for free agency and signed a six-year deal with Minneapolis, more than doubling his yearly salary. He continued to put up the same reliable production in his first years with the Moose, leading the NA in home runs with 50 in 1943 and 58 in 1945. The latter year he finished third in MVP voting and got his second Silver Slugger, a low number thanks to a loaded group at the position. Minneapolis made the playoffs in 1944 and 45, but Wynn never had a chance to play in the World Series. Age saw his production decline in his final two seasons with the Moose and he retired at age 37.

The final statistics: 2774 hits, 1327 runs, 404 doubles, 604 home runs, 1822 RBI, a .298/.322/.543 slash and 80.8 WAR. A steady performer for 15 years, an elite defender, and one of the top homer hitters of his era. It is easy to see why Wynn was extremely popular and why he earned first ballot induction at 96.3%.

Rovaldis “Cats” Arvelo – Closer – Milwaukee Mustangs – 85.9% First Ballot

Rovaldis Arvelo was a 5’10’’, 180 pound right-handed closer from Guadalajara, Mexico. He was an all-time hard thrower with regular 99-101 mph velocity on a cut fastball that was often unhittable. His only other pitch was a solid changeup, which he sprinkled in with good movement and control overall.

Arvelo came to America for college and played for Ball State. Although his limited repertoire made him a reliever in the pros, he was an elite starter in college and won Pitcher of the Year in 1926 as a sophomore. With the regional rounds limiting the first three to American and Canadian players, Arvelo ended up picked in the fourth round, 159^th overall in 1927. He was picked by New Orleans with the fifth pick of the round. Arvelo split time between closer and setup for the struggling Mudcats in his early career, putting up 89 saves, a 2.55 ERA, and 8.6 WAR in his 4.5 seasons in the Bayou.

Arvelo’s signature run began in the summer of 1932 when New Orleans traded him to Milwaukee for three players. With the Mustangs, he became an elite reliever, leading the National Association in saves five straight years from 1933-37. He won Reliever of the Year in 1934, 35, and 36, then finished third for the award in 37, 38, and 39. For about a 7-8 year stretch, Milwaukee reliably knew they were in great hands when they went to the pen.

The Mustangs made the playoffs five times in Arvelo’s run, getting to the NACS in 1933, 34, and 35. In 34 and 35, they won the association title, falling in the World Series in both years. Arvelo was an excellent postseason pitcher, finishing with a 1.62 ERA and seven saves over 33.1 innings with 45 strikeouts. In the regular season with the Mustangs, Arvelo had 309 saves, a 2.11 ERA over 690 innings, 929 strikeouts, and 35.4 WAR.

In spring 1940, Arvelo suffered a torn rotator cuff that put him out a near calendar year. He came back in 1941 at age 34, but struggled and lost the closer role. Milwaukee wouldn’t re-sign him at the end of the year, but his #90 uniform would be one of two retired by the Mustangs for his great run and role in their 1930s success.

Arvelo signed with Ottawa for 1942 In a limited role, then spent three seasons with Houston. He briefly reclaimed the magic in 1943, earning his 400^th save as a Hornet. He was only the second to pass the mark and became the all-time leader shortly after, passing Jim Klattenburger’s 401. Houston stopped using him by 1945, although he had another brief spurt of success in 1946 with Las Vegas. After one last year in 1947 for Pittsburgh, Arvelo retired at age 41.

The final statistics: 2.26 ERA, 438 saves, 1170 innings, 1430 strikeouts, 285 walks, 536 shutdowns, and 51.5 WAR. At the time, he was the WARlord for relivers and would be one of a select few at 50+. Rodrick Wisdom would pass him by three for the saves mark in the next decade and he’d be in the all-time best reliever conversation until Carson Hanford’s 1960s-70s domination. As of 2036, he’s one of only four MLB closers with 400+ saves and was the premier reliever of the 1930s, earning Arvelo a first ballot induction at 85.9%.

Ethan Ayala – Left/Right Field – Calgary Cheetahs - 84.2% First Ballot

Ethan Ayala was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed corner outfielder from the small communities of Suitland-Silver Hill, Maryland. Ayala was an excellent contact hitter and solid baserunner. He had reliable gap and home run power, good for around 30 doubles and 25-30 home runs per year on average. He didn’t draw many walks, but was solid at avoiding strikeouts. He was a corner outfielder who split his defensive career almost 50/50 between left and right field. He was generally considered a below average defender at both spots. Ayala was a hard worker and a fan favorite, extremely popular in each of his stops.

Ayala played his college baseball for South Carolina and went back home to Maryland in the 1930 MLB Draft, picked 29^th overall by Baltimore. He spent all of 1931 in minor league Annapolis, where we won a league MVP. He was called up in 1932 and had a solid rookie year, although a foot injury put him out for a good chunk. His second season was statistically the best of his career, leading the National Association in hits (225) and runs (133) with a .358 average and 8.3 WAR. He finished second in MVP voting and won his first Silver Slugger. He’d win it again in 1934 and 1937 with the Orioles, finishing in six seasons there with 1135 hits, 630 runs, 187 home runs, and 35.6 WAR.

He’d have the most WAR with Baltimore, but he’d go into the Hall and be most associated with his second stop. The Orioles traded the now 27-year old Ayala to Calgary for the 1938 season. Ayala spent eight seasons with the Cheetahs, winning one Silver Slugger in 1939 and finishing second in MVP voting in 1939 and third in 1940. He’d be integral in Calgary winning the American Association title in1 940, taking AACS MVP. They fell in the World Series, but he had 26 hits, 14 runs, and 15 RBI over the postseason. With the Cheetahs, he had 1489 hits, 779 runs, 193 homers, and 30.2 WAR. Despite the short run, he made enough of an impact for Calgary to retire his #6 jersey.

Ayala left for free agency and stayed in Canada, joining Vancouver for the 1946 season at age 35. Various injuries put him out more than half of his first year, then year two he had very limited value. Still, he was able to cross 400 career home runs and 1500 runs in his final season with the Volcanoes. He hoped to catch on somewhere in 1948 but after going unsigned, Ayala retired at age 38.

The final statistics: 2820 hits, 1512 runs, 451 doubles, 410 home runs, 1367 RBI, a .320/.358/.538 slash, and 67.1 WAR. Compared to some of the other recent inductees, he’s on the weaker side of the inductees. But Ayala was a solid popular presence in the outfield for 16 seasons, earning him a first ballot nod in 1953 at 84.2%.

04-17-2023, 05:23 PM	#249
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,810	1953 MLB Hall of Fame For the third straight season, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame was a loaded four-person class. All four in the 1953 class were first ballot picks above 84% with two inner-circle level guys. 3B Caleb Yang had 99.1% and 1B Blake Wynn had 96.3% as no doubters. Closer Rovaldis Arvelo at 85.9% and LF Ethan Ayala at 84.2% both got in with very firm numbers as well. CF Luke Murray wasn’t too far off the 66% threshold at 60.3% on his second attempt. SP Andy Cowan and C Hernan Ortega both were above 50% as well. No players were 10^th ballot drops in 1953. Caleb “Graveyard” Yang – Third Baseman – Baltimore Orioles – 99.1% First Ballot Caleb Yang was a 5’10’’, 175 pound right-handed third baseman from Sint Nicolas in southeast Aruba. The first Aruban member of the MLB Hall of Fame, Yang was an excellent all-around hitter with stellar contact ability and reliably solid power despite his small frame. He wasn’t anything notable at drawing walks, but didn’t strikeout a ton. Yang was an average baserunner and generally an above average to good defender at third base, where he spent almost his entire career. He won one Gold Glove in 1935 and was considered a “sparkplug” throughout his run. With the first three rounds of the MLB Draft limited to American and Canadian players on a regional basis, Yang wasn’t selected until the fourth round in the 1927 MLB Draft. But he was considered by many as the top prospect, having won college player of the year in both 1926 and 1927 with Miami; only the third player to win the award multiple seasons. Indianapolis had the first pick of the fourth round and scooped up Yang. He made his debut in 1928 and only played just over half the season on the big club, but he posted a 5.6 WAR season in just 88 starts and still finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Some small injuries knocked him out for about a month of his first few seasons, but he still won Silver Sluggers with Indianapolis in 1930, 32, 33, and 35. In 1931 and 1932, the Racers had two sneaky good seasons after struggling previously. Yang established himself as a playoff performer, picking up eight home runs, 21 hits, and 18 RBI in their 1931 run that saw the franchise’s first National Association title. In 1932, Yang was second in MVP voting with a batting title (.368), 1.092 OPS, and 9.9 WAR. In 1933, he won what would ultimately be his only MVP with a NA best 10.1 WAR, 51 home runs, and 142 RBI. In 1935, he was second in voting despite career bests in 11.2 WAR, 214 hits, and 113 runs. In total with Indy, Yang had 1341 hits, 734 runs, 266 home runs, 772 RBI, a .338 average, and 59.1 WAR. Despite that, Indianapolis wasn’t even his signature run, although his overall stats in the Circle City were comparable to his noted Baltimore run. Yang left Indianapolis for free agency and signed an eight-year, $204,600 deal with the Orioles starting with the 1936 season. The now 29-year old Yang would play all eight years of that deal, winning four more Silver Sluggers (1936, 39, 40, 42). He was second in MVP voting in both 39 and 42, posting 9.7 and 9.6 WAR in those years, respectively. 1942 was especially impressive since he did it in only 126 starts. 1939 is the run Baltimore fans remember most fondly, as the team made it the World Series and won it all for only the second time. In the postseason, Yang had 19 hits, 11 runs, 4 home runs, and 8 RBI and earned NACS MVP. In total with the Orioles, he had 1372 hits, 795 runs, 291 home runs, 809 RBI, and 59.4 WAR. His #41 uniform would get retired by the team as well. With his contract up at age 37, Yang signed a two-year deal with St. Louis. Injuries put him out a good chunk of the first year and his production dropped well below his prior standards. Yang signed for his final two seasons with Denver, where he crossed the 600 home run and 3000 hit thresholds. After going unsigned in 1948, Yang retired at age 41. The final statistics: 3208 hits, 1772 runs, 456 doubles, 108 triples, 625 home runs, 1831 RBI, a .320/.363/.574 slash and 127.5 WAR. At retirement, his WAR was second best in MLB among all hitters and as of 2036 is ninth best all time and first for any 3B. He’s almost always the first name suggested when discussing the all-time greatest third baseman in MLB history. Beloved back in his home of Aruba and by MLB fans alike, Yang was truly an inner-circle level Hall of Famer and the star in a loaded 1953 group. Blake Wynn – First Baseman – Boston Red Sox – 96.3% First Ballot Blake Wynn was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed batting first baseman from Revere, Massachusetts; just outside of Boston. Wynn was a good contact and power hitter, reliably hitting around .300 and 35+ home runs each season. Despite his power, he very rarely walked, but didn’t strike out much either. He was a very slow baserunner, but was stellar with the glove at first and is considered by many to be the GOAT defender at 1B. He picked up 12 Gold Gloves in his career and his career ZR at first is 122.5; the highest mark of any MLB 1B. Wynn was a sparkplug and an ironman, making him one of the most popular players of his era. Wynn played college baseball for East Carolina and was selected 14^th overall in the 1931 MLB Draft by his hometown Boston Red Sox. He spent 1932 in the minors, debuting in 1933 with a Rookie of the Year season with 6.5 WAR and 37 home runs. He was the model of consistency over nine season with the Red Sox, hitting 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI each season with around 5.5 WAR per year. He was one of the only reasons to go to Fenway in the 1930s, as Boston was consistently a bottom tier team. 1940 was Wynn’s signature season and the only time he got to play in the postseason with the Red Sox, who fell in the NACS. Wynn won his lone MVP with 59 home runs; at the time, second only to Elijah Cashman’s’ 61 for the single season record. His 171 RBI was second only to Aitor Cerda’s 175 and would remain the second most in a season until 2036. He also led the National Association in runs (119), slugging (.645) and WAR (8.5). The next year, he finished third in MVP voting with 46 home runs and 132 RBI. In total with the Red Sox, Wynn had 1747 hits, 839 runs, 369 HRs, 1129 RBI, a .313 average, and 54.7 WAR. Unsurprisingly, his #43 was the first number retired in Boston and he remained a beloved figure for decades afterward. At age 31 in 1942, Wynn left for free agency and signed a six-year deal with Minneapolis, more than doubling his yearly salary. He continued to put up the same reliable production in his first years with the Moose, leading the NA in home runs with 50 in 1943 and 58 in 1945. The latter year he finished third in MVP voting and got his second Silver Slugger, a low number thanks to a loaded group at the position. Minneapolis made the playoffs in 1944 and 45, but Wynn never had a chance to play in the World Series. Age saw his production decline in his final two seasons with the Moose and he retired at age 37. The final statistics: 2774 hits, 1327 runs, 404 doubles, 604 home runs, 1822 RBI, a .298/.322/.543 slash and 80.8 WAR. A steady performer for 15 years, an elite defender, and one of the top homer hitters of his era. It is easy to see why Wynn was extremely popular and why he earned first ballot induction at 96.3%. Rovaldis “Cats” Arvelo – Closer – Milwaukee Mustangs – 85.9% First Ballot Rovaldis Arvelo was a 5’10’’, 180 pound right-handed closer from Guadalajara, Mexico. He was an all-time hard thrower with regular 99-101 mph velocity on a cut fastball that was often unhittable. His only other pitch was a solid changeup, which he sprinkled in with good movement and control overall. Arvelo came to America for college and played for Ball State. Although his limited repertoire made him a reliever in the pros, he was an elite starter in college and won Pitcher of the Year in 1926 as a sophomore. With the regional rounds limiting the first three to American and Canadian players, Arvelo ended up picked in the fourth round, 159^th overall in 1927. He was picked by New Orleans with the fifth pick of the round. Arvelo split time between closer and setup for the struggling Mudcats in his early career, putting up 89 saves, a 2.55 ERA, and 8.6 WAR in his 4.5 seasons in the Bayou. Arvelo’s signature run began in the summer of 1932 when New Orleans traded him to Milwaukee for three players. With the Mustangs, he became an elite reliever, leading the National Association in saves five straight years from 1933-37. He won Reliever of the Year in 1934, 35, and 36, then finished third for the award in 37, 38, and 39. For about a 7-8 year stretch, Milwaukee reliably knew they were in great hands when they went to the pen. The Mustangs made the playoffs five times in Arvelo’s run, getting to the NACS in 1933, 34, and 35. In 34 and 35, they won the association title, falling in the World Series in both years. Arvelo was an excellent postseason pitcher, finishing with a 1.62 ERA and seven saves over 33.1 innings with 45 strikeouts. In the regular season with the Mustangs, Arvelo had 309 saves, a 2.11 ERA over 690 innings, 929 strikeouts, and 35.4 WAR. In spring 1940, Arvelo suffered a torn rotator cuff that put him out a near calendar year. He came back in 1941 at age 34, but struggled and lost the closer role. Milwaukee wouldn’t re-sign him at the end of the year, but his #90 uniform would be one of two retired by the Mustangs for his great run and role in their 1930s success. Arvelo signed with Ottawa for 1942 In a limited role, then spent three seasons with Houston. He briefly reclaimed the magic in 1943, earning his 400^th save as a Hornet. He was only the second to pass the mark and became the all-time leader shortly after, passing Jim Klattenburger’s 401. Houston stopped using him by 1945, although he had another brief spurt of success in 1946 with Las Vegas. After one last year in 1947 for Pittsburgh, Arvelo retired at age 41. The final statistics: 2.26 ERA, 438 saves, 1170 innings, 1430 strikeouts, 285 walks, 536 shutdowns, and 51.5 WAR. At the time, he was the WARlord for relivers and would be one of a select few at 50+. Rodrick Wisdom would pass him by three for the saves mark in the next decade and he’d be in the all-time best reliever conversation until Carson Hanford’s 1960s-70s domination. As of 2036, he’s one of only four MLB closers with 400+ saves and was the premier reliever of the 1930s, earning Arvelo a first ballot induction at 85.9%. Ethan Ayala – Left/Right Field – Calgary Cheetahs - 84.2% First Ballot Ethan Ayala was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed corner outfielder from the small communities of Suitland-Silver Hill, Maryland. Ayala was an excellent contact hitter and solid baserunner. He had reliable gap and home run power, good for around 30 doubles and 25-30 home runs per year on average. He didn’t draw many walks, but was solid at avoiding strikeouts. He was a corner outfielder who split his defensive career almost 50/50 between left and right field. He was generally considered a below average defender at both spots. Ayala was a hard worker and a fan favorite, extremely popular in each of his stops. Ayala played his college baseball for South Carolina and went back home to Maryland in the 1930 MLB Draft, picked 29^th overall by Baltimore. He spent all of 1931 in minor league Annapolis, where we won a league MVP. He was called up in 1932 and had a solid rookie year, although a foot injury put him out for a good chunk. His second season was statistically the best of his career, leading the National Association in hits (225) and runs (133) with a .358 average and 8.3 WAR. He finished second in MVP voting and won his first Silver Slugger. He’d win it again in 1934 and 1937 with the Orioles, finishing in six seasons there with 1135 hits, 630 runs, 187 home runs, and 35.6 WAR. He’d have the most WAR with Baltimore, but he’d go into the Hall and be most associated with his second stop. The Orioles traded the now 27-year old Ayala to Calgary for the 1938 season. Ayala spent eight seasons with the Cheetahs, winning one Silver Slugger in 1939 and finishing second in MVP voting in 1939 and third in 1940. He’d be integral in Calgary winning the American Association title in1 940, taking AACS MVP. They fell in the World Series, but he had 26 hits, 14 runs, and 15 RBI over the postseason. With the Cheetahs, he had 1489 hits, 779 runs, 193 homers, and 30.2 WAR. Despite the short run, he made enough of an impact for Calgary to retire his #6 jersey. Ayala left for free agency and stayed in Canada, joining Vancouver for the 1946 season at age 35. Various injuries put him out more than half of his first year, then year two he had very limited value. Still, he was able to cross 400 career home runs and 1500 runs in his final season with the Volcanoes. He hoped to catch on somewhere in 1948 but after going unsigned, Ayala retired at age 38. The final statistics: 2820 hits, 1512 runs, 451 doubles, 410 home runs, 1367 RBI, a .320/.358/.538 slash, and 67.1 WAR. Compared to some of the other recent inductees, he’s on the weaker side of the inductees. But Ayala was a solid popular presence in the outfield for 16 seasons, earning him a first ballot nod in 1953 at 84.2%. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)