OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

FuzzyRussianHat · 05-25-2023, 05:22 AM

Two players were inducted for the 1957 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Class. Both only barely crossed the 66% threshold with 1B Maxwell Redmond at 69.4% on his fourth ballot and 1B Eliot Cote making it on hus second ballot at 68.2%. Only three others were above 50% in a weak year; all at 52.9%; SP Jacob Gosselin on his sixth go, SP Patrick Iannazzo on his eighth, and LF John Roberts on his first.

Getting cut after his 10^th ballot was 1B Ryan Gray, who spent 18 years between Miami, Tampa, Calgary, and Jacksonville. Gray peaked on his final attempt at 47.5%, but was viewed behind the other 1B in the group. He had 2791 hits, 1515 runs, 529 home runs, 1669 RBI, a .290 average, and 54.2 WAR. Another 1B was cut after 10 tries in Balthasar Sharp, who peaked at 29.9% on his second go. In a 22 year career, he had 2662 hits, 1561 runs, 593 home runs, 1604 RBI, a .270 average, and 77.8 WAR.

Maxwell Redmond – First Baseman – Montreal Maples – 69.4% Fourth Ballot

Maxwell Redmond was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed first baseman from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Redmond was considered a solid all-around bat in his time with good contact and at times great power numbers. He was pretty good at drawing walks, but did strike out a bit more than average. He was a decently smart baserunner, but lacked natural speed. Redmond played exclusively defensively at first base and was generally viewed as just below average with his glove. He was a fan favorite, a hard worker, and a durable and reliable player.

Redmond went west for college and played at Stanford. After a solid college career, he went home to Tennessee as he was picked 25^th overall by Memphis. He was immediately an effective power bat with 41 home runs in his rookie season, earning him second place in Rookie of the Year voting. Unfortunately, his only chance at the postseason came in his first two seasons with the Mountain Cats. In 1937 and 1938, he won his two Silver Sluggers and in 1938, he was second in MVP voting; the closest he’d come to the award with career bests in WAR (6.8), homers (44), and average (.328). In seven seasons in Memphis, he had 1253 hits, 697 runs, 229 doubles, 265 home runs, 802 RBI, a .292/.356/.538 slash, and 33.5 WAR.

He left home and tested free agency at age 28, signing an eight-year deal with Montreal. He’d ultimately wear the Maples M in the Hall of Fame and would have his #9 retired by the franchise, as Redmond was a bright spot in a down period for the franchise. In his time there, he had 1272 hits, 686 runs, 201 doubles, 226 home runs, 722 RBI, a .281/.346/.479 slash, and 30.9 WAR. His overall numbers with Montreal were a little weaker than Memphis, as Redmond’s power started to diminish in his 30s, going from a year 30+ dinger guy to someone hitting in the teens.

Montreal didn’t re-sign Redmond and he signed in 1948 with Louisville for his final MLB season, where he was able to cross 500 career homers. He continued his professional career for two more years, playing in 1949 with Honduras and getting traded for 1950 to Chihuahua. A number of injuries caused him to see little action in those final three seasons, retiring at age 39.

Redmond’s final MLB stats: 2618 hits, 1441 runs, 446 doubles, 508 home runs, 1575 RBI, a .287/.352/.508 slash, and 67.3 WAR. A solid, respectable bat throughout, but someone on the borderline of the Hall of Fame. He debuted at 56.5% and slowly gained steam, missing by one percent in 1956. With a weaker 1957 field, Redmond was able to just get over the 66% hump and qualify on his fourth ballot at 69.4%.

Eliot Cote – First Baseman – Buffalo Blue Sox – 68.2% Second Ballot

Eliot Cote was a 5’10’’, 205 pound right-handed first baseman from Mount Forest, Ontario; a small unincorporated community about two hours west of greater Toronto. Cote was known for having an incredible eye and ability to draw walks, leading his association five times in his career. Cote added reliable consistent power with 13 seasons of 30+ home runs, although he never had more than 39. He was an above average contact hitter with weak speed and baserunning ability. He played almost exclusively at first base and was viewed as a below average defender. Cote was a hard worker and viewed as a very durable and reliable player.

Cote went south to play college baseball with LSU, winning the 1928 College World Series with the Tigers. As a junior, he was picked in 1930 the second round, 95^th overall, by Toronto. However, Cote was unable to come to terms with the Timberwolves and returned for his senior season with LSU. In the 1931 MLB Draft, he was again picked by Toronto, this time 82^nd overall. Cote came to terms with the Timberwolves and was ready to contribute to his home province squad. He spent his first two pro seasons in minor league Hamilton, showing solid potential. Before the 1934 season, Toronto traded him and fellow prospect Dan Jordan to Buffalo for veteran 2B Kenny Goldman.

His most prominent run in the majors came with the Blue Sox, where Cote spent1934-1940. He was a bench player in his first year, then found his way into a regular starting role at age 25. With Buffalo, he had 1006 hits, 591 runs, 211 home runs, 570 RBI, a .294/.395/.538 slash and 35.0 WAR. Cote had a solid postseason in 1937, helping Buffalo to their first ever National Association Championship Series appearance. That was their only playoff berth in his run.

After the 1940 season, the now 31-year old Cote opted for free agency and signed a seven-year deal with Houston. He only played three seasons with the Hornets, but had a solid run, including career bests in 1943 in OBP (.433), runs (125), RBI (119), and WAR (7.4). This earned him his only Silver Slugger, coming as a DH. He opted out of his Hornets contract and signed at age 34 with Denver. He spent four solid seasons with the Dragons.

Cote was traded to Calgary for the 1948 season, then went signed for his final two MLB seasons with Philadelphia. With the Phillies, he crossed the 500 career home run mark, 1500 RBI mark, and 1500 career runs. He also played for the Canadian national team in the 1949 and 1950 World Baseball Championships. At age 41, his MLB career was over, but Cote went to the newly formed European Baseball Federation and played his final two professional seasons for Rotterdam.

The final MLB stats for Cote: 2475 hits, 1530 runs, 413 doubles, 527 home runs, 1535 RBI, 1525 walks, a .281/.391/.514 slash and 77.7 WAR. He quietly built a very solid resume, although he wasn’t an award winner or someone who caught a lot of attention relative to the other big bats at first base. Drawing walks doesn’t earn attention either, although his .391 OBP remains among the top of those inducted into the MLB Hall. He only barely crossed the 66% threshold, but Cote earned induction on his second attempt at 68.2%.

05-25-2023, 05:22 AM	#292
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,793	1957 MLB Hall of Fame Two players were inducted for the 1957 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Class. Both only barely crossed the 66% threshold with 1B Maxwell Redmond at 69.4% on his fourth ballot and 1B Eliot Cote making it on hus second ballot at 68.2%. Only three others were above 50% in a weak year; all at 52.9%; SP Jacob Gosselin on his sixth go, SP Patrick Iannazzo on his eighth, and LF John Roberts on his first. Getting cut after his 10^th ballot was 1B Ryan Gray, who spent 18 years between Miami, Tampa, Calgary, and Jacksonville. Gray peaked on his final attempt at 47.5%, but was viewed behind the other 1B in the group. He had 2791 hits, 1515 runs, 529 home runs, 1669 RBI, a .290 average, and 54.2 WAR. Another 1B was cut after 10 tries in Balthasar Sharp, who peaked at 29.9% on his second go. In a 22 year career, he had 2662 hits, 1561 runs, 593 home runs, 1604 RBI, a .270 average, and 77.8 WAR. Maxwell Redmond – First Baseman – Montreal Maples – 69.4% Fourth Ballot Maxwell Redmond was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed first baseman from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Redmond was considered a solid all-around bat in his time with good contact and at times great power numbers. He was pretty good at drawing walks, but did strike out a bit more than average. He was a decently smart baserunner, but lacked natural speed. Redmond played exclusively defensively at first base and was generally viewed as just below average with his glove. He was a fan favorite, a hard worker, and a durable and reliable player. Redmond went west for college and played at Stanford. After a solid college career, he went home to Tennessee as he was picked 25^th overall by Memphis. He was immediately an effective power bat with 41 home runs in his rookie season, earning him second place in Rookie of the Year voting. Unfortunately, his only chance at the postseason came in his first two seasons with the Mountain Cats. In 1937 and 1938, he won his two Silver Sluggers and in 1938, he was second in MVP voting; the closest he’d come to the award with career bests in WAR (6.8), homers (44), and average (.328). In seven seasons in Memphis, he had 1253 hits, 697 runs, 229 doubles, 265 home runs, 802 RBI, a .292/.356/.538 slash, and 33.5 WAR. He left home and tested free agency at age 28, signing an eight-year deal with Montreal. He’d ultimately wear the Maples M in the Hall of Fame and would have his #9 retired by the franchise, as Redmond was a bright spot in a down period for the franchise. In his time there, he had 1272 hits, 686 runs, 201 doubles, 226 home runs, 722 RBI, a .281/.346/.479 slash, and 30.9 WAR. His overall numbers with Montreal were a little weaker than Memphis, as Redmond’s power started to diminish in his 30s, going from a year 30+ dinger guy to someone hitting in the teens. Montreal didn’t re-sign Redmond and he signed in 1948 with Louisville for his final MLB season, where he was able to cross 500 career homers. He continued his professional career for two more years, playing in 1949 with Honduras and getting traded for 1950 to Chihuahua. A number of injuries caused him to see little action in those final three seasons, retiring at age 39. Redmond’s final MLB stats: 2618 hits, 1441 runs, 446 doubles, 508 home runs, 1575 RBI, a .287/.352/.508 slash, and 67.3 WAR. A solid, respectable bat throughout, but someone on the borderline of the Hall of Fame. He debuted at 56.5% and slowly gained steam, missing by one percent in 1956. With a weaker 1957 field, Redmond was able to just get over the 66% hump and qualify on his fourth ballot at 69.4%. Eliot Cote – First Baseman – Buffalo Blue Sox – 68.2% Second Ballot Eliot Cote was a 5’10’’, 205 pound right-handed first baseman from Mount Forest, Ontario; a small unincorporated community about two hours west of greater Toronto. Cote was known for having an incredible eye and ability to draw walks, leading his association five times in his career. Cote added reliable consistent power with 13 seasons of 30+ home runs, although he never had more than 39. He was an above average contact hitter with weak speed and baserunning ability. He played almost exclusively at first base and was viewed as a below average defender. Cote was a hard worker and viewed as a very durable and reliable player. Cote went south to play college baseball with LSU, winning the 1928 College World Series with the Tigers. As a junior, he was picked in 1930 the second round, 95^th overall, by Toronto. However, Cote was unable to come to terms with the Timberwolves and returned for his senior season with LSU. In the 1931 MLB Draft, he was again picked by Toronto, this time 82^nd overall. Cote came to terms with the Timberwolves and was ready to contribute to his home province squad. He spent his first two pro seasons in minor league Hamilton, showing solid potential. Before the 1934 season, Toronto traded him and fellow prospect Dan Jordan to Buffalo for veteran 2B Kenny Goldman. His most prominent run in the majors came with the Blue Sox, where Cote spent1934-1940. He was a bench player in his first year, then found his way into a regular starting role at age 25. With Buffalo, he had 1006 hits, 591 runs, 211 home runs, 570 RBI, a .294/.395/.538 slash and 35.0 WAR. Cote had a solid postseason in 1937, helping Buffalo to their first ever National Association Championship Series appearance. That was their only playoff berth in his run. After the 1940 season, the now 31-year old Cote opted for free agency and signed a seven-year deal with Houston. He only played three seasons with the Hornets, but had a solid run, including career bests in 1943 in OBP (.433), runs (125), RBI (119), and WAR (7.4). This earned him his only Silver Slugger, coming as a DH. He opted out of his Hornets contract and signed at age 34 with Denver. He spent four solid seasons with the Dragons. Cote was traded to Calgary for the 1948 season, then went signed for his final two MLB seasons with Philadelphia. With the Phillies, he crossed the 500 career home run mark, 1500 RBI mark, and 1500 career runs. He also played for the Canadian national team in the 1949 and 1950 World Baseball Championships. At age 41, his MLB career was over, but Cote went to the newly formed European Baseball Federation and played his final two professional seasons for Rotterdam. The final MLB stats for Cote: 2475 hits, 1530 runs, 413 doubles, 527 home runs, 1535 RBI, 1525 walks, a .281/.391/.514 slash and 77.7 WAR. He quietly built a very solid resume, although he wasn’t an award winner or someone who caught a lot of attention relative to the other big bats at first base. Drawing walks doesn’t earn attention either, although his .391 OBP remains among the top of those inducted into the MLB Hall. He only barely crossed the 66% threshold, but Cote earned induction on his second attempt at 68.2%. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)