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FuzzyRussianHat · 06-08-2023, 05:31 AM

Only one player was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in the 1959 class. SP Juwan Oliver was a first ballot selection at 90.3%. Another first pitcher on his first ballot, Brentley Suka, came close at 62.8% but was just short of the 66% threshold. Four others were above 50%.

One of those was SP Patrick Iannazzo, who was dropped after his 10^th ballot. He finished at 57.8% after barely missing the prior year at 65.0%. In 19 years between Portland, Atlanta, and Seattle, Iannazzo had a 261-185 record, 3.37 ERA, 2660 strikeouts, and 92.2 WAR. It was surprising considering the accumulated numbers and the 1937 Pitcher of the Year that Iannazzo didn’t get more support. But low strikeout numbers and being on weak teams in his run meant he ultimately was stuck as a “Hall of Very Good” guy.

Two others were dropped after a 10^th ballot, although neither got as close. Cam Sherburne won two Pitcher of the Year with Ottawa and had a 165-98 record, 3.04 ERA, and 60.4 WAR. A torn UCL at age 31 derailed his career and kept him from the final tallies needed, peaking at 35.8% on his first ballot. Closer Mo Eckerle was also dropped, peaking at 41.0% on his debut. He won two Reliever of the Year awards over 17 years with 285 saves, 2.03 ERA, and 39.9 WAR.

Juwan Oliver – Starting Pitcher – Dallas Dalmatians – 90.3% First Ballot

Juwan Oliver was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed starting pitcher from Arlington, Texas. Oliver was known for having excellent control along with 98-100 mph velocity. His movement wasn’t known for being more than average at best, but he was expert at changing speeds between a fastball, circle change, and curveball. Oliver was also an ironman, who didn’t miss a start between 1938 to 1951. Oliver was a rare high school draft pick, coming out of Marcus High School; home of the Marauders. Having grown up in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, he was fittingly picked by the Dallas Dalmatians seventh overall in the 1934 MLB Draft.

Oliver spent two seasons in the minor league Fort Worth affiliate, making his MLB debut in 1937 at age 21. He slowly found his footing, eventually becoming the Dalmatians ace with four straight 7+ WAR seasons from 1941-44. He was the American Association leader in strikeouts in both 1941 (362) and 1943 (290).

Dallas grew from a bottom tier team to a contender during that stretch, making it to the World Series in 1942 and 1943. In nine playoff starts with the Dalmatians, Oliver had a 6-2 record, 3.42 ERA over 69.1 innings with 58 strikeouts. In eight seasons with Dallas, he had a 110-116 record, 3.82 ERA, 1686 strikeouts, and 43.1 WAR. He played enough of a role in their playoff success and was a hometown guy for his #6 uniform to be retired at the end of his career.

After spending his whole life in the area, Oliver left for free agency in 1945 and signed a five-year deal with Brooklyn. He spent three seasons with the Dodgers as a solid contributor, but not a dominant pitcher. Ultimately, he was never in the top three in Pitcher of the Year voting at any point in his career. With Brooklyn, he was 46-31 with a 3.23 ERA and 17.8 WAR. At the end of the 1947 season, the 32-year old Oliver was trade to Las Vegas.

Oliver spent the next five seasons with the Vipers and was a reliable starter for them. They became a playoff contender as the 1950s dawned, although Oliver’s postseason luck was limited. Still, in five years he had a 93-50 record, 3.40 ERA, and 26.0 WAR with 1110 strikeouts. He was released by Las Vegas and signed in 1953 with Denver in his final season. He struggled with the Dragons, but hit a few milestones, including becoming the eighth to 3500 career strikeouts and 19^th to 250 wins. Oliver retired after the 1953 season at age 37.

The final stats for Oliver; 259-220, 3.66 ERA, 4311.1 innings, 3568 strikeouts, 826 walks, 304/554 quality starts, 264 complete games, and 86.4 WAR. It is interesting to compare his line with Patrick Iannazzo, who was dropped after a 10^th ballot in the same year. But Oliver’s high strikeout total and lower walk total, plus having some playoff success with Dallas, gave Oliver the nod despite the lack of major accolades. Oliver not only got in, but was an impressive first ballot pick at 90.3%.

06-08-2023, 05:31 AM	#314
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,639	1959 MLB Hall of Fame Only one player was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in the 1959 class. SP Juwan Oliver was a first ballot selection at 90.3%. Another first pitcher on his first ballot, Brentley Suka, came close at 62.8% but was just short of the 66% threshold. Four others were above 50%. One of those was SP Patrick Iannazzo, who was dropped after his 10^th ballot. He finished at 57.8% after barely missing the prior year at 65.0%. In 19 years between Portland, Atlanta, and Seattle, Iannazzo had a 261-185 record, 3.37 ERA, 2660 strikeouts, and 92.2 WAR. It was surprising considering the accumulated numbers and the 1937 Pitcher of the Year that Iannazzo didn’t get more support. But low strikeout numbers and being on weak teams in his run meant he ultimately was stuck as a “Hall of Very Good” guy. Two others were dropped after a 10^th ballot, although neither got as close. Cam Sherburne won two Pitcher of the Year with Ottawa and had a 165-98 record, 3.04 ERA, and 60.4 WAR. A torn UCL at age 31 derailed his career and kept him from the final tallies needed, peaking at 35.8% on his first ballot. Closer Mo Eckerle was also dropped, peaking at 41.0% on his debut. He won two Reliever of the Year awards over 17 years with 285 saves, 2.03 ERA, and 39.9 WAR. Juwan Oliver – Starting Pitcher – Dallas Dalmatians – 90.3% First Ballot Juwan Oliver was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed starting pitcher from Arlington, Texas. Oliver was known for having excellent control along with 98-100 mph velocity. His movement wasn’t known for being more than average at best, but he was expert at changing speeds between a fastball, circle change, and curveball. Oliver was also an ironman, who didn’t miss a start between 1938 to 1951. Oliver was a rare high school draft pick, coming out of Marcus High School; home of the Marauders. Having grown up in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, he was fittingly picked by the Dallas Dalmatians seventh overall in the 1934 MLB Draft. Oliver spent two seasons in the minor league Fort Worth affiliate, making his MLB debut in 1937 at age 21. He slowly found his footing, eventually becoming the Dalmatians ace with four straight 7+ WAR seasons from 1941-44. He was the American Association leader in strikeouts in both 1941 (362) and 1943 (290). Dallas grew from a bottom tier team to a contender during that stretch, making it to the World Series in 1942 and 1943. In nine playoff starts with the Dalmatians, Oliver had a 6-2 record, 3.42 ERA over 69.1 innings with 58 strikeouts. In eight seasons with Dallas, he had a 110-116 record, 3.82 ERA, 1686 strikeouts, and 43.1 WAR. He played enough of a role in their playoff success and was a hometown guy for his #6 uniform to be retired at the end of his career. After spending his whole life in the area, Oliver left for free agency in 1945 and signed a five-year deal with Brooklyn. He spent three seasons with the Dodgers as a solid contributor, but not a dominant pitcher. Ultimately, he was never in the top three in Pitcher of the Year voting at any point in his career. With Brooklyn, he was 46-31 with a 3.23 ERA and 17.8 WAR. At the end of the 1947 season, the 32-year old Oliver was trade to Las Vegas. Oliver spent the next five seasons with the Vipers and was a reliable starter for them. They became a playoff contender as the 1950s dawned, although Oliver’s postseason luck was limited. Still, in five years he had a 93-50 record, 3.40 ERA, and 26.0 WAR with 1110 strikeouts. He was released by Las Vegas and signed in 1953 with Denver in his final season. He struggled with the Dragons, but hit a few milestones, including becoming the eighth to 3500 career strikeouts and 19^th to 250 wins. Oliver retired after the 1953 season at age 37. The final stats for Oliver; 259-220, 3.66 ERA, 4311.1 innings, 3568 strikeouts, 826 walks, 304/554 quality starts, 264 complete games, and 86.4 WAR. It is interesting to compare his line with Patrick Iannazzo, who was dropped after a 10^th ballot in the same year. But Oliver’s high strikeout total and lower walk total, plus having some playoff success with Dallas, gave Oliver the nod despite the lack of major accolades. Oliver not only got in, but was an impressive first ballot pick at 90.3%. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)