All Things 2024-25 Minnesota Twins Off-Season Thread

[coolhandgopher]

I would like to know what was going through that person's skull to look at the ballot and go, "Ichiro...hmmm, nah...not quite Cooperstown material".

To me, the most ironic aspect of all of this is the only player who has ever been unanimous in election is Mariano Rivera--a specialist. A specialist who threw roughly the same amount of innings in his career as Carlos Silva. A specialist whose particular craft the baseball cognoscenti had long past moved away from awarding Cy Young's and MVP's due to the limited innings pitched each year.

Make no mistake, I have no issue with Rivera as a unanimous HOF'er. He was the most dominant closer ever. But if he's unanimous--certainly Derek Jeter and Ichiro should be as well. I know, different voters in different years, but it is bemusing.

 

[coolhandgopher]

No worries and thank you, I forgot about that play; my favorite play in baseball is the outfield assist, as it requires two players to field the ball and a long, accurate throw- seeing the ball fly through the air is a thing of beauty and such an exciting play.

Ironic that play involved Jimmy Rice, as his COF partner Dewy Evans had another legit cannon and won 8 GG to boot.

How bout a little love for Ellis Valentine and Jesse Barfield too? One of baseball's great joys is the right fielder with a gun for an arm, as you've already stated.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

How bout a little love for Ellis Valentine and Jesse Barfield too?

Absolutely- the more the merrier, as it is an expansive RF and I am not its arbiter.

Perfect timing, especially for Ellis Be My , as his namesake holiday sneaks up on us

One of baseball's great joys is the right fielder with a gun for an arm, as you've already stated.

 

[GophersInIowa]

 

[short ornery norwegian]

when Harmon Killebrew retired, he was 5th in Career HR's in MLB history. He was 2nd to Babe Ruth for career HR in the American League, and was the reigning American League career leader in HR for a right-handed batter.

he was elected to the HOF on his 4th year on the ballot.
His vote totals:
1981 - 239 votes (59.6%)
1982 - 59.3%
1983 - 71.9%
1984 - 83.1%

yup - his percentage of votes went down from 81 to 82. (Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson were elected in '82 on their first year of eligibility).

the knock on Killebrew by voters - .256 career batting average, only 2086 hits and 1699 K's.