J W
10-02-2006, 10:30 AM
I guess it's time for the third bi-annual Veteran's Committee eliminator here at BBF. The previous two times, Ron Santo took the crown (and likely will until he's finally in Cooperstown)... but it's still fun to go through the process.
With 27 candidates this year the format becomes simple. Nine groups of three will compete for nine (9) spots in the semifinals. The 9 semifinalists will compete for three (3) spots in the finals. Then a winner is determined.
Players were seeded randomly (aka, drawn from a hat). Some groups will therefore be tougher than others... but that never stopped the World Cup. Polls will last for one week, three at a time (to avoid cluttering up the main page).
--- GROUP C ---
Gil Hodges (http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hodgegi01.shtml) - 1B for the Dodgers and Mets. Hodges played on seven different World Series Dodger teams (2-5 record). He went on to achieve 8 ASGs, 3 GGs, and finished as high as 7th in MVP voting (1957). He had no consistent comparable hitter (five players w/ 2 seasons).
Luis Tiant (http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tiantlu01.shtml) - P for the Indians, Twins, Red Sox, Yankees, Pirates, and Angels. Important member of the Red Sox resurgence in the 1970s. He amassed 3 ASG. He finished as high as 4th in CY voting (1974) and 8th in MVP voting (1972). He won two ERA titles in 1968 (1.60 ERA) and 1972 (1.91 ERA). His most consistent comparable pitcher was HOFer Jim Bunning (5 seasons).
Joe Torre (http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torrejo01.shtml) - C, 1B and 3B for the Braves, Cardinals and Mets. Perhaps the best hitting catcher of his day. He amassed 9 ASGs, 1 GG, and the NL MVP in 1971 where he won the batting title (.363 average). Led the AL in total hits 5 times. His most consistent comparable hitter was Vern Stephens (10 seasons).
With 27 candidates this year the format becomes simple. Nine groups of three will compete for nine (9) spots in the semifinals. The 9 semifinalists will compete for three (3) spots in the finals. Then a winner is determined.
Players were seeded randomly (aka, drawn from a hat). Some groups will therefore be tougher than others... but that never stopped the World Cup. Polls will last for one week, three at a time (to avoid cluttering up the main page).
--- GROUP C ---
Gil Hodges (http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hodgegi01.shtml) - 1B for the Dodgers and Mets. Hodges played on seven different World Series Dodger teams (2-5 record). He went on to achieve 8 ASGs, 3 GGs, and finished as high as 7th in MVP voting (1957). He had no consistent comparable hitter (five players w/ 2 seasons).
Luis Tiant (http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tiantlu01.shtml) - P for the Indians, Twins, Red Sox, Yankees, Pirates, and Angels. Important member of the Red Sox resurgence in the 1970s. He amassed 3 ASG. He finished as high as 4th in CY voting (1974) and 8th in MVP voting (1972). He won two ERA titles in 1968 (1.60 ERA) and 1972 (1.91 ERA). His most consistent comparable pitcher was HOFer Jim Bunning (5 seasons).
Joe Torre (http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torrejo01.shtml) - C, 1B and 3B for the Braves, Cardinals and Mets. Perhaps the best hitting catcher of his day. He amassed 9 ASGs, 1 GG, and the NL MVP in 1971 where he won the batting title (.363 average). Led the AL in total hits 5 times. His most consistent comparable hitter was Vern Stephens (10 seasons).