VC '07 Eliminator E

[J W]

The first three results are in from the preliminary round:

A) Minnie Minoso won with 30/33 votes (91%) over Al Oliver and Mickey Vernon
B) Bobby Bonds won with 18/33 votes (55%) over Tony Oliva and Roger Maris
C) Joe Torre won with 20/34 votes (59%) over Gil Hodges and Luis Tiant

These three will constitute the first semifinal. Now for the next set of three prelims...

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 E ---

Thurman Munson (http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/munsoth01.shtml) - C and DH for the Yankees. Munson was captain for the successful Yankee teams of the '70s until his life was cut short in a plane crash in 1979. He went on to achieve 7 ASGs, 3 GGs, and won the AL MVP in 1976. Munson also batted .357 in 6 postseason series from 1976-1978. His most consistent comparable hitter was Bill Freehan (3 seasons).

Lefty O'Doul (http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/o'doule01.shtml) - OF and P for the Yankees, Red Sox, Giants, Athletics, and Dodgers. O'Doul is one of the oldest former players on the ballot. A two time batting titlist (1929, 1932) he finished 2nd and 3rd in MVP voting those two years. He had no consistent comparable hitter (2 players w/ 2 seasons).

Vada Pinson (http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pinsova01.shtml) - OF for the Reds, Cardinals, Indians, Angels and Royals. Pinson was a valuable member of the pre-BRM Reds teams of the '60s who twice led the league in hits (1961, 1963). He accumulated 2 ASGs, 1 GG, and finished as high as 3rd in MVP voting (1961). His most consistent comparable hitter was HOFer Al Kaline (6 seasons).

[dgarza]

Very close for me between Pinson and O'Doul. Pinson seems to win out with more longevity.

[jeterMVP]

thurmon munson hands down because he was a yankees captain

[KCGHOST]

I went with O'Doul. He gets extra points for his work in bringing baseball to Japan.

[538280]

O'Doul is a player, like Riggs Stephenson, who gets support for no other reason than being so high on the all time batting average list. This is of course ridiculous, because of his tremendously short career and the offense inflated era. O'Doul was key to baseball in Japan though, that would be the only way how he could make his way in. Not even close as a player.

Munson was a really good catcher, but he had a very short career (sorry, no credit despite his tragedy). His greatness in that career was not on a true historical level, so I can't see him being a HOFer.

To me Pinson is the best choice here, though probably not a HOFer either. He was a high BA CFer in a low run scoring era, lasted a really long time, and had a really good few years early in his career. If he had taken more walks and got on base more I could support him as a HOFer. Either way he's the choice here though.

[Windy City Fan]

Yes, O'Doul had a short career, but that's because he languished in the minors for so many years and he started out as a pitcher. He didn't become a regular batter until 1928 - 9 years after his MLB debut! And he did more than just hit for average. The man has a 143 OPS+. His SLG is 100 points above the league average for his career. He's not a HOFer in my book, but he's the only one on this list who might of had HOF caliber talent.

Munson died young, but his career was already going down hill. His untimely death did not prevent him from making the HOF. In fact, it probably bolstered his candidacy because he didn't go through an ugly decline and fans are tantalized by the "what if" his career represents.

Pinson was productive for a long time, but never really great. One season above 140 OPS+ and only one more above 130 for an outfielder? He had decent power, good average, good speed, and an above average glove, but he also had horrible plate discipline and was an out machine (29th all time).