BBF VC Progressive HoF Election: 1950

[Ace Venom]

Below is the final ballot for the 1950 VC Players Election. Voters can vote for as many candidates as they wish with 75% support required to elect a player. Voting will be open for five days, at which point we'll tabulate votes provided we have a quorum consisting of at least 12 of the 21 VC members having voted. Anyone is free to participate in the discussion and submit a ballot but only ballots from the 21 VC members will be counted.

- The 1950 ballot will consist of:
1) Every player that previously made a final VC ballot;
2) Every player that received at least 1/3 support in the regular election;
3) Every player that lasted 15 years on the regular ballot.

-Voters can vote for as many players as they wish on the ballot and can also vote for up to 2 write-in candidates. If any write-in candidates receive at least 50% support, I'll list him on the next ballot. I will supply a master list so voters know who is eligible for write-ins

- If a player on the ballot does not receive at least 2 votes he will not appear on the following ballot (though the player will be eligible for write-in votes). So the 1955 ballot will consist of:
1) Every player from the 1950 ballot who received at least 2 votes;
2) Every newly eligible player that received 1/3 support in the regular election or lasted 15 years on the regular ballot; and
3) Any players who received at least 50% support as write-ins in the 1950 election.

Final Ballot (30)
Buzz Arlett (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=arlett001rus)*
Dave Bancroft
Chief Bender
Tommy Bond
George J. Burns
Jack Chesbro
Wilbur Cooper
Larry Corcoran
Gavvy Cravvath
Lave Cross
Candy Cummings
Mike Donlin
Johnny Evers
Mike Griffin
Charley Jones
Johnny Kling
Ed Konetchy
Carl Mays
Jim McCormick
Deacon McGuire
Ed McKean
Ed Ruelbach
Ray Schalk
Urban Shocker
Mike Tiernan
Joe Tinker
Hippo Vaughn
Bobby Veach
Ned Williamson
Ross Youngs
*Buzz Arlett's eligibility is a result of his years in the PCL.

PAST RESULTS

Players Elected by Veterans Committee (12)
Clark Griffith (1940)
Tommy Leach (1940)
Herman Long (1925)
Cal McVey (1920)
Dickey Pearce (1920)
Lip Pike (1920)
Hardy Richardson (1920)
Jimmy Ryan (1930)
Jimmy Sheckard (1945)
Joe Start (1920)
Ezra Sutton (1920)
Mickey Welsh (1920)

1945 Final Results (12 Ballots Cast, 9 Votes Required for Election) (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=89707)
1) Jimmy Sheckard: 83.33% (10 Votes) - Elected
2) Mike Tiernan: 50.00% (6 Votes)
t3) Chief Bender: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t3) Johnny Evvers: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t3) Charley Jones: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t3) Jim McCormick: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t7) Gavvy Cravath: 33.33% (4 Votes)
t7) Lave Cross: 33.33% (4 Votes)
t9) Tommy Bond: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t9) George J. Burns: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t9) Candy Cummings: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t9) Mike Griffin: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t9) Johnny Kling: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t9) Ed Konetchy: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t9) Ed McKean: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t9) Joe Tinker: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t9) Bobby Veach: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t18) Jack Chesbro: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t18) Larry Corcoran: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t18) Mike Donlin: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t18) Deacon McGuire: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t18) Ed Reulbach: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t18) Hippo Vaughn: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t18) Ned Williamson: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t25) Larry Gardner: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t25) Harry Hooper: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t25) Dummy Hoy: 8.33% (1 Vote) - Write-in
t25) Fielder Jones: 8.33% (1 Vote) - Write-in
t25) Silver King: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t25) Dolf Luque: 8.33% (1 Vote) - Write-in
t25) Denny Lyons: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t25) Roy Thomas: 8.33% (1 Vote) - Write-in
t25) Joe Wood: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t34) Fred Dunlap: 0.00%
t34) Dave Foutz: 0.00%

1940 Final Results (14 Ballots Cast, 11 Votes Required for Election) (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=87854)
1) Tommy Leach: 85.71% (12 Votes) - Elected
2) Clark Griffith: 78.57% (11 Votes) - Elected
3) Jimmy Scheckard: 64.29% (9 Votes)
t4) Charley Jones: 50.00% (7 Votes)
t4) Mike Tiernan: 50.00% (7 Votes)
6) Gavvy Gravath: 42.86% (6 Votes)
7) Jim McCormick: 28.57% (4 Votes)
8) Lave Cross: 14.29% (2 Votes)

1935 Final Results (14 Ballots Cast, 11 Votes Required for Election) (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=86576)
1) Clark Griffith: 71.43% (10 Votes)
2) Jimmy Sheckard: 57.14% (8 Votes)
3) Mike Tiernan: 50.00% (7 Votes)
4) Jim McCormick: 42.86% (6 Votes)
5) Charley Jones: 35.71% (5 Votes)
6) Lave Cross: 25.00% (4 Votes)
7) Tommy Bond: 18.75% (3 Votes)
8) Ned Williamson: 14.29% (2 Votes)
9) Jack Chesbro: 0% (0 Votes)

1930 Final Results (15 Ballots Cast, 12 Votes Required for Election) (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=85439)
1) Jimmy Ryan: 86.67% (12 Votes) - Elected
2) Clark Griffith: 66.67% (10 Votes)
3) Jim McCormick: 40.00% (6 Votes)
t4) Lave Cross: 33.33% (5 Votes)
t4) Charley Jones: 33.33% (5 Votes)
t4) Mike Tiernan: 33.33% (5 Votes)
7) Candy Cummings: 26.67% (4 Votes)
8) Jack Chesbro: 20.00% (3 Votes)
t9) Tommy Bond: 13.33% (2 Votes)
t9) Mike Griffin: 13.33% (2 Votes)
t9) Deacon McGuire: 13.33% (2 Votes)
t9) Ed McKean: 13.33% (2 Votes)
13) Tip O'Neill: 6.67% (1 Vote)

1925 Final Results (12 Ballots Cast, 9 Votes Required for Election) (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=84636)
1) Herman Long: 75.00% (9 Votes) - Elected
2) Jimmy Ryan: 66.67% (8 Votes)
3) Mike Tiernan: 50.00% (6 Votes)
t4) Candy Cummings: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t4) Charley Jones: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t4) Jim McCormick: 41.67% (5 Votes)
7) Ed McKean: 33.33% (4 Votes)
8) Mike Griffin: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t9) Dave Foutz: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t9) Silver King: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t9) Tommy Bond: 8.33% (1 Vote)
12) Fred Dunlap: 0% (0 Votes)

1920 Final Results (12 Ballots Cast, 9 Votes Required for Election) (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=83697)
t1) Hardy Richardson: 91.67% (11 Votes) - Elected
t1) Joe Start: 91.67% (11 Votes) - Elected
t2) Cal McVey: 83.33% (10 Votes) - Elected
t2) Ezra Sutton: 83.33% (10 Votes) - Elected
t5) Lip Pike: 75.00% (9 Votes) - Elected
t5) Mickey Welch: 75.00% (9 Votes ) - Elected
t7) Charley Jones: 58.33% (7 Votes)
t7) Mike Tiernan: 58.33% (7 Votes)
9) Jim McCormick: 50.00% (6 Votes)
10) Ed McKean: 33.33% (4 Votes)
11) Tommy Bond: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t12) Fred Dunlap: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t12) Denny Lyons: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t12) Ned Williamson: 8.33% (1 Vote)
*Dickey Pearce - Elected in Separate Pioneer/Player Election

Master List:
-Bolded player's names are on the final ballot.
-You can vote up to 2 players on the master list not included on the final ballot.

Master List
Buzz Arlett
Dave Bancroft
Ginger Beaumont
Chief Bender
Lu Blue
Tommy Bond
Bill Bradley
Kitty Bransfield
Charlie Buffinton
Jack Burdock
George J. Burns
Oyster Burns
Ray Chapman
Jack Chesbro
John Clapp
Boileryard Clarke
Jack Coombs
Wilbur Cooper
Larry Corcoran
Tommy Corcoran
Gavvy Cravath
Lave Cross
Candy Cummings
Nig Cuppy
Abner Dalyrmple
Harry Davis
Bill Dinneen
Mike Donlin
Bill Donovan
Jack Doyle
Fred Dunlap
Frank Dwyer
Jimmie Dykes
Johnny Evers
Duke Farrell
Bob Ferguson
Cherokee Fisher
Ray Fisher
Wes Fisler
Silver Flint
Davy Force
Russ Ford
Dave Foutz
Larry Gardner
Kid Gleason
Mike Griffin
Chick Hafey
Noodles Hahn
Ned Hanlon
Topsy Hartsel
Claude Hendrix
Buck Herzog
Solly Hofman
Harry Hooper
Dummy Hoy
Waite Hoyt
Miller Huggins
Travis Jackson
Charley Jones
Fielder Jones
Joe Judge
Benny Kauff
George Kelly
Brickyard Kennedy
Silver King
Johnny Kling
Ed Konetchy
Arlie Latham
Sam Leever
Andy Leonard
Bobby Lowe
Dolf Luque
Denny Lyons
Fergy Malone
Bobby Mathews
Firpo Marberry
Rube Marquard
Carl Mays
Jimmy McAleer
Dick McBride
Tommy McCarthy
Jim McCormick
John McGraw
Deacon McGuire
Ed McKean
Levi Meyerle
Billy Nash
Jack O'Connor
Lefty O'Doul
Tip O'Neal
Dave Orr
Orval Overall
Herb Pennock
John Peters
Deacon Phillippe
Jack Powell
Del Pratt
Jack Quinn
Claude Ritchey
Ed Reulbach
Wilbert Robinson
Jack Rowe
Cy Seymour
Ray Schalk
Urban Shocker
Chick Stahl
George Stone
George Stovall
Jesse Tannehill
Jeff Tesreau
Roy Thomas
Mike Tiernan
Joe Tinker
Terry Turner
Hippo Vaughn
Bobby Veach
John Warner
Doc White
Will White
Jim Whitney
Cy Williams
Jimmy Williams
Ned Williamson
Hooks Wiltsie
Joe Wood
Tom York
Ross Youngs
George Zettlein
Chief Zimmer

[Ace Venom]

The Veterans Committee

Ace Venom
ag2004
bambambaseball
blueblood
brad harris
captain cold nose
cowtipper
dgarza
DoubleX
freakshow
henrich
Jalbright
jjpm74
KCGhost
Leecemark
mwiggins
Paul Wendt
philkid3
pvnick
SavoyBG
Windy City Fan

We may end up having a VC contraction because the committee is large, but the participation has been bare minimum lately. I'll judge this situation based on the participation for this election. The three most recent additions to the committee have been myself, SavoyBG and bambambaseball (based on his request in the Negro League Players thread).

[Paul Wendt]

1.
The most important new candidates seem to me Wilbur Cooper, Carl Mays, and Urban Shocker.

Shocker is slightly the strongest of them, in my opinion, but however you answer that it's crucial to judge how high they all stand among postwar pitchers. The group has elected Coveleski, Faber, Vance, and Lyons. At the same time, Walter Johnson and Grover Alexander had come down from their peaks but were not yet over the hill.

2.
Disciples of WARP by Clay Davenport should revisit Jim McCormick, who benefits from the 2009 revision.

3.
-Voters can vote for as many players as they wish on the ballot and can also vote for up to 2 write-in candidates. If any write-in candidates receive at least 50% support, I'll list him on the next ballot. I will supply a master list so voters know who is eligible for write-ins

[break]
Master List:
-Bolded player's names are on the final ballot.
-You can vote up to 2 players on the master list not included on the final ballot.

--probably Fielder Jones and Roy Thomas for me.

John McGraw seems to be a wildcard. I am surprised that he hasn't yet picked up a couple of votes (as a player).

[Ace Venom]

John McGraw is indeed an interesting case. He's a career 135 OPS+ player and a third baseman. That OPS+ is better than some of the players we have on regular ballots. His career .466 OBP is pretty amazing as it is. Other counting stats don't make him look that great in comparison to some of the third basemen we have in already. His managerial resume eclipses what he did as a player. He was already elected as a contributor, but there's no rule that someone can't be elected as a player and a contributor.

[bambambaseball]

Balott:

Buzz Arlett*
Dave Bancroft
Wilbur Cooper
Larry Corcoran
Lave Cross
Candy Cummings
Charley Jones
Johnny Kling
Carl Mays
Jim McCormick
Deacon McGuire
Urban Shocker
Hippo Vaughn
Bobby Veach

Write Ins:

John McGraw
Roy Thomas

The only guy I think is a definite oversight on the list is Urban Shocker.

[SavoyBG]

MY BALLOT:

Chief Bender
Larry Corcoran
Charley Jones
Denny Lyons
Carl Mays
John McGraw

[Ace Venom]

Buzz Arlett
Chief Bender
Tommy Bond
Jack Chesbro
Wilbur Cooper
Larry Corcoran
Gavvy Cravvath
Lave Cross
Johnny Evers
Mike Griffin
Ed Konetchy
Carl Mays
Jim McCormick
Ed Reulbach
Urban Shocker
Mike Tiernan
Joe Tinker
Ross Youngs

Write-in:
Fred Dunlap
John McGraw

[Paul Wendt]

> Final Ballot (31)
> Buzz Arlett*

I count 30. Is it a miscount or a missing name?

There are two votes for Arlett.
Here we are talking Hall of Fame candidate, not merely a great ballplayer who missed a major league career. I will need some convincing. He is the one person on the ballot I have never considered, so I don't need to "change my mind". I won't vote until next week.

That isn't a deadline. The two votes do ensure that Arlett will remain on the ballot. If he is a serious candidate with electoral potential, there will be continuing opportunity for that to emerge or to be realized during the next sixty years.

[Ace Venom]

That's been fixed.

[Cowtipper]

Chief Bender
Tommy Bond
George J. Burns
Jack Chesbro
Wilbur Cooper
Gavvy Cravvath
Lave Cross
Candy Cummings
Charley Jones
Ed Konetchy
Carl Mays
Jim McCormick
Deacon McGuire
Ed Ruelbach
Urban Shocker
Hippo Vaughn
Bobby Veach
Ross Youngs

[PVNICK]

Bancroft
Bender
Bond
Cooper
Cross
Evers
Griffin
Kling
Shocker
Tiernan
Vaughn
Williamson
Youngs

sheesh I though I'd be sparse but how do I consistently vote for guys in the regular election and then ditch them here (though I did with Mays and Schalk).

[leecemark]

Wilbur Cooper

[jalbright]

Cooper
C. Mays

[Cowtipper]

Cooper
C. Mays

We need some more Carl Mays supporters. Do people not vote for him just because he beaned Chapman?

[jjpm74]

Ballot:

Buzz Arlett
Wilbur Cooper
Lave Cross
Charley Jones
Urban Shocker

Write In:

Roy Thomas

[Ace Venom]

We need some more Carl Mays supporters. Do people not vote for him just because he beaned Chapman?

I've wondered the same thing.

[leecemark]

We need some more Carl Mays supporters. Do people not vote for him just because he beaned Chapman?

--He is a borderline guy whose manager with the Yankees (Miller Huggins) was convinced threw a World Series game. He also walked out on the Red Sox, forcing the trade to the Yankees. Borderliners can't afford those kind of character issues. The Chapman beaning is a non-factor for me.

[Cowtipper]

I've wondered the same thing.

If people do hold that against him, they really shouldn't - the incident was unintentional. The day was overcast and cloudy, and Mays claims the ball was wet and scuffed. As I recall, he even turned himself in to the authorities. What happened that day was a tragic mistake - it's no ones fault, it just happened. And yet, people need someone to blame, and that blame falls on Mays.

Statistically however, he was good enough for the Hall. Especially if people consider guys like Lon Warneke to be Hall of Fame worthy.

[Cowtipper]

--He is a borderline guy whose manager with the Yankees (Miller Huggins) was convinced threw a World Series game. He also walked out on the Red Sox, forcing the trade to the Yankees. Borderliners can't afford those kind of character issues. The Chapman beaning is a non-factor for me.
How much should "character" affect one's ability to get into the Hall of Fame?

[bambambaseball]

If anything, the death of Chapman has helped Mays's cause around here. Hes a very borderline person at a postion that is over represented in the Coop. Urban Shocker and Wilbur Cooper both have much better cases then him and they both are borderline too!

[Ace Venom]

--He is a borderline guy whose manager with the Yankees (Miller Huggins) was convinced threw a World Series game. He also walked out on the Red Sox, forcing the trade to the Yankees. Borderliners can't afford those kind of character issues. The Chapman beaning is a non-factor for me.

The accusations of game throwing were never proven. If there was a case, Judge Landis would have smacked him down. We know he showed no mercy to the Black Sox or guys like Hal Chase or Heinie Zimmerman. Given what just happened with the Black Sox, throwing a World Series game is a serious accusation. Nothing ever came of it, so this is really just a case of a manager not liking a player.

[SavoyBG]

If anything, the death of Chapman has helped Mays's cause around here. Hes a very borderline person at a postion that is over represented in the Coop. Urban Shocker and Wilbur Cooper both have much better cases then him and they both are borderline too!


Bill James ranks Mays ahead of both Cooper and Shocker, and so do I.

CAREER WIN SHARES
Cooper - 266
Mays - 256
Shocker - 225

BEST THREE SEASONS
Mays - 35, 30, 27
Cooper - 31, 27, 27
Shocker - 30, 29, 25

TOP 5
Mays - 140
Cooper - 133
Shocker - 128

James ranked Mays as the # 38 pitcher of all time in the "New Historical Abstract." He's # 14 of all time among pitchers who are eligible for this hall of fame in 1950.

James has Cooper at # 55 and Shocker at # 71.

[Paul Wendt]

Mays and Cooper played through the war, Shocker lost 2/3 of 1918.

Mays and Cooper are in the BBFHOF, not Shocker.

At the Hall of Merit they are among the pitchers with significant support but they are not contenders. In 2008 they ranked 14-15-17 (m-s-c) among pitchers on the ballot which implicitly ranked them in the high seventies among all eligible pitchers, or the high sixties among eligible major league pitchers. Mays and Cooper slipped a little this year when they ranked 15-17-26 (s-m-c).

DERA now rates Shocker much superior as a pitcher
3.74 Shocker (or DERA+ 120 on the ERA+ scale)
4.19 Cooper (107)
4.22 Mays (low 107)
Underlying this difference are estimates that Shocker enjoyed team fielding support that was negligibly above average, call it C+ if C is average. Cooper and Mays enjoyed strong and extrastrong support, perhaps B+ and A on that scale.

Above I should have named Rixey and Grimes among their contemporaries, along with this trio and Coveleski, Faber, Vance, and Lyons.

[dgarza]

Dave Bancroft
Chief Bender
Tommy Bond
George J. Burns
Larry Corcoran
Gavvy Cravath
Mike Donlin
Johnny Evers
Charley Jones
Carl Mays
Jim McCormick
Ed McKean
Mike Tiernan
Joe Tinker
Bobby Veach
Ross Youngs

Write-In
Tip O'Neill
Bobby Mathews

[Ace Venom]

Hes a very borderline person at a postion that is over represented in the Coop.

Why should the number of enshrined pitchers inhibit someone's chances? Mays is ranked pretty high by Bill James, so there's a good argument for all three pitchers. There's a good reason why they lasted their full 15 years of eligibility on the ballot.

If you're concerned about the overabundance of pitchers, I can count plenty of position players that should easily get in on the regular election ballot in the next few years (Cronin, Dickey, J. DiMaggio, Foxx, Greenberg, Ott and P. Waner) in addition to one particular Negro League Player (Bell). You've also got a likelihood that some longtime holders from the players ballot that will be eligible in 1955 (Maranville) should have good chances for being first timers on the VC ballot. Dixie Walker and Stan Hack should also get a decent amount of support on the regular ballot.

[bambambaseball]

Why should the number of enshrined pitchers inhibit someone's chances? Mays is ranked pretty high by Bill James, so there's a good argument for all three pitchers. There's a good reason why they lasted their full 15 years of eligibility on the ballot.

If you're concerned about the overabundance of pitchers, I can count plenty of position players that should easily get in on the regular election ballot in the next few years (Cronin, Dickey, J. DiMaggio, Foxx, Greenberg, Ott and P. Waner) in addition to one particular Negro League Player (Bell). You've also got a likelihood that some longtime holders from the players ballot that will be eligible in 1955 (Maranville) should have good chances for being first timers on the VC ballot. Dixie Walker and Stan Hack should also get a decent amount of support on the regular ballot.

I'm not talking about this project. If anything, weve been stingy with pitchers. Im talking about the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

[Ace Venom]

I'm not talking about this project. If anything, weve been stingy with pitchers. Im talking about the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

The pitcher position accounts for the most Hall of Famers by position in our Hall. While I think we've certainly missed on a few candidates at that position, I think we've been pretty fair overall.

[BlueBlood]

Chief Bender
Wilbur Cooper
Candy Cummings
Carl Mays
Jim McCormick

[Ace Venom]

If two more votes are cast by tomorrow, I'll be able to close this election. As it stands, Wilbur Cooper is the leading candidate with 80% of the vote. Carl Mays follows with 70% of the vote. If only twelve votes are cast, these are the only two candidates who have a realistic shot at being elected on this ballot. However, I am hoping for more than just two votes by tomorrow.

[KCGHOST]

Tiernan
Shocker
J. McGraw

[AG2004]

My ballot

George J. Burns
Wilbur Cooper
Carl Mays
Urban Shocker

By the standards set in previous votes, Shocker qualifies. Cummings is more deserving of induction as a contributor, so I'll vote for him there.

[Ace Venom]

With 12 votes cast, I'm going to call this election closed. Paul Wendt said he would vote this week, but the deadline is here and the votes are here to be tallied.

1950 Final Results (12 Ballots Cast, 9 Votes Required for Election)
1) Wilbur Cooper: 75.00% (9 Votes) - Elected
2) Carl Mays: 66.67% (8 Votes)
3) Urban Shocker: 58.33% (7 Votes)
4) Chief Bender: 50.00% (6 Votes)
t5) Lave Cross: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t5) Charley Jones: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t5) Jim McCormick: 41.67% (5 Votes)
t8) Tommy Bond: 33.33% (4 Votes)
t8) Larry Corcoran: 33.33% (4 Votes)
t8) John McGraw: 33.33% (4 Votes)*
t8) Mike Tiernan: 33.33% (4 Votes)
t8) Ross Youngs: 33.33% (4 Votes)
t13) Buzz Arlett: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t13) Dave Bancroft: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t13) Gavvy Cravvath: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t13) Candy Cummings: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t13) Johnny Evers: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t13) Bobby Veach: 25.00% (3 Votes)
t19) George J. Burns: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t19) Jack Chesbro: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t19) Mike Griffin: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t19) Johnny Kling: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t19) Ed Konetchy: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t19) Deacon McGuire: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t19) Ed Reulbach: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t19) Roy Thomas: 16.67% (2 Votes)*
t19) Joe Tinker: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t19) Hippo Vaughn: 16.67% (2 Votes)
t29) Mike Donlin: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t29) Fred Dunlap: 8.33% (1 Vote)*
t29) Denny Lyons: 8.33% (1 Vote)*
t29) Bobby Mathews: 8.33% (1 Vote)*
t29) Ed McKean: 8.33% (1 Vote)
t29) Tip O'Neill: 8.33% (1 Vote)*
t29) Ned Williamson: 8.33% (1 Vote)
36) Ray Schalk: 0.00% (0 Votes)

* = Write-in Candidate

We've elected Wilbur Cooper with 75.00% of the ballot. Candy Cummings, Mike Donlin and Ed McKean were holdovers that will not appear on the 1955 final ballot due to receiving only one vote. First timer Ray Schalk received no votes. John McGraw led all write-in candidates with four votes, but needed another two votes to be eligible to appear on the 1955 final ballot.

Votes Cast (12):
bambambaseball
SavoyBG
Ace Venom
Cowtipper
PVNICK
leecemark
jalbright
jjpm74
dgarza
BlueBlood
KCGHOST
AG2004

Assuming there is no late surge of voter support and they do not fall off the ballot, Earle Combs, Burleigh Grimes, Rabbit Maranville, Sam Rice, Eppa Rixey, Wally Schang and Hack Wilson will all be eligible for VC consideration for the first time on the 1955 ballot. Given Arlett's retention on the 1955 ballot, there may be reason to consider Frank Shellenback, another famous PCL player. However, I will note that I'm not fully behind his candidacy given the fact that his refusal to adapt after the spitball was banned in the majors is what kept him from having a major league career.

Shellenback may be a suitable candidate for a future Non-MLB Players VC, which would include various minor leagues, Japan and Cuba. I say this as a way for players like Perucho Cepeda and Victor Starffin to be considered. In my opinion, it's still a bit soon to consider some of these candidacies. The next Negro League Players VC election is set for 1952 and I've managed to compile another large ballot of over 50 players. Included are no-brainers like Cool Papa Bell and Martin Dihigo. The ballot size for 1957 should be much smaller due to the integration of the major and minor leagues. That does not mean that the committee will not meet anymore.

[Paul Wendt]

With 12 votes cast, I'm going to call this election closed. Paul Wendt said he would vote this week, but the deadline is here and the votes are here to be tallied.
Since then I have a part-time research job which has been more than full-time for the first several days, until this afternoon.

I never did make up my mind regarding Shocker, Cooper, and Mays, in that order. My ballot alone might have been a difference-maker regarding Cooper only.


Maybe my opening remarks helped Roy Thomas and John McGraw get their two votes without me. I did notice that they had two and that Fielder Jones did not have one, else I might have pulled the trigger on the three pitchers.
#3
"-You can vote up to 2 players on the master list not included on the final ballot."

--probably Fielder Jones and Roy Thomas for me.

John McGraw seems to be a wildcard. I am surprised that he hasn't yet picked up a couple of votes (as a player).

[Ace Venom]

Speaking of the large upcoming Negro League Players ballot, I'll post what I have here.

Bold denotes a player who is newly eligible.
Walter Ball
Bernando Baro
James "Cool Papa" Bell
William Bell, Sr.
Chet Brewer
George "Chippy" Britt
Chester Brooks
Larry "Iron Man" Brown
Harry Buckner
William Byrd
Walter "Rev" Cannady
Bingo DeMoss
Martin Dihigo
William Dismukes
Herbert "Rap" Dixon
John Donaldson
Frank Duncan
Eddie Dwight
Jose Fernandez
Rube Foster
John "Bud" Fowler
Charles Grant
Frank Grant
Vic Harris
Crush Holloway
Jess Hubbard
Sammy T. Hughes
Bill Jackman
Oscar Johnson
William "Judy" Johnson
Newt Joseph
Buck Leonard
Dick Lundy
Raleigh "Biz" Mackey
Hurley McNair
Red Parnell
Bruce Petway
Cumberland Posey
Alec Radcliffe
Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe
Nat Rogers
George Scales
Chino Smith
George Stovey
George "Mule" Suttles
Ben Taylor
Candy Jim Taylor
Luis Tiant, Sr.
Willie Wells
Sol White
Chet Williams
Jud Wilson
Bill Wright
Laymon Yokely

[SABR Matt]

I see two definitive slam dunk HOFers on that negro league list...not many others I'd even consider voting for.

[Ace Venom]

I figured Bell, Dihigo and Leonard would easily slide in with the coming ballot. I'm not sure who else would.

[SABR Matt]

Whoops...missed Buck Leonard...OK...there are three guys I'm voting for...and probably no one else.

[SavoyBG]

Whoops...missed Buck Leonard...OK...there are three guys I'm voting for...and probably no one else.


Why not Willie Wells?

[SABR Matt]

I'd more likely vote for Mule Suttles than Willie Wells...his biography (not much in the way of statistical evidence to go on for these guys, of course) reads like a scrappy, hard-working player, but not an uber-talented one. Mule Suttles might actually be a fourth I'd vote for...not sold on Wells though. My take on Negro Leaguers is that they'd better be herculean in their achievements because they were playing in an inferior league (overall competition-wise...even though when they assembled their all-star roster they competed very well with white ballplayers - naturally this would be true...a modern AAA all-star team could play with most big league clubs in exhibition...and team Japan certainly plays well during the WBC).

I look for guys who were tremendously talented and had very long, very successful careers in the Negro Leagues...the standards have to be MUCH higher to account for league quality.