The incredible MLB career of Dazzy Vance began in Brooklyn in 1922 as a 31-year-old rookie, a veteran of the minor league grind who finally found his footing at an age when most of his contemporaries were considering retirement. Despite his late start, he immediately established himself as the premier flamethrower of his era, possessing a high-velocity fastball that looked entirely alien to hitters in the early live-ball years.

After bouncing around for nearly a decade, Vance showed the organization he was a professional mainstay by leading the National League in strikeouts during his first full season in 1922. This breakout marked the formal introduction of a period of dominance that saw him lead the league in strikeouts for seven consecutive years. His ability to blow the ball past hitters during a decade defined by high batting averages made him a unique outlier, providing a high-quality floor for a Brooklyn team that frequently struggled to stay in the pennant race.

Vance reached a remarkable ceiling of individual production during the 1924 campaign, a season that remains one of the greatest in the history of the position. That summer, he led the National League in wins (28), ERA (2.16), and strikeouts (262), capturing the elusive Pitching Triple Crown. He earned the 1924 National League MVP for his efforts, becoming the first player in franchise history to win the award. His value was further highlighted by his technical control; despite his reputation as a power pitcher, he consistently led the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio, proving he was much more than just a wild thrower.

He followed his MVP season with another league-leading 22 wins in 1925. Between 1922 and 1930, he won three ERA titles and remained the standard-bearer for strikeouts in the National League. While the Brooklyn teams of this era were often inconsistent, Vance was a steady workhorse who routinely eclipsed 250 innings pitched, using a specialized, high-leg kick and a tattered long-sleeve undershirt to further distract hitters. He remained a premier arm deep into his thirties, a feat of durability that allowed him to amass a staggering 190 wins for the organization.

In a final Brooklyn act, he led the league in ERA one last time in 1930, at the age of 39. Even as his velocity began to naturally wane, his mastery of the strike zone and veteran savvy kept him among the league's elite.  Vance was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1933, and he left behind 1,918 strikeouts in Brooklyn.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955, the same year the "Boys of Summer" finally brought a title to Brooklyn.

If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NBA Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the third year that we have done this, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic won the first two.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 100 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 130 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 144 Points:  34 Games, 34.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 32.5 PER, 7.3 WS.  (#1 on last ranking)

Doncic pulled back as the lone top man in Cup Points, and for our money, he is the current favorite for the MVP.  Doncic just took over as the scoring leader (34.2), and is also tops in the standings in Win Shares (7.3) and VORP (4.4).

2. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets, 137 Points:  35 Games, 29.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 26.6 PER, 5.7 WS.  (#2 on last ranking)

The Nets are on fire, and whether are winning or losing, Durant always shines.

3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 128 Points:  34 Games, 31.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 25.1 PER, 5.2 WS.  (#3 on last ranking)

Tatum continues to get better which should scare the hell out of anybody cheering against the Celtics.  He has never finished a season averaging over 30 Points per Game, and Tatum is over that now.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 127 Points:  30 Games, 32.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 5.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 28.4 PER, 4.2 WS. (#5 on last ranking)

Giannis moves up another spot and the two-time MVP’s Bucks look ready to win it all.  He is in the top five in Rebounds and Points per Game.

5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 125 Points:  33 Games, 30.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 26.6 PER, 5.0 WS. (#3 on last ranking)

Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be an All-Star this year, and is shattering last year’s averages, which were already good.  How great will this Canadian be?

6. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 121 Points:  32 Games, 25.5 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 31.9 PER, 6.8 WS.  (#6 on last ranking)

The “Joker” is on fire lately, and we know someone wants to get that third Cup!  He is currently leading the NBA in PER 32.3, Box Plus/Minus (12.1).

7. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics, 119 Points:  34 Games, 27.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 21.0 PER, 2.8 WS. (#7 on last ranking)

Brown’s appearance here gives Boston the only team to have two players in the top ten, and he currently has the highest traditional numbers of his career.  

8. (Tie) Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, 117 Points:  30 Games, 27.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 8.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 23.4 PER, 3.1 WS. (#9 on last ranking)

Morant is the face of the Grizzles, and he is posting similar numbers from last year, when he took Memphis to the next level.

8 (Tie). Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 117 Points:  27 Games, 33.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 30.3 PER, 4.8 WS.  (#8 on last ranking)

Embiid makes his 2022/23 top ten debut, and is currently second in Points per Game (behind Doncic).

10. DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, 105 Points:  36 Games, 26.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 22.3 PER, 4.6 WS. (Not on last ranking)

DeMar DeRozan makes his first appearance this year in the top ten, and is proving that his comeback last year was no fluke.

Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors fell off the top ten.

Our next update will happen after the first player breaches 150 Cup Points.

If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NHL Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the second year that we have done this, and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the first one.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 40 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 70 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers.  70 Cup Points:  38 Games, 32 G, 40 A, 72 P, +5, 8.4 PS.  (#1 on last update)

There are a lot of stories at the near-halfway mark of the 2022/23 NHL Season, with one of the top ones being Connor McDavid running away with every major statistical category.  Last year’s Notinhalloffame NHL Cup winner is extending his lead and he is currently the league-leader in Goals (32), Assists (40), Points (72) and Point Shares (8.4), and was recently on a 17-Game Point streak.  

2. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning, 62 Cup Points:  35 Games, 21 G, 16 A, 37 P, +6, 4.5 PS. (#3 on last update)

Point is an intriguing figure at #2, and though he is having a good year, and is a point-per-game player, there are quite a few players with higher point tallies than Point.  Saying that, Point has been the most clutch player for the Lightning, who are on a five-game win streak.  This is why we love the NIHOF Cups!

3 (Tie). David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins. 61 Cup Points:  36 Games, 25 G, 25 A, 50 P, +13, 6.4 PS. (#9 on last update)

The Bruins are one of the NHL’s top teams and Pastrnak is their top scorer.  The Bruins star is averaging 1.39 Points per Game, slightly more than his First Team All-Star campaign in 2019-20.

3 (Tie). Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche. 61 Cup Points:  35 Games, 24 G, 21 A, 45 P, +6, 5.6 PS. (not on last update)

Rantanen rockets into the top ten, and is also in the top ten in Goals and Points, while leading the NHL in Even Strength Goals (20).  The Avs star has 1.29 PPG, the highest of his career.

5. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs.  60 Cup Points:  37 Games, 18 G, 24 A, 42 P, +17, 5.0 PS.  (#2 on last update)

Matthews is the defending Hart winner but he is not on the PPG pace he was last year, though when Toronto wins, the odds are that he was the biggest reason why.  Is this season is a disappointment so far for Matthews?

6 (Tie). Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars.  54 Cup Points:  38 Games, 25 G, 29 A, 54 P, +19, 7.3 PS. (#6 on last update)

Robertson is on pace to shatter last season’s 41-38-79 output, and the fourth-year player is now the undeniable top dog of the Stars lineup.  He is currently third overall in Points.

6 (Tie). Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild.  54 Cup Points:  36 Games, 20 G, 25 A, 45 P, -2, 5.0 PS. (#8 on last update)

Kaprizov is easily Minnesota’s best player and if he stays healthy should have his second straight 100-Point year.

8. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks.  52 Cup Points, 34 Games, 17 G, 27 A, 44 P, +11, 4.9 PS. (#9 on last update)

The 2019 Calder winner looks to be on his way to his best statistical year in the NHL.

9 (Tie). Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins.  51 Cup Points:  24 Games, 20-1-1, 1.90 GAA, .938 Save Percentage, 6.3 PS.  (#9 on last update)

Ullmark is the highest ranked Goalie, and his ascendence to likely All-Star has been colossal for Boston’s rise to the top portion of the standings.  Ullmark leads all Goalies in Wins, GAA, Save Percentage and Goalie Point Shares.

9 (Tie). Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 51 Cup Points:  39 Games, 26 G, 19 A, 45 P, 0, 5.6 PS.  (Not on last update)

Ovechkin breaks into the top ten, and is closing on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time Goal record.  We once thought that was untouchable.

Edmonton’s Leon Draisail (surprisingly, as he is currently second to his teammate, Connor McDavid in Points) and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby have fallen off the top ten.

Our next update will occur when the first player breaks 80 Cup Points.

Don Drysdale arrived in Brooklyn in 1956 as a towering presence from Van Nuys, a local product who traded a promising basketball future for a seat on the Dodgers' flight to Los Angeles. While he spent much of the 1960s as a formidable counterpart to Sandy Koufax, he carved out a legacy defined by an aggressive, sidearm delivery and a refusal to yield even an inch of the inner half of the plate.

The initial chapter of his tenure saw him secure a rotation spot at just 20 years old, navigating the pressure of a championship-caliber clubhouse with veteran poise. He earned a World Series ring as a rookie in 1956 and solidified his status as a permanent fixture by the time the club moved to Southern California in 1958. By 1959, he had become a premier arm in the National League, earning his first All-Star selection and helping the Dodgers capture their first title in Los Angeles. This early success established a baseline of reliability that would allow the franchise to build a pitching-centric dynasty over the next decade.

Drysdale reached a peak of individual recognition during the 1962 campaign, a season where he emerged from the pack as the game's elite right-hander. That summer, he led the National League in wins (25), innings pitched (314.1), and strikeouts (232), a performance that earned him both the Cy Young Award and Major League Player of the Year honors. He followed this with a dominant 1963, anchoring the staff alongside Koufax to sweep the Yankees in the World Series. His ability to chew up massive amounts of innings, averaging over 300 frames a year during the early sixties, gave the Dodgers a steady floor of excellence that few rotations in history could match.

The middle of the decade featured a continued run of hardware and high-stakes success, including another World Series championship in 1965. Between 1961 and 1965, he was an annual fixture at the All-Star Game, providing a fierce competitiveness that perfectly complemented the quiet dominance of his southpaw teammate. While his strikeout totals were often overshadowed by the "Left Arm of God," his command and willingness to challenge hitters inside made him one of the most intimidating pitchers of his era. He remained a high-quality starter as the decade progressed, rarely missing a turn and consistently keeping his ERA below the league average.

Everything culminated in a historic swan song during the 1968 season, where he authored one of the most legendary streaks in baseball history. That summer, he set a then-Major League record by tossing 58.2 consecutive scoreless innings, a stretch that included six straight shutouts. It was a masterpiece of control and mental toughness that reminded the league he was still a top-tier threat even as he entered his thirties. Though he walked away from the game just a year later due to shoulder issues, that scoreless streak remains the definitive punctuation mark on a career built on stubborn excellence.

He retired with 209 wins, a 2.95 ERA, and 2,486 strikeouts, figures that represent a lifelong commitment to the same organization. He remained a professional icon long after his final pitch, eventually being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, the same year the Dodgers raised his number 53 to the rafters.