Yesterday, the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame inducted the Class of 2023.

The newest members are:

Sandra Dombroski (Official, Canada).  Dombroski becomes the first female official to enter the IIHF HOF.

Jimmy Foster (Player, Canada).  Foster was the Goalie for Canada’s 1936 Olympic Gold Medal winning team.

Cristobal Huet (Player, France).  Huet played 242 Games in the NHL (Los Angeles, Chicago & Montreal) and he represented France in between the pipes on 87 occasions.  He has a Stanley Cup Ring with the Kings in 2010.

Kalvero Kummola (Builder, Finland).  Kummola was a former Goalie, who would serve as the Finnish Ice Hockey Association President from 1997 to 2016. 

Brian Leetch (Player, U.S.A.).  Leetch was a two-time Norris Trophy winner, and Stanley Cup champion with the New York Rangers.  A member of the NHL 100^th Anniversary Team, Leetch represented the United States in 77 Games, winning a Silver Medal at the 2002 Olympics.

Kimmo Leinonen (Builder, Finland).  Leinonen was a co-founder of the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame and would also serve the IIHF in various capacities for years.

Caroline Ouellette (Player, Canada).  Ouellette is one of the most successful international players in Canadian history, having won four Olympic Gold Medals and six World Hockey Championships.  

Viktor Svelig (Player, Hungary).  Svelig is this year’s recipient of the Torriani Award, given annually to the player who had an outstanding career from a non-top hockey nation.  Winning this, gains automatic admission to the IIHF HOF. Svelig, who played defense, competed in 23 tournaments for Hungary.

Henrik Zetterberg (Player, Sweden).  Zetterberg won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2009, and collected Gold in the 2006 Olympics and World Hockey Championship.  He also won Silver in the 2014 Olympics and 2003 Worlds along with Bronze in the 2001 and 2002 Worlds.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our congratulations to the newest IIHF inductees.

It is with great pleasure that we continue the third annual Notinhalloffame MLB Regular Season Cup, and let us explain how this works:

With every single regular season game, we anointed the best five players in the game with descending points, 5-4-3-2-1.

We knew the following:

-       The top players for the MLB NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points. It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points easier that elite players on loaded squads.

-       In Baseball, it is more common than in Basketball and Hockey for a player to accrue points with a single Home Run in a game, and overall favors position players. Starting Pitchers have a hard time with approximately 30-35 Starts and throwing less innings than in previous generations. This also is true for closers, which is not made for this process.

-       Please remember, that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year, and does not reflect overall consistency. Treat this the way did, as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.

At present 761 (up from 740 last week) Players have generated at least one Cup Point.

So, MLB players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!

This is the fourth update, with standings as of the morning of May 29.

1. Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels, Designated Hitter & Pitcher: (Ranked #1 last week)

75 Cup Points, 52 Games, 1.44 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 32 Runs Batted In, 7 SB, .269/.342/.507, 2.8 bWAR & 5-1, 2.91 ERA, 90 SO, 0.954 WHIP.

The Notinhalloffame Cup is built for Ohtani, who can compile points in two different avenues; the only one who can do so.  This was his arguably his weakest week of the season, and right now his Angels have a winning record. Ohtani is off to his best pitching start, leading the AL in Strikeouts (90), SO/9 (12.5) and H/9 (8.9), and he is his usual self with the bat, where he is sixth in Home Runs (12).

2. Juan Soto: San Diego Padres, Outfield: (#9, Last Week)

64 Cup Points, 53 Games, 1.21 Cup Points per Game, 10 Home Runs, 24 Runs Batted In, 5 SB, .261/.422/.506, 2.0 bWAR.

Rocketing up seven spots, Soto is the National League leader in Walks (41) and is second in OBP (..422) and fifth in OPS (.927).

3 (TIE). Jorge Soler: Miami Marlins, Outfield: (Nor Ranked, Last Week)

63 Cup Points, 53 Games, 1.19 Cup Points per Game, 17 Home Runs, 35 Runs Batted In, 5 SB, .254/.329/.583, 1.0 bWAR.

Soler powers his way into the top ten, with a surprising spot at a third-place tie. He is second in the NL in Home Runs (17) and seventh in Slugging (.563).

3 (TIE). Pete Alonso: New York Mets, First Base: (Ranked #6, Last Week)

63 Cup Points, 54 Games, 1.17 Cup Points per Game, 20 Home Runs, 46 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .243/.341/.569, 1.9 bWAR.

Alonso is on fire with his power metrics lately, and is the current National League leader in Home Runs (20) and RBIs (46).

5. Ronald Acuna: Atlanta Braves, Outfield: (Ranked #2 Last Week)

62 Cup Points, 52 Games, 1.20 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 30 Runs Batted In, 37 SB, .333/.415/.571, 3.1 bWAR.

Acuna leads all National League batters in bWAR (3.1), Runs Scored (48), and Stolen Bases (37) and OPS (.989), and is in the top four in all three Slash Line components. He is arguably the current NL MVP front runner.

6 (TIE). Marcus Semien: Texas Rangers, Shortstop: (Ranked #4, Last Week)

59 Cup Points, 52 Games, 1.13 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 43 Runs Batted In, 7 SB, .298/.368/.486, 3.0 bWAR.

Semien is having an outstanding 2023, and is the current AL leader in Runs Scored (43) and is third in bWAR for Position Players (3.0).

6 (TIE). Aaron Judge: New York Yankees, Outfield: (Ranked #9, Last Week)

59 Cup Points, 44 Games, 1.34 Cup Points per Game, 15 Home Runs, 35 Runs Batted In, 3 SB, .291/.398/.633, 1.9 bWAR.

Last year’s NIHOF Cup winner and Home Run leader makes his first top ten appearance. Judge is leading the AL in Slugging (.644) and Home Runs (15).

8. Rafael Devers: Boston Red Sox, Third Base: (Ranked #2 Last Week)

58 Cup Points, 50 Games, 1.16 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 44 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .242/.283/.500, 0.9 bWAR.

Devers dropped six spots and did not accrue a Cup Point this past week. He is still third in RBIs (44) and fourth in Home Runs (13).

9 (TIE). Yordan Alvarez: Houston Astros, Designated Hitter & Outfield: (Ranked #5, Last Week)

57 Cup Points, 41 Games, 1.29 Cup Points per Game, 14 Home Runs, 48 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .291/.402/.612, 1.9 bWAR.

Alvarez is entrenched as one of the game’s premier hitters, and is at present second in Slugging (.612) and third in both OBP (.402) and OPS (1.014). Alvarez is also second in Home Runs (14), and RBIs (48).

9 (TIE). Bo Bichette: Toronto Blue Jays, SHortstop: (Not Ranked, Last Week)

57 Cup Points, 54 Games, 1.06 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 37 Runs Batted In, 2 SB, .338/.375/.537, 3.1 bWAR.

Bichette is back in the top ten, and has been playing excellent baseball as of late. He currently leads the AL in Hits (78) and Batting (.338).

Chicago’s (AL) and Los Angeles’ (NL) Mookie Betts fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be the morning of June 4.

Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Tina Turner, has passed away. She was 83 years old.

Born Anna Mae Bullock in Tennessee, Turner joined Ike Turner’s Kins of Rhythm in 1957, and would soon be in a relationship with Ike, who she would marry. Tina would soon front the group, which would be renamed simply as Ike & Tina, and they had multiple hits while growing in international prominence. Individually, Tina would have solo success while part of the group.

Behind the scenes, the Turner marriage was tumultuous, with Ike abusing Tina. She left Ike in 1976, and was reduced to the nostalgia circuit until 1984, when her comeback album, “Private Dancer”, brought her the biggest success of her career, yielding her biggest hit, “What’s Love Got to Do with It”. Turner continued to generate hits throughout the 1980s, and was a huge concert draw until her retirement in 2009.

There will never be another one like her.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to offer our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Tina Turner.

It is with great pleasure that we continue the third annual Notinhalloffame MLB Regular Season Cup, and let us explain how this works:

With every single regular season game, we anointed the best five players in the game with descending points, 5-4-3-2-1.

We knew the following:

-       The top players for the MLB NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points. It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points easier that elite players on loaded squads.

-       In Baseball, it is more common than in Basketball and Hockey for a player to accrue points with a single Home Run in a game, and overall favors position players. Starting Pitchers have a hard time with approximately 30-35 Starts and throwing less innings than in previous generations. This also is true for closers, which is not made for this process.

-       Please remember, that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year, and does not reflect overall consistency. Treat this the way did, as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.

At present 740 (up from 698 last week) Players have generated at least one Cup Point.

So, MLB players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!

This is the fourth update, with standings as of the morning of May 23.

1. Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels, Designated Hitter & Pitcher: (Ranked #1 last week)

72 Cup Points, 47 Games, 1.53 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 32 Runs Batted In, 6 SB, .282/.358/.530, 2.9 bWAR & 5-1, 3.05 ERA, 80 SO, 0.898 WHIP.

We said that Ohtani would take over the top spot by before June, and here we are! The Notinhalloffame Cup is built for Ohtani, who can compile points in two different avenues; the only one who can do so. The Japanese superstar led his nation to a World Cup, and right now his Angels have a winning record. Ohtani is off to his best pitching start, leading the AL in SO/9 (12.2) and H/9 (4.3), and he is his usual self with the bat, where he is sixth in Home Runs (11) and tenth in RBIs (32).

2 (TIE). Ronald Acuna: Atlanta Braves, Outfield: (Ranked #4 Last Week)

58 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.20 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 27 Runs Batted In, 19 SB, .342/.430/.598, 2.9 bWAR.

Acuna leads all National League batters in bWAR (2.9), Runs Scored (46), and Stolen Bases (19), and is second in all three Slash Line components, as well as Hits (63). He is arguably the current NL MVP front runner.

2 (TIE). Rafael Devers: Boston Red Sox, Third Base: (Ranked #2 Last Week)

58 Cup Points, 47 Games, 1.23 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 44 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .254/.296/.530, 1.1 bWAR.

Devers remains at #2, and is second in the AL in Home Runs (13), and is second in RBIs (44). It his power that lands Devers here, as his OBP has been lacking.

4. Marcus Semien: Texas Rangers, Shortstop: (Ranked #2, Last Week)

56 Cup Points, 47 Games, 1.19 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 39 Runs Batted In, 7 SB, .304/.381/.487, 3.0 bWAR.

Semien is having an outstanding 2023, and is the current AL leader in Runs Scored (43) and bWAR for Position Players (3.0). The Rangers infielder is also fourth in Defensive bWAR (1.0).

5. Yordan Alvarez: Houston Astros, Designated Hitter & Outfield: (Ranked #7, Last Week)

53 Cup Points, 41 Games, 1.29 Cup Points per Game, 12 Home Runs, 46 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .305/.399/.616, 1.8 bWAR.

Alvarez is entrenched as one of the game’s premier hitters, and is at present third in Slugging (.616) and OPS (1.015), fifth in Home Runs (12), and second in RBIs (46).

6 (TIE). Pete Alonso: New York Mets, First Base: (Not in Top Ten, Last Week)

51 Cup Points, 48 Games, 1.05 Cup Points per Game, 17 Home Runs, 41 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .228/.322/.538, 1.3 bWAR.

Alonso rockets back into the top ten, and took over the National League lead in Home Runs (17) and RBIs (41).

6 (TIE). Aaron Judge: New York Yankees, Outfield: (Not Ranked in the Top Ten, Last Week)

41 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.03 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 31 Runs Batted In, 3 SB, .299/.400/.642, 1.8 bWAR.

Last year’s NIHOF Cup winner makes his first top ten appearance. Judge is leading the AL in Slugging (.642) and OPS (1.042), and is second in Home Runs (13).

8. Mookie Betts: Los Angeles Dodgers, Outfield: (#7, Last Week)

50 Cup Points, 39 Games, 1.10 Cup Points per Game, 10 Home Runs, 29 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .250/.357/.506, 1.7 bWAR.

Betts is in the NL’s top ten in Runs (33), Doubles (13), Total Bases (89) and Extra Base Hits (24).

9 (TIE). Luis Robert: Chicago White Sox, Outfield: (#6, Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 48 Games, 1.02 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 29 Runs Batted In, 2 SB, .268/.325/.559, 2.7 bWAR.

Robert is healthy and producing at a high rate, topping the AL leaderboard in Extra Base Hits (23) and Defensive bWAR (1.2) and is second in Home Runs (13).

9 (TIE). Juan Soto: San Diego Padres, Outfield: (#5, Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 47 Games, 1.04 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 21 Runs Batted In, 4 SB, .248/.398/.473, 1.6 bWAR.

Soto is the National League leader in Walks (41) and is in the top ten in OBP (.398) and OPS+ (145).

Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies, Chicago’s (NL) Patirck Wisdom and Toronto’s Bo Bichette fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be the morning of May 29.