Committee Chairman

St. Louis Cardinals to unveil their own HOF

Mar 08, 2014

In January, the St. Louis Cardinals announced the first class for their club’s Hall of Fame. It will have a physical structure within Cardinal Nation in Ballpark Village. The Cards are one of the most decorated franchises in all of sports and have won nineteen National League Pennants and eleven World Series, easily the most of anyone in the Senior Circuit.

They have followed the pattern of other Major League franchises that have their own separate Halls of Fame, and since they have well over 100 years to draw from, they have the ability to create one that not only celebrates great players, but a great organization.

The first twenty-two men selected are those who have already been inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York and/or have had their number retired by the team.

These men are:

Jim Bottomley: First Base, 1922-32 (HOF, 1974):

1928 MVP, .325 Batting Average, 1 Home Run Title and 2 RBI Titles. 1,727 Hits and 1,105 RBIs. 33.5 bWAR.

Ken Boyer: Third Base, 1955-65

1964 MVP, 6 time All Star, 5 Gold Gloves. .293 Batting Average, 1,855 Hits, 255 Home Runs, 1,001 RBIs. 58.2 bWAR.

Lou Brock: Outfield, 1964-79 (HOF, 1985)

6 Time All Star, 2 Runs Scored Titles and 8 Stolen Base Titles. .297 Batting Average, 1,427 Runs Scored, 2,713 Hits, 888 Stolen Bases. 41.7 bWAR

Jack Buck: Broadcaster, 1954-2001

1987 Ford Frick Award Winner.

August A. Busch Jr.,: Owner, 1953-89

3 World Series and 6 N.L. Pennants as an Owner.

Dizzy Dean: Pitcher, 1930 & 1932-37 (HOF, 1953)

1934 MVP, 1935 & 1936 Runner Up. 4 Time All Star, 4 Strikeout Titles and 2 Wins Titles. 134-75 record with 1,095 Strikeouts. 38.5 bWAR.

Frank Frisch: Second Base, 1927-37 (HOF, 1947)

1931 MVP and 1927 Runner Up. 3 Time All Star and two Stolen Base Titles. .316 Batting Average. 1,577 Hits and a 32.6 bWAR.

Bob Gibson: Pitcher, 1959-75 (HOF, 1981)

1967 and 1969 Cy Young Winner. 1967 MVP. 8 Time All Star, 9 Gold Gloves, 1 Wins Title, 1 ERA Title, 1 WHIP Title and 1 Strikeout Title. 251 and 174 record with 3,117 Strikeouts. 81.9 bWAR.

Chick Hafey: Outfield, 1924-31 (HOF, 1971)

1 Batting Title and 1 Slugging Title. .326 Batting Average and .568 Slugging Average. 963 Hits and 127 Home Runs. 20.6 bWAR.

Jesse Haines: Pitcher, 1920-37 (HOF, 1970)

210 and 158 record and 981 Strikeouts.

Whitey Herzog: Manager, 1980-90 (HOF, 2010)

822 and 728 Managerial Record. Three NL Pennants and 1 World Series.

Rogers Hornsby: Second Base, 1915-26 & 1933 (HOF, 1942)

1924 MVP. 6 Batting Titles (including three over .400), 6 On Base Percentage Titles, 7 Slugging Titles, 7 OPS Titles, 3 Runs Scored Titles, 2 Home Run Titles and 4 Runs Batted In Titles. .359 Batting Average, .427 On Base Percentage, .568 Slugging Percentage, .995 OPS, 2,110 Hits, 367 Doubles, 193 Home Runs, 1,072 Runs Batted In and 1,089 Runs Scored.

Tony LaRussa: Manager, 1996-2011 (HOF, 2014)

1,408 and 1,182 Managerial Record. Three NL Pennants and 2 World Series.

Joe Medwick: Outfield, 1932-40 & 1947-48 (HOF, 1968)

1937 MVP & 8 Time All Star. 1 Batting Title, 1 Slugging Title, 1 OPS Title, 1 Runs Scored Title, 2 Hits Title, 1 Home Run Title and 3 Runs Batted In Titles. .335 Batting Average, .545 Slugging Average, .917 OPS, 1,590 Hits, 152 Home Runs and 923 Runs Batted In.

Johnny Mize: First Base, 1936-41 (HOF, 1981)

MVP Runner Up in 1938 & 1939 and 5 Time All Star. 1 Batting Title, 4 Slugging Titles, 3 OPS Titles, 2 Home Run Titles and 2 Runs Batted In Titles. .336 Batting Average, .419 On Base Percentage, .600 Slugging Percentage, 1.019 OPS, 1,048 Hits, 158 Home Runs and 653 Runs Batted In. 39.0 bWAR.

Stan Musial: First Base & Outfield, 1941-63 (HOF, 1969)

1943, 1946 & 1948 MVP and 1949, 1950, 1951 & 1957 Runner Up. 20 Time All Star, 7 Batting Titles, 6 On Base Percentage Titles, 6 Slugging Titles, 7 OPS Titles, 5 Runs Scored Titles, 6 Hits Titles, 8 Doubles Titles, 5 Triples Titles and 2 Runs Batted In Titles. .331 Batting Average, .417 On Base Percentage, .559 Slugging Percentage, .976 OPS, 3,630 Hits, 1,949 Runs Scored, 725 Doubles, 475 Home Runs and 1,951 Runs Batted In. 128.1 bWAR.

Branch Rickey: Manager, 1919-25; General Manager, 1919-42 (HOF, 1967)

4 World Series wins as a General Manager.

Red Schoendienst: Second Base & Outfield, 1945-56 & 1961-63 (HOF, 1989)

9 Time All Star and 1 Stolen Base Title. .289 Batting Average, 1,980 Hits and 1,025 Runs Scored. 33.1 bWAR.

Enos Slaughter: Outfield, 1938-42 & 1946-53 (HOF, 1985)

10 Time All Star, 1 Hits Title, 1 Doubles Title, 2 Triples Title and 1 Runs Batted In Title. .305 Batting Average, .384 On Base Percentage, 2,064 Hits, 1,071 Runs Scored, 135 Triples, 146 Home Runs and 1,148 Runs Batted In. 50.3 bWAR.

Ozzie Smith: Shortstop, 1982-96 (HOF, 2002)

14 Time All Star and 11 Gold Gloves. .272 Batting Average, 1,944 Hits and 433 Stolen Bases. 65.6 bWAR.

Billy Southworth: Outfield, 1926-27 & 1929; Manager, 1929 & 1940-45 (HOF, 2008)

620 and 346 Managerial Record. 3 NL Pennants and 2 World Series.

Bruce Sutter: Pitcher, 1981-84 (HOF, 2006)

2 Time All Star and three Saves Titles. 127 Saves and a 6.2 bWAR

All twenty-two men will be officially part of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame on Opening Day on April 7^th, where the team will dedicate the HOF and Museum as open.

This is not all that the Redbirds have planned. A “Red Ribbon Selection Panel” was created to select a Veteran player and a ballot of six to ten players for a fan vote. The Panel consists of Tom Ackerman, Frank Cusamano, Derrick Goold, Rick Hummel, Randy Karraker, Martin Kilcoyne, Jenifer Langosch, Tony La Russa, Bernie Miklasz, Red Schoendienst, Joe Strauss, and Brian Walton.

They have selected eight former players who are modern ballot nominees. The Voting commences Friday, March 7th. The two players with the most fan votes after voting concludes on April 22nd will be inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame this August. Voting takes place online at cardinals.com/HOF.

The nominees are:

Jim Edmonds: Outfield, 2000-07

3 Time All Star, 1 Time Silver Slugger and 6 Gold Gloves. .285/.393/.555/.947 Slash Line. 1,033 Hits, 241 Home Runs and 713 Runs Batted In. 37.8 bWAR

Bob Forsch: Pitcher, 1974-87

2 Time Silver Slugger. 163 and 127 Record with 1,079 Strikeouts. 21.5 bWAR.

Keith Hernandez: First Base, 1974-83

1979 MVP. 2 Time All Star, 1 Time Silver Slugger and 6 Time Gold Glove. 1 Batting Title, 1 On Base Percentage Title and 2 Runs Scored Titles. .299/.385/.448/.833 Slash Line. 1,217 Hits. 34.3 bWAR.

Willie McGee: Outfield, 1982-90 & 1996-99

1985 MVP. 4 Time All Star, 1 Time Silver Slugger and 3 Time Gold Glove. 2 Batting Titles, 1 Triples Title and 1 Hits Title. .294/.329/.400/.729 Slash Line. 1,683 Hits and 301 Stolen Bases. 25.5 bWAR.

Mark McGwire: First Base, 1997-2001

3 Time All Star and 1 Time Silver Slugger. 2 Home Run Titles, 1 On Base Percentage Title, 1 Slugging Title and 1 OPS Title. .270/.427/.683/1.111 Slash Line. 220 Home Runs. 19.3 bWAR.

Matt Morris: Pitcher, 1997-2005

2 Time All Star and 1 Wins Title. 101 and 62 Record with 986 Strikeouts. 18.7 bWAR.

Ted Simmons: Catcher/First Base, 1968-80

6 Time All Star and 1 Time Silver Slugger. .298/.366/.459/.824 Slash Line. 1,704 Hits and 172 Home Runs. 44.9 bWAR

Joe Torre: Catcher, 1970-74

1971 MVP and 4 Time All Star. 1 Batting Title, 1 Hits Title and 1 Runs Batted In Title. .308/.382/.458/.840 Slash Line. 1,062 Hits. 22.4 bWAR

We want to go on record that we love what the St. Louis Cardinals have done in the creation of their Hall of Fame and how the fans will be able to participate. Well done, St. Louis!

PS: we also voted for Ted Simmons!

RIP: Billy Robinson

Mar 05, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

Professional Wrestling lost another legend today, as the British star, Billy Robinson passed away at the age of 74. Robinson was a true International star, as he was successful in multiple continents, and he executed multiple styles that made him not just known as a “shooter” in the ring, but one who was comfortable with whatever style was presented for him.

Robinson was a very successful amateur and professional wrestler in his native United Kingdom and planted his North American flag in Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association, where he became a top star. Robinson held titles in All Japan, the AWA, Britain, Australia and multiple territories and had a very memorable match against Antonio Inoki in 1975 in Tokyo which was billed as the “Match Between the World’s Top Two Technicians”, which was accurate.

If you are not familiar with Billy Robinson, seek out his matches on YouTube and you will be in for a treat.

Paul Bearer to the WWE HOF

Mar 04, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

Tonight on WWE Monday Night RAW, it was announced that Paul Bearer would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Bearer passed away last year, a month before Wrestlemania XXIX and was factored into the storylines between CM Punk and the Undertaker.

Bearer was born William Moody, and first became known in World Class Championship Wrestling as Percy Pringle, but it was in early 1991, where he achieved his greatest notoriety.

Repacked as Paul Bearer, Moody’s real life past as a mortician was put to good use. He wore black suits, made up his face in pale make-up and changed his speech to a creepy, almost macabre tone. Bearer was now the manager of the Undertaker, and the two would become inseparable for six years. Bearer added mystique to the Undertaker, and gave him an added dimension that elevated him even further.

Bearer would turn on his protégé at Summer Slam 1996, and sided with Mankind. Many thought Bearer would not be useful without the Undertaker however that was proven untrue, as Bearer now had a more sinister appeal to him. He would unleash his “son”, Kane, the brother of the Undertaker, who was now seeking revenge against his older sibling. The Undertaker/Kane dynamic was a huge part of the WWE Attitude Era, and Bearer switching allegiance added a lot of spice to the feud.

He would be on and off WWE Television for years, and as he struggled with his weight, he was always welcomed back to the WWE family whenever he was up for it. By all accounts, Paul Bearer was considered one of the real good guys of the business, and many wrestlers, fans and reporters applaud his induction to the WWE Hall of Fame.

The ceremony will take place in New Orleans, the night before Wrestlemania XXX.

Lindsay Davenport headlines Int. Tennis HOF Class

Mar 04, 2014

Published in Not in Hall of Fame News

The 2014 International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced their latest class, and it is headlined by American Lindsay Davenport, who was ranked number one in the female ranks multiple times, first hitting that mark in 1998. She would win 38 career tournaments, three of which were Grand Slams. These were the French (1996), Wimbledon (1999) and the U.S. Open (1997). Davenport also added the Olympic Gold Medal in Atlanta in 1996 and the WTA Championship in 1999.

As good as Davenport was, she was often overlooked, even in her home country, as (ok, we’ll say it), smaller and prettier players received the spotlight. Fair or not, that is the reality of women’s tennis.

Davenport will be joined by five-time Paralympic medalist Chantal Vandierendonck of the Netherlands in the recent player category, coach Nick Bollettieri, executive Jane Brown Grimes and British broadcaster John Barrett in the contributor category.

The ceremony will take place in Newport, Rhode Island on July 12^th.