[VanillaGorilla]

Bill Hawke's tenure as the oldest player to be inducted lasted less than a year. Tom Henke is now the oldest player to give an acceptance speech, at the age 89 years 49 days.

Henke was selected by the Cardinals with the 27th pick of the 2010 draft.

He enters the HOF 2nd to Alex Serrano on the career save list with 435.

Twice he led the league in saves, but his career high of 47 in 2012 was not a league leading number. Still he fanned 106 batters in 74 1/3 IP that season and posted an OOTP ERA of 1.94 (npa ERA+ 192).

His best season was probably in 2014 when he saved 36, struck out 103 in 70 1/3 IP while walking 21. His ERA of 1.41 gave him a npa ERA+ of 295.

In his career he appeared in 1116 games (4th). He struck out 1412 men in 1143 2/3 IP (28th K/9) while walking 394. He carried a career OOTP ERA of 3.02.

OOTP lists his career npa ERA+ as 155. It is actually 138. I am not going back to figure out the previous entrants...a patch should do this for me....hint hint.

Henke had a rough go of it in the post season. In 23 games, he was 0-3 with 1 save and a 5.55 ERA. The Veterans Committee noted that this was why they thought the writers had not inducted him, but in the context of how his work has stood up through the years, the determined it was time to give him a plaque.

An 8 time All Star, Henke appeared in one WS, but came up on the losing end. He retired in 2029.

Black Ink: 6 (3)
Gray Ink: 39 (29)
HOFm: 149.3 (75)
HOFs: 26 (19)

Gorilla Composite: 1.8 (1.1)

Using the standards in place here for RP and applying them to his RL numbers, Tom Henke should be in the RL HOF.

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Charlie Keller was fittingly taken by the Yankees with the 13th pick in the 2019 draft.

In a career that spanned through the 2049 season, Keller posted career slash line of 285/395/551 (*/55th, one spot behind Hank Aaron/*). He ranks 70th on the career OPS list, one spot behind Jackie Robinson.

Keller fought through multiple lengthy injuries during his playing days. Still, he was able to hit 30 HR 5 times, including a career high 44 in 2025, just one year after hitting a league leading 10 triples.

Keller hit 417 career HR in 6150 AB. He tallied 1155 RBI and scored 1145 runs. He also drew 1107 walks in his career (30th, one spot behind Larry Doyle).

A 4 time All Star and 3 time GG winner, Keller enters the HOF at the age of 75. There is no eligible player with a better career WAR number who is not already inducted.

Black Ink: 6 (4)
Gray Ink: 56 (85)
HOFm: 71.5 (52)
HOFs: 40 (30)

Gorilla Composite: 1.9 (1.7)

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Tom Henke's reign as the oldest player to be inducted into the HOF lasted about 25 minutes. When Huston Street gave his speech, at the age of 92 years 190 days, he took that claim to (Hall of) Fame.

There is no pitcher that is older than Street (Toad Ramsey is 6 days younger) and only Jim Ray Hart is an older member of the HOF.

Street was selected in the 19th rd of the 2004 Inaugural Draft, 11 spots after Sandy Koufax. Street went to the Angels.

He saved 26 games that first season, and was used as a closer through 2010 when he saved 40 for the Rangers after being traded there for Mike Konnick (he won't be seeing the tractor shed).

Street was only used as a closer one more season when in 2020, at the age of 37, he made 76 appearances and saved 21 games while sporting a 2.45 OOTP ERA for a npa ERA+ of 168, the best of his career.

Street took his roll as MR/set-up guy very well.

In 2015, now a member of the Rays, he set up for HOFer Alex Serrano. HOFer Matt Kilroy was the ace of that rotation and the Rays were WS Champs.

Street enters the HOF second only to Serrano in G with 1203. Only one active player is within 400 of street's career appearances. Street retired in 2024.

Street saved 265 games (21st). He was a three time All Star.

Street is a floor breaker.

Black Ink: 3
Gray Ink: 25
HOFm: 62.5
HOFs: 6

Gorilla Composite: 0.7