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FuzzyRussianHat · 09-16-2024, 06:27 AM

Luca Adams – Catcher – San Francisco Gold Rush – 79.2% First Ballot

Luca Adams was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed catcher from San Leandro, California; a city of 91,000 in the East Bay. Adams was a very good contact hitter with a solid eye for walks and a low strikeout rate. He was an especially well-rounded bat for a catcher. Adams didn’t have prolific power, but he was still good for 28 doubles and 22 home runs per his 162 game average. He was a laughably poor and slow baserunner trying to lug his big frame around the basepaths.

Defensively, Adams was considered average to above average behind the dish. Combining that with his bat made him arguably MLB’s best catcher for much of his career. He had pretty good durability especially considering the demands of the position over a 20 year career. Adams had a stellar work ethic and was very loyal, which made him one of MLB’s most popular players of the 1990s and 2000s.

Adams left the Bay Area to play collegiately at Texas Tech, winning a NCAA Silver Slugger in his junior season. In 132 games and 120 starts for the Red Raiders, Adams had 134 hits, 94 runs, 22 doubles, 22 home runs, 80 RBI, 92 walks, a .287/.412/.484 slash, 171 wRC+, and 7.3 WAR. This made him one of the highest rated catching prospects of recent memory ahead of the 1988 MLB Draft.

Growing up in the East Bay, Adams was an Oakland Owls fan as a child. However, he’d become an icon on the other side of the bridge, picked 20^th overall by San Francisco. He would spend his entire career with the Gold Rush, but would become a beloved superstar throughout the entire region. Adams had an impressive debut with 3.4 WAR over only 89 games and 55 starts as a rookie. He was SF’s starting catcher for the 19 years following except for when out with injury.

Adams’ third season saw statistical bests in WAR (7.4), OPS (.921), and wRC+ (151). He topped 5+ WAR in 12 different seasons, but surprisingly didn’t earn his first Silver Slugger until 1997. Adams won the Slugger six times total, also getting it in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2006. In 1997, he had a rare distinction as a catcher with a batting title, posting a .340 batting average.

The Gold Rush gave Adams an eight-year, $22,340,000 extension after the 1993 season. It was 1994 where Adams cemented himself in San Francisco lore, helping a wild card Gold Rush team to World Series win over Cleveland. Adams was World Series MVP and in 18 playoff starts had 27 hits, 12 runs, 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, and a .397/.461/.618 slash. He had a setback in late August 1995 with a broken bone in his elbow, ultimately shelving Adams about 10 months.

Adams played well in the 1993 and 1996 postseasons, but struggled in 1999. San Francisco had four straight playoff berths from 1993-96, but suffered second round defeated in all but their championship season. After missing the field in 1997 and 1998, they lost in the 1999 American Association Championship Series to Edmonton. The Gold Rush then began a decade-plus playoff drought entering the 21^st Century.

While beloved in the Bay Area, Adams earned international stardom through the World Baseball Championship. He won Tournament MVP honors for the United States in 2001 with a 1.5 WAR, 1.117 OPS effort over 20 starts. Adams was a part of eight world champion American teams (1992, 97, 98, 2000, 01, 03, 05, 07). In 229 games and 215 starts, he had 214 hits, 133 runs, 49 doubles, 36 home runs, 134 RBI, 96 walks, a .273/.356/.476 slash, 144 wRC+, and 8.7 WAR.

Adams signed a four-year extension with San Francisco worth $39,000,000 after the 2000 season at age 31. He missed almost all of 2002 to a torn labrum, but otherwise kept playing at a very high level in his 30s even as the Gold Rush struggled. Adams declined his contract option after the 2004 season, but stayed loyal with a new three-year, $35,300,000 deal with SF. He inked another three-year, $36,800,000 extension after the 2006 campaign.

Age finally caught up to Adams in 2007 with merely average batting, plus a knee sprain that cost him six weeks. His 1.9 WAR was his first time with a WAR below three apart from his six-game 2002. Adams was a full-time starter out of deference in 2008, but struggled to -0.6 WAR. He decided to retire that winter at age 40 and immediately San Francisco retired his #20 uniform.

Adams finished with 2684 hits, 1249 runs, 412 doubles, 329 home runs, 1169 RBI, 818 walks, a .303/.366/.469 slash, 132 wRC+, and 96.2 WAR. He’s second in MLB history in WAR among catchers, only behind Mason Wilkinson. As of 2037 among catchers, Adams is fourth in hits, eighth in home runs, fourth in runs, and sixth in RBI. Among all position players, he sits 65^th.

Still, the anti-catcher bias that often plagues Hall of Fame voters loomed. Adams’ contemporary Elliott McKay was only one WAR point lower than him, but hadn’t gotten in by his seventh try in 2014 (and ultimately would get left out). Adams’ immense popularity and role in San Francisco’s 1994 World Series win was enough for most anti-catcher voters that point at the low totals that come with the position. He received 79.2% for a first ballot nod with the 2014 MLB Hall of Fame class.

Will “Blur” Kemme – Center Field – Austin Amigos – 72.0% Tenth Ballot

Will Kemme was a 6’4’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting center fielder from Lamesa, Texas; a small rural town of around 9,000 people located about an hour south of Lubbock. Kemme was a traditional leadoff hitter with tremendous contact ability and an incredible 3.7% strikeout rate for his career. In his prime, scouts gave him a 10/10 for his contact skills. Kemme was also decent at drawing walks.

Kemme had excellent gap power, getting 34 doubles and 11 triples per his 162 game average. He wasn’t going to go deep often, only hitting 10+ home runs once. The nickname “Blur” was appropriate considering Kemme’s blistering speed and stellar baserunning ability. Few MLB players were more frustrating for pitchers to hold.

Defensively, Kemme played almost exclusively in center field and was considered an excellent defender. Sharing the American Association with nine-time Gold Glover Jonathan Valenzuela ultimately kept Kemme from his own Gold Glove, but he provided excellent value there. He had great durability early on with 150+ starts in all but one season from 1988-97. Kemme did receive some criticism for perceived laziness, but his play style and loyalty made him a popular player in his time.

Kemme left for Oregon for college and in 143 games with the Ducks had 150 hits, 77 runs, 31 doubles, 12 home runs, 64 RBI, a .259/.321/.375 slash, 104 wRC+, and 3.1 WAR. He wasn’t quite fully formed as a contact hitter in college, but scouts felt his potential was high. Kemme was picked 28^th overall in the 1985 MLB Draft by Austin. The Amigos were still a new franchise at this point, having come in with the 1982 expansion. Kemme would be a part-time starter in his first two seasons.

After a .366 average in his sophomore season, Kemme would be the full-time starter in center field for the next decade with Austin. In 1989, he led the American Association in doubles (48), stolen bases (61), and WAR (8.8). The WAR and doubles would be career bests, as were his 106 runs, 220 hits, his triple slash (.373/.406/.525) OPS (.931), and wRC+ (150). Kemme was second in MVP voting and won his first Silver Slugger.

Austin won division titles in 1988 and 1989 and made it to the AACS both years, although they were defeated each time. They won another division title in 1992, but had a second round playoff exit. The Amigos would fall towards the bottom of the standings by the end of the 1990s, but Kemme helped them see their first legit contention in franchise history. In 31 playoff starts, he had a mixed bag with 39 hits, 9 runs, 3 doubles, 12 RBI, 13 stolen bases, a .351/.400/.396 slash, 124 wRC+, and 0.5 WAR.

Kemme also played for the United States from 1988-1996 in the World Baseball Championship with 129 games and 125 starts. He posted 157 hits, 73 runs, 30 doubles, 42 RBI, 81 stolen bases, a .310/.346/.400 slash, 115 wRC+, and 3.0 WAR. He earned world champion rings with the 1988, 1992, and 1996 American teams.

In 1992, Kemme took third in MVP voting by winning his lone batting title at .354. He also had an AA-best 74 stolen bases, especially impressive with 70+ seasons far less common in MLB compared to other world leagues. Kemme led in hits in 1991 and 1992 with 217 both years. He also had seven straight 5+ WAR seasons and topped 7+ four times from 1989-92. That stretch earned him his four Silver Sluggers.

Austin gave Kemme an eight-year, $22,760,000 extension in June 1991. He would lead in triples in 1994 and stayed remarkably consistent until a weak 1996 effort with only 1.9 WAR. A fractured hand cost him some time and plagued him. Kemme bounced back in 1997, leading in hits for the third times and posted 5.0 WAR at age 32.

By 1997, Austin had plummeted to 60-102. Kemme still had a few years on his big contract and the Amigos opted to trade him to Edmonton for prospects. He remained very popular with Austin fans and his #8 uniform would get later retired by the franchise. Kemme finished with 2202 hits, 905 runs, 378 doubles, 125 triples, 45 homers, 681 RBI, 525 stolen bases, a .332/.369/.447 slash, 120 wRC+, and 62.0 WAR.

Kemme’s first two months with Edmonton were unremarkable with zero WAR and 84 wRC+ over 54 games. He would suffer a catastrophe with a broken kneecap in early June, knocking him out nine months. This significantly hampered him defensively, limiting Kemme’s utility and speed. He still hit well for contact in a limited role trying to come back in 1999 with a .365 average and 1.3 WAR over 54 games.

Edmonton would win the World Series in 1999, but Kemme only had two playoff games, going 1-7. In 108 games with the Eels, he had 1.2 WAR and a 109 wRC+. His deal expired that year and Kemme was unsigned almost all of 2000. Minor league Tulsa gave him a brief look in September, but Kemme’s major league prospects were cooked. He retired that winter at age 36.

Kemme had 2317 hits, 952 runs, 396 doubles, 130 triples, 47 home runs, 716 RBI, 539 stolen bases, a .331/.368/.445 slash, 119 wRC+, and 63.2 WAR. As of 2037 among all batters with 3000 plate appearances, he has the 19^th best batting average all-time. He ranked ninth best when he retired. However, Kemme’s accumulations were very low compared to other Hall of Famers, hurt by his abrupt exit shortly after the broken kneecap.

He was a popular player and few argued against Kemme as an all-time contact guy. But it wasn’t always easy for tenured leadoff guys to get noticed without the big power numbers. Kemme had the added misfortune of lower accumulations. Still, his 59.0% ballot debut in 2005 made many think he’d get across the line. He slightly bumped up to 61.1% in 2006.

Kemme couldn’t win any voters over, hovering in the 50s for the next five years. He came tantalizingly close in 2012 at 64.1%, just shy of the 66% mark. However, that was a ballot with new debuting players above 25% and after not getting in, he figured that was it. Kemme fell back to 56.6% in 2013, but found some support in his tenth and final chance in 2014. At 72.0%, Kemme’s long wait finally ended with Hall of Fame glory as only the third tenth-ballot pick in MLB’s history.

09-16-2024, 06:27 AM	#1617
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,323	2014 MLB Hall of Fame (Part 2) Luca Adams – Catcher – San Francisco Gold Rush – 79.2% First Ballot Luca Adams was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed catcher from San Leandro, California; a city of 91,000 in the East Bay. Adams was a very good contact hitter with a solid eye for walks and a low strikeout rate. He was an especially well-rounded bat for a catcher. Adams didn’t have prolific power, but he was still good for 28 doubles and 22 home runs per his 162 game average. He was a laughably poor and slow baserunner trying to lug his big frame around the basepaths. Defensively, Adams was considered average to above average behind the dish. Combining that with his bat made him arguably MLB’s best catcher for much of his career. He had pretty good durability especially considering the demands of the position over a 20 year career. Adams had a stellar work ethic and was very loyal, which made him one of MLB’s most popular players of the 1990s and 2000s. Adams left the Bay Area to play collegiately at Texas Tech, winning a NCAA Silver Slugger in his junior season. In 132 games and 120 starts for the Red Raiders, Adams had 134 hits, 94 runs, 22 doubles, 22 home runs, 80 RBI, 92 walks, a .287/.412/.484 slash, 171 wRC+, and 7.3 WAR. This made him one of the highest rated catching prospects of recent memory ahead of the 1988 MLB Draft. Growing up in the East Bay, Adams was an Oakland Owls fan as a child. However, he’d become an icon on the other side of the bridge, picked 20^th overall by San Francisco. He would spend his entire career with the Gold Rush, but would become a beloved superstar throughout the entire region. Adams had an impressive debut with 3.4 WAR over only 89 games and 55 starts as a rookie. He was SF’s starting catcher for the 19 years following except for when out with injury. Adams’ third season saw statistical bests in WAR (7.4), OPS (.921), and wRC+ (151). He topped 5+ WAR in 12 different seasons, but surprisingly didn’t earn his first Silver Slugger until 1997. Adams won the Slugger six times total, also getting it in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2006. In 1997, he had a rare distinction as a catcher with a batting title, posting a .340 batting average. The Gold Rush gave Adams an eight-year, $22,340,000 extension after the 1993 season. It was 1994 where Adams cemented himself in San Francisco lore, helping a wild card Gold Rush team to World Series win over Cleveland. Adams was World Series MVP and in 18 playoff starts had 27 hits, 12 runs, 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, and a .397/.461/.618 slash. He had a setback in late August 1995 with a broken bone in his elbow, ultimately shelving Adams about 10 months. Adams played well in the 1993 and 1996 postseasons, but struggled in 1999. San Francisco had four straight playoff berths from 1993-96, but suffered second round defeated in all but their championship season. After missing the field in 1997 and 1998, they lost in the 1999 American Association Championship Series to Edmonton. The Gold Rush then began a decade-plus playoff drought entering the 21^st Century. While beloved in the Bay Area, Adams earned international stardom through the World Baseball Championship. He won Tournament MVP honors for the United States in 2001 with a 1.5 WAR, 1.117 OPS effort over 20 starts. Adams was a part of eight world champion American teams (1992, 97, 98, 2000, 01, 03, 05, 07). In 229 games and 215 starts, he had 214 hits, 133 runs, 49 doubles, 36 home runs, 134 RBI, 96 walks, a .273/.356/.476 slash, 144 wRC+, and 8.7 WAR. Adams signed a four-year extension with San Francisco worth $39,000,000 after the 2000 season at age 31. He missed almost all of 2002 to a torn labrum, but otherwise kept playing at a very high level in his 30s even as the Gold Rush struggled. Adams declined his contract option after the 2004 season, but stayed loyal with a new three-year, $35,300,000 deal with SF. He inked another three-year, $36,800,000 extension after the 2006 campaign. Age finally caught up to Adams in 2007 with merely average batting, plus a knee sprain that cost him six weeks. His 1.9 WAR was his first time with a WAR below three apart from his six-game 2002. Adams was a full-time starter out of deference in 2008, but struggled to -0.6 WAR. He decided to retire that winter at age 40 and immediately San Francisco retired his #20 uniform. Adams finished with 2684 hits, 1249 runs, 412 doubles, 329 home runs, 1169 RBI, 818 walks, a .303/.366/.469 slash, 132 wRC+, and 96.2 WAR. He’s second in MLB history in WAR among catchers, only behind Mason Wilkinson. As of 2037 among catchers, Adams is fourth in hits, eighth in home runs, fourth in runs, and sixth in RBI. Among all position players, he sits 65^th. Still, the anti-catcher bias that often plagues Hall of Fame voters loomed. Adams’ contemporary Elliott McKay was only one WAR point lower than him, but hadn’t gotten in by his seventh try in 2014 (and ultimately would get left out). Adams’ immense popularity and role in San Francisco’s 1994 World Series win was enough for most anti-catcher voters that point at the low totals that come with the position. He received 79.2% for a first ballot nod with the 2014 MLB Hall of Fame class. Will “Blur” Kemme – Center Field – Austin Amigos – 72.0% Tenth Ballot Will Kemme was a 6’4’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting center fielder from Lamesa, Texas; a small rural town of around 9,000 people located about an hour south of Lubbock. Kemme was a traditional leadoff hitter with tremendous contact ability and an incredible 3.7% strikeout rate for his career. In his prime, scouts gave him a 10/10 for his contact skills. Kemme was also decent at drawing walks. Kemme had excellent gap power, getting 34 doubles and 11 triples per his 162 game average. He wasn’t going to go deep often, only hitting 10+ home runs once. The nickname “Blur” was appropriate considering Kemme’s blistering speed and stellar baserunning ability. Few MLB players were more frustrating for pitchers to hold. Defensively, Kemme played almost exclusively in center field and was considered an excellent defender. Sharing the American Association with nine-time Gold Glover Jonathan Valenzuela ultimately kept Kemme from his own Gold Glove, but he provided excellent value there. He had great durability early on with 150+ starts in all but one season from 1988-97. Kemme did receive some criticism for perceived laziness, but his play style and loyalty made him a popular player in his time. Kemme left for Oregon for college and in 143 games with the Ducks had 150 hits, 77 runs, 31 doubles, 12 home runs, 64 RBI, a .259/.321/.375 slash, 104 wRC+, and 3.1 WAR. He wasn’t quite fully formed as a contact hitter in college, but scouts felt his potential was high. Kemme was picked 28^th overall in the 1985 MLB Draft by Austin. The Amigos were still a new franchise at this point, having come in with the 1982 expansion. Kemme would be a part-time starter in his first two seasons. After a .366 average in his sophomore season, Kemme would be the full-time starter in center field for the next decade with Austin. In 1989, he led the American Association in doubles (48), stolen bases (61), and WAR (8.8). The WAR and doubles would be career bests, as were his 106 runs, 220 hits, his triple slash (.373/.406/.525) OPS (.931), and wRC+ (150). Kemme was second in MVP voting and won his first Silver Slugger. Austin won division titles in 1988 and 1989 and made it to the AACS both years, although they were defeated each time. They won another division title in 1992, but had a second round playoff exit. The Amigos would fall towards the bottom of the standings by the end of the 1990s, but Kemme helped them see their first legit contention in franchise history. In 31 playoff starts, he had a mixed bag with 39 hits, 9 runs, 3 doubles, 12 RBI, 13 stolen bases, a .351/.400/.396 slash, 124 wRC+, and 0.5 WAR. Kemme also played for the United States from 1988-1996 in the World Baseball Championship with 129 games and 125 starts. He posted 157 hits, 73 runs, 30 doubles, 42 RBI, 81 stolen bases, a .310/.346/.400 slash, 115 wRC+, and 3.0 WAR. He earned world champion rings with the 1988, 1992, and 1996 American teams. In 1992, Kemme took third in MVP voting by winning his lone batting title at .354. He also had an AA-best 74 stolen bases, especially impressive with 70+ seasons far less common in MLB compared to other world leagues. Kemme led in hits in 1991 and 1992 with 217 both years. He also had seven straight 5+ WAR seasons and topped 7+ four times from 1989-92. That stretch earned him his four Silver Sluggers. Austin gave Kemme an eight-year, $22,760,000 extension in June 1991. He would lead in triples in 1994 and stayed remarkably consistent until a weak 1996 effort with only 1.9 WAR. A fractured hand cost him some time and plagued him. Kemme bounced back in 1997, leading in hits for the third times and posted 5.0 WAR at age 32. By 1997, Austin had plummeted to 60-102. Kemme still had a few years on his big contract and the Amigos opted to trade him to Edmonton for prospects. He remained very popular with Austin fans and his #8 uniform would get later retired by the franchise. Kemme finished with 2202 hits, 905 runs, 378 doubles, 125 triples, 45 homers, 681 RBI, 525 stolen bases, a .332/.369/.447 slash, 120 wRC+, and 62.0 WAR. Kemme’s first two months with Edmonton were unremarkable with zero WAR and 84 wRC+ over 54 games. He would suffer a catastrophe with a broken kneecap in early June, knocking him out nine months. This significantly hampered him defensively, limiting Kemme’s utility and speed. He still hit well for contact in a limited role trying to come back in 1999 with a .365 average and 1.3 WAR over 54 games. Edmonton would win the World Series in 1999, but Kemme only had two playoff games, going 1-7. In 108 games with the Eels, he had 1.2 WAR and a 109 wRC+. His deal expired that year and Kemme was unsigned almost all of 2000. Minor league Tulsa gave him a brief look in September, but Kemme’s major league prospects were cooked. He retired that winter at age 36. Kemme had 2317 hits, 952 runs, 396 doubles, 130 triples, 47 home runs, 716 RBI, 539 stolen bases, a .331/.368/.445 slash, 119 wRC+, and 63.2 WAR. As of 2037 among all batters with 3000 plate appearances, he has the 19^th best batting average all-time. He ranked ninth best when he retired. However, Kemme’s accumulations were very low compared to other Hall of Famers, hurt by his abrupt exit shortly after the broken kneecap. He was a popular player and few argued against Kemme as an all-time contact guy. But it wasn’t always easy for tenured leadoff guys to get noticed without the big power numbers. Kemme had the added misfortune of lower accumulations. Still, his 59.0% ballot debut in 2005 made many think he’d get across the line. He slightly bumped up to 61.1% in 2006. Kemme couldn’t win any voters over, hovering in the 50s for the next five years. He came tantalizingly close in 2012 at 64.1%, just shy of the 66% mark. However, that was a ballot with new debuting players above 25% and after not getting in, he figured that was it. Kemme fell back to 56.6% in 2013, but found some support in his tenth and final chance in 2014. At 72.0%, Kemme’s long wait finally ended with Hall of Fame glory as only the third tenth-ballot pick in MLB’s history. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)