[canadiancreed]

We'll have to build a "metsgeek wing" at the HOF.

LOL so true

Holy crap this is a good field this year

Ok here we go

Who should go in

Willard Schwarz - Phillies main catcher for almost two decades. How good was this guy? he was able to end his career still as the primary catcher, while hitting .171! That's how good his glove was. Having a powerful bat for over 300 dingers was icing on the cake.

Glendon "Bull" Zegri - The A's premier left fielder for the twenties and thirties, his swing was one of the sweetest there was; with another season he coudl have hit the 3000 hit mark. To add insult to injury for the opposition, his eye was razor sharp; it was quite a feat to get him going down on strikes. One of the few players to never need any seasoning in the minors, "Bull" is another great that will be heading to the hall

Jon Minzey - A guy able to hit almost 3000 hits gets my vote here. Jon was a guy that coudl get you a hit whenever he wanted. DOnt bet on it going over the fence, but he'll get on base for sure. With excellent fielding and great hitting, it amazes me that he played for four different clubs, winning the ring with the Cards and what shoudl have probably been his swan song in 1939 with the Dodgers. But he tried to get 3000 hits, and a combination of deteriorating skills and management not giving him the chances would doom his quest with twelve left. A great player regardless, he ended his career losing his job to a current all-star, Artie Albrecht of the Reds, who he probably helped out in his last few months there.

Troy Kinnear - Detroits fine third basemen for their only World Championship, Troy combined a knack for fielding with an explosive swing, driving in over three hundred home runs while making shots hit to third an almost guarenteed out with his excellent range and his gun for an arm. While Troy will never be known for high average, Detroit fans loved his clutch performance, as his two home runs and .409 batting average in the 1928 World Series attests too. While he ended his career with the cellar dwelling Phillies of the late 30's, his leadership and experience were obvisouly passed on to the rising stars of that team, as the Phillies began a rise to power that still continues today after his tendure with the team.

Quenton Misisca - One of the primier power hitters of his generation, Quenton was part what would become one of the Red Sox's most lopsided trades, when he was traded with Ball and Svelha for Rosendahl soon after being drafted by the Sox. It would help to inspire Quenton to show just who they missed out on, as his first major league hit was off Jonathan Kuehn of those same Red Sox. He would get 2,628 more along with almost 400 home runs to become one of the cornerstones of the Tigers for over two decades and a solid contribuator to the Tigers only World Series win. While known for his great power hitting, he was able to improve on his fielding later in his career, winning his only Gold Glove in 1939 at the age of 39. While many though that he coudl have continued to play into the middle of the 40's Quenton surprised the baseball world by retiring in 1941 after looking as if he was starting to get his hitting stroke back. Never the less, Quenton was one of the best players to ever grace the first base line in this league.

John Schmieder - The Braves great left fielder would hurt you in many ways if you were the opposition. HIs hitting skills was well known, compiling many seasons in the top ten of the league, and finished just twenty-eight hits shy of the 3000 mark. He was even able to perform in the spotlight, as his performance in a losing cause against the great Tiger team of 1928, and his only World Series ring in 1931 will attest. As if his bat wasnt enough, pitchers found it was quite a challange to strike him out, as he woudl wait for his pitch, or get a walk to earn his way on board. HIs cannon for an arm kept base runners honest when the ball flew his way, and many a runner was shocked to be gunned down when it looked to be a sure thing. His range, although it depleated in his later years, was good enough to earn him his only GOld Glove in 1934. One of the Braves greats, he will make a fine addition to the hall.

Harry Finley - Probably the only catcher that woudl ever be considered leadoff material, Harry was able to suppliment his average hitting with uncanny speed and agility on the basepaths, chalking up over 600 steals with a success rate over 85% for his career. He didnt return the favour for the oppisition, as his other talent, defense, shone brightly with his amazing range and bullet for an arm kept many a potential thief from getting away with their "crime". With this great fielding, he was the premier front runner to capture the GOld Golve for catcher, which he did almost every year from 1927 to 1939. His contribution would help to give him a fistfull of WOrld Championship rings, as the Yankees would be the dominant force during his tenture with the team, winning in 1933-36, 1939-40. WHile he will be a borderline selection, he'll make it difficult for the voters to keep him out.

August "Fat Gus" Kahle - This selection is a no brainer. So talented that he was still able to hit well going into his second decade at the hot corner, "Fat Gus" was the complete package....or two or three. WIth a textbook stroke that as one player commeneted "shows us how it was supposed to be done", August was able to pound out almost 3500 hits, including getting over two hundred in a season twice!(210 in 1926, 200 in 1929). While the mark on him was he coudlnt deleiver when it counted, he was able to work on his nerves and steadily improve with each postseason, saving his best performance for what woudl be his last championship in 1940, batting .438. August was also no slouch in the field, as his two Gold Gloves in 1932 and 1937 attest. His range was above par, able to turn potential doubles and triples into routine outs with his cannon of an arm, giving Moonlight Graham such sore hands that some games he woudl have to ice it down after the game. One of the premier hot corner specialists, August is a shoein to get his spot in the hall.

Ricardo "Tiny" Bowden - One of the greatest hitting shortstops of all time, Ricardo jumped on the scene in 1928 by winning the Rookie of the Year award, and he wouldnt stop there. "Tiny" is one of the handful of players in TWB history to hit over the elusive .400 mark, doing so to win his first batting championship in 1930 and against in 1932 with .362 as the winning total. His speed woudl also help out, as he raked up over 150 triples and over 600 stolen bases during his tendure as the Red Sox premier shortstop. Like Davis however, he would end his career prematurely when he retired in 1944 at the age of 34 while still able to hit the ball quite well. Fans to this day cannot figure out his reasons, but he's never come back to the game that he was able to dominate so well in the 30's

Adolf "Human Torch" Greisbach - Adolf was originally drafted by the A's, but in another steal for the Tigers, was traded to them in 1925. Adolf woudl soon become one of the premier shortstops in the league, becoming the starter for the Tigers in 1928 in their championship season and giving Ricardo a run for his money atop the hitting leader board. Adolf woudl hit above .340 for eight season straight starting in 1928 to 1936, winning the championship twice (.392 in 1931 and .365 in 1933), and finishing in second in 1931 in what woudl be the highest batting average, and the most competitive race for the batting crowd ever seen, as he woudl lose to Ricardo while hitting .403 for the year. He wouold also lead in hits four times, getting over 200 hits for five seasons (1929-31, 33-34). Adolf woudl work on his fielding and was able to achieve a Gold Glove in 1936 for shortstop. WHile he was another player that retired young at 36, his record for hitting is extremely impressive, with thirteen years in a row hitting above .300, and almsot 3000 hits. Another great player form the great team of Detroit's only championship

Salvatore "Sicilian Saucer" Rossi - Some woudl say that Salvatore stuck around too long for his own good, the stats that he compiled showed that for mot of that time, he was a force to be reckon with. Able to hit over .300 for thirteen years straight with the A's, Rossi was the A's starting first baseman for almost a qaurter of a century, a remarkable feat indeed. HIs leangthy stay with the A's can be attribuated origianlly to his consistent hitting that while never led the league, was able to outlast many other hittng powers in the twenties and thirties. He was also able to deleiver in three of the four series that the A's made it too, albeit in a losing effort. With both a smooth stroke and an amazing eye, Rossi was able to table over 300 hits in his career, and tally up almost 1700 walks, a mark that will be tough to achieve. Rossi's fielding also helped to keep him around as his eye and his hitting slowly reduced in skill, winning four gold gloves at first. With such an extensive career, he'll be able to prove his critics wrong and make it into the hallowed halls.

Ned "Nasty Ned" Fargo - Nasty Ned lived up to his name, but not in the way youd' expect. He was a battler on the mound, hard to get a hit against, and even harder to get out of the game. While he never won the Pitcher of the Year award, Ned was about to rack up five 20 win seasons, and tally up over 320 wins for his career. A member of the Browns World Series winners in 1922, Ned was able to stay on for twenty years, although teh later years didnt help his stats any as the Browns suck to the second division. With decent control and good velocity, he was about to tally up over 1500 strikeouts, and with his incredible endurance, pitch in over 5000 innings and finish off over 400 games during his career. With these numbers, Nasty Ned is going to become Famous Ned by making it into the hall.

Brett Smith – My sentimental favourite, Brett originally started out with the Pirates, but in a move that would be repeated sixteen years later (with Ace Shipley as the focus), the Pirates traded off their pitching prospect for some infield help to Washington. Brett would ply his trade for three teams that unfortunately for him, were always in the grip of a downturn, with Washington trying to rebuild, then traded off to Cincy, who was one of the worst teams in the 30’s, and finally off to the Browns, where he would retire soon before they would start to be competitive. Through his travels he was able to amass over 250 wins, with six seasons with twenty or more. While not as impressive as some pitchers, bare in mind that he was able to achieve this one teams that winning records were a rarity. Possessing a wicked curve, he was able to get over 1500 strikeouts and finish over 60% of the games he started. Brett was even handy with the glove, winning the Gold Glove in 1938. Unfortunately for Brett, he’ll be more remembered not for his accomplishments, but for the only player that actually panned out with a trade he was involved in, Skeeter Schaldemose, who would make the Cincinnati management look like talent scouting geniuses yet again.

Luke Riley – One of the major reason the Yankees were the dominant team in the 30’s, Luke became a Yankee in what would turn out to be a steal of a trade in 1929, sending Steve Lindsey to the Red Sox. Luke would blossom under the glare of the New York spotlight, winning 272 games and four World Series, becoming on of the most dominant pitchers of the 30’s. Winner of the Pitcher of the Year award in 1934 and 35, Luke was about to post some seriously impressive numbers, including his best season where he became a member of the exclusive thirty win club, going 30-7 with a 2.66 ERA. Posting over 1600 strikeouts to 900 walks, his control was so precise one sports writer swore he could set his watch by it. However at 37 and still able to pitch quite well, he decided to retire out of the blue. Eve with the early retirement and late start, Luke will be guaranteed to make it in the hall, and pundits will be eternally debating what might have been with another five or six years added to his career.

Terry Schukraft - While most woudl argue that his reputation is slightly tarnished by hanging on to the game long after his skills had disintigrted, Terry was for much of the 20's and 30's, one of the more dominant hurlers on the mound. Starting out in 1922, Tery was able to string together fifteen stragiht seasons with a winning record, including streaks of twenty win seasons (1925-28, 30-32, 35-36) to help build his total to over 320 wins for his career. His knack for throwing heat was able to accumulate over 2000 strikeouts, but his control was never the best, and he walked almost as many. Terry was also no slouch when push came to shove, and demonstrated that in the five World Series that he played in with the dominant Phillies teams of the 20's and early 30's, winning four rings and setting a record for most wins by a pitcher in 1929, while allowing only three runs in twenty-seven innings. As the team was sinking furthur into the secodn division, Terry was traded off to the Browns in what turned out to be a good move, as he woudl start getting into serious injury trouble and his performance suffered accordingly. Terry tried to stick on with the Browns, the A's, another stint with the Phillies, and two tours with the Braves, but his pitching just wasnt the same after 1937, and many pundits agreed that he was a shell of the pitcher that he was. Finally, after not even being able to be effective in relief and not really being effective since 1936, Terry ended his travleing days in 1944. Some argued that tried to extend his career to get 300 wins to get in the hall, but I'd agrue that he woudl have gotten in the hall even with the numbers he had before his pitching went south. Look for Terry to prove his critics wrong and make it into the Hall this year.

Anthony "Punchy" Cote - Another steal by the Athletics, Cote was originally drafted by the Braves, but beleiving that he was injury prone and wouldnt succeed for long in the bigs, traded him the the A's. He would go on to prove them wrong as he won the Rookie of the Year award in 1927 and didnt look back. The ace of the A's, and later on, the Cubs rotation, Anthony was able to tally up over 300 wins while having some pretty severe ingury issues, including a torn tricep that kept him out of the 1939 season and many felt woudl end his career. Owner of amazing speed and excellent control, Anthony was able to get over 200 strikeouts while allowing a hair over 1400 walks, not too shabby for a fireballer. He was also no stranger to the award table, winning the Pitcher of the Year award in 1936 and 1941, and finally winning his fist World Series in 1938 with the Cubs after four previous tries. While some feel that he retired too early, as he was able to still ptich quite effectively, that's for the pundits to deabate, as he'll be sastisfied that his career will have him inshrined in the Hall with the other greats of the game.

Otto "Kaiser" Kahle - The first choice of the 1924 draft, Otto would love up to his star billing, becoming one of the most dominant pitchers in league history. Winning over twenty games a season evelen times in his career, he woudl finish in the top five in career wins with 363. Blessed with amazing control and speed, Otto would also finsih sixth in career strikeouts with over 2300, while walking only half that many. Otto would be able to ply his trade for the Indians, the BRaves, where he won his onyl World Championship in 1931, and woudl end his career being traded to the Cardinals, retiring two years later due to serious back issues. The last trade woudl actually usher in a new era for the Braves, as it would produce three future major leagues, Gilmartin, Francis, and Wofe, who some have said coudl be jsut as good if not better than Otto was with the Braves. While Otto didnt win any awards with his time in the majors, but will receive the ultimate expression of talent, an induction into the hall of fame.

What could have been:

Howard "Cookie" Parrish - If he hadn’t torn his hamstring at the beginning of 1937, Cookie would probably have left all of these guys in his dust. Unfortunately, he wasn’t’ remotely the same player after that injury, only appearing in about 100 games before calling it a career. Although he was about to show a flash of his former self in the 1938 World Series, Howard would state in an interview about why he retired “Every time I’d take a swing or run out the bases, it would feel like someone was jabbing a icepack in my lower back. The more I did it, the worse it’d get. Thankfully I played first, and the movement there is less than say, in the outfield so fielding wasn’t too bad after a while, but as the season would continue, the pain would take longer to ice down until I’d have to take off days at a time with just ice on my back to reduce the swelling.” Reports of Howard lying on a plank with bags of ice on his back hours before and during the games at the 1938 World Series were very true; a testament to what some players will go through to stay in the game. While his numbers won’t be enough to get in the hall, bet your bottom dollar he’ll be he sentimental favourite of the VC commission.

Archibald "Moonlight" Graham - Being stuck behind one of the best hitters of his generation, Archibald looked to become a permanent backup, but fate woudl deleiver him a chance to perform, with Detroit trading him to the rising Yankees in 1931 for another backup, and future history maker, Pat Vega. Moonlight wouldnt disapoint, as his perfromance of getting on-base and his amazing eye would give the Yankees another key to the puzzle and help to begin their amazing run of Championships in the 30's. Winning his first ring with Detroit in 1928, he brought his winning ways with him and added four more rings in six Championship appearence. While he peaked too late for the numbers normally associated with Hall of Famers, he'll probabyl get a second look with the Vetrans committie, and they will most like be impressed with what they see.

Flip "Fancy Flip" DeLeon - The mainstay of third base for Brooklyn and winnner of rookie of the year in 1926, Flip battled injuries and a reputation for not coming through in the clutch throughout his career. While he was able to improve on his clutch hitting, winning World Series in both his first season in the league(what a way to start a career!) and in 1939. While his impressive hit count will help to sway some voters, the rest of his performance, and the rash of injuries, make you wonder what might have been had his injuries not taken away from his game.

Dave "Red Fox" Arkless - One of the cornerstones of the successful CUb teams in the late 30's, Dave was able to jump right to the majors and never left. With a impressive combination of good contact, power, and a great eye, Dave was able to become one of the better hitters in the league, winning the batter of the year award in 1929 with a .376 average in what woudl become his career year. While many critics woudl argue that anyone could have amazing range in the cramped confines of Wrigley Field, the voters for the Gold Glove awards felt differently, awarding the Red Fox this honour seven times in his career. An impressive career that was cut short by injury in 1939 when Dave ruptured a disk in his back. He was never the same afterwards, barely hitting above .250 for the next three years before finally retiring, ending a great career before it's time.

Jeff Bundy - A mountain of a man, Jeff took a while to get to the bigs, but was able to stick around once he arrived and man first for the Dodgers for much of the thirties. He was able to help the team make it to four World Series appearances, all against the Yankees, but only won one right, and was known to wither when it came to the big games. HIs fielding, while not steller, was enough to win him two GOld Gloves, and in any other position, his hitting performance woudl have been enough to give him a serious look at getting into the hall. However with competitors like Moonlight Graham and Quenton Mussica, Bundy wont be able to make it in short of getting in with the Vetrens Committee.

Clarence Davis - A late bloomer, Clarence woudl make up for loss time and show that he was meant to be in the majors. Starting with the WHite Sox, he was sent to the Yankees to give them some backup at shortshop. WIthin two years he woudl take over the position and show that he was ready to make up for lost time. With a streak of impressive hit totals (198, 199, and 219 from 1938-1940), he woudl win the batting title in 1940 and looked to be on his way to the hall. However in 1942, after the end of the season, he out of the blue went to the head office of the Yankees and promptly retired, no reason given, and none since. Since then the Yankees havent been the same, and with Davis retiring so young, his chances at getting in the hall are slim. ANother mystery indeed in the history of the TWB.

Wolter "Boeken" Tjeenk-Willink - A great talent in left for the Senators, Wolter hit over .340 for every year that he was the starter, and contributing immensely to their two Series wins in 1937 and 1941. COmbined with superb range and a bullet throwing arm, Wolter made the most of his time in the spotlight. But with quite a few prospects, Washington's cautious approach cost him many good years that coudl have helped his stats, with him retireing young at 33, he just doesnt have enough to make it in.

William O'Neill – The poster child of why you should care about every draft pick that you make, William plied his trade in the minors for six years before finally sticking as a starter with the Pirates in 1929. They weren’t disappointed, as he became the workhorse of every team he was on, pitching over 300 innings for eleven years straight, and finishing over 60% of the games that he started, defying the experts that said he’d never made it to the majors, let alone be successful. As time progresses, instead of weakening, William seem to be able to refine his craft, with precise control and excellent speed, he was able to either lead the league, or come in second in strikeouts in the first five years as a fulltime starter (1929-33). After his successful tenure in Pittsburgh, he was traded across state for a brief layover with the A’s, and would promptly pitch the 4th perfect game in league history, and the first in fifteen years. He would soon be sent to Cleveland, where, with his skills dismissing rapidly from years of overuse, he would go out with a bang, winning his only World Series with Cleveland in 1942. While its’ a heartening story, O’Neil’s career won’t be enough to get into the Hall, but with that finish, he could use it in Hollywood.

Ken "Stuffy" Zinn - The Ace of the South Side of Chicago for the 30's, "Stuffy" was another pitcher that was considered too brittle for the majors. However CHiago stuck with him, and while did have serious issues with injuries during his career, Ken was still able to achieve some great numbers, getting just short of 300 wins on a team that for the most part, wasnt too competitive during his tendure. Like a shakespearean play, his career would be filled with "close but no cigars", cullunating with the 1938 World Series against the crosstown Cubbies, when he went down with a bone chips in his shoulder, knocking him out for the season, and all but handing the series to the Cubbies, who would eventully win it all. Ken would retire soon afterwards, as he stated when asked why he was retiring while still able to pitch well, "I was tired of the constant pain when pitching. When I was younger it woudl eventully go away for a bit, but after all the injuries, it's gotten so my arm always hurts nowadays, and I dont think thats the way that anyone should play the game." While Ken's numbers woudl have been better without the injuries, it will probably hold him out of the hall, although make him a fine runner for the VC consideration

Babe Hardin - The second part of Chiacgo's One-Two punch of the 30's, Babe was able to have a good career with the White Sox, winning almost 300 games and chalking up quite a few awards Unforteuantly he too woudl have issues with the injury bug and this would reduce his numbers over time. Possessing decent speed, but suspect control, Babe never was a pitcher to have low walk totals, walking as many batters has we struck out. His injury problems woudl also help to doom his team to an ealy World Series exit in 1931, when was was injured near the end of the season. As the team started to decline in the early 40's, Babe was traded from his only home in the majors to the Red Sox, a team that was slowly recovering for a disapointing decade. At the end of the season, he woudl surprisngly retire out of the blue. His reason? "It just wasnt the same anymore. The enjoyment for me is no longer there". Pundits woudl ague that he would have gotten 300 wins in the next season, but the VC committee will probably seriously consider the 1-2 punch from the North Side when they meet.