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VanillaGorilla · 10-25-2012, 10:22 AM

Lance Blankenship was born on December 6, 1898, 5 months after his father lost his life at the Battle of San Juan Hill when he stepped in front of an enemy bayonet to protect Teddy Roosevelt's horse.

His mother departed society and took her newborn to live with an early commune of tree dwellers who took shelter in the branches of old growth Oregon redwoods 100 feet above the ground. In this environment food and other items were thrown from tree to tree as commune members relayed what was needed to where it was needed. There was no room for error in this, each throw and each catch had to count or else the item would be lost.

A scout for the New York Yankees, battling opium and absinthe addictions, journeyed to the commune in 1920 in search of a cleansed life. There he found the young Blankenship and marveled at his throwing and catching skills. He was certain these talents could be translated into that of a major league baseball player.

He convinced the young Blankenship to accompany him back to New York and show his skills to the Yankees. On the train trip back, bandits hijacked the train and were looking for more than gold and booty. When one sought to take a young girl back to the coal car, Blankenship leaped into action, subduing the predator and slaying his evil counterparts with the weapon he deftly wrested from him.

On his arrival in New York, news started to spread about this hero, but before anything went to press, Blankenship passed by a factory fire, and saw the overwhelmed firefighters losing the battle against the blaze which threatened the worker's quarters/orphanage adjacent to it. Having fought fires from early childhood, he again sprang into action and expertly executed the only plan of action that contained the fire and saved the orphanage.

He tried out for the Yankees that afternoon and blew away the scouts. The Yankees convinced the newspapers not to run any stories about Blankenship until they were able to pick him in the upcoming draft.

The Yankees were able to wait until the second rd before taking their secret gem. In the city, Blankenship enjoyed the education and cultural offerings. In two years he had graduated from NYU and in each of next 8 off seasons, received a PhD in an area of study. Albert Schweitzer was in awe of him.

Overcoming small pox, polio, and multiple sclerosis, Blankenship played from 1922 to 1939.

The Hall of Fame isn't SIMPLY a Hall of Stats. When the stats are lacking, but a player gets in, there is a back story that raises the player above that of his stats. It is a story of this magnitude that is needed to explain Blankenship's induction....simply being a 'good guy' doesn't cut it.

His life in the trees made him a quick study on the major league infield. He won one GG at 2B and 3 at 3B. Hitting was another matter. Blankenship did manage to collect 2009 hits over his 18 year career, but he hit a line of 245/369/330 doing it. His average of .245 is tied with Gene Tenace's for lowest in the HOF. His career npa OPS+ is 92.

He won two WS in 2 tries, and hit .319 in those games....something about performing when it counts was in his blood.

The selection committee took into account his amazing life story (and the BTW fact that he enters the Hall 9th All-Time on the BB list, 1614) and bestowed upon him an entry to the HOF.

Rabbit Maranville thinks this is a crappy selection.

Black Ink: 0 (RL Maranville: 2)
Gray Ink: 41 (RL Maranville:50)
HOFm: 15 (RL Maranville:59)
HOFs: 21 (RL Maranville:30)

--------------

Roger Repoz was a late first rd draft pick in 1941. He has been in the discussion of the committee members since he became eligible in 1964. He retired with more HRs, 375 (21st at time of induction) than any other eligible player, but was never the committee's selection, until now. Repoz had the highest career WAR score of any eligible player, once Gil McDougald was tabbed, and he enters on this basis.

Repoz played his entire career with the St Louis Cardinals. He won 3 GGs in RF and was named to 10 AS teams. His Cardinals won consecutive WS in 1954 and 1955. HOFers Daisy Davis and Keith Hernandez were teammates those years. There will be more inductees from these Cardinal teams.

Repoz drove in 1273 runs and collected 2033 hits as he posted a 272/384/479 line that provides a very Hall worthy npa OPS+ of 138 for his career.

Black: 20 (0)
Gray: 121 (1)
HOFm: 83 (0)
HOFs: 42 (5)

--------------

Bobby Mathews gets in on the first ballot standard, but is not an official first balloter as no pitchers entered when he became eligible for the class of 1970.

Mathews is a no brainer. 318-257, 3.10 (npa ERA+ 129) and 3661 Ks (5th all-time).

Mathews won 5 Cy Young Awards. Only James Burke and Charlie Ferguson won more (6 each) amongst HOFers.

The first overall pick in 1939 was named to 11 AS teams.

He played in five WS.

He won five WS titles.

His record in WS games is 5-0.

The stuff of legend.

According to the standards in place for this HOF, Bobby Mathews is a gross oversight for the RL HOF.

Black: 124 (30)
Gray: 315 (286)
HOFm: 181.5 (162)
HOFs: 54 (46)

10-25-2012, 10:22 AM	#57
VanillaGorilla All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 1,371 Blog Entries: 2	Class of 1971, Part 2- Blankenship, Repoz, Mathews Lance Blankenship was born on December 6, 1898, 5 months after his father lost his life at the Battle of San Juan Hill when he stepped in front of an enemy bayonet to protect Teddy Roosevelt's horse. His mother departed society and took her newborn to live with an early commune of tree dwellers who took shelter in the branches of old growth Oregon redwoods 100 feet above the ground. In this environment food and other items were thrown from tree to tree as commune members relayed what was needed to where it was needed. There was no room for error in this, each throw and each catch had to count or else the item would be lost. A scout for the New York Yankees, battling opium and absinthe addictions, journeyed to the commune in 1920 in search of a cleansed life. There he found the young Blankenship and marveled at his throwing and catching skills. He was certain these talents could be translated into that of a major league baseball player. He convinced the young Blankenship to accompany him back to New York and show his skills to the Yankees. On the train trip back, bandits hijacked the train and were looking for more than gold and booty. When one sought to take a young girl back to the coal car, Blankenship leaped into action, subduing the predator and slaying his evil counterparts with the weapon he deftly wrested from him. On his arrival in New York, news started to spread about this hero, but before anything went to press, Blankenship passed by a factory fire, and saw the overwhelmed firefighters losing the battle against the blaze which threatened the worker's quarters/orphanage adjacent to it. Having fought fires from early childhood, he again sprang into action and expertly executed the only plan of action that contained the fire and saved the orphanage. He tried out for the Yankees that afternoon and blew away the scouts. The Yankees convinced the newspapers not to run any stories about Blankenship until they were able to pick him in the upcoming draft. The Yankees were able to wait until the second rd before taking their secret gem. In the city, Blankenship enjoyed the education and cultural offerings. In two years he had graduated from NYU and in each of next 8 off seasons, received a PhD in an area of study. Albert Schweitzer was in awe of him. Overcoming small pox, polio, and multiple sclerosis, Blankenship played from 1922 to 1939. The Hall of Fame isn't SIMPLY a Hall of Stats. When the stats are lacking, but a player gets in, there is a back story that raises the player above that of his stats. It is a story of this magnitude that is needed to explain Blankenship's induction....simply being a 'good guy' doesn't cut it. His life in the trees made him a quick study on the major league infield. He won one GG at 2B and 3 at 3B. Hitting was another matter. Blankenship did manage to collect 2009 hits over his 18 year career, but he hit a line of 245/369/330 doing it. His average of .245 is tied with Gene Tenace's for lowest in the HOF. His career npa OPS+ is 92. He won two WS in 2 tries, and hit .319 in those games....something about performing when it counts was in his blood. The selection committee took into account his amazing life story (and the BTW fact that he enters the Hall 9th All-Time on the BB list, 1614) and bestowed upon him an entry to the HOF. Rabbit Maranville thinks this is a crappy selection. Black Ink: 0 (RL Maranville: 2) Gray Ink: 41 (RL Maranville:50) HOFm: 15 (RL Maranville:59) HOFs: 21 (RL Maranville:30) -------------- Roger Repoz was a late first rd draft pick in 1941. He has been in the discussion of the committee members since he became eligible in 1964. He retired with more HRs, 375 (21st at time of induction) than any other eligible player, but was never the committee's selection, until now. Repoz had the highest career WAR score of any eligible player, once Gil McDougald was tabbed, and he enters on this basis. Repoz played his entire career with the St Louis Cardinals. He won 3 GGs in RF and was named to 10 AS teams. His Cardinals won consecutive WS in 1954 and 1955. HOFers Daisy Davis and Keith Hernandez were teammates those years. There will be more inductees from these Cardinal teams. Repoz drove in 1273 runs and collected 2033 hits as he posted a 272/384/479 line that provides a very Hall worthy npa OPS+ of 138 for his career. Black: 20 (0) Gray: 121 (1) HOFm: 83 (0) HOFs: 42 (5) -------------- Bobby Mathews gets in on the first ballot standard, but is not an official first balloter as no pitchers entered when he became eligible for the class of 1970. Mathews is a no brainer. 318-257, 3.10 (npa ERA+ 129) and 3661 Ks (5th all-time). Mathews won 5 Cy Young Awards. Only James Burke and Charlie Ferguson won more (6 each) amongst HOFers. The first overall pick in 1939 was named to 11 AS teams. He played in five WS. He won five WS titles. His record in WS games is 5-0. The stuff of legend. According to the standards in place for this HOF, Bobby Mathews is a gross oversight for the RL HOF. Black: 124 (30) Gray: 315 (286) HOFm: 181.5 (162) HOFs: 54 (46) Last edited by VanillaGorilla; 10-28-2012 at 05:21 AM.