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SOME THOUGHTS ON 1966 HALL OF FAME CLASS - part 3
BILLY GOODMAN - Goodman went straight from high school to the major leagues, joining the Chicago Cubs as an 18 year old. Even more impressively he started 146 games that season and batted .282. He would spend his entire career in the Windy City, appearing in 2332 major league games before being sent down to AAA Los Angeles late in his career at the age of 34. Goodman was a 5-time all-star, claimed 3 Silver Slugger Awards and a gold glove.
He finished with a .296 lifetime batting average and 2737 career hits. He ranks in the top 30 all-time in doubles with 511 and led the National League in two-baggers 5 times in his career. He never played a World Series game as his Cubs were a second division club for much of his career.
In real life Goodman played 16 seasons with 4 different teams. He had 1691 career hits and was a .300 hitter. Goodman was also a 2-time all-star with the Red Sox and won an American League batting title in 1950.
VERDICT - Not a Hall of Famer but might stick around on the ballot a few years.
JIM HEARN - Hearn is in the top 30 all-time in games pitched with 578 career appearances. He was 76-84 with 48 saves over a 16 year major league career that saw him pitch for 5 different teams including the Giants, Dodgers and Yankees. Primarily a reliever he was 8-20 for the 1951 Giants as a starter but then followed that up with a 17-8 season for the Dodgers the next season.
Hearn never won an individual award and was 0-1 with an 8.53 era in 3 appearances with the Dodgers in the 1955 World Series, one they would lose to the Yankees.
In real life Hearn went 109-89 over 13 seasons with the Cardinals, Giants and Phillies. He made the all-star team in 1952 and was 15-7 for the Giants that year.
VERDICT - Certainly no where near the hall of fame
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