Five hitters and one pitcher enter this year.
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Dave Parker becomes the 30th player to be inducted into both converted tractor sheds that have acted as my Cooperstown(s).
Parker was selected by the Reds with the 15th overall pick in 2008. He chose not to sign with them.
In 2009 he was again selected with the 15th overall pick. Again, he was selected by the Reds. Consenting to fate, he signed with them.
In a career that spanned 22 seasons, Parker played for 6 teams through 2031. In that time he collected 2771 hits (20th). 478 of those were HRs (t-53, Bill Melton). He also hit 568 doubles (20th) and 61 triples (t-90th, Al Oliver). His 1715 RBI rank him 21st on the all time list, one ahead of Albert Belle and two ahead of Gavvy Cravath. He also scored 1412 runs (49th, 2 behind Ted Simmons).
A 7 time All Star and twice a Gold Glove winner, Parker was given MVP honors in 2015 when he batted .318 with 51 HRs. He collected 201 hits that season, one of three seasons he reached that mark. This was his only 50 Hr season. He drove in a career high 144 runs, and scored a career high 131. His slash line of 318/389/650 gave him a npa OPS+ of 185, tieing his career high.
He posted a career slash line of 301/347/531 that gave him a npa OPS+ of 138. Parker hit .301 in 25 post season games over 4 seasons, but never played in a WS.
Parker enters the HOF by virtue of his HOFs number being above the Hall average.
Black Ink: 14 (26)
Gray Ink: 108 (145)
HOFm: 164 (124)
HOFs: 58 (42)
Gorilla Composite: 3.5 (3.6)
Since the entry of Jim Rice into the RL HOF, there have been many well founded arguments that Parker is equally deserving. I have been opposed to Parker's entry due to his personal issues and his involvement in the Pittsburgh trials. However, that was nearly 30 years ago. To my knowledge, Parker has been a model citizen, and there was nothing that he did that is beyond forgiveness. I cannot say that I endorse his RL induction, but I am no longer opposed to it.
Using the standards in place here and applying them to his RL stats for induction into the RL HOF, Parker should be a HOFer. And he did make that throw in the 1979 ASG. That, in and of itself, merits HOF consideration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IXLrHV-DyI
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Continuing the theme of 15th selections overall, Troy Tulowitski was selected with that pick in the 2017 draft by the Brewers. He played through the 2037 season and enters the HOF in his first year of eligibility.
A 5 time AS, Tulowitski earned 7 GGs at SS. He is all over the career SS leaderboard. He leads in games, hits, HR, RBI, and a host of others.
For his career, he collected 2637 hits (35th), 496 HR (42nd), 1710 RBI (25th), and scored 1465 times (39th) while slashing 271/345/480 (npa OPS+ 125).
After the 2023 season he signed a huge 6 year deal with the Cardinals. In 2027, 2028, and 2029 he was the starting shortstop for the Red Bird teams that took home 3 straight WS titles. In 2027, HOFer Walter Johnson was on the squad. In 2028 George Sisler joined Tulowitski and Johnson. In 2029, both Sisler and Johnson were allowed to leave as Free Agents. Tulowitski is the only HOFer from the 2029 squad, at this time.
Following the 2029 season, the Cardinals decided not to compete with the Padres offer of a 2 year $27.8M contract (which was a lower per year ammount than the Cards had been paying him) and Tulowitski went to San Diego.
What happened? Tulowitski led the Padres to WS victory....his 4th consecutive championship. One word: Wow.
Tulowitski hit 20 or more HRs 15 times in his career. He hit at least 20 in each of his first 11 seasons.
Tulowitski was a software inductee. He did not enter on the FBS, but he does enter in his frst year of eligibility by virtue of his HOFm/s numbers being above the current Hall averages.
Black Ink: 3
Gray Ink: 72
HOFm: 187
HOFs: 59
Gorilla Composite: 3.0
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Tim Bowden is the latest in HOF entrants that I am not going to beat myself up over not knowing who in the heck Tim Bowden is. In RL, Bowden made 10 PAs. He struck out six times, got 2 singles and drew a walk...all of this action was in 1914.
Here, the player development dice were more than kind to him. Bowden was a 7 time AS, a GG winner, and an MVP. At the age of 82, Bowden is now a HOFer who enters on the Veteran Standard.
Bowden surprised everyone, as he was not drafted until the 74th pick overall in 1981. The Tigers selected him, and they never knew what they had.
Relegated to the roll of minor league call up for injuries with the Tiger organization, the Reds claimed him off of waivers in during the 1985 season. In 115 games for Cinci, Bowden hit .299 and 15 hrs.
In 1988 Bowden hit .363 to win the batting title. He also jacked 23 HRs and drove in 90 in a cavernous Riverfront Stadium. He scored 116 times and slashed 363/457/577 for a npa OPS+ of 195. These numbers were MVP winners for Bowden. More importantly, he also led the Reds to the WS and a WS victory. That 1988 team also featured original inductee Jose Reyes.
For his career Bowden slashed 301/411/479. Bowden ranks 9th on the career OBP list. Bowden collected 2104 hits, 267 HRs, drove in 1150, and scored 1260 (t-88th, George Sisler). Bowden walked 1310 times in his career (26th).
Black Ink: 11
Gray Ink: 98
HOFm: 93
HOFs: 48
Gorilla Composite: 2.7