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Old 07-30-2013, 05:07 PM   #91
VanillaGorilla
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Class of 2067 Veterans Committee Selections: Williams, Gross

The Veterans Committee selections are probably the most fun for me to see. Guys like Shoeless Joe jackson, who get in on the first ballot are no brainer HOFers. A guy like Dazzy Vance was almost a first ballot induction, but there was no doubt that he would get in, even though he wasn't named his first time around.

Sometimes we see guys that had good RL careers, but not HOF careers, put together HOF careers here. Joe Torre, Tim Wallach and Ron Cey come to mind there.

Then we have guys that were pretty much cup of coffee types who got favorable development from the OOTP engine and enter the HOF here without much of a RL resume, at all. Alex Serrano is probably the most extreme example of this.

What is the rarest thing to see while using recalc and player development, is a guy that played for several years in the majors without a RL season of note, or an All Star appearance (or maybe just one) yet becomes a HOFer.

The Veterans Committee found two such players for 2067. In 21 big league calender years, the two players combined for 1 RL ASG.

Both if these players are evidence that the recalc does not disable player development. Recalc plus player development makes OOTP the best baseball simulation for running leagues like this one. There are plenty of RL HOFers (and guys that should be in the RL HOF) that will be entering the Hall in coming classes, as well as voted in by the writers this class.

It is also worth mentioning that by using this HOF model, just as you never know who will develop to what degree in OOTP, you never know who will get in until they get in.

Both entries by the Vets, here, certainly fit both aspects of the "You never know" classification.

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Eddie Williams was the 17th player taken in the 2021 draft, selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He played with the Snakes through 2035, and ended his career in 2036 in San Diego (same as IRL).

Williams hit 365 HRs in his career in which he sported a slash line of 285/348/516 for a npa OPS+ of 132.

5 times Williams drove in 100 runs in a season. He finished his career with 1088.

Williams made a name for himself in the game by nearly winning the Triple Crown in 2029. He posted career highs in all three categories and led the league in HR (57) and RBI (139) while his .352 BA placed him second in the batting race behind Orlando Cepeda. He collected these stats in only 125 games. An OBP of .413 and a slg% of .779 (both career highs) gave him a npa OPS+ of 224 for the year. He also scored 103 times in those 125 regular season games.

2029 was the only season Williams saw post season action. He continued his torrid hitting in October by batting .340 with 5 HR and 16 RBI in 13 games, leading the diamondbacks to WS victory. HOF Early Wynn was also a member of that team.

A three time All Star, Williams enters the HOF at the age of 65 as a third baseman.

Black Ink: 12
Gray Ink: 76
HOFm: 93.5
HOFs: 38

Gorilla Composite: 2.4

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Wayne Gross was chosen by the Indians with the 32nd pick in the 2029 draft. Everyone passed on him. And Cleveland would, too.

After hitting 22 HR as a rookie, Gross was injured in Spring Training of 2031. The Indians waited for him to get healthy, and then released him. A move befitting the Tribe.

He would remain unsigned until October when the Mets gave him a minor league deal.

In 2032 he batted .287 with a team best 45 HR for the Mets, in only 116 games. 31 year-old teammate Barry Bonds hit 37 in 134 games. With Bonds and Gross providing the offense, and John Smoltz on the Hill, the Mets won the WS.

In 2034, the Mets had added Rube Waddell to the mix and again won the WS with Gross knocking 35 HR.

In 2036, Smoltz was gone, but Bill Skowron had been added. Gross, Bonds, and Wadell were still the core and of what was a Mets dynasty. As in 2032, Gross led the team in HR (38) and the Mets won their third WS in 3 appearances in five years. Way to go, Tribe!

Gross posted a career slash line of 264/359/515 for a npa OPS+ of 134. He hit 442 HR (72nd, one fewer than Fred Luderus), collected 1236 RBI and scored 1090 runs.

A 3 time All Star, Gross won a GG at 3B and at 1B. He enters the HOF as a 3Bman at the age of 60.

Black Ink: 7
Gray Ink: 71
HOFm: 87
HOFs: 44

Gorilla Composite: 2.2

Last edited by VanillaGorilla; 08-03-2013 at 04:04 AM.
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