Here’s the voting for the Slugging 16. I vote per person. Voting ends on April 12th…
The Sparky Anderson Bracket
#1 – George Herman “Babe” Ruth
Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Boston Braves, 1914 – 1935
Elected in 1936, 1st Ballot, 95.1% of ballots
Career Stats:
.342 Batting Average, 2503 Games, 8399 AB, 2174 Runs, 2873 Hits, 506 doubles, 714 home runs, 2213 runs batted in (batting statistics only)
Besides being a home run hitter, Ruth also scored over 100 runs in a season twelve times, had over 200 hits in a season three times, drove in over 100 runs batted in thirteen times and walked over 100 times in a season thirteen times.
“He hits a ball harder and further than any man I ever saw.”- Bill Dickey
Babe Ruth on Baseball Reference.
#5 – Rickey Henderson
Played for nine organizations, 1979-2003
Elected in 2009, 1st ballot, 94.8% of ballots
Career Stats:
.279 Batting Average, 3081 Games, 10961 AB, 1949 Runs, 3055 Hits, 510 doubles, 2295 runs scored, 1406 stolen bases, 290 walks
He scored over 100 runs in an season thirteen times, had 30 doubles in a season four times and set the single season mark in 1982 with 130 steals and walked over 100 times in a season six times.
“Some people have asked me whether or not Rickey Henderson belonged in the Hall of Fame. I’ve replied “if you could somehow split him in two, you’d have two Hall of Famers”" – Author Bill James
Rickey Henderson on Baseball Reference.
#3 – Honus Wagner
Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, 1897-1917
Elected in 1936, 1st ballot, 95.1% of ballots
Career Stats:
.328 Batting Average, 2794 Games, 10439 AB, 1739 Runs, 3420 Hits, 643 doubles, 252 triples, 1733 runs batted in, 723 stolen bases
In his career, he scored 100 runs in a season seven times, had 200 hits in a season two times, led the league in doubles seven times and in triples three times. He drove in 100 runs in a season nine times.
“He was the nearest thing to a perfect player no matter where his manager chose to play him.” – John McGraw
Honus Wagner on Baseball Reference.
#2 – Stan “The Man” Musial
St. Louis Cardinals, 1941-1963
Elected in 1969, 1st ballot, 93.2% of ballots
Career Stats:
.331 Batting Average, 3026 Games, 10972 AB, 1949 Runs, 3630 Hits, 725 doubles, 475 home runs, 1951 runs batted in
He led the league in games played five times, scored over 100 runs in a season eleven times, had 200 hits in a season five times, drove in over 100 runs in a season eleven times and led the league in triples five times in a season.
“Once Musial timed your fastball, your infielders were in jeopardy.” – Warren Spahn
Stan Musial on Baseball Reference.
The Leo Durocher Bracket
#1 – Willie Mays
New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, 1951-1973
Elected in 1979, 1st Ballot, 94.7%
Career Stats:
.302 Batting Average, 2992 Games, 10881 AB, 2062 Runs, 3283 Hits, 523 doubles, 140 triples, 660 Home Runs, 1903 runs batted in, 338 stolen bases
He scored over 100 runs in a season, 12 consecutive seasons, had 30 doubles in a season 6 times, led the league in triples 3 times and had 40 home runs in a season 6 times. He also had 100 runs in a season 10 times and led the league in steals four times. He is the career leader in putouts by an outfielder.
“I can’t very well tell my batters don’t hit it to him. Wherever they hit it, he’s there anyway.” – Gil Hodges
Willie Mays on Baseball Reference.
#4 – Joe DiMaggio
New York Yankees, 1936-1951
Elected in 1955, 3rd Ballot, 88.8%
Career Stats:
.325 Batting Average, 1736 Games, 6821 AB, 1390 Runs, 2214 Hits, 389 doubles, 131 triples, 361 Home Runs, 1537 runs batted in, 790 walks, 369 strikeouts
In seven seasons, DiMaggio hit more home runs than times he struck out. He scored 100 runs in a season 8 times, had over 30 doubles in a season seven times, had 15 triples in a season twice and drove in 100 runs in a season nine times.
“Heroes are people who are all good with no bad in them. That’s the way I always saw Joe DiMaggio. He was beyond question one of the greatest players of the century.” – Mickey Mantle
Joe DiMaggio on Baseball Reference.
#3 – Walter Johnson
Washington Senators, 1907-1927
Elected in 1936 by the BBWAA, 1st Ballot, 83.6%
Career Stats:
417 Wins, 279 Loses, 2.36 ERA, 802 Games Pitched, 5917 Innings Pitched, 3508 Strikeouts, 1406 Walks
Averaging 19 wins in a season, he won over 25 games in a season seven times, led the league in ERA five times, completed 531 of the 666 games that he started. He led the league in innings pitched 5 times and WHIP 6 times.
“His fastball looked about the size of a watermelon seed and it hissed at you as it passed.” – Ty Cobb
Walter Johnson on Baseball Reference.
#2 – Ty Cobb
Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia A’s, 1905-1928
Elected in 1936, 1st Ballot, 98.2%
Career Stats:
.367 Batting Average, 3033 Games, 11429 AB, 2245 Runs, 4191 Hits, 724 doubles, 295 triples, 1938 runs batted in, 897 stolen bases
He led the league in runs 5 times, had 200 hits in a season nine times, forty doubles in a season four times, led the league in triples 4 times, and drove in 100 runs in a season 7 times. He is one of two players to have more than 4000 career hits.
“Cobb is a prick. But he sure can hit. God Almighty, that man can hit.” – Babe Ruth
Ty Cobb on Baseball Reference.
The Branch Rickey Bracket
#1 – Hank Aaron
Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, 1954-1976
Elected in 1982, 1st Ballot, 97.8%
Career Stats:
.305 Batting Average, 3298 Games, 12364 AB, 2174 Runs, 3771 Hits, 624 doubles, 755 Home Runs, 2297 runs batted in, 1402 walks
He led the league in home runs four times, runs batted in four times and doubles four times as well. He had at least 20 stolen bases in a season six times and had an OPS over 1.000 five times in his career and known for his power, Aaron batted .300 or greater 14 times in his career.
“As far as I’m concerned, Aaron is the best ball player of my era. He is to baseball of the last fifteen years what Joe DiMaggio was before him. He’s never received the credit he’s due.” – Mickey Mantle
Hank Aaron on Baseball Reference.
#5 – Sandy Koufax
Brooklyn Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1955-1966
Elected in 1972 by the BBWAA, 1st Ballot, 86.9%
Career Stats:
165 Wins, 87 Losses, 2.76 ERA, 397 Games Pitched, 2325 Innings Pitched, 2396 Strikeouts
While pitching only 12 seasons, Koufax had at least 10 wins in eight seasons, had a winning percentage of more than .600 in five seasons, led the league in strikeouts four times and WHIP four times. he led the league in shutouts three times and complete games twice.
“A foul ball was a moral victory.” – Don Sutton
Sandy Koufax on Baseball Reference.
#3 – Mickey Mantle
New York Yankees – 1951-1968
Elected in 1974, 1st Ballot, 88.2%
Career Stats:
.298 Batting Average, 2401 Games, 8102 AB, 1677 Runs, 2415 Hits, 344 doubles, 536 Home Runs, 1509 runs batted in, 1733 walks
He led the league in runs scored five times. He had at least 25 doubles in a season three times and led the league in home runs four times and the walks five times. he led the league in OPS six times. On the defensive side, three times in his career he led the league in fielding percentage by a center fielder.
“I never saw a player who had greater promise.” – Casey Stengel
Mickey Mantle on Baseball Reference.
#2 – Cy Young
Five organizations, Many team names, 1890-1911
Elected in 1937 by the BBWAA, 2nd Ballot, 76.1%
Career Stats:
511 Wins, 316 Losses, 2.63 ERA, 815 Games Pitched, 7356 Innings Pitched, 2803 Strikeouts, 11217 Walks
During one streak, won at least 18 games in 18 of 19 seasons and had a winning percentage of at least .600 in 11 seasons. He had an ERA under 2.00 six times and pitched over 400 innings in a season five times. During his 9 years in Cleveland, he completed 346 of the 369 games he started and finished 48 others. Young had a WHIP under 1.000 six times in his career.
“I thought I had to show all my stuff and I almost tore the boards of the grandstand with my fastball.” – Cy Young
Cy Young on Baseball Reference.
The Casey Stengel Bracket
#1 – Ted Williams
Boston Red Sox, 1939-1960
Elected in 1966, 1st Ballot, 93.4%
Career Stats:
.344 Batting Average, 2292 Games, 7706 AB, 1798 Runs, 2654 Hits, 525 doubles, 521 Home Runs, 1839 runs batted in, 2021 walks
He scored more than 100 runs in a season nine times, had 40 doubles in a season four times, had 30 home runs in a season eight times, batted over .350 five times and had an OPS under 1.000 only once in his career. He never struck out 100 times in a season.
“He could hit better with a broken arm than we could with two good arms.” – Jerry Coleman
Ted Williams on Baseball Reference.
#5 – Johnny Bench
Cincinnati Reds, 1967-1983
Elected in 1989, 1st Ballot, 96.4%
Career Stats:
.267 Batting Average, 2158 Games, 7658 AB, 1091 Runs, 2048 Hits, 381 doubles, 389 Home Runs, 1376 runs batted in
Seven times in his career he was in the Top 5 in putouts, nine times in the Top 5 in assists, was in the Top 5 in caught stealing percentage eleven times, had 40 home runs in a season two times and drove in 100 runs in a season six times and in the 1976 World Series, had a batting average of .533.
“I don’t want to embarrass any other catcher by comparing him with Johnny Bench.” – Sparky Anderson
Johnny Bench on Baseball Reference.
#3 – Rogers Hornsby
St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns, 1915-1937
Elected in 1942, 5th Ballot, 78.1%Special Election
Career Stats:
.358 Batting Average, 2259 Games, 8173 AB, 1579 Runs, 2930 Hits, 541 doubles, 169 triples, 301 Home Runs, 1318 runs batted in, 1038 walks
He had over 200 hits in a season seven times, from 1920 to 1025 led the league in batting average, on-base percentage and OPS. He never struck out more than 65 times in a season and had more than 10 triples in a season nine times. In his seasons with the Cardinals, he batted .359.
“Son (to a rookie pitcher), when you pitch a strike, Mr. Hornsby will let you know it.” – Umpire Bill Klem
Rogers Hornsby on Baseball Reference.
#2 – Lou Gehrig
New York Yankees, 1923-1939
Elected in 1939, Special Election
Career Stats:
.340 Batting Average, 2164 Games, 8001 AB, 1888 Runs, 2721 Hits, 534 doubles, 164 triples, 493 Home Runs, 1995 runs batted in, 1058 walks
In 14 full seasons, he scored over 100 runs in a season 13 times, had 200 hits in a season eight times, had 40 doubles in a season seven times, walked 100 times in a season 11 times and had a career batting average of .340. His career postseason OPS is 1.208 and over 20% of his postseason hits are extra base hits.
“Gehrig had one advantage over me. He was a better ballplayer.” – Gil Hodges
Lou Gehrig on Baseball Reference.
Vote Rickey, Vote Often!