Cub Hall of Fame trivia
by pinkpony on Jan 13, 2009 2:38 PM CST
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On Monday, Ron Gant, Dan Plesac and Greg Vaughn became the 187th, 188th and 189th players between 1978 and the present day to receive ZERO votes in their first year listed on the Baseball Writers Association of America's Hall of Fame Ballot.
(Not all players are listed on the ballot. Todd Hundley, for instance, was "eligible" this year but was not on the ballot.)
Since Gant, Plesac and Vaughn received less than 5 percent of the vote, they are ineligible for future consideration.
Of the 189 players who received ZERO votes in their first year on the ballot, 34 have at least one regular-season at-bat or have pitched at least one regular-season game with the major-league Cubs. How many can you name??
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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I'm fairly young...
so I’ll guess Morgan, Myers, Dunston, McGriff, and Blauser, with no confidence in any.
Free Ronny Cedeno
Other Than Plesac
Just guessing:
Steve Stone, Dave Smith, Rick Aguilera, Rick Monday, Dick Tidrow, Mike Krukow?
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Neifi Perez.
Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 13, 2009 2:48 PM CST reply actions
Sounds like a two or three-game stretch for Neifi
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
just to re-iterate
These 189 guys were nominated to actually get on the ballot in their first year eligible.
Dunston, for instance, got on last year (2008) and got one vote.
Blauser, on the other hand, was not nominated.
Didn't Blauser play enough years to qualify?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
He did but...
..the committee did not deem him worthy enough to put him on the ballot.
This year (2009), for instance, Girardi was eligible as a player but was not nominated to be placed on the ballot.
Also...
Todd Hundley was eligible, but was not nominated to appear on the ballot.
Randy, on the other hand, was nominated to appear on the ballot in his first year. And he received ZERO votes.
Seems interesting that there are guys who can get on the ballot and still get NO votes. I bet if Randy had played for the Yankees and put up the same numbers, he would’ve seen more respect from voters.
I didn't realize they had stopped....
… automatically putting people on the ballot after ten years of play and five years retired.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Other Guesses
Scott Sanderson, Howard Johnson, Larry Gura, Andre Thornton, Craig Lefferts
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
one more interesting tidbit
Kingman received just THREE votes in his first year eligible — 1992.
Proving once again, a lot of bad pr goes a long way.
i should add plesac to that list, so 6...
1. Larry Gura
2. Howard Johnson
3. Dan Plesac
4. Scott Sanderson
5. Steve Stone
6. Dick Tidrow
I'm Not Cheating By Looking It Up
Candy Maldonado, Dennis Lamp, Bill Caudill, Donnie Moore, Gary Matthews, Sr.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Great guesses, up to 7...
1. Larry Gura
2. Howard Johnson
3. Gary Matthews Sr.
4. Dan Plesac
5. Scott Sanderson
6. Steve Stone
7. Dick Tidrow
Going Back A Long Time
Manny Trillo, Ivan DeJesus, Bobby Murcer, Davey Lopes, Jim Sundberg
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Up to 8!
Still 2 players from the 90s left! (Duration of Cubs’ stint in parenthesis.)
1. Larry Gura (1970-73)
2. Howard Johnson (1995)
3. Gary Matthews Sr. (1984-87)
4. Dan Plesac (1993-94)
5. Scott Sanderson (1984-89)
6. Steve Stone (1974-76)
7. Dick Tidrow (1979-82)
8. Manny Trillo (1975-78; 1986-88)
Jose Cardinal?
"[I]f we get a Jumbotron, I can't pull the instant replay thing on all the rookies. Every time there's a good play, we're like, 'Oh, look at the replay,' and you get the rookies to look at the scoreboard." - Ryan Dempster, 2 January 2009
by CaughtInTheVines on Jan 13, 2009 3:34 PM CST reply actions
I Don't Have A Life
Rod Beck, Ron Cey, Rick Sutcliffe, Mel Rojas, Bill Campbell, Willie Hernandez
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
No, on all counts.
Good guesses, but all those guys either weren’t nominated in their first year eligible, or received more than ZERO votes in their first year on the ballot.
Cey (my favorite player ever), for instance, received eight votes in 93. The same year Madlock got 19, Davey Lopes and Andre Thornton got 2, and Sarge Matthews got 0.
All of those guys were booted off the ballot for getting less than 5 percent.
He's already on there (see above)
Still 2 players from the 90s left! (Duration of Cubs’ stint in parenthesis.)
1. Larry Gura (1970-73)
2. Howard Johnson (1995)
3. Gary Matthews Sr. (1984-87)
4. Dan Plesac (1993-94)
5. Scott Sanderson (1984-89)
6. Steve Stone (1974-76)
7. Dick Tidrow (1979-82)
8. Manny Trillo (1975-78; 1986-88)
How About?
Keith Moreland, Don Kessinger, Bill Hands, Ken Holtzman, Darold Knowles
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
You are on fire, up to 10...
Still 2 guys left who played for the Cubs in the 90s.
1. Larry Gura (1970-73)
2. Bill Hands (1967-1972)
3. Howard Johnson (1995)
4. Darold Knowles (1975-76)
5. Gary Matthews Sr. (1984-87)
6. Dan Plesac (1993-94)
7. Scott Sanderson (1984-89)
8. Steve Stone (1974-76)
9. Dick Tidrow (1979-82)
10. Manny Trillo (1975-78; 1986-88)
24 guys left...
…only 4 of them played for the Cubs after 1980.
Of course, they have may have played for other teams after 1980.
Yet More Guesses
Chris Speier, Gary Gaetti, Leon Durham, Glenn Beckert, Phil Regan, Rawley Eastwick
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Here's another hint...
Four of the 24 remaining guys played for the Cubs after 1980.
All four were pitchers.
Who Else?
Steve Trout, Dick Ruthven, Randy Hundley, Oscar Gamble, Tommy Davis, Jaime Navarro
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
You got two more, up to 12!
Still 22 left, including the 4 Cubs who pitched for the team after 1980.
(Duration of Cubs’ stint in parenthesis)
1. Oscar Gamble (1969)
2. Larry Gura (1970-73)
3. Bill Hands (1967-1972)
4. Randy Hundley (1966-1973; 1976-77)
5. Howard Johnson (1995)
6. Darold Knowles (1975-76)
7. Gary Matthews Sr. (1984-87)
8. Dan Plesac (1993-94)
9. Scott Sanderson (1984-89)
10. Steve Stone (1974-76)
11. Dick Tidrow (1979-82)
12. Manny Trillo (1975-78; 1986-88)
Let's See About Others
Joe Niekro, Milt Pappas, Mitch Williams, Jim Hickman, Ray Burris, Mike Bielecki
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
I was waiting for someone to guess Wild Thing, up to 13!
(Now three Cubs left who pitched after 1980)
1. Oscar Gamble (1969)
2. Larry Gura (1970-73)
3. Bill Hands (1967-1972)
4. Randy Hundley (1966-1973; 1976-77)
5. Howard Johnson (1995)
6. Darold Knowles (1975-76)
7. Gary Matthews Sr. (1984-87)
8. Dan Plesac (1993-94)
9. Scott Sanderson (1984-89)
10. Steve Stone (1974-76)
11. Dick Tidrow (1979-82)
12. Manny Trillo (1975-78; 1986-88)
13. Mitch Williams (1989-1990)
Here we go.
Lynn McGlothen, Woodie Fryman, Champ Summers, Danny Jackson, Bob Tewksbury, Jack Aker, Steve Barber, John Boccabella, Chris Cannizzarro, Phil Gagliano, Bob Miller, Dick Selma, Jim Colborn.
How’d I do?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Phil Gagliano
I did not know he ever played for the Cubs. I see he played for them in 1970. I have only heard about his Cardinals days playing with another Memphis product, Tim McCarver.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Nice guess, 13-for-13...still 8 left according to my math!
(Duration of Cubs stint in parenthesis)
1. Jack Aker (1972-73)
2. Steve Barber (1970)
3. John Boccabella (1963-1968)
4. Chris Cannizzarro (1971)
5. Jim Colborn (1969-1971)
6. Woodie Fryman (1978)
7. Phil Gagliano (1970)
8. Oscar Gamble (1969)
9. Larry Gura (1970-73)
10. Bill Hands (1967-1972)
11. Randy Hundley (1966-1973; 1976-77)
12. Danny Jackson (1991-92)
13. Howard Johnson (1995)
14. Darold Knowles (1975-76)
15. Gary Matthews Sr. (1984-87)
16. Lynn McGlothen (1978-1981)
17. Bob Miller (1970-71)
18. Dan Plesac (1993-94)
19. Scott Sanderson (1984-89)
20. Dick Selma (1969)
21. Steve Stone (1974-76)
22. Champ Summers (1975-76)
23. Bob Tewksbury (1987-88)
24. Dick Tidrow (1979-82)
25. Manny Trillo (1975-78; 1986-88)
26. Mitch Williams (1989-1990)
Let Me Rack My Brain
Bobby Bonds, Davey Johnson, Rico Carty, Ted Sizemore, Jerry Mumphrey, Joe Pepitone
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Now Cheating for A Couple
I looked up Juan Pizarro and Tony Taylor.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
You got it. Just 5 more on that list.
I just think it’s pretty fascinating to look at this list of guys, who were good enough to have a solid career, good enough to get nominated for the HOF, yet didn’t merit a single HOF vote for whatever reason. Certainly they deserve more than that distinction.
When so much of the Hall is politics now (Henderson not getting unanimous; Rice getting in but Hawk having to wait; no love for Lee Smith; Santo, etc.), it’s just as interesting to see the guys at the bottom of the ballot and how the bits and pieces of votes have played out over time.
(Duration of Cubs stint in parenthesis)
1. Jack Aker (1972-73)
2. Steve Barber (1970)
3. John Boccabella (1963-1968)
4. Chris Cannizzarro (1971)
5. Jim Colborn (1969-1971)
6. Woodie Fryman (1978)
7. Phil Gagliano (1970)
8. Oscar Gamble (1969)
9. Larry Gura (1970-73)
10. Bill Hands (1967-1972)
11. Randy Hundley (1966-1973; 1976-77)
12. Danny Jackson (1991-92)
13. Howard Johnson (1995)
14. Darold Knowles (1975-76)
15. Gary Matthews Sr. (1984-87)
16. Lynn McGlothen (1978-1981)
17. Bob Miller (1970-71)
18. Joe Pepitone (1970-73)
19. Juan Pizarro (1970-73)
20. Dan Plesac (1993-94)
21. Scott Sanderson (1984-89)
22. Dick Selma (1969)
23. Steve Stone (1974-76)
24. Champ Summers (1975-76)
25. Tony Taylor (1958-1960)
26. Bob Tewksbury (1987-88)
27. Dick Tidrow (1979-82)
28. Manny Trillo (1975-78; 1986-88)
29. Mitch Williams (1989-1990)
Remember that...
… in those days, all you had to do to get “nominated” was to play ten years in the majors and be retired for five. There was no exclusion procedure; everyone who qualified under those two criteria got on the ballot, which is why people like Summers and Gagliano got there.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Maybe rejected already . . .
but I’ll try Andre Rodgers, Lindy McDaniel, George Altman, the Penguin, and, maybe, Adolfo Phillips, Dick Ellsworth, Bob Buhl, Larry Jackson . . .
by West Coast Diehard on Jan 13, 2009 11:30 PM CST reply actions
for those still scoring at home...
…here are hints on the last 5 Cubs on that list. The duration of their Cubs’ career is in parentheses:
1. ______ (1977-78)
2. ______ (1967-68)
3. ______ (1967)
4. ______ (1975-76)
5. ______ (1963-67)
Yep. That's two of em.
1. Greg Gross (1977-78)
2. ______ (1967-68)
3. ______ (1967)
4. Geoff Zahn (1975-76)
5. ______ (1963-67)
Jimmy Stewart (1963-67).
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
LOL. Yep.
1. Greg Gross (1977-78)
2. ______ (1967-68)
3. ______ (1967)
4. Geoff Zahn (1975-76)
5. Jimmy Stewart (1963-67)
Here's one more for you.
Ray Culp (1967).
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
You got it.
1. Greg Gross (1977-78)
2. ______ (1967-68)
3. Ray Culp (1967)
4. Geoff Zahn (1975-76)
5. Jimmy Stewart (1963-67)
Well, I'm stumped.
I can’t find any player who both meets the criteria of playing at least 10 years and who played for the Cubs ONLY in those two years.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Last guy...
…shares a last name with a two-time-Cub-pennant-winning, Top 100 Cub of all time who “could have been” in the HOF.
Found him.
That has to be about the worst career of anyone who was ever even ON a HoF ballot: never had more than 279 AB in any one season and hit .216/.271/.296 in 989 career AB.
Good clue, BTW.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
You got it.
That was fun. Who could have predicted — watching Stephenson’s magical two Cub at-bats (0-for-2) during the 1968 season — that he would not only show up on the 1979 HOF ballot, but get as many votes (ZERO) as Tommie Agee.
Interesting side note: Mazeroski was on that same ballot (1979) and drew just 36 votes (8.3 percent).
Full list:
(Duration of Cubs stint in parenthesis)
1. Jack Aker (1972-73)
2. Steve Barber (1970)
3. John Boccabella (1963-1968)
4. Chris Cannizzarro (1971)
5. Jim Colborn (1969-1971)
6. Ray Culp (1967)
7. Woodie Fryman (1978)
8. Phil Gagliano (1970)
9. Oscar Gamble (1969)
10. Greg Gross (1977-78)
11. Larry Gura (1970-73)
12. Bill Hands (1967-1972)
13. Randy Hundley (1966-1973; 1976-77)
14. Danny Jackson (1991-92)
15. Howard Johnson (1995)
16. Darold Knowles (1975-76)
17. Gary Matthews Sr. (1984-87)
18. Lynn McGlothen (1978-1981)
19. Bob Miller (1970-71)
20. Joe Pepitone (1970-73)
21. Juan Pizarro (1970-73)
22. Dan Plesac (1993-94)
23. Scott Sanderson (1984-89)
24. Dick Selma (1969)
25. John Stephenson (1967-68)
26. Jimmy Stewart (1963-67)
27. Steve Stone (1974-76)
28. Champ Summers (1975-76)
29. Tony Taylor (1958-1960)
30. Bob Tewksbury (1987-88)
31. Dick Tidrow (1979-82)
32. Manny Trillo (1975-78; 1986-88)
33. Mitch Williams (1989-1990)
34. Geoff Zahn (1975-76)
In 1987, 1989 and 1991...
… Howard Johnson was among the top hitters in baseball. But he didn’t have enough good years to put together anything close to a HoF career. By the time the Cubs got him he was done.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Larry Gura
He pitched briefly and awfully for the Cubs after getting released by the Royals in 1985. I can’t blame anyone for not remembering his second stint with the Cubs.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
And if I remember correctly...
..HoJo was one of those guys (like Joel Youngblood and Von Hayes; and now Nate McClouth and Adrian Gonzalez) who seemed to bat .780 at Wrigley with about 99 2B. I loathed the guy at the time. He’s unstoppable in the nintendo-baseball game of that era — RBI Baseball 2.
But a wash-out — a la Jeff Blauser — with the Cubs.
HoJo hit...
.275/.374/.574 with 27 HR in 357 career AB at Wrigley, by far the most HR he hit in any ballpark other than Shea.
He never homered against the Cubs at Shea, interestingly enough.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
It's Too Bad...
that the Cubs couldn’t have gotten HoJo to play third base right after Davey Lopes and Ron Cey left the club. He could’ve put up some great numbers at Wrigley during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Gura did make one Hall...
…he was inducted into the inaugural Joliet (Ill.) Hall of Fame. Born in Joliet in 1947.
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