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2009

The New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-games to 2 to win the World Series. It was the Yankees’ 27th championship and their first since 2000. The Yankees won the AL East with a record of 103-59, then beat the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels to make it to the Series. Philadelphia won the NL East with a record of 93-69 and then beat the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers. The St. Louis Cardianals, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox also made the playoffs. Hideki Matsui was the World Series MVP, hitting .615 with 3-homers and 8-RBI’s. Chase Utley of the Phillies hit 5 home runs to tie the World Series record set by Reggie Jackson in 1977. The League MVP awards went to Joe Mauer of Minnesota and Albert Pujols of St. Louis (his third).

The top players of 2009 also included:

 

Player

Team

Avg.

HR

RBIs

C

Joe Mauer

Minn

.365

28

96

 

Victor Martinez

Clev-Bos

.303

23

108

1B

Albert Pujols

SL

.327

47

135

 

Ryan Howard

Phil

.279

45

141

 

Prince Fielder

Mil

.299

46

141

 

Mark Teixeira

NY

.292

39

122

 

Miguel Cabrera

Det

.324

34

103

2B

Robinson Cano

NY

.320

25

85

 

Aaron Hill

Tor

.286

36

108

 

Chase Utley

Phil

.282

31

93

SS

Hanley Ramirez

Fla

.342

24

106

 

Derek Jeter

NY

.334

18

66

 

Troy Tulowitzki

Colo

.297

32

92

3B

Pablo Sandoval

SF

.330

25

90

 

Ryan Zimmerman

Wash

.292

33

106

 

Chone Figgins

LA

.298

5

54

 

Evan Longoria

Tampa

.281

33

113

 

Mark Reynolds

Ariz

.260

44

102

OF

Jason Bay

Bos

.267

36

119

 

Ichiro Suzuki

Sea

.352

11

46

 

Ryan Braun

Mil

.320

32

114

 

Matt Holliday

Oak-SL

.313

24

109

 

Matt Kemp

LA

.297

26

101

 

Bobby Abreau

LA

.297

15

103

 

Hideki Matsui

NY

.274

28

90

 

 

 

W-L

ERA

Saves

P

Felix Hernandez

Sea

19-5

2.49

 

 

Adam Wainwright

SL

19-8

2.63

 

 

Chris Carpenter

SL

17-4

2.24

 

 

Zach Greinke

KC

16-8

2.16

 

 

Tim Lincecum

SF

15-7

2.48

 

 

Justin Verlander

Det

19-9

3.45

 

 

C.C. Sabathia

NY

19-8

3.37

 

R

Mariano Rivera

NY

3-3

1.76

44

 

Joe Nathan

Minn

2-2

2.10

47

 

Ryan Frankilin

SL

4-3

1.92

38

 

Jon Papelbon

Bos

1-1

1.85

38

Baseball Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame Candidates: Eligible players

The baseball hall of fame began in 1936 and now has over 250 members, including over 200 players. Major league baseball began to be played in 1871 and there are still several players from the early days of the game who also deserve to be elected. The major leagues were segregated until Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947. Before that, black players played in the Negro leagues and the hall of fame has only recently gotten around to honoring the great negro league players.

Every year, the Baseball Writers Association (BBWA) votes on recently retired players ---In 2010, they elected outfielder Andre Dawson. Dawson played 21 years in the major leagues and hit .278 with 438, 1,591 RBI’s and 314 steals. Dawson was the National league MVP in 1987.

With 405 votes needed for election, the following players were the leading vote-getters who didn't make the hall this time.

  1. Bert Blyleven (400) – 287 wins
  2. Robbie Alomar (397) – Gold glove second baseman hit .300 with 210 homers, 1508 runs and 474 steals.
  3. Jack Morris (282) -  254 wins
  4. Barry Larkin (278) – Cincinnati Reds shortstop hit .295 with 198 homers, 1329 runs and 379 steals.
  5. Lee Smith (255) – Retired as all time saves leader with 478.
  6. Edgar Martinez (195) – Seattle Mariners third baseman/ DH hit .312 with 309 homers and 1261 RBI’s.
  7. Tim Raines (164) - .294, 808 steals, 1,571 runs.
  8. Mark McGwire (128) – 583 home runs including 70 in one season
  9. Alan Trammel (121) – Detroit Tigers shortstop hit .285 with 185 homers and 1231 runs scored
  10. Fred McGriff (116) - .284, 493 homers, 1550 RBI’s
  11. Don Mattingly (87) – .307 batting average & 1099 RBIs
  12. Dave Parker (82) – .290, 339 homers and 1493 RBIs
  13. Dale Murphy (63) -  398 homers, 2-time MVP

 Below are listed 45 players, including current players, old timers and players who are currently eligible for election who, in my opinion, should be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Position

Player (Votes – in 2010, 75% or 405 were needed for election)

Catcher

 

1st Base

Mark McGwire (128)

2nd Base

Robbie Alomar (397)

Shortstop

Alan Trammell (121) & Barry Larkin (278)

3rd Base

 Edgar Martinez (195)

Outfield

Dale Murphy (63)

& Tim Raines (164)

Pitchers

Jack Morris (282), Bert Blyleven (400)

& Lee Smith (255)

Still Active or Not Yet Eligible (Last Year Played). There is a 5-year wait before a retired player becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame. 

Catcher

Mike Piazza (2007) & Ivan Rodriguez

1st Base

Rafael Palmeiro (2005) & Frank Thomas (2008)

2nd Base

 

Shortstop

Derek Jeter

3rd Base

Alex Rodriguez & Chipper Jones

Outfield

Barry Bonds (2007), Junior Griffey, Sammy Sosa (2007), Ichiro Suzuki & Manny Ramirez

Pitchers

Roger Clemens (2007), Randy Johnson (2009), Greg Maddux (2008), Pedro Martinez, Mike Mussina (2008) & Tom Glavine

Trevor Hoffman & Mariano Rivera

Old Timers – These are the players who for various reasons have been overlooked. They include forgotten players from the 1900’s like Deacon White, Jack Glasscock, Pete Browning, Bobby Mathews and Anthony Mullane, Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson who were banned from baseball for gambling, Carl Mays who accidentally killed another player with a bean ball and Gil Hodges, Maury Willls, Ken Boyer, Ron Santo, Dwight Evans, Tommy John and Jim Kaat --- great players who were also overlooked by the voters.

Catcher

Deacon White

1st Base

Gil Hodges 

2nd Base

 

Shortstop

Maury Wills & Jack Glasscock

3rd Base

Pete Rose, Ken Boyer & Ron Santo

Outfield

Pete Browning, Shoeless Joe Jackson & Dwight Evans

Pitchers

Tommy John,  Bobby Mathews, Jim Kaat, Anthony Mullane & Carl Mays

 

 

 

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