Hall of Fame Class of 2012

The voters have cast their ballots, and here are the results:
These players are now in the Hall:

100% Conan
87.5% Bernie Grayson
87.5% Mike Langford
87.5% Kermit Holmes
75.0% Andre Castillo
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This group did not make it, but remain on the ballot for next year

62.5% Jake Decker
37.5% Bob Robertson
37.5% Bob Zygyk
37.5% Leon Wolf
37.5% John Connor
37.5% Vern Terrell
37.5% Bono Vox
37.5% Drummond Peltier
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These others received 2 votes each, not and will not remain on the ballot: Jim Dewey, Bill Neuman, Todd Vander Meer, Steve King, Quilvio Gato, Derek Mills, Rewind, Pudge Fernandez, Jeff Tucker, Darrel Davis, Keith Grace.

Draft Rounds 3 and 4

Round 3:

Team POS Player
Det 3B Bowman, Mark
Orl P Winfield, Wilson
GD C Mitchell, Howard
Tol 3B Fernandez, Rafael
Tor 3B Campbell, Evan
Flo OF Bruce, Brendt x
Lou C Delaney, Joseph
Spr C Jaros, Mike
Hol P Lujan, Jose
Bos 3B Moreno, Anthony
Ala P Garrison, Timothy
Chi P Mahoney, Scott
Cle P Morris, Dustin
LV P Brown, Newton x
Bal SS Pena, Johan
Haw 3B Leach, Luke
Stl 3B Vatcher, Anthony x
Uta OF Robbins, Michael
Mar P Mejia, Michael
LA  P Tate, David
Pho P McAuliffe, Ryan
BA P Moncrief, Brian
Cha P Murphy, Douglas
Por 1B Villalobos, Luis
NYK P Bazan, Daniel
Tex C Cesario, Julio
Phi OF Cordova, Anthony
Den 1B Green, Charles
Mia P Wright, Freddie x
NYC P Garza, Jason

Round 4

Team POS Player
Det P Gillispie, Travis
Orl P Smith, Kyle
GD P Smith, Thomas
Tol 3B Knepper, Dustin
Tor OF Hill, James
Flo OF Flores, Rogelio
Lou P Blazek, Kevin
Spr 1B Young, Kent
Hol OF Griffin, Kenneth
Bos P Alvarez, Timothy
Ala P Hogan, Warren
Chi P Quintero, Tyrone
Cle OF Kreuter, Pat
LV 2B Westerman, Greg
Bal P Carter, Taylor
Haw C Isenhart, Ryan
Stl P Gross, Roger
Uta P Sinfonte, David
Mar P Woodward, Casey
LA  OF Moore, Jesmil
Pho P Archer, Charles
BA OF Reynolds, Brad
Cha OF Hamilton, Kent
Por P Hosey, John
NYK P Numata, Eric
Tex 1B Karlsen, Patrick
Phi P Campbell, Matthew
Den P Peraza, John
Mia P Robles, Arthur
NYC P Vasquez, Barry

Drummond

You've seen the names. These guys only need one name to clue you in to who they are. Conan. Holmes. Langford. Grayson. Zygyk. Pudge. Drummond.

What's that you say? Who? Drummond? Drummond. That's right Drummond. You know the stats. You know the records. What you may not know is the story. After some investigative reporting, Kenny was able to do what Kenny do. Kenny was able to find out the rest of the story. The story of Mr. Drummond Peltier...

Drummond was a tall kid with a killer fastball. Growing up in a wealthy family and practically raised by his housekeeper, he threw harder than anyone at his boarding school. After an amazing little league career where he went 47-0 (completing every game he pitched) he lit up the Jr High circuit going 33-0 in 3 seasons where, yep you guessed it, he completed every game. Drummond then pitched for the famed North Rockland High School team in the early 90s leading them to 3 consecutive Class A state championships. This time he went 52-0 over three seasons with, you guessed it, 52 complete games. North Rockland remains the only Class A team in New York state history to win 3 consecutive state championships.

After being the most successful high school pitcher in state history, Drummond went to LSU and along with Todd Walker, led the Tigers to their 2nd National Championship in 1993 going 7-0 (with 7 complete games) as a red shirt freshman. What about the rest of his college career? Drummond played through his full elligibility and led the Tigers to two more National Championships! When all was said and done he ended his career at LSU a remarkable 74-0 with 74 complete games and 3 National Championships. This is also where he got his nickname..."Mr. Drummond"

Perhaps equally amazing in this story was that Mr. Drummond was raising his daughter, Kimberly, as a single parent throughout his pitching dominance. Once he was drafted by the Chicago Winds he was called up and pitched his first and only game of his career where he won in the only way he knew how...by pitching a complete game. During his rookie season however, his beloved houskeeper Lucy took ill and passed away. Her death-bed wish was that Mr. Drummond would take care of her two sons, Willis and Arnold. In the end Mr. Drummond did what he had to do. He moved back to New York, leaving baseball behind, and became a single parent of 3 wonderful children.

Now Kenny ain't the sentimental type. Kenny don't be shedding no tears for no one. But one thing Kenny knows...Mr. Drummond is a saint. Probably the most dominant pitcher of his generation, he belongs in the Hall of Fame. There are all types of players in the Hall and remember, it takes Differn't Strokes to move the world. (rumor has it he has been recruited by King Lewis to pitch for his beer league softball team this season)

Hall of Fame Candidates 2012

The 2012 Hall of Fame Candidates have been announced.

The hitters are led by the great leadoff and cleanup hitters from the mighty Ute teams.  Kermit Holmes had 3327 hits in his career, won 5 world series rings with the Utes, and played great defense in center field.  He has 8 gold gloves.  In 1996 Holmes became the only player in league history to hit .400 in a season with at least 500 plate appearances.

His teammate, Conan, drove in the Holmes more than anyone else in history.  He also had 810 homeruns and 2397 RBI, more than anyone in APBA or MLB history.  Conan won 5 world series rings in his career, 4 with Utah and one as a rookie with the Penguins. 

Both Conan and Holmes left Utah as the team was broken up in 1999.  Ten years later they played in their final game together, Holmes back with the Utes and Conan with the New York Cobra, as Utah won the 2009 World Series.

Bob Zygyk and Leon Wolf had great years with the Utes, and for other teams after 1998.  Zygyk played in a record 10 world series. 

John Conner had 2875 hits, and had his best season in 2001 (.314-34-132) as Springfield won their only world series.  Vern Terrell also played for that team, hitting 30 homers and driving in 120, on the way to 408 career homers.

Pudge Fernandez was one of the greatest defensive catcher, played 20 years, and won two rings with New York in 2002 and 2006.

Rewind played 26 seasons, hanging around to age 45.  He began his career in the season before Microleague, and lasted throughout that and for much of the APBA era.  He was at his best as the cleanup hitter for the Stars in 1992-93, winning two rings.

Mike Langford won 3 Cy Young awards as the Ace of the Utes, threw 3 no-hitters, and completed 133 games.  Andre Castillo is one of only a dozen pitchers with at least 100 career wins and a .600 winning percentage.  He was the long time ace for the Louisville Sluggers, who had one of the longest runs of sustained excellence without reaching a world series.

Bernie Grayson, Steve King, and Jake Decker rank 1st, 3rd, and 4th on the all time saves list.  Grayson holds the single season record of 56 saves.  Grayson's greatest moment came in 1997, when he prevented the Utes from eventually winning 5 world series in a row.  With a one run lead, bases loaded, and Conan coming to the plate in the bottom of the 9th, Grayson got the mighty slugger to tap a weak hit back to the mound, which he turned into a series ending double play.

Drummond Peltier never pitched a game that was not a complete game win.

All the candidates can be found here:
http://www.baseballprojection.com/apba/hof2012.htm