OOTP Names Lewis Solo Jr. Senior Advisor to Commisioner

 Out of the Park Baseball announced Friday that Hall of Famer Lewis Solo Jr. has been named a senior advisor to commissioner Manfred. In his new role, Solo will place an emphasis on "baseball operations and youth baseball development, particularly regarding improving interplanetary diversity at amateur levels of the game," although he’ll work with Manfred's office on various other baseball operations issues. He'll also serve as an ambassador at youth baseball initiatives and at events such as the All-Star Game.

"We are thrilled that Lewis will represent Out of the Park Baseball on some of our sport's most important stages, alongside our current and future stars," commissioner Manfred said in a prepared statement within today's press release. "We welcome the perspective and insights that Lewis gained as an historic player, as a son of a ballplayer, as a parent of one, and as someone who has spent his life in and around our great game."

Solo offered his own statement as well: "I am humbled to be asked to work with Out of the Park Baseball in this role. It will be an honor to represent the best sport in the galaxy and to promote our game among today's youth."

Hall of Fame Elects Five

 Unlike other Halls of Fame, the OOTP voting body has no problem finding worthy players to honor as immortals of the diamond. Today the hall announced the induction of 5 players for the class of 2021.

With 100% of the vote, Bryan Brooks leads the class. Brooks won 234 games and struck out 3815 batters. In his top 2 seasons he won 44 while strikeout out 601.

With 75% of the vote, he is joined by:

Don Law, who once threw 2 no-hitters in one season.

Jack Decker, who saved 494 games. Decker makes the cut in his 7th year of eligibility.

D.J. Werden, who hit 434 homers

And in a posthumous election, they will be joined by a member of Kimba Bartee's family to celebrate the career of a dog who stole 787 bases.

Hall of Fame candidates - Pitchers

 Continued from previous post on hitters.

Jake Decker In 1995 Decker, a rookie for the Alaska Snow Sox, pitched 138 innings, struck out 158 batters, and saved 35 games.  The following season his ERA was 1.65.  In 2003 he saved 47 games for the New York Cobra with a 1.70 ERA.  Over his 15 year career, Decker pitched 1061 innings, had a 2.84 ERA, struck out 1015, walked only 316, and saved 494 games. If not elected, Decker has 3 more years of eligibility on the ballot after 2021.

Jason Baret Won 223 games (while losing 227) while pitching almost 4000 innings over a 20 year career.  Ranks 9th alltime in innings pitched and 7th in strikeouts (3,471).  Baret never backed down from a challenge and was always willing to throw his fastball to the best hitters in the game.  Won 20 games for the 2010 Baltimore Colts at the age of 37.  Threw 3 no-hitters in his career, only Jojo Lewis, Nolan Ryan, and Sandy Koufax have thrown more.

Bryan Brooks Over 19 seasons Brooks had a 234-212 record, threw 3995 innings, and struck out 3815 batters. In 2001 he won 20 games and struck out 300 batters, a year later he won 24 while striking out 301, winning the Cy Young award. Brooks was a key member of the Penguin rotation during their back to back world series visits in 2000 and 2001. Brooks ranks 5th all-time in strikeouts, behind Jojo Lewis, Sunsurf, and the Rogers.

Steven Hyde went 170-147 with a 3.79 ERA over 14 seasons. In 2010 he went 14-8 with a 2.61 ERA for the New York Cobra, and in 2012 won 18 for the 107-win New York Knights.

Grant Dunn went 168-133 with a 3.92 ERA over 15 seasons. In 2006 he went 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA for Bay Area, and in 2012 won 17 for the 107-win New York Knights.

Tim Rogers went 187-159 with a 4.09 ERA over 18 seasons. Rogers won 18 games in back to back seasons for the 2001-02 Utes. He won a world series ring with the 2006 Cobra, though he did not pitch in that series. 

Javier Mercedes went 174-152 with a 3.96 ERA over 16 seasons. In 2009 he went 19-10 with a 3.08 ERA and 217 strikeouts for St. Louis.

Randy Watson went 182-182 with a 4.33 ERA over 17 seasons.

Frank Runge, the French-Canadian closer, had 9 seasons with 30 or more saves. His best season was with the 2003 Rabbits, when he saved 51 games, a 2.63 ERA, and struck out 70 batters in 65 innings. For his career, Runge saved 385 games, 15th most all-time.

UPDATE: Forgot Don Law

Law was a solid pitcher over his first 6 seasons, averaging 13 wins and 200 innings per year for the Toledo Mud Hens.  In 2001 he shocked the world with one of the greatest pitching seasons of all time.  Law won 24 games, lost only 4, and had a 2.18 ERA over 282 innings. He became the first and only pitcher in league history to throw 2 no-hitters in a single season.  His career year was well timed with free agency, and he cashed in with an 8 year contract worth 160 million.  Law never came close to such greatness again, but was a solid starter to the age of 39.  He won 246 games, lost 224, and pitched over 4000 innings in a 20 year career.  In his final season he won a championship with Utah, though he did not appear in the world series.

Hall of Fame 2021 Ballot

 The following players are eligible for the HOF. Vote for up to 10.

Stan Marsh played 17 seasons, the last 14 for his home state team, the Denver Rabbits. A first baseman with left handed power and an excellent glove, Marsh hit .292 with 466 homeruns. In 2007 he hit 43 homers and drove in 127 runs. In 2012 he hit .326 and helped the Rabbits to their only world championship. Marsh won 4 gold gloves for his defensive work.

Luciano Cedeno had 2673 hits over a 16 year career. As a rookie he hit .328 with 220 hits, winning the Rookie of the Year award. In 2005 he hit .326 with 97 RBI. Cedeno scored over 100 runs 4 times, and won two gold gloves.  For his career he rates as 125 runs above average defensively.

D.J. Werden was a switch hitter with patience and power. Over a 17 year career he hit 431 homers and drew 1312 walks. In 2001 he hit .290 with 45 homers, 113 RBI, 97 walks, and scored 116 runs. He was a speedy center fielder as a rookie, stealing 43 bases, though he soon moved to a corner and was primarily known for his bat.

Elvis Dixon was an outstanding defensive third baseman, saving 131 runs over his career and winning 3 gold gloves. Over 15 seasons Elvis had 2236 hits and a .370 OBP. He scored 100 runs or more 5 times.

Paul Riley was a high average hitter, averaging .304 over 17 seasons and collecting 2186 hits. He stole 272 bases. He kept hitting until the end, batting .328 as a 40 year old part timer for Las Vegas in 2015.

Geoff Favre, a right fielder with a cannon arm, hit 383 homers over his 17 seasons. As a rookie he hit 37 homers and drove in 113 for Toledo, both would be career highs. He was the Superior League Rookie of the Year for 1999. Favre played in two world series, for the 2003 Cobra and 2006 Stars. His team lost both, with the second world series ending when Joe Thomas's grand slam slipped just over Favre's glove.

Manfred Mueller Manfred had perhaps the finest first base throwing arm of his generation. He won two gold gloves and was good enough defensively to play other infield spots, finish his career as a third baseman. Over 14 seasons he hit 298 homers and drove in 1061 runs. He is currently the sport's commissioner, however consideration for this honor must only consider his contributions as a player.

Otto Tingley played 18 seasons. He was a strong armed, power hitting catcher. Otto hit 354 homers, including 2 seasons with 30. He threw out 33 percent of opposing base stealers. Otto was the catcher for the 2012 Rabbits, the only world series winner in Denver history. As a 36 year old, he hit .264 that year with 16 homers.

Andy Stewart played 16 seasons as a third baseman and second baseman. He had more power than typical in the infield, hitting 323 homers, but his batting average was only .237. In 2006 he hit .261 with 34 homers for the Toronto Seagulls.

Kimba Bartee was the fastest dog in all of Florida. He hit .270 and stole 787 bases over 14 years, including 107 in 2006. As a rookie he hit .313 with 77 steals to help Florida reach the world series in 2000, the Year of the Penguin. He played for the Penguins his entire career.

Trent Weaver was an excellent fielding second baseman over a 16 year career.  He did not hit for power but consistently put the ball in play and got on base.  For his career he had 2263 hits and a .353 OBP. Weaver hit .319 for the 2001 Florida Penguins as the team reached the world series for back to back seasons.

Gerald White Sr. Played 29 seasons, more than anyone else in league history.  Was an all star outfielder for the first half of his career.  Once his skills declined he became a backup outfielder and stuck around for another 14 years.  Hit 9 homers at age 47, and hit .283 in his final season at age 51.  Overall White had 2,596 hits, hit 320 homers, and stole 213 bases.  Set career highs in 1990 with a .348 average, 34 homers, and 137 RBI.  In 1989 stole a career high 35 bases and won a gold glove.

Sammy Swopa hit 445 homeruns, including 6 seasons of 40 or more.  In 1999 he became one of 6 players to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season.  In 2002 Sammy hit 50 homeruns.  In 2003 Sammy hit 49 homers, drove in 147 runs, and won the Superior League MVP award.  A fine defender, Sammy won 4 gold glove awards.  Sammy did not have a long career, fading in his 30's and retiring at age 35. 

Pitchers will be in the next post.