****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you decipher the answer. Add to that the teachings of Myagi: patience. If you don’t get the answer right away, give your brain a chance to work if for no other reason than to stay in the discussion. You may not have THE answer, but you might prompt another reader by asking the right question.
By Chas
I was one of the great ones. That’s right, I have a plaque in Cooperstown.
I’m one of two Hall of Famers who was born in Baltimore. The other guy is a way bigger deal. You know, an icon…one of those guys with multiple nicknames, a larger than life figure who played most of his career in a stadium they supposedly built for him.
I was a pretty special player too. So much so I was signed right out of high school and made my major league debut at the age of 18. The next year I was a full-time starter, and the following season I finished second in MVP voting.
As it turns out, I never won an MVP,but I finished in the top 10 in the voting nine times, including three top 3 finishes. Every time I finished in the top three, I was beaten out by Yankees. Even when I finished third, the top two vote-getters were those damn pinstripers.
I did earn my share of accolades, though. What do you think about 10 Gold Gloves and 15 All-Star selections? Not too bad, huh? Of course, the ultimate honor was a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction. There aren’t that many people who can say that.
I didn’t make very many postseason appearances, however. You can probably guess why. I played my entire career for one team, and we happened to be in the same league as the Yankees. I did finally make it, though, kind of late in my career. We had a phenomenal season, led by a starting pitcher who accomplished something that hadn’t been done in over 30 years, and hasn’t been matched since.
In the World Series, our ace was twice out-pitched by their ace, a guy who had a pretty historic season himself and who would enter the Hall of Fame the year after me. But, a different pitcher for our team came back on two days rest to out-duel said Hall of Famer in a game-seven matchup that earned him the Series MVP. It was his third complete game victory in the Series, a truly historic performance.
If not for that player, I had an MVP-worthy performance (11-for-29, 6 runs, 2 HR, 8 RBI) myself. But, as usual, I was outshined.
I came pretty close to being the first player to ever collect over 3000 hits and 400 home runs solely in the American League, but Carl Yastrzemski later earned that distinction.
I wasn’t outshined on the day I got into Cooperstown, though. Well, I was inducted alongside another legendary player, but it was his 11th year on the ballot. Like I said, I was voted in my first year on the ballot. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Who Am I?
Okay..I am focusing on the World Series. No pitcher that has done since – has to be winning 30 games and that would be Denny McClain. That opposing pitcher had to be Bob Gibson. Since this guy was beaten out on the MVP by Yankees mean /s he was in AL and means he was on the Tigers.. I think I am getting warm.
We are looking for a Tiger right? Hall of famer? The only name I am coming up with is Al Kaline. Did he play on the ’68 team?
for the record, I think my addled brain figured out he was with the Tigers, so it’s a big day for me.
Looking back – 3,000 hits? 400 HRs (when that number mattered)? Late 60s Tigers? Has to be Al Kaline.
I would actually say the combination of 3000 hits and 400 HR still matters. I think there are still less than (or right around) 10 guys who’ve done it…although Rafael Palmeiro is one of them.
I was referring to 400 HRs on its own.
Sorry I’m late to the party. Casey has it … It’s gotta be Al Kaline. I didn’t know he was from Baltimore, but all other clues fit. He got a very early start as a teen and was instantly a force. I think Kaline played until 1971 or so. He was on that ’68 team.
By the way, since this is solved, wonder why there’s not much hubbub over Jim Thome approaching HR #600? I think he’s like 4 away … where’s the countdown?
More evidence of the steroid effect.
Good points, both of you. I would think there would be a little more attention paid to the subject, despite the steroid issue, but I guess that’s the reason.
I’ve got to admit that I completely forgot Thome was that close.
YES announcers talked about him during Yankees visit to Detroit. Go Yankees.
I don’t know if it is THE reason, but it has an effect.
600 doesn’t mean as much any more.
When we were kids, three guys reached that plateau. I still have the baseball card the year Aaron broke Ruth’s record. When I pulled back the wax paper and saw Ruth, Aaron and Mays on one piece of cardboard, it was like I had just descended Mt. Sinai.
Chinchillas – welcome to the Pine! We are an equal opportunity site which allows all to partake despite their shortcomings. 🙂
Robin Yount seems to fit much of the criteria except that he would not have had 3000/400 BEFORE Yaz accomplished it. The only other players I can thin k of that young in their debuts are pitchers, so I am baffled. Babe Ruth was the other Baltimorian, but I’m guessing EVERYONE knew that. Time to look at other comments.
I did not know Kaline was born in Bal nor did I realize that he started in the bigs so early in life. The McClain 31 game win season crossed my mind as making it a Tiger, but I did not go far enough down that road.
Wait a second! Chinchillas are Bill’s band, right? Did Bill give up on the Mets and become a Yankees fan? 🙂
Hahaha. No. That’s another Chinchilla. 🙂
A different member of the band, or another Chinchilla entirely?
A different member of the band.
It’s kind of rude to talk about them in front of them. 🙂
Mr. Chinchillas could have answered for himself. 🙂
Yeah. You’re right.
Of course, at this point, you all know the answer is Al Kaline. Casey gets the goal and Smitty the assist this time.
The only other detail to fill in is that Mickey Lolich was the MVP of the 1968 World Series. He was 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in 27 IP in his only World Series.
I’ve got to assume Denny McLain (31-6, 1.96, 280 SO) and Bob Gibson (22-9, 1.12, 268 SO) are the greatest pair of Cy Young winners ever. Well, I guess that should be qualified by the fact that was an extreme pitcher’s era.
I am still a Mets fan. Our fearless leader is a Yankee fan. If you say something bad about the Yankees, he will go into a funk, or hide in a hole like a groundhog. If you say something bad about the Mets to me, I will ask you to tell me something I don’t know. Assuming, of course, that the Chinchillas poster is our leader. Otherwise, we might have a stalker on our hands.
I am at fault for not mentioning Lolich because he was part of my stream of consciousness.
Smitty’s assist was Bobby Orr-like. He did all the work, and I was Espo waiting to light the lamp.
“If you say something bad about the Yankees, he will go into a funk, or hide in a hole like a groundhog.”
Thus his moody disposition during late October and November of 2004. 🙂
actually it’s more of a year round thing.