Today we add recent Hall of Fame (finally!) member Ted Simmons to my on-going 1977 N.L. Centennial thread, as the National League celebrated their 100th anniversary during the 1976 season:
Simmons was already firmly established as a top-notch catcher in the
Major Leagues. But sadly for him he happened to be playing at the same
time that guys like Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Thurman Munson and then
Gary Carter were doing the same, easily allowing people to lose him in
the shuffle.
But look at this guy's career!
Simmons went on to post a Big League resume that included eight All-Star nods, six seasons of 20+ homers, eight 90+ RBI campaigns and seven years of a .300 or better average.
By the time he retired after the 1988 season, he finished with 2472 hits, 248 homers, 1389 RBIs and a .285 average.
At the same time, playing in the era of the free-swinging 70’s and 80’s, he struck out only 694 times in 9685 plate appearances while twice leading his league in Intentional Base on Balls.
I have always been stunned at the fact that “Simba” garnered a meager 3.7% vote in his first chance at the Hall of Fame, thus becoming a ridiculous “one and done” candidate.
But
thankfully, in 2020 he was finally selected for Hall of Fame
membership, voted in by the Veteran's Committee, and rightly so!
But look at this guy's career!
Simmons went on to post a Big League resume that included eight All-Star nods, six seasons of 20+ homers, eight 90+ RBI campaigns and seven years of a .300 or better average.
By the time he retired after the 1988 season, he finished with 2472 hits, 248 homers, 1389 RBIs and a .285 average.
At the same time, playing in the era of the free-swinging 70’s and 80’s, he struck out only 694 times in 9685 plate appearances while twice leading his league in Intentional Base on Balls.
I have always been stunned at the fact that “Simba” garnered a meager 3.7% vote in his first chance at the Hall of Fame, thus becoming a ridiculous “one and done” candidate.
