The Keltner List

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in baseball? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in baseball?

 

No. He played during the '50s and early '60s, when Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays dominated the game.

 

2. Was he the best player on his team?

 

Yes. Minoso was the best player on the Chicago White Sox from 1951-56.

 

3. Was he the best player in baseball at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position?

 

No, because he shared an era with Ted Williams. Outside of Williams, he was the best LF in the American League. Keep in mind Stan Musial played 1B for much of the 1950s.

 

4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races?

 

None apparent. Not many teams made the World Series unless they came from New York.

 

5. Was he good enough that he could play regularly after passing his prime?

 

Yes. He starter for the Washington Senators at the age of 40. He actually played games at 53 and 57 as part of Bill Veeck's promotional stunts.

 

6. Is he the very best baseball player in history who is not in the Hall of Fame?

 

I've advocated for Ron Santo, so not really.

 

7. Are most players who have comparable statistics in the Hall of Fame?

 

None of Minoso's ten most similar players are in the Hall.

 

8. Do the player's numbers meet Hall of Fame standards?

 

They are very close. Minoso scores 15 on the Black Ink test, and 189 on the Gray Ink test. Minos actually ranks within the top 50 on the Gray Ink test. He meets 35% of HOF Standards.

 

9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics?

 

Yes. Minoso did not play regularly in the Majors until he was 28, due to the last remains of the color line. Minoso played well for the NY Cubans of the negro leagues by the age of 23. Had Minoso played in the majors for six more seasons, he would have undoubtably reached several career milestones. To give you an idea of Minoso's potential value, Bill James in his Historical Abstract lists the top 20 players based on Win Shares earned between the ages of 30 and 39. Minoso is the only player of the top 20 not currently enshrined in the Hall.

 

10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame?

 

Yes. The next best candidate is Charlie Keller.

 

11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close?

 

Minoso finished in the top 10 of MVP voting five times, including four fourth place finishes.

 

12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the players who played in this many All-Star games go into the Hall of Fame?

 

Minoso played in seven All-Star games.

 

13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant?

 

Yes, assuming Minoso had a career year.

 

14. What impact did the player have on baseball history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way?

 

The ancient comebacks were referenced above.

 

15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?

 

Yes.

 

Conclusion: Minoso is an intruiging candidate. He led the league in steals frequently in an era where players rarely stole bases. It all boils down to what you think of his late start. Since he WAS a great player who was excluded beyond his control, I think he deserves enshrinement.