The Keltner List

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

This is an interesting one. Pitcher Wes Ferrell

 

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.

 

2. Was he the best player on his team?

 

No. Ferrell was the second best player on the Cleveland Indians in the early 1930s, behind HOFer Earl Averill. He was, however, the best pitcher on his staff every year from 1929-35.

 

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

 

Not a chance, since he shared his prime with Lefty Grove, a top 5 all time pitcher. Ferrell was the second best pitcher in the American League during his prime, and the fourth best behind Grove, Carl Hubbell, and Dizzy Dean over his career.

 

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

 

No. His teams never finished within sniffing distance of a league championship. Ferrell did make a handful of starts for the 1938-39 Yankees, but he was not a major contributor. He never pitched in the World Series.

 

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

 

No. Ferrell never pitched more than 20 innings a season after he turned 31.

 

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

 

No.

 

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

 

None of Ferell's 10 similar comps are in the Hall. Only Lon Warneke and Tommy Bridges have any kind of HOF argument, and they are longshots.

 

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

 

Not really. Ferrell scores well on the Black and Gray Ink test, but his career numbers are significantly under par.

 

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

 

Yes. One, Ferrell was a great hitter. Ferrell hit 280/351/446 in his career, and his 38 career home runs is a record for pitchers. In 1935, he won 25 games AND hit .347, with plate discipline and power. In 1933, Cleveland outfielder Joe Vosmik fell to injury, and Ferrell replaced him for thirteen games. Second, Ferrell pitched in an unfavorable era for pitchers.

 

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

 

No. I believe Bert Blyleven and others are more deserving.

 

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

 

Ferrell finished in the top 10 twice, in 1934 and '35. Remember its difficult for pitchers to win MVPs. There was no Cy Young in Ferrell's era.

 

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?

 

Ferrell played in two All-Star games. Also remember that Ferrell won 20 games four years in a row from 1929-32, before the first All-Star game. He likely would have made more.

 

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

 

Probably. He did not have much support in his day.

 

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?

 

None apparent.

 

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: Ferrell is the only pitcher in major league history to post six twenty win seasons, and not make the Hall. He was one of the best pitchers in the major leagues, and the best hitting pitcher in major league history. But he fell completely off the table very quickly. I'm really on the fence as far as Ferrell goes. Anyone think he's in or out?

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I think he should be in despite the fact that he fell so sharply. His peak from 1929-1932 yielded an average ERA+ of 131 and he also had a 135+ in 1935 and 1936 he had a 128+. on Baseball-Prospectus, the average for the DERA(Defense Adjusted ERA) is 4.50. His peak seasons of 29-32, adjusted for all-time, has him at 3.43, 3.26, 3.67 and 3.63. 1935 had him at 3.46 and 1936 he was at 3.73. He was also at least 10 runs better then a replacement player in 4 seasons hitting wise with it peaking in 1935 when he was 13.8 runs better.