With the 80th pick, the Brooklyn Suberbas select one of its hometown boys, C Roy Campanella.
Campanella, regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of all time, put up a great 10 year MLB Hall of Fame career from 1948-1957, where he complied:
3 MVP Awards
8 All Star appearances
.276 BA
.360 OBP
.860 OPS
242 Home Runs, including 4 30+ HR seasons
These stats alone are enough to make Campy a top 100 pick given position scarcity, however what is usually lost in the shuffle is that he did this after spending 9 years in the Negro leagues from 1937-1945 where he was an All Star catcher with a .353 career average.
He was signed by the Dodgers prior to the 1946 season but was buried in the minors for a couple of years while the Jackie Robinson “experiment” worked itself out. He won MVP awards in his two full seasons in the minors before being called up to the Dodgers.
So, taking his entire 21-year career into account, the Superbas are very excited to draft one of the greatest all-around catchers in the history of baseball
With the 81st pick, the Brooklyn Suberbas select left handed hitting SS John Henry Lloyd
"You could put Wagner and Lloyd in a bag together, and whichever one you pulled out you couldn't go wrong." --Connie Mack.
“I am honoured to have John Lloyd called the Black Wagner. It’s a privilege to have been compared to him” –Honus Wagner
When Babe Ruth was interviewed by pioneering announcer Graham McNamee, he was asked who was the greatest player of all time. Ruth asked, "You mean major leaguers?" "No," replied McNamee, "the greatest player anywhere." "In that case," responded Ruth, "I'd pick John Henry Lloyd."
“John Henry Lloyd was one of the best black players of the Dead Ball Era. Although a consummate gentleman off the field, Lloyd was an aggressive, fearless baserunner on it, and was also one of the best hitters of his era. He had great range and large, steady hands that led Cuban fans to dub him El Cuchara (The Shovel).” – National Baseball Hall of Fame writeup
Lloyd had an extremely impressive offensive and defensive 27 year career (1906-1932) with the following MLB equivalent stats:
.315 BA, .359 OBP, .407 SG, and a staggering 3,679 hits (which would rank him 4th all time)
127 Fielding Win Shares (which would rank him 3rd all time for a SS)
Bill James had him ranked as the second best shortstop of all-time.
Lloyd was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977.
All in all, a fantastic offensive and defensive player and will fit nicely into the top part of the Superbas lineup.
With the 80th pick, the Brooklyn Suberbas select one of its hometown boys, C Roy Campanella.
Campanella, regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of all time, put up a great 10 year MLB Hall of Fame career from 1948-1957, where he complied:
3 MVP Awards
8 All Star appearances
.276 BA
.360 OBP
.860 OPS
242 Home Runs, including 4 30+ HR seasons
These stats alone are enough to make Campy a top 100 pick given position scarcity, however what is usually lost in the shuffle is that he did this after spending 9 years in the Negro leagues from 1937-1945 where he was an All Star catcher with a .353 career average.
He was signed by the Dodgers prior to the 1946 season but was buried in the minors for a couple of years while the Jackie Robinson “experiment” worked itself out. He won MVP awards in his two full seasons in the minors before being called up to the Dodgers.
So, taking his entire 21-year career into account, the Superbas are very excited to draft one of the greatest all-around catchers in the history of baseball
I love how you took the same idea of the photo with him as I did with Cochrane. Catchers always make for the best action shots
The Toronto Blue Jays are pleased to select: 3rd Base
Ron Santos.
Santo was a nine-time National League All-Star, and led the league in walks four times, in on base percentage twice and in triples once.[4][8] An All-Star-caliber player at Wrigley Field and fairly ordinary on the road, he hit for a .300 average and hit 30 home runs four times each,[6] and is the only third baseman in major league history to post eight consecutive seasons with 90 RBI (1963–1970).[4][8] The winner of five consecutive Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence (1964–1968),[15] he set or tied National League records by leading the league's third basemen in total chances eight times, in games, putouts and assists seven times each, and in double plays six times.[6][8]
Current Roster
SP: Nolan Ryan
2nd Base: Ryne Sandberg
3rd Base: Ron Santo
RF: Hank Aaron
CF: Ken Griffey Jr.
The Cincinnati Reds are pleased to select their lead-off man, defensive centre-fielder, and arguably one of the fastest men in baseball...
James "Cool Papa" Bell (CF)
Among the most illustrious players in Negro league baseball history, James Cool Papa Bell was noted for his incredible speed on the basepaths, excellence as a leadoff hitter and his superb defensive play as a center fielder. He began his career as a pitcher, but his other talents ensured his future as an everyday player. Bell's career lasted 20 years with teams such as the St. Louis Stars, Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays.
"Mr. Tiger" was a career .297/.376/.480, with 3,007 hits, 399 home runs, and 1583 RBI. He made 15 all-star games in his 22 year career, and is generally considered to be one of the greatest defensive outfielders in history winning 10 gold gloves. In 1980 he was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Kaline's career WAR of 87.4 ranks 30th all-time among hitters -- unbelievable value for the 87th pick of the draft. There are a few players I really want left on the board, but I just couldn't let him slide.
88 - New York Yankees select - 3B Frank 'Home Run' Baker
World Series Champion: 1910, 1911, 1913
American League pennant: 1914, 1921, 1922
American League home run champion: 1911-1914
American League RBI champion: 1912, 1913
6 seasons with a .300+ batting average
3 seasons with 100+ RBI
2 seasons with 100+ runs scored
Quote:
He is regarded by many as the best third baseman of the pre-war era.
