Ranking Top 5 AL & NL All-Star Snubs in 1960
Oct 13, 2014 16:01:14 GMT -5
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Post by Sha-Le Unique on Oct 13, 2014 16:01:14 GMT -5
Instead of doing a top 10 this time, I'm gonna rank the top 5 snubs from each league because I was trying to have 5 from each league in the first place.
American League
Honorable Mentions: RF Richie Ashburn (BOS), SP Don Rowe (BOS), CL Luis Arroyo (KCA)
5. SP Bobby Shantz (KCA)
Season Stats: 9-7, 3.22 ERA, 148.0 IP, 105 K, 1.15 WHIP
Bobby Shantz is the A's veteran ace and in most seasons, he'd be an All-Star with those numbers, but for some reason, he did not make the cut. That's a shame because Shantz is currently tied for 8th in the AL in wins, 4th in ERA, tied for 4th in quality starts with 13 in 19 starts, and tied for 10th in strikeouts. He has a pair of complete game shutouts as well so far this season. Rookie catcher John Romano was the A's lone All-Star this season, but he should not have been the only one.
4. C Whitey Herzog (BOS)
Season Stats: .309/.422/.449, 8 2B, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 40 R, 38 BB
Ugh. I miss Herzog already. He's a very good player, is versatile across the whole field and gets on base a lot. His .422 OBP currently ranks 3rd in the AL behind Norm Siebern and Larry Doby. And he's also a first-time starting catcher, which makes his numbers look that much better. While I'm not saying that Herzog was certainly more deserving of being an All-Star in comparison to Earl Battey and John Romano, I do think three catchers should have been on the roster because all three of them deserved to make it. Unfortunately, one of the three was left off and it happened to be Herzog.
3. SS Luis Aparicio (BOS)
Season Stats: .304/.364/.433, 22 2B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 61 R, 28 BB, 50 SB
Another Red Sox player that got snubbed was Luis Aparicio, who right now is arguably the best base stealer in HOFFBL. What makes this snubbing even more unusual is the fact that Harvey Kuenn was the only AL shortstop in the All-Star Game. Aparicio is on a great pace to set a career high in steals by a big margin. 80-90+ steals for the year certainly isn't out of the question. In addition to leading the AL by over 20 steals, Aparicio is also 5th in doubles and 6th in runs scored. There is no reason why Aparicio should have missed the cut for being an All-Star this season. The fact that OOTP sometimes does not nominate at least 2 players per league per position is very puzzling.
2. SP George Zuverink (WSH)
Season Stats: 5-6, 2.79 ERA, 100.0 IP, 62 K, 1.22 WHIP
I don't care that George Zuverink wasn't starting all season and was placed into the Senators' rotation in late May. He has the 2nd best ERA in the AL and he clearly should have been the Senators' lone All-Star representative, if anyone. Instead, the Senators had no All-Stars this season and Adam wasn't able to cash in on the annual points. Zuverink has been one of the few bright spots for a rebuilding Senators team this season. If OOTP's criteria for All-Stars includes starting for a full season and accumulating a certain number of starts and/or innings pitched, then there's nothing we can do, but regardless, the pitcher with the 2nd best ERA in the league should always be an All-Star unless he's injured.
1. CF Mickey Mantle (NYY)
Season Stats: .295/.411/.527, 14 2B, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 59 R, 60 BB, 29 SB
Yes the Yankees have continued to have numerous All-Stars every season, but how is Mickey Mantle not one of them this year? This is the first season in HOFFBL where Mantle did not make the cut, but there was no reason why it should have happened. Mantle right now ranks 8th in OBP, 6th in slugging, 7th in OPS, tied for 5th in home runs, 7th in RBI, tied for 7th in runs, the AL leader in walks, 2nd in stolen bases, tied for 6th in extra base hits and 8th in total bases. This is not to dispute that Norm Siebern, Rocky Colavito, Al Kaline, Don Robertson, Larry Doby and Del Ennis were all not deserving of being All-Stars, but Mantle was right up there with them and somehow missed the cut. He is easily the biggest AL All-Star Snub and one of the top AL MVP contenders. The fact that he isn't an All-Star this season is unfortunate.
National League
Honorable Mentions: 1B Earl Torgeson (PHI), SP Curt Simmons (PHI), CL John Anderson (PHI)
5. LF Stan Musial (STL)
Season Stats: .306/.355/.488, 28 2B, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 46 R, 24 BB
The aging legend Stan Musial is almost certainly playing the final season of what has been a remarkable Hall of Fame career. And even at 39 years old, Musial can still keep up with the better hitters in the league. In fact, Musial right now is 8th in the NL in batting average, tied for the lead in doubles and tied for 6th in extra base hits. The group of NL outfielders that were All-Stars this season are all more than deserving of the spots they had, but it would have been nice to see Musial as an All-Star in what will probably be his final season.
4. SP Joe McClain (STL)
Season Stats: 9-6, 3.36 ERA, 128.2 IP, 65 K, 1.27 WHIP
Joe McClain was another Cardinals player that got snubbed this season from being an All-Star. He has been the best pitcher for his team and currently ranks tied for 9th in wins, 7th in ERA and tied for 8th in quality starts. There's a lot of good NL pitching, but I would've nominated McClain over at least one or two of the NL All-Star SP's.
3. 1B Willie McCovey (SF)
Season Stats: .293/.396/.435, 8 2B, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 46 BB, 37 R
There is so much depth among NL first basemen. Jim Gentile is the current NL MVP favorite. Ernie Banks has been great for years. And even first basemen that weren't All-Stars this year like Earl Torgeson, Roy Sievers, Harry Agganis, and Joe Adcock have had some good years of their own. But if there was another NL first baseman that should have earned his spot as an All-Star, it was Willie McCovey. McCovey has come into his own as one of the most promising sluggers for years to come. He is 5th in OBP this year and 3rd in walks. It's clear that Gentile and Banks were more deserving, but there still should have been a spot somewhere for McCovey.
2. SP George Spencer (PIT)
Season Stats: 6-7, 3.11 ERA, 139.0 IP, 68 K, 1.16 WHIP
I was honestly surprised that Mike Cuellar was an All-Star over George Spencer, who has done better. But then again, OOTP loves those wins for pitchers! Anyway, Spencer is currently 6th in the NL in ERA and has been a huge part of the Pirates' success over the past few seasons. He was a big snub, but there was one other NL pitcher that was an even bigger snub.
1. SP Roy Face (PHI)
Season Stats: 9-9, 2.53 ERA, 163.2 IP, 57 K, 0.97 WHIP
I completely forgot Roy Face was originally a Pirate here and I traded him back in 1953 for a few pitchers that either never made it to the majors or did nothing important in the majors. Oh well. Face has become one of the better NL pitchers for the past 3 years and has his success has continued into this season as well. He is tied for 9th in wins, 4th in ERA, tied for 2nd in quality starts and 3rd in innings pitched. There was no reason why Face should not have been an All-Star and he is clearly the biggest NL All-Star snub. There are at least 2 or 3 NL pitchers that were less deserving of being an All-Stars in comparison to Face. Hopefully, he won't get screwed over again next year.
American League
Honorable Mentions: RF Richie Ashburn (BOS), SP Don Rowe (BOS), CL Luis Arroyo (KCA)
5. SP Bobby Shantz (KCA)
Season Stats: 9-7, 3.22 ERA, 148.0 IP, 105 K, 1.15 WHIP
Bobby Shantz is the A's veteran ace and in most seasons, he'd be an All-Star with those numbers, but for some reason, he did not make the cut. That's a shame because Shantz is currently tied for 8th in the AL in wins, 4th in ERA, tied for 4th in quality starts with 13 in 19 starts, and tied for 10th in strikeouts. He has a pair of complete game shutouts as well so far this season. Rookie catcher John Romano was the A's lone All-Star this season, but he should not have been the only one.
4. C Whitey Herzog (BOS)
Season Stats: .309/.422/.449, 8 2B, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 40 R, 38 BB
Ugh. I miss Herzog already. He's a very good player, is versatile across the whole field and gets on base a lot. His .422 OBP currently ranks 3rd in the AL behind Norm Siebern and Larry Doby. And he's also a first-time starting catcher, which makes his numbers look that much better. While I'm not saying that Herzog was certainly more deserving of being an All-Star in comparison to Earl Battey and John Romano, I do think three catchers should have been on the roster because all three of them deserved to make it. Unfortunately, one of the three was left off and it happened to be Herzog.
3. SS Luis Aparicio (BOS)
Season Stats: .304/.364/.433, 22 2B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 61 R, 28 BB, 50 SB
Another Red Sox player that got snubbed was Luis Aparicio, who right now is arguably the best base stealer in HOFFBL. What makes this snubbing even more unusual is the fact that Harvey Kuenn was the only AL shortstop in the All-Star Game. Aparicio is on a great pace to set a career high in steals by a big margin. 80-90+ steals for the year certainly isn't out of the question. In addition to leading the AL by over 20 steals, Aparicio is also 5th in doubles and 6th in runs scored. There is no reason why Aparicio should have missed the cut for being an All-Star this season. The fact that OOTP sometimes does not nominate at least 2 players per league per position is very puzzling.
2. SP George Zuverink (WSH)
Season Stats: 5-6, 2.79 ERA, 100.0 IP, 62 K, 1.22 WHIP
I don't care that George Zuverink wasn't starting all season and was placed into the Senators' rotation in late May. He has the 2nd best ERA in the AL and he clearly should have been the Senators' lone All-Star representative, if anyone. Instead, the Senators had no All-Stars this season and Adam wasn't able to cash in on the annual points. Zuverink has been one of the few bright spots for a rebuilding Senators team this season. If OOTP's criteria for All-Stars includes starting for a full season and accumulating a certain number of starts and/or innings pitched, then there's nothing we can do, but regardless, the pitcher with the 2nd best ERA in the league should always be an All-Star unless he's injured.
1. CF Mickey Mantle (NYY)
Season Stats: .295/.411/.527, 14 2B, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 59 R, 60 BB, 29 SB
Yes the Yankees have continued to have numerous All-Stars every season, but how is Mickey Mantle not one of them this year? This is the first season in HOFFBL where Mantle did not make the cut, but there was no reason why it should have happened. Mantle right now ranks 8th in OBP, 6th in slugging, 7th in OPS, tied for 5th in home runs, 7th in RBI, tied for 7th in runs, the AL leader in walks, 2nd in stolen bases, tied for 6th in extra base hits and 8th in total bases. This is not to dispute that Norm Siebern, Rocky Colavito, Al Kaline, Don Robertson, Larry Doby and Del Ennis were all not deserving of being All-Stars, but Mantle was right up there with them and somehow missed the cut. He is easily the biggest AL All-Star Snub and one of the top AL MVP contenders. The fact that he isn't an All-Star this season is unfortunate.
National League
Honorable Mentions: 1B Earl Torgeson (PHI), SP Curt Simmons (PHI), CL John Anderson (PHI)
5. LF Stan Musial (STL)
Season Stats: .306/.355/.488, 28 2B, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 46 R, 24 BB
The aging legend Stan Musial is almost certainly playing the final season of what has been a remarkable Hall of Fame career. And even at 39 years old, Musial can still keep up with the better hitters in the league. In fact, Musial right now is 8th in the NL in batting average, tied for the lead in doubles and tied for 6th in extra base hits. The group of NL outfielders that were All-Stars this season are all more than deserving of the spots they had, but it would have been nice to see Musial as an All-Star in what will probably be his final season.
4. SP Joe McClain (STL)
Season Stats: 9-6, 3.36 ERA, 128.2 IP, 65 K, 1.27 WHIP
Joe McClain was another Cardinals player that got snubbed this season from being an All-Star. He has been the best pitcher for his team and currently ranks tied for 9th in wins, 7th in ERA and tied for 8th in quality starts. There's a lot of good NL pitching, but I would've nominated McClain over at least one or two of the NL All-Star SP's.
3. 1B Willie McCovey (SF)
Season Stats: .293/.396/.435, 8 2B, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 46 BB, 37 R
There is so much depth among NL first basemen. Jim Gentile is the current NL MVP favorite. Ernie Banks has been great for years. And even first basemen that weren't All-Stars this year like Earl Torgeson, Roy Sievers, Harry Agganis, and Joe Adcock have had some good years of their own. But if there was another NL first baseman that should have earned his spot as an All-Star, it was Willie McCovey. McCovey has come into his own as one of the most promising sluggers for years to come. He is 5th in OBP this year and 3rd in walks. It's clear that Gentile and Banks were more deserving, but there still should have been a spot somewhere for McCovey.
2. SP George Spencer (PIT)
Season Stats: 6-7, 3.11 ERA, 139.0 IP, 68 K, 1.16 WHIP
I was honestly surprised that Mike Cuellar was an All-Star over George Spencer, who has done better. But then again, OOTP loves those wins for pitchers! Anyway, Spencer is currently 6th in the NL in ERA and has been a huge part of the Pirates' success over the past few seasons. He was a big snub, but there was one other NL pitcher that was an even bigger snub.
1. SP Roy Face (PHI)
Season Stats: 9-9, 2.53 ERA, 163.2 IP, 57 K, 0.97 WHIP
I completely forgot Roy Face was originally a Pirate here and I traded him back in 1953 for a few pitchers that either never made it to the majors or did nothing important in the majors. Oh well. Face has become one of the better NL pitchers for the past 3 years and has his success has continued into this season as well. He is tied for 9th in wins, 4th in ERA, tied for 2nd in quality starts and 3rd in innings pitched. There was no reason why Face should not have been an All-Star and he is clearly the biggest NL All-Star snub. There are at least 2 or 3 NL pitchers that were less deserving of being an All-Stars in comparison to Face. Hopefully, he won't get screwed over again next year.
