LestersLegends.com

The Couch Potato Chronicles again offered me inspiration for a post.  Thanks TCP.

Image courtesy of TSN/Icon SMI

Dom DiMaggio passed away this week at 92.  He was overshadowed by his famous brother Joe and egendary teammate Ted Williams.  He didn’t have the hitting streak or Marilyn Monroe, but he was an exceptional player nonetheless.  He was named to seven All-Star teams in his eleven seasons with Boston.  Here’s a look at the Little Professor’s career numbers:

1399 Games
5640 At Bats
.298 Batting Average
1400 Runs
1680 Hits
308 Doubles
57 Triples
87 HRs
618 RBIs
750 Walks
100 SBs

Solid numbers, which are even better when you consider he missed three seasons due to  military service during World War II.  It is conceivable that he would have been a Hall of Famer if it weren’t for the War.

In 1941 & 1942 he averaged 113 Runs, which were the years prior to his service.  When he returned he averaged 80 Runs for two season before averaging 124 in a four year span from ’48 to ’51.  It is not a reach to suggest that if he (and Ted Williams) did not miss that time he could have scored 1500 career Runs, which is virtually a lock for the Hall of Fame.  Dom averaged 121 Runs from ’41-’41 & ’48 to ’51.  If you subtract the 160 Runs he scored in ’46 & ’47 and replace those Run totals, along with the years he missed, with 121 Runs per year and he would score 1491 Runs.  Considering he we missed some prime years when he was 26-28, perhaps that number would have been higher.  He also an All-Star every year but his first two and in 1947.  He very likely would have been named to three more.  1500 Runs and ten All-Star appearances make for a pretty compelling case for Hall of Fame acceptance.

Here’s a look at his top ten finishes:
Batting Average – 3 Times
On-Base Percentage – 3 Times
Slugging Percentage- Once
OPS – Once
Games - Twice (Led league in 1948)
At Bat – 6 Times (Led league in 1948 & 1951)
Runs – 7 Times (Led league in 1950 & 1951)
Hits – 7 Times
Doubles – 6 Times
Triples - Once (Led league in 1950)
HRs – Once
Total Bases – 3 Times 
Extra-Base Hits – Twice
Walks – 3 Times
SBs – 7 Times (Led league in 1950)
Hit by Pitch – 3 Times (Led league in 1941)

Hall of Fame  Yardsticks

While the overall numbers aren’t there for the Hall of Fame, it is without question that he left his mark on baseball and those who knew him.  He will be missed.

Statistics from Baseball-Reference.com

Image from Museum of the City of San Francisco

Players can collect, trade and play baseball online with legends such as Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Berra, Spahn, Williams and Ford.
 
Austin, TX (Oct.. 9, 2008) — Challenge Games, the developers of Baseball Boss, a web-based, free online baseball game that lets people build a fantasy baseball team from virtual baseball cards, has announced the introduction of new sets of virtual baseball cards based on the 1957 Major League baseball season. The 1957 card sets will be available for sale in the Baseball Boss store on Saturday, Oct. 11th.
 
The 1957 sets are the first new baseball card sets introduced by Baseball Boss since the game launched in July of this year. It features such greats as the Milwaukee Braves’ Hank Aaron and New York Yankees’ Mickey Mantle. Mantle and Aaron won their respective leagues’ Most Valuable Player Awards that year and led their teams to the 1957 World Series.
 
The 1957 set also includes that year’s Sporting News Player of the Year Award Winner Ted Williams of the Red Sox, pitching greats Whitey Ford of the Yankees and Warren Spahn of the Braves. One of baseball’s all-time greatest catchers and personalities, Yogi Berra of the Yankees, is also featured.
 
 ”We all grew up hearing stories of baseball’s legends – Mays, Musial, Aaron, Berra, Williams and Mantle – so the release of Baseball Boss’ 1957 card sets is an exciting event for baseball fans, card collectors and gamers. It directly connects us all to the golden age of baseball,” said Jeff Petry, head of marketing for Baseball Boss. “The 1957 decks are an outstanding addition to our lineup of current and historical cards and allow fans to build dream teams and compete with an array of legendary players. As only Yogi Berra could say, these card sets give Baseball Boss ‘deep depth.’ We’re continually working towards bringing fans and gamers the best baseball game on the web and we hope players and fans have fun with 1957.”
 
To celebrate the release of the new sets, Baseball Boss is conducting a series of promotions throughout October. The promotions include the Golden Age of Baseball Sweepstakes that will give registered Baseball Boss players a chance to win 1957 era baseball memorabilia, with an autographed Mickey Mantle baseball as the top prize. The Golden Age Sweepstakes will run from Oct. 11th to Nov. 17th. For more information about this and other promotions go to: http://www.baseballboss.com/pages/setlaunch/list.
 
Baseball Boss is one of the most innovative baseball games to hit the genre in many years. It is a free to play game that combines baseball card collecting with fantasy baseball simulation games. Its short-form design allows it to be played in 5-15 minute increments, and is an ideal format for both casual and hardcore players wanting a quick gaming experience.. Players can challenge other teams asynchronously, meaning they do not have to be online at the same time to go head to head. Gamers may also play in a variety of other formats such as leagues and class (ladder) play. Players can acquire more cards by trading with other players, winning cards from other players in the game’s auction house, or by purchasing new packs, cases and boxes of cards in the  store.

To play Baseball Boss for free, visit www.baseballboss.com.
 
About Challenge Online Games, Inc.
Challenge Online Games, Inc. (Challenge Games) creates online games that are fun and easy to play whether you’re a serious or casual gamer. The company was founded by veteran entrepreneur and gamer, Andrew Busey, author of Secrets of the MUD Wizards and creator of one of the first instant messaging applications. Challenge Games currently offers Duels and Baseball Boss – multiplayer web-based games that combine the best of the collectible card games (CCGs) and traditional role-playing games with the convenience of the short-form gaming experience. The company also holds a multi-year licensing agreement with MLB Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball. Challenge Games is based in Austin, Texas and is privately held with funding from Sequoia Capital and GlobeSpan Capital Partners. For more information on Challenge Games visit www.challengegames.com.