Willie Mays: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1979

Born: May 6, 1931

1947-50: Negro Leagues

1950: Signed by the New York Giants

1950-1: Minor Leagues

Debut: May 25, 1951 (Giants)

1951: Started 0-for-23 then homered off Warren Spahn

1951: Rookie of the Year

1951: Giants start first all black OF in history

1951: Giants win Pennant

1952-3: Korean War service

1954: NL MVP

1954: .345, 41, 110, 119 runs, 195 hits, 1.078 OPS, .667 Slugging, .411 OBP, 377 TB

1954: Won Batting Title (.345)

1954: Made most famous catch in baseball history in World Series

1954: Giants win World Series

1955: 51 Home Runs

1956: 30-30 club (36 HR/40 SB)

1957: 20-20-20-20 club (26 doubles, 20 Triples, 35 HR, 38 SB)

1957: Giants move to San Francisco at season's end

1961: 4 HR game vs. Milwaukee

1962: Giants win Pennant

1963: Homered to end a 16 inning duel between Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn (1-0 final)

1963: All Star Game MVP

1965: NL MVP

1965: .317, 52, 112, .398 OBP, .645 slugging, 1.043 OPS, 360 TB, 118 runs

1965: Hit 500th home run

1968: All Star Game MVP

1969: Hit 600th home run

1970: Voted Player of the Decade for the 1960s by TSN

1971: Roberto Clemente Award

1972: Traded to the New York Mets

1972: Giants retire #24

1973: Mets win Pennant

1973: Retired

1979: Elected to Hall of Fame (94.7%)

1980: Mays took a job at a casino, Commissioner Kuhn later banned him from the game for the association.

1985: Reinstated to baseball by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth

1986-present: Special Asst to the President of the SF Giants

1999: All Century Team


Accomplishments:
1954 World Champion

24x All Star

2x MVP

3,000 Hit Club

600 HR Club

1954 Batting Champ

4x HR Champ

1951 Rookie of the Year

1971 Roberto Clemente Award

12x Gold Glove

2x ASG MVP

4x Player of the Month

Player of the Decade-1960s

All Century Team

Only player with a 3 triple game and a 4 HR game

4 HR Game (4-30-61)

"The Catch"

.302 Average

2,062 Runs

3,283 Hits

523 Doubles

140 Triples

660 Home Runs

1,906 RBI

338 SB

.384 OBP

.557 Slugging

.941 OPS

6,066 TB

100+ Runs: 12x

208 hits (1958)

40+ doubles: 6x

30+ doubles: 5x

10+ triples: 5x

20 Triples (1957)

50+ HR: 2x

40+ HR: 6x

30+ HR: 11x

20+ HR: 17x

100+ RBI: 10x

20+ SB: 7x

30+ SB: 3x

40 SB (1956)

112 walks (1971)

.300 average: 10x

.400 OBP: 5x

.500 slugging: 14x

.600 slugging: 5x

1.000 OPS: 5x

300 TB: 13x

Led league in runs: 2x

Led league in hits (190): 1960

Led League in triples: 3x

Led league in HR: 4x

Led league in SB: 4x

Led league in walks (112): 1971

Led league in OBP: 2x

Led league in slugging: 5x

Led league in TB: 3x

Postseason: .247, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 3 SB, .660 OPS

Jerry Coleman: San Diego Padres timeline

Born: September 24, 1924

1942: Signed with New York Yankees

1943-45: WWII service

1946-48: Minor Leagues

Debut: April 20, 1949 (Yankees)

1949: AP Rookie of the Year

1949-53: Yankees win World Series

1950: .287, 6 HR, 69 RBI, 150 hits, .753 OPS

1950: Babe Ruth Award (World Series MVP): .286, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .732 OPS

1952-53: Korean War service

1955: Yankees win Pennant

1956: Yankees win World Series

1957: Yankees win Pennant

1957: Retired

1958-60: Yankee personnel director

1960-2013: Broadcaster

2005: Baseball Hall of Fame

2005: USMC Sports Hall of Fame .

2007: National Radio Hall of Fame

2008: Wrote Autobiography

2011: International Aerospace Hall of Fame

2012: Padres unveil Coleman statue

2014: Died


Accomplishments:
4x World Champion

AP Rookie of the Year (1949)

1950 All Star

1950 Babe Ruth Award

Four Halls of Fame

.263

16 HR

217 RBI

267 Runs

558 Hits

.680 OPS

Postseason: .275, 0 HR, 9 RBI, .696 OPS

Mickey Mantle: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974

Born: October 20, 1931

1931: Named after Mickey Cochrane

1930s-40s: Taught to switch-hit by father

1947: Osteomyelitis infection nearly ended his athletic career

1948-9: Semi-pro ball

1949: Signed with New York Yankees

1949-50: Minor Leagues

1950-3: Korean War deferral due to Osteomyelitis in 1947

Debut: April 17, 1951 (Yankees)

1951: Slumped early on, returned to minors, and father shamed him into staying in baseball

1951: Father, Mutt Mantle, dies

1951: Injured his right knee in outfield drain during World Series; Joe DiMaggio is often blamed for the injury because DiMaggio called Mantle off at the last minute.

1951-3: Yankees win World Series

1952: Took over CF for retired Joe DiMaggio

1953: Hit 565 foot HR in Washington

1955: Yankees win Pennant

1956: Mantle wins Triple Crown (.353, 52, 130)

1956: AL MVP

1956: Yankees win World Series

1957: .365, 34 HR, 94RBI, 1.177 OPS, 146 walks

1957: AL MVP

1957: Yankees win Pennant

1958: Yankees win World Series

1960: Hit 643 foot HR in Detroit

1960: Yankees win Pennant

1961: Mantle challenges Babe Ruth’s 60 HR. Roger Maris breaks the record with 61.

1961: Mantle suffers an injury that limits his playing time at the end of the year

1961: .317, 54 HR, 128 RBI, 1.135 OPS

1961-2: Yankees win World Series

1963-4: Yankees win Pennant

1964: Mantle hits GW walk off HR in Game 3 breaking Babe Ruth’s World Series HR record

1965-8: Injuries limited Mantle’s effectiveness

1969: Retired

1969: Yankees retired his #7 and given a plaque in Yankee Stadium

Post career: Did some announcing

1980s: Became regular on card circuit

1983: Banned for life for working at an Atlantic City Casino

1985: Reinstated

1985: Wrote The Mick

1992: Wrote My Favorite Summer 1956

1995: Died

1997: Topps retired #7 card

1999: All Century Team

2006: Received USPS stamp

Accomplishments:

7x World Champion

3x MVP

20x All Star

1956 Triple Crown

1956 Batting Champ (.353)

1962 Gold Glove

1965 Hutch Award

3.1 seconds from home to first is a record never broken

Longest official home run: 565 feet

Most WS HR (18)

Most WS RBI (40)

.298 average

1676 runs

2415 hits

536 HR

1509 RBI

.421 OBP

.557 Slugging

.977 OPS

4511 TB

Led league in HR: 4x

Led league in runs: 5x

Led league in triples (11): 1955

Led league in RBI (130): 1956

Led league in walks: 5x

Led league in OBP: 3x

Led league in slugging: 4x

Led league in OPS: 6x

Led league in TB: 3x

Led league in IBB: 2x

100+ Runs: 9x

37 doubles (1952)

10+ triples: 2x

100+ RBI: 4x

21 SB (1959)

100+ Walks: 10x

1733 walks-1710 strikeouts

Hit .300+: 9x

Hit .350+: 2x

.400 OBP: 9x

.512 OBP (1957)

.500 slugging: 12x

.600 slugging: 6x

.705 slugging (1956)

1.000+ OPS: 8x

300+ TB: 5x

Postseason: .257, 18 HR, 40 RBI, .908 OPS (12 World Series)

Whitey Ford: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974

Born: October 21, 1928

1947: Signed with New York Yankees

Debut: July 1, 1950 (Yankees)

1950: Began his career 9-0

1950: Yankees win World Series

1950: TSN Rookie of the Year

1951-2: Korean War

1953: Yankees win World Series

1955: Back-to-Back one hitters

1956: Six consecutive strikeouts (tied AL record)

1956: 19-6, 2.47 ERA, 18 CG, 2 SHO, 225.2 IP

1956: Yankees win World Series

1957: Yankees win Pennant

1958: 14-7, 2.01 ERA, 15 CG, 7 SHO, 219.1 IP, 1.076 WHIP

1958: Six consecutive strikeouts

1958: Became only man with four consecutive Game 1 postseason starts

1958: Yankees win World Series

1960: Yankees win Pennant

1961: New manager Ralph Houk changed Casey Stengel’s policy of only pitching Ford against good teams. Ford got regular starts for the first time.

1961: 243 consecutive innings without a stolen base

1961: 25-4, 3.21 ERA, .862 win %, 11 CG, 3 SHO, 283 IP, 209 strkeouts

1961: Cy Young Award

1961: Broke World Series record for consecutive scoreless innings (eventually 33.2 IP)

1961: World Series MVP

1961-2: Yankees win World Series

1963: 24-7, .774 win %, 2.74 ERA, 13 CG, 3 SHO, 269.1 IP, 189 strikeouts

1963-4: Yankees win Pennant

1966: Became all-time Yankees wins leader

1967: Retired

1974: Yanks retired #16

1977: Broadcast first game in Toronto Blue Jays history

1987: Gets plaque in Monument Park

1998: Everlast releases Whitey Ford Sings the Blues.

1999: All Century Team nominee

Accomplishments:

6x World Champion

10x All-Star

1961 Cy Young Award

1961 World Series MVP

1961 Babe Ruth Award

1950 TSN Rookie of the Year

World Series record 33.2 consecutive scoreless IP

236-106 record

.690 win percentage

2.75 ERA

498 games-438 starts-156 CG

45 SHO

Eight 1-0 wins

3170.1 IP

1086 walks

1956 Strikeouts

1.215 WHIP

Led league in wins: 3x

Led league win %: 3x

ERA Champ: 2x

Led league in GS: 2x

Led league in CG (18): 1955

Led league in SHO: 2x

Led league in IP: 2x

Led league in WHIP (1.076): 1958

15+ Wins: 10x

20+ Wins: 2x

25 wins (1961)

Sub 3.00 ERA: 8x

Sub 2.50 ERA: 3x

10+ CG: 8x

15+ CG: 3x

200+ IP: 11x

250+ IP: 4x

209 strikeouts (1961)

Postseason: 10-8, 2.71 ERA, 146 IP, 1.137 WHIP, 7 CG, 3 SHO, 22 games (11 World Series)

Ted Williams: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1966

Born: August 30, 1918

1936-7: Played in the Pacific Coast League (discovered by Eddie Collins)

1938: Signed by Red Sox

Debut: April 20, 1939 (Red Sox)

1939: Babe Ruth declared Williams “rookie of the year”

1940: Pitched two innings against the Tigers, he allowed one run and struck out Rudy York

1941: Hit GW walk-off in ASG

1941: Hit .406 (won Batting Title)

1942: Won Triple Crown/DiMaggio wins MVP (36, 137, .356)

1943-5: World War II

1946: Williams shift first employed by Cleveland Indians’ manager Lou Boudreau

1946: Red Sox win Pennant

1946: Williams wins AL MVP

1947: Wins Triple Crown/DiMaggio wins MVP (.343, 32, 114)

1948: Sox lose pennant playoff against Indians

1948: Won batting title (.369)

1949: Wins AL MVP

1950: Breaks arm in ASG

1952-3: Korean War

1954: Broke collarbone

1956: Spat on a fan

1957: Hit .388 at age 40 (Won Batting Title)

1958: Won Batting Title (.328)

1960: Hit 500^th home run

1960: Homered in last AB of career

1966: Elected to Hall of Fame

1966: Gave memorable speech honoring Negro League players and calling for their recognition

1969-72: Managed Washington Senators/Texas Rangers (273-364)

1991: Presidential Medal of Freedom

1999: Honored at Fenway Park ASG

1999: All Century Team

2000: Elected to the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2000

2002: Died (litigation followed)

2004: Son, John-Henry died

2004: Red Sox finally win World Series

Accomplishments:

19x All Star

2x MVP

2x Triple Crown winner

6x Batting Champ

4x Home run champ

Last man to hit .400

Led league in games (155): 1949

Led league in runs: 6x

.344

521 HR

1839 RBI

1798 runs

2654 hits

525 doubles

2021 walks-709 strikeouts

.482 OBP (1^st all time)

.634 slugging

1.116 OPS

4884 TB

100+ runs: 9x

30+ doubles: 8x

40+ doubles: 4x

Led league in doubles: 2x

10+ triples: 2x

30+ HR: 8x

43 HR (1949)

4x RBI Champ

100+ RBI: 9x

159 RBI (1949)

100+ walks: 11x

Led league in walks: 8x

Hit .300+: 15x

Hit .350+: 5x

.406 (1941)

.400 OBP: 15x

.500 OBP: 3x

Led league in OBP: 12x

.500 slugging: 15x

.600 slugging: 12x

.700 slugging: 3x

Led league in slugging: 9x

OPS 1.000 or higher: 17x

Led league in OPS: 10x

300 TB: 9x

Led league in TB: 6x

Postseason: .200, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .533 OPS

Presidential Legacies: Cold War Democrats (and Ike): 1945-1969

The next set of presidents faced a drastically changed world. Following World War II, Europe was in shambles, the Soviet Union was throwing its weight around, and America was the last man standing. As such, the post-war presidents filled the vacuum left by collapsed European powers. America became the world’s policeman. As such, the United States moved to thwart Soviet expansionism. The U.S. did this for three reasons. First, the Soviets moved into Eastern Europe and refused to leave. Second, the Soviets’ stated purpose was worldwide revolution. Third, Hitler already plunged the world into a global conflict that took millions of lives. Stalin was not that much different than the German dictator. So, checking Soviet expansionism became a way to stop World War III.

Harry Truman was the first president to face this threat. His response was decisive and set the policy that was essentially followed by his successors through 1991. When George Kennan wrote his long telegram arguing that the U.S.S.R. respected strength and would back down if confronted, Truman made it his own. American policy toward the Russians would be based on containment. Communism would not be allowed to spread beyond its current borders. In order to achieve these ends, Truman pumped money in the form of the Marshall Plan into Europe. The plan got Western Europe back on its feet by the early fifties. He backed the Democratic forces in Greece and Turkey when Communism threatened. They survived. When North Korea invaded South Korea, Truman sent in MacArthur. Despite Chinese intervention, South Korea remained free. Despite his foreign policy achievements, including ending World War II, Truman was unpopular. Due to his low approval ratings and advanced age, he stepped down from office. However, his Containment Policy survived the Truman Presidency by forty years.

Truman’s immediate successor was General Eisenhower. Ike continued his predecessor’s policies and balanced the budget. Ike also created the Interstate Highway System which created Modern America. The system was designed with defense in mind. It ended up creating the suburbs. Americans were no longer shackled. They did not have to either live in the country or the city. They could now more easily go on cross country vacations, work far from home, and so on.

Eisenhower faced international crises as well, but being Ike, he was able to confront them and calm the nation. John F. Kennedy being John F. Kennedy, and not General Eisenhower, gave the Soviets no pause. After a failed attempt to overthrow Cuba’s Fidel Castro, the Soviets decided to place offensive nuclear missiles on the island. What followed was a textbook example of crisis management. Kennedy ordered a blockade. Technically, this was an act of war. However, Robert Kennedy was negotiating behind the scenes and an agreement was reached. The Soviets backed down. The world did not incinerate. The Soviets would remove the missiles from Cuba. The U.S. would remove antiquated missiles from Turkey. The Soviets would not mention the deal. America would not remove Castro. The Cuban Missile Crisis ended and the world survived.

While Kennedy stepped to the edge, Lyndon Johnson went over it. Lyndon Johnson managed to anger everyone. His Great Society angered Conservatives, led to large deficits in subsequent decades, and is generally considered a failure. His Civil Rights policies angered the South and sent the entire region over to the G.O.P. Freeing African-Americans (with more Republican support than Democratic) should have been his crowning glory. However, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Fair Housing Act of 1968 are overshadowed by Vietnam.

The Vietnam War destroyed Johnson. As it dragged on, more people became disillusioned. After three years, the administration told Americans that the war was almost over. Then, the enemy launched a daring attack on the Tet New Year. In 1968, they attacked every major city in South Vietnam and fought in the American Embassy in Saigon. The U.S. won a major victory, but it did not look like it on television. Walter Cronkite declared the war lost. Johnson later announced he would not seek another term as president. The Democratic Party after 1968 fell to the McGovernites and has yet to recover.

Presidents and War Service

Revolutionary War

George Washington
James Monroe
Andrew Jackson

War of 1812

James Madison (as President)
James Monroe (as Secretaries of War and State)
Andrew Jackson
William Henry Harrison
John Tyler (Militia Service; saw no action)
James Buchanan

Mexican War

Zachary Taylor
Franklin Pierce
U.S. Grant

Civil War

Millard Fillmore (after his presidency; Major in Buffalo militia home guard; saw no action)
Andrew Johnson (military governor of Tennessee)
U.S. Grant
Rutherford B. Hayes
James Garfield
Chester Arthur
Benjamin Harrison
William McKinley

Spanish American War

Theodore Roosevelt

World War I

Harry Truman
Dwight Eisenhower (saw no action)

World War II

Dwight Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon Johnson
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Ronald Reagan (saw no action)
George H.W. Bush

Korea

Jimmy Carter (US Navy)

Vietnam

George W. Bush (Reserves; no action)

Gulf War I, Gulf II, Afghanistan, War on Terror

None yet