This post is for voting and discussion in the 129th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This is the first of four rounds of balloting adding to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1974. Rules and lists are after the jump.
The new group of 1974-born players, in order to join the eligible list, must, as usual, have played at least 10 seasons in the major leagues or generated at least 20 Wins Above Replacement (“WAR”, as calculated by baseball-reference.com, and for this purpose meaning 20 total WAR for everyday players and 20 pitching WAR for pitchers). This first group of 1974-born candidates, including those with A-C surnames, joins the eligible holdovers from previous rounds to comprise the full list of players eligible to appear on your ballots.
In addition to voting for COG election among players on the main ballot, there will be also be voting for elevation to the main ballot among players on the secondary ballot. For both ballots, which may be voted at the same time or in separate posts, voters must include three and only three eligible players. For the main ballot election, the one player who appears on the most ballots cast in the round is inducted into the Circle of Greats, while for the secondary ballot election, the one player appearing on the most ballots cast is elevated to the main ballot for the next COG election round. In the case of ties, a runoff election round will be held for COG election, while a tie-breaking process will be followed to determine the secondary ballot winner.
Players who fail to win either ballot but appear on half or more of the ballots that are cast win four added future rounds of ballot eligibility. Players who appear on 25% or more of the ballots cast, but less than 50%, earn two added future rounds of ballot eligibility. One additional round of eligibility is earned by any player who appears on at least 10% of the ballots cast or, for the main ballot only, any player finishing in the top 9 (including ties) in ballot appearances. Holdover candidates on the main ballot who exhaust their eligibility will drop to the secondary ballot for the next COG election round, as will first time main ballot candidates who attract one or more votes but do not earn additional main ballot eligibility. Secondary ballot candidates who exhaust their eligibility will drop from that ballot, but will become eligible for possible reinstatement in a future Redemption round election.
All voting for this round closes at 11:59 PM EST Thursday, January 31st, while changes to previously cast ballots are allowed until 11:59 PM EST Tuesday, January 29th.
If you’d like to follow the vote tally, and/or check to make sure I’ve recorded your vote correctly, you can see my ballot-counting spreadsheet for this round here: COG 1974 Part 1 Vote Tally. I’ll be updating the spreadsheet periodically with the latest votes. Initially, there is a row in the spreadsheet for every voter who has cast a ballot in any of the past rounds, but new voters are entirely welcome — new voters will be added to the spreadsheet as their ballots are submitted. Also initially, there is a column for each of the holdover candidates; additional player columns from the new born-in-1974 group will be added to the spreadsheet as votes are cast for them.
Choose your three players from the lists below of eligible players. The current holdovers are listed in order of the number of future rounds (including this one) through which they are assured eligibility, and alphabetically when the future eligibility number is the same. The 1974 birth-year players are listed below in order of the number of seasons each played in the majors, and alphabetically among players with the same number of seasons played.
Holdovers:
| MAIN BALLOT | ELIGIBILITY | SECONDARY BALLOT | ELIGIBILITY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Brown | 11 rounds | Andre Dawson | 10 rounds |
| Luis Tiant | 8 rounds | Ted Lyons | 4 rounds |
| Dick Allen | 5 rounds | Rick Reuschel | 4 rounds |
| Bill Dahlen | 5 rounds | Willie Randoph | 3 rounds |
| Manny Ramirez | 5 rounds | Todd Helton | 3 rounds |
| Graig Nettles | 3 rounds | Andy Pettitte | this round ONLY |
| Bobby Wallace | 3 rounds | ||
| Richie Ashburn | 2 rounds | ||
| Dwight Evans | 2 rounds | ||
| Ken Boyer | this round ONLY | ||
| Ted Simmons | this round ONLY | ||
| Don Sutton | this round ONLY |
Everyday Players (born in 1974, ten or more seasons played in the major leagues or at least 20 WAR, A-C surname):
Bobby Abreu
Miguel Cairo
Orlando Cabrera
Frank Catalanotto
Jamey Carroll
Marlon Anderson
Sean Casey
Jose Cruz
Roger Cedeno
Mark Bellhorn
Emil Brown
Pitchers (born in 1974, ten or more seasons played in the major leagues or at least 20 WAR, A-C surname):
Chad Bradford
As is our custom with first time candidates, here is a factoid and related quiz question on each of the new players on the ballot.
- Bobby Abreu recorded thirteen straight seasons (1998-2010) playing 150 or more games, tied with Willie Mays (1954-66) for the longest such streak in majors history. Excepting strike-shortened campaigns, which three players have longer streaks of such seasons? (Pete Rose, Cal Ripken, Rafael Palmeiro)
- Miguel Cairo played in 29 post-season games, but never in the World Series. Which player has appeared in the most post-season games without playing in the World Series? (Russell Martin)
- Orlando Cabrera is one of
threefive players with 600 games at shortstop in each league. Who are the othertwofour? (Monte Cross, George Davis, Leo Cardenas, Royce Clayton) - Frank Catalanotto topped 100 OPS+ and 15 oWAR for his career. Among such players with careers starting in 1995 or later, which retired outfielder hit fewer home runs than Catalanotto’s total of 84? (Angel Pagan)
- Jamey Carroll played over 250 games at 2B, SS and 3B. Who was the first expansion era player with such a career? (Tony Phillips)
- Chad Bradford recorded a 0.39 ERA for his post-season career. Who is the only pitcher with a lower career ERA in 20+ post-season games? (John Rocker)
- Marlon Anderson’s 7 home runs for the Dodgers are tied for the most by any player with fewer than 50 games for LA. Who was the first player with this achievement? (Steve Bilko)
- Jose Cruz’s .198 career ISO is fifth highest in a 5000 PA career with OPS+ under 105. Which player with OPS+ under 105 as a Blue Jay has the only ISO higher than Cruz’s in 2500 PA in Toronto? (Joe Carter)
- Sean Casey’s 197 hits in 1999 are the most by a Reds first baseman in the post-war era. Which post-war era Reds first baseman recorded a season leading the NL in hits? (Ted Kluszewski, 1955)
- Roger Cedeno’s age 24 season for the 1999 Mets featured a .300 BA, 60 steals and 60 walks. Which other NL player posted these totals at as young an age and, like Cedeno, did not lead his league in steals? (John McGraw, 1894-95)
- Mark Bellhorn‘s best season came in 2002 for the Cubs with 27 HR and an .886 OPS, but only 56 RBI. Who is the only Cub to post a higher OPS and fewer RBI in a 400 PA season? (Topsy Hartsel, 1901)
- Emil Brown logged 600 PA and stroked 150 hits in consecutive seasons (2005-06) aged 30-31, the oldest player to do so in his first two years in Kansas City. Who is the youngest player to post these totals in his first two seasons as a Royal? (Amos Otis)
