Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1916 Ballot

For 1916 each voter should rank the top 10 players from all leagues combined.

Balloting is scheduled to close at 4pm EDT on 5 June 2019.

Anyone can vote, even if you do not normally participate in Hall of Merit discussions. If you have never participated in an MMP election, just post a preliminary ballot in the discussion thread by 4 June 2019.

For detailed rules see one of our previous ballots.

Gonfalon Cubs: That was fun

The first road trip of the season feels so long ago now, doesn’t it?  Coming into the season I was on the more optimistic side of people around here; I still overreacted a little to that piss poor start.  As plenty of people have said, teams are never as bad as they look at their worst or as good as they do at their best.  However, I see no reason to think the Cubs aren’t much more likely really this good - well, not .800 win percentage good, but 95 wins good.  The Cubs have the best run ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1916 Discussion

The Red Sox defeated the Brooklyn Robins in the World Series four games to one.

The Indianapolis ABC’s defeated the Chicago American Giants for the Colored Champion of the West. The Lincoln Stars were probably the best team in the East.

Vote for 10.

Player			SH WS		BBR WAR
Tris Speaker		40.7		8.6
Ty Cobb			42.4		8.0
Zack Wheat		30.9		6.0
Eddie Collins		31.6		7.0
Joe Jackson		34.0		7.0
Art Fletcher		24.2		6.3
Heinie Groh		23.5		5.3
Max Carey		27.1		5.1
George Sisler 		24.4		5.1 (includes ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1915 Results

Congratulations to Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander for winning the 1915 Most Meritorious Player award!

Player Name	pts	ballots	1sts
Pete Alexander	116	8	5
Ty Cobb	111	8	2
Eddie Collins	99	8	0
Walter Johnson	98	8	0
Tris Speaker	78	8	0
Gavy Cravath	77	7	0
Jack Fournier	59	7	0
John Henry Lloyd	32	4	0
Larry Doyle	25	3	0
Joe Williams	16	2	0
Dick Redding	15	1	1
Fred Toney	14	2	0
Bobby Veach	12	2	0
Honus Wagner	9	1	0
Benny Kauff	9	1	0
Jim Scott	9	1	0
Heinie Groh	8	1	0
Jeff Pfeffer	8	1	0
Tom ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1915 Ballot

For 1915 each voter should rank the top 10 players from all leagues combined.
Balloting is scheduled to close at 4pm EDT on 1 May 2019.
Anyone can vote, even if you do not normally participate in Hall of Merit discussions. If you have never participated in an MMP election, just post a preliminary ballot in the discussion thread by 30 April 2019.
For detailed rules see one of our previous ballots.

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1915 Discussion

The Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies in 1915 which means Boston topped Philly in consecutive seasons with different teams.

The New York Lincoln Stars and Chicago American Giants met in Chicago for a championship series. After four wins apiece the final game of the series was called after four innings with the Lincoln Stars ahead 1-0. Rube Foster of the Chicago American Giants declared the series a tie. The Lincoln Stars claimed a series victory 5 games to 4.

The Chicago Whales ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1914 Results

Congratulations to Tris Speaker, our 1914 Most Meritorious Player!

Player Name	pts	ballots	1sts
Tris Speaker	116	8	4
Eddie Collins	108	8	3
Walter Johnson	104	8	1
Dutch Leonard	86	8	0
Bill James	66	6	0
Frank Baker	59	7	0
Joe Williams	52	6	0
Pete Alexander	45	5	0
Jose Mendez	25	2	0
Sam Crawford	18	2	0
Benny Kauff	18	2	0
George Burns	17	2	0
JH Lloyd	17	2	0
Ben Taylor	15	2	0
Rabbit Maranville	15	2	0
Jeff Pfeffer	14	2	0
Sherry Magee	11	1	0
Ty Cobb	10	1	0
Cy Falkenberg	9	1	0
Tillie Walker	8	1	0
Gavy ...

Gonfalon Cubs: 2019 Season Predictions

I suck at these, but they’re always fun to revisit after the season to get an idea of my state of mind from Spring Training.

1. Bryant will finish top 3 in the MVP voting.  I’ve been saying for years he was going to put together a truly monster season, and he looked on his way last year before his shoulder injury.  I’m talking something .300+/.420/.600.
2. Rizzo’s 5 year OPS+ stops, and he rebounds to a 140ish OPS+ this year (IOW, staying healthy)
3. Baez will keep most of his gains from last ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1914 Ballot

For 1914 each voter should rank the top 10 players from all leagues combined.
Balloting is scheduled to close at 4pm EDT on 3 April 2019.
Anyone can vote, even if you do not normally participate in Hall of Merit discussions. If you have never participated in an MMP election, just post a preliminary ballot in the discussion thread by 2 April 2019.
For detailed rules see one of our previous ballots.

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1914 Discussion

The Boston “Miracle” Braves swept the Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series.

The Indianapolis Hoosiers claimed the Federal League crown.

There was no formal challenge for the championship of black baseball but that didn’t stop Rube Foster’s Chicago American Giants from claiming the title on film.

Vote for 10.

Player			SH WS		BBR WAR
Tris Speaker		44.8		9.9	
Eddie Collins		42.4		9.1
Frank Baker		33.7		7.4
Sam Crawford		29.6		6.2
George Burns		31.9		6.5		
Tillie Walker		26.4		5.8
Ty ...