ACBL Hall of Fame Report

Here are the results from the voting for the inaugural class of the ACBL Hall of Fame. In an election where it took at least 11 votes to qualify for induction, we had two unanimous selections, 1 player who just made it, 1 who barely missed, another who was very close, and a few others who received votes and have the opportunity to try again next year when the ballot won't be quite as crowded.

LOU GEHRIG began his career with the Gate City Bums. After 1 season in Gate City, where he was a member of the World Series champions, he was traded to the Nashua Panthers, where he played six seasons. The Panthers lost in the league championship series his first year in Nashua, but made the World Series the next five seasons, winning 3 times. Gehrig then was shipped off to the Ft. Lauderdale Breakers, for whom he played his final three seasons. The Breakers won the World Series title in 1938, giving Gehrig an amazing 5 rings in his 10 seasons in the ACBL. Gehrig continues to rank near the top of many ACBL career batting categories, including leading the ACBL in career on-base percentage, ranking 2nd in career batting average, and 3rd in career HRs. His 1930 season continues to amaze, as his .462 BA is the best single season average by .022 & his 187 RBIs are 2 better than the 2nd best RBI season - which was his 1936 total of 185 RBIs. Gehrig missed the ACBL triple crown in 1930 because of Babe Ruth's 61 HRs, but did win it with 50 HRs, 185 RBIs, and a .412 BA in 1936. He's the only ACBL player to hit over .400 in more than 1 season.

LEFTY GROVE spent the first 3 years of his ACBL career with the Islip Barons, including a World Series appearance in a losing cause in 1931, before the Corleone Family acquired his services. Grove pitched for 8 years with the Family and earned his only ring in his final season when Corleone won the championship in 1941, although Lefty did not appear in the post-season. Grove won 20 games 6 times in his career and is one of only 6 pitchers to have won 200 or more games in the ACBL. Lefty also holds career marks for the highest winning percentage in ACBL history and the lowest earned run average, while he ranks 2nd in career strikeouts. His 1931 and 1932 seasons with ERAs of 1.16 & 1.19, respectively, rank 2nd & 3rd on the all-time ACBL list of lowest ERAs in a season. Lefty also pitched an amazing 6 career no-hitters, including one of only 2 perfect games in ACBL history.

DIZZY DEAN was a Bellingham Giant for the first six years of his ACBL career which began in 1932, reaching the World Series with the eventual ACBL runners-up in 1934. Dizzy was shipped to the New York Knights in 1937, and the Knights sent him to the bullpen, where he became the ACBL's best relief pitcher for the next two years and appeared in his 2nd World Series in 1938. Dean was hurt in 1940 and only appeared in six games. He was released by the Knights and picked up by the Bradenton Buckeyes, where he won 2 games to finish his career in 1941. Dizzy won more than 20 games in the 1st four years of his career, with the highlight a 31-6 season in 1934. To show Dean's versitily, he ranks 4th on the list for most wins in a season & 2nd on the list for most saves in a season. He's also in the top 20 in career wins and saves. Dizzy also is 4th in both career winning percentage and earned runs average.