ACBL Hall of Fame

Class of 1950

The tabulation is complete and I’m proud to announce we have three new members of the ACBL Hall of Fame.  With 13 managers voting it took 10 votes to be elected, and with a full ballot of star players, tough decisions had to be made.  The following three legends made the cut:

Al Simmons
1930 Troy Haymakers, 1931 Schutterlee Mill Ball Swatters, 1932-41 Corleone Family, 1943-44 Hogpath Panthers

With the third highest batting average in ACBL history, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in his 4th appearance on the ballot….the mainstay of the early Corleone Family teams, he hit over .300 in 7 seasons, including .389 in 1930 and .380 in 1936…..he hit over 200 HRs and drove in over 1000 runs….he appeared in the post-season in 5 seasons but never played in the World Series, coming closest in 1933, when he hit .393 as the Family lost a tough 7 game league championship series….had two 6-6 games in career

Billy Herman
1931-43, 46-47 Bergen Barflies

All-star 2nd baseman and face of the Bergen Barflies during 8 World Series appearances where he earned 3 World Championship rings….had 5 consecutive seasons with more than 200 hits….all-time ACBL career leader in 2Bs, 3rd all-time in hits and in the top ten in numerous other categories…..hit .301 for career and played every game in 5 seasons….drove in and scored over 1000 runs…..MVP of 1932 & 1943 Colonial League Championship Series

Joe Medwick
1932-33 Shelby Unfaithful, 1934 Potsdam Pilots, 1935-36 Bellingham Giants, 1936-40 Iowa Harvesters, 1941-44 Saukville Saints, 1944-45 Bradenton Buckeyes, 1946-47 Corleone Family

His 1937 Colonial League MVP season was one of the best in ACBL history, as he won the Colonial League Triple Crown while leading the Iowa Harvesters to the ACBL championship in his only World Series appearance…..played for 6 ACBL franchises and was involved in numerous blockbuster trades…..ranks in all-time ACBL top ten in numerous hitting categories, including 2nd all-time in 2Bs and 4th all-time in hits….finished career with over 200 HRs and 1000 RBIs…..hit for cycle in 1941 with Saukville.

 

The complete voting totals are below.  All players who received at least 1 vote will appear on next year’s Hall of Fame ballot.  Thanks for your enthusiastic participation, and as always, thanks to Tom for running such great league.

Al Simmons – 11 - ELECTED
Billy Herman – 10 - ELECTED
Joe Medwick – 10 - ELECTED
Hank Greenberg – 8
Ernie Lombardi – 8
Ted Lyons – 8
Mel Harder – 7
Bob Johnson  - 7
Chuck Klein – 6
Hal Trosky – 5
Gabby Hartnett – 4
Tommy Bridges – 3
Dolph Camilli – 3
Doc Cramer – 2
Curt Davis – 2
Wes Ferrell – 2
Stan Hack – 2
Lloyd Waner  - 2
Spud Chandler – 1
Rick Ferrell – 1
Pinky Higgins – 1
Joey Kuhel – 1
Al Lopez – 1
Claude Passeau – 1
Wally Berger – 0
George Case - 0
Roy Cullenbine - 0
Don Gutteridge - 0
Lee Handley - 0
Frankie Hayes - 0
Art Herring - 0
Si Johnson - 0
Billy Jurges - 0
Chet Laabs - 0
Cookie Lavagetto - 0
Bill Lee - 0
Johnny Murphy - 0
Buddy Myer - 0
Skeeter Newsome - 0
Rusty Peters - 0
Gus Suhr  - 0
Billy Sullivan - 0
Cecil Travis - 0
Jimmy Wasdell - 0