ACBL Hall of Fame
Class of 1951
The ballots are all in and the ACBL Hall of Fame has two new members. With all 14 managers voting it took 11 votes to be elected. Both legends were narrowly elected, and other players narrowly missed election. Without further delay, our inductees:
HANK GREENBERG
1933 Shelby Unfaithful, 1934 Potsdam Pilots, 1935-36 Ft. Lauderdale
Breakers, 1937 Nashua Panthers, 1938-40 Saukville Saints, 1940 Ft. Lauderdale
Breakers, 1941, 45 Marshall Wolves, 1946-47 Evanston Sharks
One of only 3 ACBL players to hit 60 HRs in a season, in 1938 when he also drove in 161 runs in leading Saukville to Federal League regular season title….two-time Federal League MVP, he played for only two franchises, but in seven different locations, totaling exactly 300 HRs for career, which was shortened by 3 years of service in World War II….hit 5 HRs in 11 post-season games for 1937 World Series runner-up Nashua, but earned ring by hitting .455 for World Series champion Evanston in 1946, winning MVP honors
ARKY VAUGHAN
1932-43, 47-48 Bergen Barflies, 1947 Bradenton Buckeyes
Long-time All-Star shortstop and leader of Bergen Barflies….appeared in six World Series, winning two championship rings….hit over .300 8 times, with high of .380 in 1935 to lead Colonial League….led league in runs scored four times and triples three times….two-time Colonial league MVP in 1934 and 1935…holds all-time ACBL record for triples with 140, is 2nd in runs scored and in the top ten in numerous other hitting categories….went 7-7 while hitting for cycle in 1934 game
The complete voting totals appear below. Bob Johnson and Ernie Lombardi just missed election, while Ted Lyons and Mel Harder were also close. They, along with each player that received a vote, will appear on next year’s ballot.
Thanks again for your enthusiastic participation, and as always, thanks to Tom for running such a great league.
Hank Greenberg – 12 ELECTED
Arky Vaughan – 11 ELECTED
Bob Johnson – 10
Ernie Lombardi – 10
Ted Lyons – 9
Mel Harder – 8
Gabby Hartnett – 7
Chuck Klein – 6
Dolph Camilli – 5
Hal Trotsky – 5
Wes Ferrell – 4
Tommy Bridges - 3
Stan Hack – 3
Thornton Lee – 2
Lloyd Waner – 2
Curt Davis – 1
Claude Passeau – 1
Rudy York – 1
Spud Chandler
Doc Cramer
Frankie Crosetti
Bill Dietrich
Rick Ferrell
Lonnie Frey
Pinky Higgins
Joey Kuhel
Al Lopez
Johnny McCarthy
Frank McCormick
George McQuinn
Terry Moore
Bobo Newsom
Fritz Ostermueller
Skeeter Webb