2053-6 Will Karyabwite Get the Votes?

[indiansfan]

Will Karyabwite Get The Votes?

Will this be the year that Juan Karyabwite finally gets enough votes to make it into the Hall of Fame? It is somewhat perplexing why a player with his accomplishments hasn’t already gotten voted in and the voting is expected to get more competitive in coming seasons. Several players are nearing retirement soon that should be certain first year inductees.

Let’s start with Karyabwite’s 3057 hits. 3000 hits used to be an automatic ticket to the Hall. Every player in BBA history that has reached this number has been elected to the Hall. He ranks #21 all time in hits, more than many players who have been elected. His 797 stolen bases ranks #17 all time.

One of the best fielders in BBA history, Karyabwite earned 6 Zimmer Awards in left field. No other player at is position has been awarded more. So not just 3000 hits, but the best fielder at his position in league history.

If we want to compare him to players already in the Hall using HOF Standards Score his is better than 35 batters in the Hall. He HOF Monitor Score is better than 59 HOF members.

For fun, I looked up how many players in league history had 3000 hits, 250 home runs and 500 stolen bases. It turns out there are just 3 men that have demonstrated they can excel at each of these parts of the game.

Jared Gillstrom 3373 H, 575 HR, 603 SB, 2119 K, 0 Zimmer Awards
Steve Collins III 3277 H, 296 HR, 660 SB, 2396 K, 2 Zimmer Awards
Juan Karyabwite 3057 H, 287 HR, 797 SB, 802 K, 6 Zimmer Awards

Karyabwite managed to accomplish this with over 500 at bats fewer then either Gillstrom or Collins. He was also far less likely to strike out and he was a better fielder. I am not saying that he is the equal of either of these legends, but it interesting that when it comes to all around players he is in a very small group.

[Trebro]

He's had my vote twice now, and I only have 3 names on my ballot.

[usnspecialist]

One of the major issues with karywabwite is that across almost the last 2/3 of his career (11 seasons), he was only a league average hitter 3 times (was 10 of 18 overall in that regard). By the time he hit 27 he was basically cooked at the plate, which isnt great for his candidacy.

[aaronweiner]

3000 hits, .300 batting average, 800 steals, very good defense. Only reservation is that you'd like to see better batting numbers in Calgary.

[indiansfan]

It is a bit of a myth that Calgary is such a big hitters park. There are many parks that have dimensions more friendly than ours. When Ron sid his park analysis a few years back we were closer to the middle

[trmmilwwi]

Need to search for that park analysis to see how The Tap Room rates. Wait, it's called the TAP Room? So funny. (inside jokes abound)