The 1932 baseball season saw Babe Ruth make his last World Series appearance. It marked John McGraw’s last season as a manager. And in this blog universe it ushers in the next class of My Own Little Hall of Fame.
Louis Santop
Louis Santop was a slugging catcher for the Negro Leagues from 1909 through 1926. Considered both an excellent fielder and a great hitter, he spent time with the Lincoln Giants and later with Hilldale. While at the latter he participated in the first two Negro World Series, helping his team to a victory in 1925.
Bobby Veach
Outfielder Robert “Bobby” Veach played in the American League from 1912 through 1925. While with Detroit from 1912 through 1923 he won three RBI titles, two doubles titles, and led the league with 191 hits in 1919. As a defender he led the league in putouts and assists on several occasions.
Commentary:
1. Once the decision was made to add Negro League players to this fictional Hall of Fame, Santop became an easy choice. Most places that try to rank Negro League players rank him as easily the second or third best catcher (behind Josh Gibson and in competition with Biz Mackey) of the leagues. He was noted for good hands as well as a big bat.
2. It is a surprise to me that Veach isn’t already a Hall of Famer. He was excellent and deserves another look by the Veteran’s Committee the next time his era’s committee comes up. BTW I note that his Baseball Reference.com page is sponsored by our buddies at The Hall of Miller and Eric. Good for them.
3. The list of eligible everyday players for 1933: George Burns, Cupid Childs, Jack Daubert, Jack Fornier, Larry Gardner, Heinie Groh, Baby Doll Jacobson, Tommy Leach, Herman Long, Bobby Lowe, Tommy McCarthy, Stuffy McInnis, Clyde Milan, Wildfire Schulte, Cy Seymour, Roy Thomas, Mike Tiernan, George Van Haltren, Zack Wheat, Ross Youngs (a total of 20 with a maximum of 20 allowed).
4. The pitchers: Babe Adams, Chief Bender, Jack Chesbro, Wilbur Cooper, Walter Johnson, Sam Leever, Rube Marquard, Tony Mullane, Deacon Phillippe, Bob Shawkey, Jesse Tannehill, Doc White (a total of 12 with a maximum of 10 allowed).
5. The contributors: umpires-Bob Emslie, Tim Hurst; manager-George Stallings; owners: Barney Dreyfuss, Charles Ebbets, August Herrmann; Negro Leagues-Pete Oliver Marcell, Jose Mendez, Dobie Moore, Spottswood Poles; and pioneer William R. Wheaton (a total of 11 with 10 being the maximum).
6. I think it’s a pretty safe bet that Walter Johnson makes it next time.
Tags: Bobby Veach, Louis Santop
Verdun2's Blog 
October 3, 2016 at 9:57 am
As you say, Santrop is a no-brainer. Veach….he’s a hard call. I tend to bunch him with the George Burnses and Bing Millers in the good-but-not-immortal category, although he’s probably a half-step above those two.
October 3, 2016 at 11:13 am
You might be surprised given my fandom of Veach that I’m a little curious about how he made it to your Hall. Great defenders are so often misunderstood in their time. And really, they’re misunderstood historically. Keith Hernandez is another good example of a truly great player who is called “very good”.
So I’m surprised because your Hall seems to be about earned reputation at the time. To my mind, Veach wasn’t considered such an incredible player in 1932 or so.
In any case, in whatever corner of the Internet Bobby Veach gets the love he deserves, I’m happy.
And thanks for the shout out too!
October 4, 2016 at 8:25 am
Although earned reputation makes a world of difference in the 1930s (as it does today) the RBI and doubles titles (I didn’t realize, until I began researching this project that Veach had so many RBI titles) convinced me he had a good chance in an era that remembered them. And I admit to being a big fan, which probably gives him a benefit of any doubt.
v
October 3, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Perhaps Veach would be comparable to Mark Ellis?