Hal Richman's Odd National League Selections

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Hal Richman's Odd National League Selections

I originally wanted this to be one big post, but there’s simply too much information. We’ll list out Richman’s unusual National League “all star” selections, and we’ll then get into the analysis tomorrow.

The following National League players received a Strat-O-Matic card in the original game (released in 1961, based on 1960 season stats) despite not being on either National League All-Star team:

• Richie Ashburn, Chicago Cubs

• Don Zimmer, Chicago Cubs

• Dick Ellsworth, Chicago Cubs

• Glen Hobbie, Chicago Cubs

• Frank Robinson, Cincinnati Reds. Of course, Richman can be forgiven here, considering Robinson’s incredible 169 OPS+. Robinson was an understandable snub by the fans: he was only hitting .259 / .376 / .504 with only 11 home runs on July 3, when All-Star voting ceased. He went on a tear through the National League afterwards.

• Jim O’Toole, Cincinnati Reds

• Bob Purkey, Cincinnati Reds

• Wally Moon, Los Angeles Dodgers

• Maury Wills, Los Angeles Dodgers

• Don Drysdale, Los Angeles Dodgers

• Lew Burdette, Milwaukee Braves

• Warren Spahn, Milwaukee Braves

• Pancho Herrera, Philadelphia Phillies. Herrera finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, however, on the strength of a .281 batting average and his 17 home runs. However, Herrera also led the National League in strikeouts with 136.

• Tony González, Philadelphia Phillies

• John Buzhardt, Philadelphia Phillies

• Gene Conley, Philadelphia Phillies

• Don Hoak, Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates had 5 position players and 3 pitchers named to the All-Star Games, and yet Richman still managed to give a card to a Pirate player who was not on the All-Star rosters.

• Willie Kirkland, San Francisco Giants

• Sam Jones, San Francisco Giants

• Hal Smith, St. Louis Cardinals. This is one of the strangest decisions Richman made, in my opinion. Smith didn’t even have a good year in 1960. Perhaps Richman had him confused with the “other” Hal Smith who played catcher, the one at Pittsburgh who hit the famous home run in game 7 of the World Series.

• Ernie Broglio, who went 21-9 for the St. Louis Cardinals. Broglio might have gotten the nod over Lindy McDaniel because Broglio started 24 of his 52 appearances; McDaniel was strictly a relief pitcher, saving 27 games in 1960.

And here were notable National League snubs:

• Bill Henry, Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher, who was on both All-Star Game rosters.

• Johnny Podres, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher. Podres had his best season in 1960.

• Joe Adcock, Milwaukee Braves. This is probably because Richman only had room for 3 position players per team; the Braves had 4 All-Star position players.

• Bob Buhl, starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Braves.

• Dick Stuart, first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Smokey Burgess, catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Bob Skinner, left fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Roberto Clemente, right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and almost certainly the biggest snub on this list.

• Roy Face, relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Bill White, St. Louis Cardinals

• Lindy McDaniel, relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the interest of preventing these posts from getting too long, I’ll have some analysis tomorrow.