[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by veleno45

With your new numbers for Pesky, I would say the war could have kept him out of the HOF. If you take your numbers and compare them to HOF shortstops (More seasons and games at SS vs 3rd) he is right there with Sewell, Rizzuto, Reese, etc.

He certainly matches up well from a statistical standpoint. One thing that hurts him when compared to Joe Sewell, Scooter Rizzuto and Pee Wee Reese is a lack of rings. The Indians won the World Series in 1920, Joe Sewell's first season. The Yankees also won it all in 1932 with Sewell playing 125 games at short for them.

Phil Rizzuto's Yankees won 8 World Series (and that's just while he was there. They also won the 1943 World Series while he was on active service).

Pee Wee Reese only got one ring in his career when the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Yankees in the 1955 World Series. But, there is one thing in his favor. The Dodgers won six National League pennants while Pee Wee was there.

Johnny Pesky's Boston Red Sox only won one American League pennant while he was there, in 1946, and of course, they lost that Series to the Cardinals.
-----------------------------

One other really interesting stat I found while looking over Joe Sewell's career stats. He had a total of 8,333 plate appearances. He walked 824 times. Know how many times Joe Sewell struck out in his entire 14 year career? 114! Joe Sewell struck out once every 63 at bats for his career! In 1925, Sewell was third in the American League MVP vote, hitting .336 with 204 hits, 37 doubles and 98 RBI. He struck out 4 times in 699 plate appearances.

That's insane. He walked 64 times, and struck out 4 times. He had 608 at bats, and struck out 4 times, or once every 152 at bats.