Baseball – Latin Prospects, Josh Gibson, Paul Splittorff, Albert Belle

Here is a theoretical question for you. If were a scouting director, and you had a budget of $2 million for Latin American free agents (I'm just making that number up), would you rather direct this money towards signing one big bonus guy, say $1.75 million to a high-profile player that everyone think will be a star, then using the remaining $275,000 to fill in roster gaps with cheaper guys, or would you rather spread the money out and get, say, 10 players at $200,000 each? http://www.minorleagueball.com/

His Hall of Fame plaque reads that Josh Gibson hit “almost 800 homeruns” in his career. There are several reports of Josh Gibson hitting home runs which traveled more than 500 feet. Walter Johnson said Gibson could, “hit the ball a mile.”  Satchel Paige simply called Gibson, “the greatest hitter who ever lived.”  “There were a hundred legends about him,” catching great Roy Campanella said. “Once you saw him play, you knew they were all true.”  Gibson once reportedly hit a ball over the fence in Pittsburgh which was not caught until the next day during his next game in Philadelphia.  He was called out in Pittsburgh for the previous day http://baseballpastandpresent.com/2012/02/12/josh-gibson-black-babe-ruth/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Paul Splittorff (b. 1946) was a lefty who pitched 15 years, all with the Kansas City Royals.  He won 20 games in 1973, and has more wins, 166, than any other Royals pitcher.  He was a broadcaster  for the club after his playing days were over, and was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. http://fairandunbalancedblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/baseball-losses-in-2011.html   

Albert Belle had as surly a demeanor as anyone could have. However, fans of the Cleveland Indians were able to look past that the first eight years of his career as he hammered the ball like few before him and few since on the shores of Lake Erie. In those eight seasons with the Indians, the team with whom Belle broke into the majors in 1989, the masher nailed 242 home runs and batted .295. He was a major cog in the 1995 World Series club and helped the Tribe to the postseason in 1996. No one in Cleveland will soon forget Belle’s epic 1995 campaign when he became the only Indian to ever enjoy a 50/50 season. In a season condensed to 144 games due to a players strike wiping out the first month, Belle still slammed 50 home runs and 52 doubles. Both numbers led the American League, as did his 126 RBI. With a .317 batting average, Belle nearly had a Triple Crown season. Despite the near-historic season, Belled finished second behind Mo Vaughn in the MVP voting. That is largely due to Belle’s unwillingness to talk to the media, the people who vote on the postseason awards. The media despised Belle, which almost makes it a testament that he finished that highly in voting. http://didthetribewinlastnight.com/2012/02/13/countdown-to-pitchers-and-catchers-8-albert-belle/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter