It’s becoming that Christmas Day gifted us with three Corridor of Fame gamers. Right here’s a subjective rating of the highest 5 for December 25:
1) Rickey Henderson (1958)
The stolen-base champ, 10-time All-Star and 1990 AL MVP with the A’s is a no brainer lead for this checklist. All the time quotable, ever assured, the “Man of Steal” was a pleasure to look at on the sector. Right here’s simply certainly one of many wild Henderson info: He almost ran a marathon over his profession, simply by stealing bases. His 1,406 steals, at 90 ft apiece, comes out to 126,540 ft … or 23.97 miles; simply over two shy of a marathon.
2) Nellie Fox (1927)
Inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1997, Fox was an important piece of the “Go-Go” White Sox of the Fifties. He was the 1959 AL MVP, a 15-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover, receiving the inaugural award at second base in 1957. Extremely, his highest strikeout complete in a single season was … 18!
3) Pud Galvin (1856)
His pair of nicknames – Light Jeems and The Little Steam Engine – and his unimaginable look had been Corridor of Fame-worthy in their very own proper, however Pud was a reasonably good ballplayer, too. He captured an ERA title (1.16) in his rookie season and completed his 18-year profession with 1,807 strikeouts, spectacular for the period wherein he performed. Galvin was inducted into the Corridor of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1965.
4) Manny Trillo (1950)
Generally known as a slick-fielding second baseman, Trillo captured three Gold Glove Awards and was a stalwart within the center infield for the 1980 Phillies, who gained the franchise’s first World Collection title. He was the NLCS MVP throughout that playoff run, hitting .381/.364/.571 within the sequence in opposition to the Astros, with one memorable spotlight being a relay throw to chop off a run at house within the decisive Sport 5.
5) Hideki Okajima (1975)
Following a prolonged profession in Japan, Okajima signed with the Crimson Sox as a 31-year-old in 2007 and shortly grew to become an vital a part of their bullpen as a setup man to Jonathan Papelbon. Although he had an inauspicious begin to his Main League profession, permitting a house run on the primary pitch he threw, Okajima settled in and didn’t permit a run in 19 appearances from April 6 to Could 20 of his rookie season. He grew to become the primary Japanese-born pitcher to seem within the World Collection when he pitched 2 1/3 good frames in Sport 2 in opposition to the Rockies in 2007.
Nabil Crismatt (1994)
OK, this one is admittedly extra about how good it’s that Crismatt was born on … Christmas. However who is aware of? The Padres reliever, whose massive league profession bought underway in 2020, may find yourself being an honest pitcher.
Willy Taveras (1981)
He was the runner-up to Ryan Howard within the 2005 NL Rookie of the Yr vote and led the Nationwide League in stolen bases with 68 in 2008.