Jimmy Adams becomes USBA's first Hall Of Famer!

Delgadodawg · 04-19-2004, 04:26 PM

***The following was written by Michael Eichorn of the USBA. AKA Hammer755

Jimmy Adams was perhaps the most dangerous hitter in the first six years of the USBA. Surprisingly, Adams was only the 35th player selected in the USBA Dispersal Draft. Most owners were scared off by Adams’ age, as he was to turn 33 a week into the upstart league’s inaugural season.

But Adams proved the skeptics wrong, putting up six consecutive All-Star seasons - all in a Philadelphia Maverick uniform, before calling it a career at the conclusion of the 1990 season. Adams finished with a lifetime 0.333 batting average, 262 HR (average of 44/year), 792 RBI (132/yr), 1,259 hits (210/yr) and a career OPS of 0.976.

In addition to the six All-Star appearances (five of them as a starter), Adams also was named to the All-Freedom League Team five times. In 16 All-Star at-bats, Adams batted 0.313 with 1 HR and 2 RBI and an OPS of 0.916, and was named the MVP of the 1987 game played in Las Vegas.

The only blemish on Adams’s record was his lack of post-season success. He led the Mavs to one division title and a berth in the first USBA Championship Series, and one Wild Card, but failed to failed to break 0.200 in either of his post-season appearances, finishing with a career 0.184 playoff average to go with 1 HR and 5 RBI in 13 games.

Simply put, Jimmy Adams was one of the most dominant players in the USBA in his era, among the top two or three players in the league during its rise to prominence. At the time of his retirement, he ranked in the USBA’s Career Top 10 in average, SLG, OPS, hits, home runs, RBI, and runs scored.

Cato reference for Adams

Michael Xavier · 04-19-2004, 07:12 PM

You guys let a guy in who didn't even serve ten seasons. Pshaw!

LivnLegend · 04-19-2004, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael Xavier
You guys let a guy in who didn't even serve ten seasons. Pshaw!

The USBA has an innovative "Pioneers Wing" in the Hall of Fame which is designed to feature players who started with the league in its inaugural season and had stellar careers. The Pioneers Wing was added to spotlight players who were instrumental to the early success of the league and helped put the league on the map yet were ineligible for election to the Hall of Fame due to not meeting the 10 year minimum rule.

The Pioneers Wing gives us a chance to salute the great players in the USBA, like Jimmy Adams, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the Hall of Fame.

treedom · 04-19-2004, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LivnLegend
The Pioneers Wing gives us a chance to salute the great players in the USBA, like Jimmy Adams, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the Hall of Fame.

That's a good idea. I always hate to see these guys not make it, even in my solo leagues where I have much less attachment to them than in online leagues.

My last solo league with v5 ran for about a quarter century, and the season HR record was set by a guy in the 2nd year, and has stood the whole time. He hit .370 that year, only beaten twice, and had an OPS of over 1.300, which has never been beaten - along with his 55 HRs that made it, hands down, the best season by a hitter ever in that league.

Yet, he only ended up playing for about 5 seasons, so I couldn't put him in the hall, but I think I'll open up a 'Pioneers Wing' of my own in my new solo league.

Delgadodawg · 04-20-2004, 05:08 PM

Yeah, I should have mentioned that he was inducted into the Pioneer Wing of the USBA's HOF.

04-19-2004, 04:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Delgadodawg All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Vancouver Posts: 782 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Jimmy Adams becomes USBA's first Hall Of Famer! **The following was written by Michael Eichorn of the USBA. AKA Hammer755 Jimmy Adams was perhaps the most dangerous hitter in the first six years of the USBA. Surprisingly, Adams was only the 35th player selected in the USBA Dispersal Draft. Most owners were scared off by Adams’ age, as he was to turn 33 a week into the upstart league’s inaugural season. But Adams proved the skeptics wrong, putting up six consecutive All-Star seasons - all in a Philadelphia Maverick uniform, before calling it a career at the conclusion of the 1990 season. Adams finished with a lifetime 0.333 batting average, 262 HR (average of 44/year), 792 RBI (132/yr), 1,259 hits (210/yr) and a career OPS of 0.976. In addition to the six All-Star appearances (five of them as a starter), Adams also was named to the All-Freedom League Team five times. In 16 All-Star at-bats, Adams batted 0.313 with 1 HR and 2 RBI and an OPS of 0.916, and was named the MVP of the 1987 game played in Las Vegas. The only blemish on Adams’s record was his lack of post-season success. He led the Mavs to one division title and a berth in the first USBA Championship Series, and one Wild Card, but failed to failed to break 0.200 in either of his post-season appearances, finishing with a career 0.184 playoff average to go with 1 HR and 5 RBI in 13 games. Simply put, Jimmy Adams was one of the most dominant players in the USBA in his era, among the top two or three players in the league during its rise to prominence. At the time of his retirement, he ranked in the USBA’s Career Top 10 in average, SLG, OPS, hits, home runs, RBI, and runs scored. Cato reference for Adams Last edited by Delgadodawg; 04-19-2004 at 04:38 PM.*

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04-19-2004, 07:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Michael Xavier Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Madisonville, KY Posts: 371	You guys let a guy in who didn't even serve ten seasons. Pshaw!

04-20-2004, 05:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
Delgadodawg All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Vancouver Posts: 782 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Yeah, I should have mentioned that he was inducted into the Pioneer Wing of the USBA's HOF.