Brett W Kiser

Dwight Evans for Cooperstown Brett W Kiser

Cooperstown, New York, the Mount Olympus of the baseball universe, attracts numerous visitors each year to peruse the plaque gallery, where the immortals of the game reside. In Volume One, we analyzed the candidacy of former Red Sox star Dwight Evans, and introduced readers to candidates for induction from the inner garden. Here, in Volume Two, the focus will be on the outfielders, men of the mound and those in a management capacity. Readers will be introduced to quality candidates, such as former Pittsburgh Pirate hit machine Al Oliver and the White Sox former southpaw stalwart Billy Pierce. The relief aces won't go neglected, as pioneers of the fireman, Firpo Marberry and Roy Face are here within. Field generals like Jimmie Dykes and those in an ownership way, such as the incomparable Chris Von Der Ahe, will be listed herein. The final chapter is a "call for action" for Cooperstown, to finally appraise the men from the early days of baseball. Little has been done to honor those who starred in the 1800's, men such as Tommy Bond, Paul Hines, Bobby Mathews, George Van Haltren and many others. A surprising number of early stars have never been analyzed. Their time for recognition has come. Let's give shape to the ghosts of baseball's past, relive their glory, and petition the Hall of Fame to take heed of their accomplishments.