Get Your Vote In For Los Angeles Area All-Time All-Stars
In past years, SABR convention organizers have chosen their local or regional All-Time All-Stars and put them in the convention publication. This year, we’re throwing it open to everyone after a ballot carefully prepared by Southern California chapter members. (The ballot can be found here.)
With exactly one month to go before SABR 41 begins July 6 at the Long Beach Hilton, there are a couple positions on the All-Time All-Star team that are all but locked up. However, there’s still plenty of time to get your vote in before the final results are revealed at the convention.
- At catcher, Gary Carter — born in Culver City and a product of Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton — has 64 percent of the vote as of June 6, more than 125 votes ahead of his nearest competitors, Mickey Owen and Lance Parrish.
- Around the infield, Eddie Murray — from Locke HS in Los Angeles — holds a similar lead (with 60 percent) at first base over Mark McGwire; at second, Jackie Robinson — who went to Muir HS in Pasadena and was a multisport star at UCLA — is leading Bobby Doerr and Bobby Grich in a runaway (70 percent).
- The shortstop and third base spots are much tighter, with Robin Yount, Ozzie Smith and Arky Vaughan contending for the lead at short, while Eddie Mathews and George Brett battle for the top spot at the hot corner.
- In the outfield, Duke Snider (Compton HS) is currently on top with 74 percent of the vote. But the other spots are up for grabs, with Tony Gwynn, Ralph Kiner, Bobby Bonds, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans and Yount all in the mix.
- Walter Johnson (Fullerton HS) has received the most votes of anyone on the ballot, 187, for the first starting pitcher spot. Bert Blyleven, Don Drysdale and Bob Lemon are in a three-way duel for the second spot.
- At relief pitcher, Rollie Fingers (Upland HS) is holding off Trevor Hoffman and Dan Quisenberry, but he has just 46.9 percent of the vote.
- The late “Captain Hook”, Sparky Anderson — an alum of Dorsey HS in Los Angeles — has a commanding lead (73 percent) for the manager’s spot over Dick Williams and Gene Mauch.
- The most popular umpire (an oxymoron, we know) is a four-way battle right now between Emmett Ashford, Beans Reardon, Derryl Cousins and Dana DeMuth.
The criteria for being included on the ballot was attending high school in the area. Final results will be revealed at SABR 41.
To vote for this special all-star team, follow the link below:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8WHKBK7
To find out more about SABR 41, including registration information, schedule of events, things to do, and more, click here.
Related: Check out the Magnolia Chapter’s All-Time Georgia-Born All-Star Team, as revealed at SABR 40 last summer in Atlanta.
Originally published: June 6, 2011. Last Updated: June 6, 2011.