Introducing: The MLB Hall Of Fame Class Of 1959.

Zachary Wheat: Left Fielder, Brooklyn Dodgers

.317 average, 1289 runs scored, 2884 hits, 132 home runs, 1248 RBI, 205 stolen bases

Zachary Wheat had the honor of being the sole player inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959. During his 19-year Major League career, he was most known for being a model of consistency, with his best years coming with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was such a dominant player during his time that he still holds Dodger franchise records in hits, doubles, triples, and total bases. He made his living hitting line drives, and hit over .300 on 13 different occasions; Wheat also accumulated double digit home runs four times, 200 hits three times, won one batting title, and led the league in slugging percentage once.

Not only consistent with the bat in his hands, Wheat was also a staple out in Left Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He ranks 16th all-time in games played in the outfield (2,337), has the 18th highest total of putouts (4,996), and ranks 29th all-time for most assists in a career (232). Wheat was an integral part to the Dodgers first two World Series appearances in franchise history in 1916 and 1920.

Most of us don’t know much about these ballplayers that played in a different era because we weren’t able to watch them, or ESPN wasn’t able to follow their every move. So, I like to judge the type of person an older player was by what other people said about them. Here is what Casey Stengel had to say about Zach Wheat:

“One of the grandest guys to ever wear a baseball uniform, one of the greatest batting teachers I have ever seen, one of the truest pals a man ever had, and one of the kindliest men God has ever created (quote can be found at baseballhall.org).”

That’s a glowing remark from one of the most famous men to ever put on a uniform. Next week, we’ll start our journey through the 1960s with the class of 1961.