The Pacific Coast League has announced its 2016 PCL Hall of Fame class, which includes three new inductees: Willie Davis, Bob Joyce, and Tim Salmon.
Willie Davis, born on April 15, 1940, in Mineral Springs, Arkansas, played his only PCL season with the 1960 Spokane Indians. He set modern day records by racking up 216 hits and 26 triples, while hitting a league-best .346. Additionally, his 30 stolen bases were 16 more than any player. Only two PCL players since have had seasons with at least 20 triples and 20 stolen bases, Sandy Alomar in 1964 (22 3B, 20 SB) and Jovino Carvajal in 1997 (20 3B, 28 SB). The 1960 PCL MVP had an 18-year major league career, where he was a two-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and two-time World Series Champion. Davis, who passed away March 9, 2010 in Burbank, California, is the fourth Spokane Indian in the PCL Hall of Fame.
Bob Joyce, born on January 14, 1915, in Stockton, California, spent 10 of his 15 career professional seasons in the PCL, including seven with the San Francisco Seals. Over a four-year stretch from 1942-1945, the right-hander won a PCL-best 94 games. A 20-game winner in each of those campaigns, he capped off that run as the 1945 PCL MVP by winning a league-high 31 games. Joyce compiled a 2.17 ERA in 344 innings, both totals also best in the league. He was the first PCL pitcher to win 31-plus games in 23 years, dating back to Jakie May’s 35 victories in 1922. Furthermore, at the time, he was just the fifth pitcher to win the MVP award. Joyce guided the Seals to three straight PCL titles starting in 1943 – and San Francisco added a PCL record fourth straight in 1946. He pitched in 44 career major league games over two seasons. Joyce passed away December 10, 1981 in San Francisco, California at the age of 66.
Tim Salmon, born August 24, 1968, in Long Beach, California, played 118 career PCL games, all coming in 1992 with the Edmonton Trappers. He led all three Triple-A leagues that year in RBI (105), on-base percentage (.469), slugging percentage (.672), total bases (275) and OPS (1.141). Additionally, his 29 home runs bested the PCL. The 1992 PCL MVP made his major league debut later that season and went on to spend his entire 14-year big league career with the Angels. He was the 1993 AL Rookie of the Year and a member of the franchise’s only World Series team in 1992.He is the only Edmonton Trapper in the club’s 24-year Triple-A history in the PCL Hall of Fame.
About the PCL Hall of Fame
Created by the Helms Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles in 1942, the original Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame was founded to honor those players, managers or executives who contributed most to the ideals of the league. In 1952, the Hall of Fame ceased operation until in 2003, as part of the league’s Centennial Celebration, it was revived and inducted a class of 20 new members. With the addition of the Class of 2015, the PCL’s Hall of Fame consists of 103 members. More information on the PCL Hall of Fame is available at www.pclbaseball.com.