In 1999, Texas Rangers designated hitter Rafael Palmeiro somehow won the Gold Glove award at first base—despite only actually playing 28 games at the position for the entire year.
Seventeen years later, one of baseball’s oddest award choices looks like a precursor to Donald Trump’s political rise (via NBC Sports).
Here’s how.
Baseball historian Bill James—sometimes called the godfather of sabermetrics and analytics—penned The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract in 2001. In it, James discussed the absurdity of the voting system and how America could have an ‘eccentric outcome’ if a dearth of good candidates arrived. Here’s what he wrote. Take a look at one of the names included in his (then) outlandish example:
“The larger point, it seems to me, is that a badly designed voting system will fail sometimes, no matter who votes. The Gold Glove is decided by what could be called an unconstrained plurality, meaning:
1. A voter can vote for anybody.
2. If the top vote-getter gets 15% of the vote, he wins, the same as if he had received 80%.
A voting structure like this is an open invitation to an eccentric outcome. If the United States were to use a system like this to elect the President, the absolutely certain result would be that, within a few elections, someone like David Duke, Donald Trump, or Warren Beatty would be elected President. If you can win an election with 15% of the vote, sooner or later somebody will. An unconstrained plurality vote gives an opening to someone or something who has a strong appeal to a limited number of people.”
Palmeiro won the 1999 Gold Glove on reputation (he was once a great defensive first baseman), lack of other viable candidates and a group of supporters that liked him enough to look at his candidacy through their prism. And, as James explained, the voting system was screwed up.
Sports star wants to smash Trump’s face
In 2016, Trump is heading toward the Republican nomination on the back of reasons some could argue are similar. Bill James’ prediction came true.
Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
