I should probably know this but don't. I also couldn't find it anywhere. What is the minimum # of games needed for a player to be rated at a position?

For example Rusty Staub in 1985 played 3 games in the OF, the rest as a PH. So while he has enough PA to qualify, he is not in the SIM. I am guessing because he doesn't have position.

I realize this is a very specific situation, but I wonder if there are any other players the slip through the cracks.

Staub is not in the SIM because he didn't accumulate 50 AB in 1985. A player needs a minimum of 50 AB to be in the database. (Note that this is never prorated, except for 2020; 50 AB is always the absolute minimum requirement). Also note that it's 50 AB, not PA.

Once a player reaches 50 AB, he will be in the database, and he will have a rating at EVERY position he actually played that season.

Page 6 of this thread includes that info, and a lot of other basic info.

Advice for Newbies - Page 6 - SimLeague Baseball | WhatIfSports.com

Thanks. I thought it was PA not AB.

It should be PA. A batter with 50 AB and no walks will be in the sim, but a batter with 49 AB and 17 walks won't.

By the way, in the above examples I'm talking about 1952 Hobie Landrith and 1999 Darryl Strawberry. Landrith is in the sim and he stinks, while Strawberry isn't and would be great as a PH'er (.327/.500/.612).