Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Ten Players for the Hall of Fame

In about a month the Hall of Fame will announce who will be inducted this year by the baseball writers. Former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo has made it via the Veteran's Committee a couple days ago. Barry Larkin received 62% of the vote last year, and is the most likely player to make it this year. It takes 75% of the vote to make it. Jack Morris is the only other player to receive more than 50% of the vote last year, and Bernie Williams is the most accomplished newcomer on the ballot.

Here's 10 Players That Should Be in the Hall of Fame(that are elgible right now)

Barry Larkin, SS 1986-2004

Larkin played his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds making 12 All Star teams and winning the 1995 NL MVP. Larkin won 3 Gold Gloves, and likely would of won more if it wasn't for Ozzie Smith. Larkin also had a 30/30 season in 1996 and batted over .300 9 times. Was probably the best position player on the 1990 World Series champion Reds.

Tim "Rock" Raines, LF 1979-2002

Was a seven time All Star for the Montreal Expos and led the NL in stolen bases four seasons in a row. Raines won the batting title in 1986, and led the NL in runs scored twice. Was traded to the White Sox after 1990, but was never quite as good in the American League as he was in the National League. Raines also was part of two World Series championship teams with the Yankees in 1996 and 1998. Raines has 2605 career hits, 808 career steals, and a .385 career OBP.

Alan Trammell, SS 1977-96

Trammell was a six time All Star and 4 time Gold Glover, and nearly won the 1987 AL MVP when he hit .343 and drove in 105 runs. Often overshadowed by Cal Ripken and Robin Yount, Trammell had a underrated career. Trammell had a career .285 average, and had 2365 hits, 185 HRs, 1003 RBIs, and 236 steals during his career. Was the MVP of the 1984 World Series as well. Trammell teamed up with second baseman Lou Whitaker to form the longest running double play combination in history.

Lou Whitaker, 2B 1977-95

Whitaker was the other part of the longest running double play combination in history, also playing his entire career with the Tigers. Was the 1978 Rookie of the Year, and made 5 straight All Star teams in the 80s. Whitaker had good power for a second baseman hitting 244 career home runs and had a .426 career slugging pct. Whitaker also won 3 Gold Gloves, and was a key member of the 1984 championship Tigers team.

Jeff Bagwell, 1B 1991-2005

One of the best first baseman in history, Bagwell only recieved 42% of the vote last year. He did play in the steroid era, and voters may be suspicious of him leaving him out like Rafeal Palmeiro and Mark McGwire. But Bagwell was a better all around player than those two. Bagwell won the 1991 Rookie of the Year and 1994 NL MVP and played 15 seasons for the Astros. He hit 449 career HRs, 1529 RBIs, stole 202 bases, had 2314 hits, 1517 runs scored, and a .297 BA, ,408 OBP, and .540 Slugging pct. Bagwell was also regarded as a good defender at first base.

Tommy John, LHP 1963-89

If anything, John should get in as a pioneer. Before John, tearing a ligament in your pitching elbow would end your career. Dr. Frank Jobe did experimental athroscopic elbow surgery taking a tendon from John's right wrist and using it to replace John's ruptured ligament in his left elbow, what is now known as Tommy John surgery. John missed a season and a half but won more games after the surgery than before. During his career, John won 288 games and had a 3.34 ERA playing 26 seasons mostly with the White Sox, Dodgers, and Yankees.

Steve Garvey, 1B 1969-87

Gravey was a 10 time All Star for the Dodgers and Padres and won 4 Gold Gloves. Was the winner of the 1974 NL MVP and led his teams to the World Series five times, winning the 1981 World Series with the Dodgers. He also won the NLCS MVP twice in 1978 and 1984. Finished his career with a .294 career average, 2599 hits, and 1308 RBIs.

Luis Tiant, RHP 1964-82

Tiant was a underrated pitcher during his career winning 229 games. Tiant also had a 1.60 ERA in 1968 with the Indians and a 1.91 ERA in 1972 with the Red Sox. Tiant only made 3 All Star teams, but won over 20 games 4 times, and had 2416 career strikeouts.

Ken Boyer, 3B 1955-69

Was the 1964 NL MVP, and won the World Series with the Cardinals that year. Boyer also made 7 All Star teams and won 5 Gold Gloves. Had a .287 lifetime average, and hit 282 home runs and 1141 RBIs during his career. Boyer has similar numbers as recent inductee Ron Santo.

Dick Allen, 3B/1B 1963-77

Allen had a shorter career than most Hall of Famers do, but was one of the best hitters in the game during his prime. Won the 1964 Rookie of the Year with the Phillies and the 1972 AL MVP with the White Sox. Led the league in homers twice, RBIs once, runs once, OBP twice, and Slugging pct. 3 times. Hit over 30 home runs 6 times, and had 351 career homers and a .534 career Slugging pct. Had a volatile personality and did not get along with sportswriters, Allen was kind of like the Albert Belle of the 60s and early 70s.

No comments:

Post a Comment