There are 17 new players eligible for the Hall of Fame this year, ranging
from a 6-foot-6 outfielder with 3,000 hits to a 6-5 pitcher with a losing
record. In other words, it's a very interesting group.
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Questioning (Kirby Puckett) at Cooperstown's front door would be like St. Peter asking for Mother Teresa's credentials. ” |
How many of the 17 belong beyond the museum's velvet rope? You can get
bogged down with a lot of statistics and comparisons, but the best and
simplest test of a Hall of Fame candidate is to ask this question: Was he
one of the absolute greatest players of all-time?
With that in mind, here's a look at who belongs in and who doesn't among
the new candidates:
Dave Winfield
3,110 hits, 465 HR, 1,833 RBI
Looking back on it, Winfield seemed fated for Cooperstown. Not only was he born the day Bobby
Thomson homered off Ralph Branca (Oct. 3, 1951), but he also once said that he had
the "perfect baseball name, too. Win and field."
One of the greatest athletes of the century, Winfield was drafted by four
leagues (major league baseball, the NFL, NBA and ABA -- he never played
hockey). A complete player (he pitched in the College World Series),
Winfield stood so tall at the plate with so powerful a swing that Paul
Molitor once said he was the one player who made him physically afraid to
play third base. To say nothing of the seagulls that foolishly flew in
the path of Winny's powerful right arm.
With more than 3,000 hits and 450 home runs, the only question
surrounding his selection is which of the six caps he wore during his
22-year career to put on his Hall of Fame plaque. Of course, even if his
statistics weren't so convincing, he still would deserve a special place
in Cooperstown after playing the first 17 years of his career for Ray
Kroc and George Steinbrenner.
Kirby Puckett
.318, 2,304 hits, 1,085 RBI
There is a lot of talk about what Puckett might have accomplished had glaucoma not ended his
career in 1996, just as baseballs really began flying out of ballparks.
Players don't get into Cooperstown based on what if scenarios, however,
and we can only judge Puckett on what he accomplished before his forced
retirement. And when you restrict the question to that ... he still is
an overwhelming choice.
The funny looking guy with the bald head and wide rear had four hits in his
first big league game and he never slowed down until hit by a pitch in
his final plate appearance. While other players had better occasional
seasons from 1986-1995, Puckett was consistently the best player in the
game over that period. No player was more liked or respected by his
peers, and few were more popular with fans. He not only made his
teammates better -- he led the Twins to two World Series championships, an
accomplishment that seems more staggering with each passing year -- he
made them happier. The game still isn't as fun a place with him off the
field.
Questioning Puck at Cooperstown's front door would be like St. Peter
asking for Mother Teresa's credentials.
Don Mattingly
.307, 2,153 hits, 1,099 RBI
People reading Scott Boras' thesis on Alex Rodriguez and his career projections, would be wise to
consider Mattingly. Like Rodriguez, he seemed a lock for the Hall of Fame
after his first six seasons. Like Rodriguez, he hit for power and average
and was also his position's best fielder. And then a back injury turned him
into just an average player the second half of his career, leaving him
about a pinstripe shy of Cooperstown credentials.
I'm not suggesting the same will happen to Rodriguez but Mattingly is
proof that long-range career projections are about as accurate as Rick
Ankiel's fastball in the postseason.
Dave Stewart
168-129, 3.95 ERA
He had four great seasons from 1987-90
when he was baseball's top big-game pitcher and produced more Ocober
prime-time gems than David E. Kelley. But there were a lot of mediocre
seasons surrounding that success and his career record just isn't Hall of
Fame caliber.
Lou Whitaker
1,386 runs, 1,084 RBI
He was a very good second baseman
but he only belongs in the Hall if he and Alan Trammell can go in as a
joint entry in a special "great duos" wing for such combos as Reggie
Jackson and his ego.
John Kruk and Andy Van Slyke. No, but they would give some great
acceptance speeches, wouldn't they?
Steve Bedrosian, Tom Browning, Ron Darling, Jim Deshaies, Kirk Gibson,
Tom Henke, Howard Johnson, Lance Parrish, Dave Righetti, Jose Rijo. See
you in Cooperstown guys. Just be sure to buy your tickets, same as
everyone else.
Jim Caple's "Off Base" column appears each Wednesday on ESPN.com. | |
ALSO SEE
Rogers: On any stage, Puckett is a hero
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jack O'Connell, President of the Baseball Writers, reviews his Hall of Fame ballot.
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