Author: Ryan Lester

Bartolis, a friend of mine from Sporting News, suggested Bernie Williams. Here are my findings.

The Numbers
2076 Games
7869 At Bats
.297 Batting Average
1366 Runs
2336 Hits
449 Doubles
55 Triples
287 Home Runs
1257 RBI
1069 Walks (84th All-time)
147 Stolen Bases

Playoffs: 121 Games, 128 hits in 465 at bats (.275), 83 Runs, 29 Doubles, 22 HR, 80 RBI, 71 Walks, 8 Steals, 4 World Series Ring

Awards
1996 ALCS MVP
4 Gold Gloves
2002 Silver Slugger
5 All-Star Game Appearances
MVP Votes in 6 Seasons

Top Ten Finishes
Batting Average – Four Times (Batting Crown in 1998)
On-Base % – Five Times
Slugging % – Twice
OPS – Four Times
Games – Twice
At-Bats – Once
Runs – Three Times
Hits – Three Times
Doubles – Twice
Triples – Four Times
RBI – Once
Walks – Three Times
Intentional Walks – Four Times (Led League in 1999)

If I were just considering his regular season accomplishments I would have to shut down Bernie immediately. He had a solid career, but nothing about it says “Hall of Fame”. That is until you look at the mark he left in the playoffs. His playoff totals look like a full season worth. It’s unbelievable. Those impressive numbers combined with his solid regular season numbers and his role in the Yankees dynasty get him elected in my book.

References
Baseball-reference.com

Past Chronicles
Bert Byleven
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Mark McGwire
Bobby Matthews
Tommy John
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Jim Rice
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Jack Morris
Al Oliver
Steve Garvey
Jim Kaat
Pete Ro$e
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Dave Concepcion
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Ron Santo
Ron Guidry
Gil Hodges
Dave Parker
Tony Mullane
Keith Hernandez
Don Mattingly
Dwight Evans
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Harold Baines
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Joe Carter
Rusty Staub
Gary Gaetti
Jimmy Ryan
George Van Haltren
Roger Maris
Lance Parrish
Mo Vaughn
Mark Grace
Dennis Martinez
Chuck Finley
Fred McGriff
Wes Parker
Steve Finley
Orlando Cepeda*
Albert Belle
Willie Randolph
Graig Nettles
Luis Gonzalez
Lefty O’Doul
Rocky Colavito
Boog Powell
Jerry Koosman
Mike Cuellar
Edgar Martinez
Brooks Robinson*
Roberto Alomar
Dave Stieb
John Franco
Maury Wills
Sherry Magee
Phil Rizzuto*
Orel Hershiser
Frank Viola
David Cone
Dwight Gooden
Tim Raines

* signifies actual Hall of Famers

Mo Vaughn was suggested by bsoxfan15, a friend of mine from the Sporting News community. I’ve decided to review his numbers and offer my opinion to his Hall of Fame worthiness.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

The Numbers
1512 Games
5532 At Bats
.293 Batting Average
861 Runs
1620 Hits
270 Doubles
10 Triples
328 Home Runs
1064 RBI
2894 Total Bases

Playoffs: 7 games, 7 hits in 31 at bats (.226), 3 runs, 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 7 RBI

Awards
1995 MVP
3 All Star Games
1 Silver Sluggers
MVP votes in six seasons

Top Ten Finishes
Batting Average – Three Times
On-base % – Four Times
Slugging % – Six Times
OPS – Six Times
Games – Twice
At Bats – Twice
Runs – Twice
Hits – Twice
Home Runs – Five Times
RBI – Twice (Led league in 1995)
Total Bases – Three Times
Walks – Twice
Extra-base Hits – Three Times
Hit by Pitch – Seven Times
Intentional Walks – Seven Times (Led league in 1994)

He’s another one with a great nickname (Hit Dog) and was one of my favorite players growing up. He had some solid years, but he just flat out doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame. The numbers aren’t there. I don’t even need to go his inclusion in the Mitchell Report because even with steroids his numbers aren’t there.

References
Baseball-reference.com

Past Chronicles
Bert Byleven
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Mark McGwire
Bobby Matthews
Tommy John
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Jim Rice
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Jack Morris
Al Oliver
Steve Garvey
Jim Kaat
Pete Ro$e
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Dave Concepcion
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Ron Santo
Ron Guidry
Gil Hodges
Dave Parker
Tony Mullane
Keith Hernandez
Don Mattingly
Dwight Evans
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Harold Baines
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Joe Carter
Rusty Staub
Gary Gaetti
Jimmy Ryan
George Van Haltren
Roger Maris
Lance Parrish

This one is a little controversial.  Obviously the numbers and awards make him a shoe in.  You’re either for Rose or against Rose.  Personally, I’m for him.

The Numbers
.303 Batting Average
3562 Games (1st All-time)
14053 At Bats (1st All-time)
4256 Hits (1st All-time)
2165 Runs (6th All-time)
746 Doubles (2nd All-time)
135 Triples (74th All-time)
160 Home Runs
1314 RBI (87th All-time)
198 Stolen Bases
1566 Walks (13th All-time)
167 Intentional Walks (26th All-time)
5752 Total Bases (7th All-time)

Playoffs – .321, 30 runs, 86 hits, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HRs, 22 RBI

The Awards
1973 MVP
1963 Rookie of the Year
1975 World Series MVP
1968 Hutch Award
1969 Lou Gehrig Award
1976 Roberto Clemente Award
17 All-Star Game Appearances
2 Gold Gloves
1 Silver Slugger
MVP votes in 15 seasons

Top Ten Finishes
Batting Average – 13 times (3 batting titles ’68, ’69 & ’73)
On-base % – 11 times (Led league in ’68 & ’79)
Slugging % – Twice
OPS – Three times
Games – 15 times (Led league five times)
At Bats – 18 times (Led league four times)
Runs – 15 times (Led league three times)
Hits – 17 times (Led league seven times)
Total Bases – 11 times
Doubles – 15 times (Led league five times)
Triples – 8 times
Walks – 7 times
Intentional Walks – 4 times

References
Baseball-reference.com

Like I said, his numbers and awards were enough to make him a first ballot HOFer.  His ability, drive, determination, longevity, and consistency has never been called into question.  His character has though.  His character is what has kept him from being celebrated as one of the best balleball players of all time.  Betting on baseball is against the rules.  I get that.  However, his gambling came after his career as a player.  I agree with the ban on him from being employed by Major League Baseball, but what he did as a player should not be ignored.  He earned the nickname Charlie Hustle.  He proved himself to be one of the greatest this game has ever witnessed.  There are plenty of Hall of Famers with skeletons in their closets.  Racists like Ty Cobb and Cap Anson.  Drug dealers like Orlando Cepeda.  Cheaters like Gaylord Perry.  Soon members of the steroid era will make their way into the Hall.  It’s time to let Pete Rose in as well.  Here’s the way to do it though.  Don’t have the traditional ceremony.  Don’t let him do a speech.  Just put up his bust and do a press release.

If you think I’m off my rocker for wanting to induct Pete Rose into the HOF, please let me know.

Past Chronicles
Bert Byleven
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Mark McGwire
Bobby Matthews
Tommy John
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Jim Rice
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Jack Morris
Al Oliver
Steve Garvey
Jim Kaat

The Veterans Committee is going to vote on twenty players for induction into the Hall of Fame.  There are ten players pre-1943 and ten post-1943.  Here is how I would weigh in if I had a vote.

Pre-1943
Bill Dahlen – 1500+ Runs should put him in, but not much else.  Accumulator.  Pass
Wes Ferrell – Under 200 Wins.  Six 20 Win Seasons.  Rotten ERA.  Not joing his brother Rick.  Pass
Joe Gordon – Seriously.  Only if he were Frankie Frisch’s teammate  Pass
Sherry Magee – Profiled him.  Great Hitter for his Era.  Gets my Vote.
Carl Mays – 200 Wins, Great Winning %.  Five 20 Win Seasons.  Gets my Vote.
Allie Reynolds – Under 200 Wins, One 20 Win Season, Not a great Adjusted ERA.  Great Winning % and 6 WS Rings, but not quite enough.  Pass.
Vern Stephens – Made a lot of All-Star games (8).  Nothing jumps out though.  Pass.
Mickey Vernon – Just passed away.  Accumulator.  Good not Great.  Pass.
Bucky Walters – Under 200 Wins.  Three 20 Win seasons, Not a great Adjusted ERA.  Pass.
Deacon White – Great average.  Not much else.  Pass

Post-1943
Joe Torre – As a Player – No.  As a Manager – Yes.  Gets my Vote.
Ron Santo – Profiled him.  Great with the Glove.  Great with the Stick.  Gets my Vote.
Gil Hodges – Profiled him.  Masher and a Winner.  8-time All-Star.  Gets my Vote.
Dick Allen – 351 HRs, 1119 RBI, 7-time All-Star.  Not enough.  Pass.
Jim Kaat – We profiled him.  283 Wins and 16 Gold Gloves.  Gets my Vote.
Luis Tiant – 229 Wins, Three 20 Win seasons, Not a great Adjusted ERA.  Pass.
Tony Oliva – We profiled him.  3 Batting titles.  Only injuries kept him from BWAA induction.  Gets my vote.
Al Oliver – We profiled him.  Great hitter.  Hall of Fame worthy hitter.  Gets my Vote.
Vada Pinson  – We profiled him.  An accumulator.  Good, not great.  Pass.
Maury Wills – We profiled him.  Tons of steals.  Not much else statistically.  Pass.

We’ll find out who the VC let in on December 8th at the Winter Meetings.