Top 11 Players Not In The HOF
TOP 10 11 PLAYERS WHO SHOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME
(PETE ROSE AND SHOELESS JOE JACKSON NOT WITHSTANDING):
(PETE ROSE AND SHOELESS JOE JACKSON NOT WITHSTANDING):
1. GIL HODGES, FIRST BASE: Hodges had a .273 lifetime batting average with 370 home runs, 1,274
RBI, and he once hit four home runs in a single game in 1950. In his career, he clouted 14 grand slams. He led the National League's first basemen five times in fielding and four times in double
plays. With the Dodgers, he played on two World Series champions. In 1969, he managed the Miracle New York Mets to the World Series title.
2. TONY OLIVA, OUTFIELD: Oliva had a .304 lifetime average and he won three American League batting titles - in 1964, '65, and '71. He also led the AL five times in hits while he was with the Minnesota Twins. During his rookie season, he set a AL rookie record with 217 safeties. That year (1964), he was voted Rookie of the Year.
3. ALLIE REYNOLDS, PITCHER: He hurled two no-hitters in one year with the New York Yankees (1951) against Cleveland and Boston. In World Series play, Reynolds had a lifetime 7-2 record. His overall lifetime mark was 182-107 for a gaudy .704 winning percentage. In 1947, he had his best year at 19-8 with a 3.30 ERA.
4. "INDIAN" BOB JOHNSON, OUTFIELD: Johnson had a remarkable career but is often overlooked. He had 2,051 hits, 288 homers, 1,283 RBI, and a lifetime batting average of .296. He also posted six years with 100 or more runs scored and eight years of 100-plus RBI. Johnson led AL outfielders with a .960 fielding percentage in 1938. His best years came under the tutelage of Connie Mack while with the Philadelphia Athletics.
5. ROGER MARIS, OUTFIELD: In my opinion, Maris is the most under rated player of all time. Everyone knows that he broke Babe Ruth's single-season homer record with 61 homers in 1961 - a record that stood until 1998 when Mark McGwire clouted 70 roundtrippers. But, often overlooked is the fact he won back-to-back MVP awards in 1960 and '61. Maris played in five World Series with the Yankees and two with the St. Louis Cardinals. He hit .275 career homers.
6. BILL FREEHAN, CATCHER: I had to put a catcher on this list and Freehan is the best backstop right now who is not in Cooperstown. He had a .993 lifetime fielding percentage and he led the American League four times in fielding, six times in put outs. He also hit 200 homers in his career and he was the leader of the 1968 world champion Detroit Tigers.
7. ROCKY COLAVITO, OUTFIELD: Colavito probably had one of the most feared throwing arms in history. A former pitcher, he hit 374 lifetime home runs with 1,159 RBI. In three seasons, he clouted at least 40 homers and, on six occasions, he collected at least 100 RBI in a season. He hit four homers in one game in 1959.
8. VADA PINSON, OUTFIELD: Another player I feel is very under rated. A .286 lifetime hitter, Pinson had 2,757 hits in his career along with 256 homers and 305 stolen bases. Four times he had 200 or more hits. He had 485 lifetime doubles and 1,366 runs scored.
9. RON SANTO, THIRD BASE: Smooth as silk, Santo was one of the Chicago Cubs' all-time greats. He hit 342 homers with 1,331 RBI in his career. He had four straight campaigns of 30-plus homers and nine consecutive seasons of 20-plus dingers. Santo led NL third baseman seven times in put outs and seven times in assists.
10. CARL MAYS, PITCHER: If anyone bothered to overlook his tragic beaning of Ray Chapman, Mays might be in the Hall of Fame. But, as the only man to kill someone with a pitched ball in a major league game, Mays is often the victim of an unwanted brand - that of a killer. Still, it doesn't overshadow the fact he was 208-126 lifetime for a .623 winning percentage. Five times he won 20 or more games in a season. He went 27-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 1921 for the Yankees. He also played in four World Series.
11. BERT BLYLEVEN, PITCHER: What was I thinking? I completely overlooked Blyleven who is third on the all-time strikeout list behind Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton with 3,701 whiffs. Plus, he had 287 career wins and a whopping 60 shutouts (8th on the career list). I guess I was thinking the same way Hall of Fame voters have been for the past few years. Let's hope Blyleven receives a lot more consideration in the future. He deserves it dearly.
2. TONY OLIVA, OUTFIELD: Oliva had a .304 lifetime average and he won three American League batting titles - in 1964, '65, and '71. He also led the AL five times in hits while he was with the Minnesota Twins. During his rookie season, he set a AL rookie record with 217 safeties. That year (1964), he was voted Rookie of the Year.
3. ALLIE REYNOLDS, PITCHER: He hurled two no-hitters in one year with the New York Yankees (1951) against Cleveland and Boston. In World Series play, Reynolds had a lifetime 7-2 record. His overall lifetime mark was 182-107 for a gaudy .704 winning percentage. In 1947, he had his best year at 19-8 with a 3.30 ERA.
4. "INDIAN" BOB JOHNSON, OUTFIELD: Johnson had a remarkable career but is often overlooked. He had 2,051 hits, 288 homers, 1,283 RBI, and a lifetime batting average of .296. He also posted six years with 100 or more runs scored and eight years of 100-plus RBI. Johnson led AL outfielders with a .960 fielding percentage in 1938. His best years came under the tutelage of Connie Mack while with the Philadelphia Athletics.
5. ROGER MARIS, OUTFIELD: In my opinion, Maris is the most under rated player of all time. Everyone knows that he broke Babe Ruth's single-season homer record with 61 homers in 1961 - a record that stood until 1998 when Mark McGwire clouted 70 roundtrippers. But, often overlooked is the fact he won back-to-back MVP awards in 1960 and '61. Maris played in five World Series with the Yankees and two with the St. Louis Cardinals. He hit .275 career homers.
6. BILL FREEHAN, CATCHER: I had to put a catcher on this list and Freehan is the best backstop right now who is not in Cooperstown. He had a .993 lifetime fielding percentage and he led the American League four times in fielding, six times in put outs. He also hit 200 homers in his career and he was the leader of the 1968 world champion Detroit Tigers.
7. ROCKY COLAVITO, OUTFIELD: Colavito probably had one of the most feared throwing arms in history. A former pitcher, he hit 374 lifetime home runs with 1,159 RBI. In three seasons, he clouted at least 40 homers and, on six occasions, he collected at least 100 RBI in a season. He hit four homers in one game in 1959.
8. VADA PINSON, OUTFIELD: Another player I feel is very under rated. A .286 lifetime hitter, Pinson had 2,757 hits in his career along with 256 homers and 305 stolen bases. Four times he had 200 or more hits. He had 485 lifetime doubles and 1,366 runs scored.
9. RON SANTO, THIRD BASE: Smooth as silk, Santo was one of the Chicago Cubs' all-time greats. He hit 342 homers with 1,331 RBI in his career. He had four straight campaigns of 30-plus homers and nine consecutive seasons of 20-plus dingers. Santo led NL third baseman seven times in put outs and seven times in assists.
10. CARL MAYS, PITCHER: If anyone bothered to overlook his tragic beaning of Ray Chapman, Mays might be in the Hall of Fame. But, as the only man to kill someone with a pitched ball in a major league game, Mays is often the victim of an unwanted brand - that of a killer. Still, it doesn't overshadow the fact he was 208-126 lifetime for a .623 winning percentage. Five times he won 20 or more games in a season. He went 27-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 1921 for the Yankees. He also played in four World Series.
11. BERT BLYLEVEN, PITCHER: What was I thinking? I completely overlooked Blyleven who is third on the all-time strikeout list behind Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton with 3,701 whiffs. Plus, he had 287 career wins and a whopping 60 shutouts (8th on the career list). I guess I was thinking the same way Hall of Fame voters have been for the past few years. Let's hope Blyleven receives a lot more consideration in the future. He deserves it dearly.
