By: William Robinson
It’s that time of year again for my annual baseball Hall of Fame vote article. This year feels different though. In 2018 the Veterans Committee voted to enshrine Harold Baines into the baseball Hall of Fame. Now I’m always happy when any baseball player is elected into the Hall but this one feels different. This one feels somewhat special as Harold Baines is a player that when enshrined will probably become the worst player ever elected into the Hall.
Harold Baines was not a terrible baseball player. Nobody who is able to stay in major league baseball for 22 seasons is a terrible player. However, he isn’t your typical Hall of Famer. He played 22 seasons as previously stated and most of that time was spent at DH a position where arguably the greatest DH of all time has yet to be enshrined. He also did not compile 3000 hits in that lengthy career (2866 to be exact) he also did not compile 500 home runs (384 to be exact), he career batting average was not .300 (.289 to be exact) he was only an All-Star 6 times during that lengthy career and was a Silver Slugger once. He finished top ten in MVP voting twice and never even got close to winning the award. His career OPS was only .820 and his OPS+ was 121. The most telling statistic is that during this lengthy career he was only able to amass a WAR of 38.7 which would put him in the same career WAR range as Ray Lankford.
So, what does his induction mean for the Hall of Fame. Are the voters going to lower their standards so that now every player that is the equal of Harold Baines is now going to get into the Hall? I’m not certain. I do think that this opens a back door of sorts and now the Veterans Committee is going to have to vote everyone in that is equal to Baines. I don’t think that this is good for baseball though and I still believe that the Hall of Fame should be for the greatest baseball players of each generation and should not be lowered down to the hall of very good. Which is clearly what Harold Baines was.
So, without further ado I’m going to show you whom I would vote for if I had a vote.
Larry Walker – I think out of this entire class Larry Walker is the person that I am most cheering on when it comes to the Hall. I have posted article upon article upon article about how dominant Larry Walker was in MLB and how it’s a farce that he hasn’t gotten in to this point. He has a career OPS of .965, Finished top 5 in MVP twice and won the award once. He in six fewer seasons than Baines amassed a WAR of 72.7. He was a 5 time All-Star, 7 time gold glove winner and won three batting titles. He showed dominance during the steroid era and nobody has ever accused him of being dirty. It’s time to let the man in.
Scott Rolen – Scott is one of the greatest third basemen to ever play the game of baseball. He was an 8 time Gold Glove winner and 7 time All-Star. He also was a Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger. His career WAR of 70.2 during his 17 year career holds up pretty well now considering Harold Baines is now in the Hall of Fame and his career OPS + of 122 does as well.
Barry Bonds – Simply put Barry Bonds is the greatest baseball player that I have witnessed play the game during my lifetime. Him not being in the Hall of Fame makes it a joke and I feel that not voting for him because of perceived PED use and the fact that you don’t’ like him is a joke. It’s time to get over yourselves, if Harold Baines can be in the Hall of Fame then one of the top 10 baseball players of all time absolutely should be in.
Roger Clemens – I’ll say it, he wasn’t as good as Barry Bonds. But he’s still one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game. Again, it’s way past time to put him in.
Mike Mussina – Mike Mussina’s career WAR of 83.0 on its own face should be enough to get him into the Hall of Fame. His career WHIP isn’t quite what is should be but when compared to other Hall of Fame pitchers it holds up. Steve Carlton’s was 1.247.
Curt Schilling – Yes, he’s a jerk. But hell, if Ty Cobb can be in the Hall of Fame then holding someone’s political opinions against him shouldn’t be allowed. He still was instrumental in one of the gutsiest games in the history of baseball as well as breaking the Boston curse. His career WAR and his ERA hold up extremely well when compared to other Hall of Fame pitchers and he has the highlights to go along with the stats.
Edgar Martinez – He was top ten in MVP voting twice, he also won two batting titles. His career WAR and OPS + are comparable to Larry Walkers (68.7, 147 respectively) and that makes me want to vote him in, and I hadn’t been willing to do that in years past because he was only a DH. Now that Baines is in, though this definitely gives me permission to give him my vote.
Roy Halladay – A 2 time Cy Young and 8 time All-Star, Doc is meant for the Hall of Fame. His career ERA is better than Mussina’s, and his career WAR is better than Rivera’s. His ERA is better than Schilling and Mussina’s. He was an all-time great when he was playing and now, he deserves a nod to the hall.
Mariano Rivera – I don’t think it’s a question of whether or not he is going to get in on his first attempt. He was the most dominant closer of his era and played in New York, so he’ll get that New York bump. The question is whether or not he’ll get 100% of the votes. Personally, I feel like if Ken Griffey Jr. didn’t get 100% of the votes nobody should so I’m going to vote for him, but I’m hoping there is a grinch out there who doesn’t.
That’s it. That’s the end of my voting. Yes, I’m leaving a spot empty but again this is the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of very good and so in my mind Fred McGriff doesn’t deserve to get in. The Crime Dog compares very fairly with Harold Baines though. His career WAR, OPS, and OPS + are all higher than Baines in a shorter career. He was also top ten in MVP voting three times compared to Baines’s 2. But he never was the dominant player that the others on my ballot where. To me he was a star, but the Hall of Fame is meant for superstars. However, I expect that the Veterans Committee may put him in especially if they stick to their new Harold Baines measuring stick.