[ESPN] 40 current palyers that will be in Hall of Fame

hi

1. Roger Clemens and 2. Barry Bonds
The only questions left with these two: Is Clemens the greatest pitcher of all time? And: Has Rick Reilly already written his "Why Bonds doesn't deserve to go into the Hall of Fame" column?

19. Craig Biggio
He has more than 2,700 hits and should reach 3,000, but he doesn't have to get to that magic number. This guy has done everything on the field: hit for average (four times over .300), hit for power (six times with 20-plus homers, twice with 50-plus doubles), steal bases (as many as 50 in one season), draw walks (.400 on-base percentage four times), score runs, win Gold Gloves, change positions, hustle (one year he grounded into zero double plays while playing every game), stay healthy … well, everything except clean his helmet.

20. Jeff Bagwell
The inside of Bagwell's shoulder is a bigger mess than a postgame spread under attack from David Wells and David Ortiz. It's even possible his career might be over. I fear the nonthinking man's response will be: "Bagwell didn't hit 500 home runs, he played in the Steroid Era, he choked in the playoffs and he had that crazy batting stance, so I'm not voting for him."

Let's do a quick comparison of Bagwell to the post-World War II first basemen who have made the Hall, along with one who will:

BAGWELL VS. THE WORLD
Player H R HR RBI AVG OBP SLG SB OPS OPS+
Bagwell 2311 1517 449 1525 .297 .408 .541 202 .949 150
McGwire 1626 1167 583 1414 .263 .394 .588 12 .982 163
Murray 3255 1627 504 1917 .287 .359 .476 110 .836 129
Perez 2732 1272 379 1652 .279 .341 .463 49 .804 122
Stargell 2232 1195 475 1540 .282 .360 .529 17 .889 147
McCovey 2211 1229 521 1555 .270 .374 .515 26 .889 148
Killebrew 2086 1283 573 1584 .256 .376 .509 19 .884 143
Cepeda 2351 1131 379 1365 .297 .350 .499 142 .849 133


Bagwell is the best player of the bunch. Only McGwire tops him in adjusted OPS; only Murray can come close as a fielder; and none is in the same league as Bagwell as a base runner. Bagwell's 152 runs scored in 2000 ranks as the most in one season since 1950. He was such an alert, aggressive runner, he once led the majors in frequency of going from first to third on singles. He put up monster numbers despite spending most of his career in the Astrodome. Add it all up, and the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia ranks him as the 21st best player (not including pitchers) of all time, entering the 2005 season.

Now, that's my case for Bagwell's enshrinement … I think I've persuaded the jury.

 

A Page 2 piece I liked...priceless.

 

I love it when it takes 5 freaking clicks to get halfway through the article.

 

Me too, I'm glad they added the single page view button. I don't recall if it was always there when they started the stupid multipage layout.

 

Bagwell stacking up against those other HOF 1st baggers is VERY impressive

WOW

 

This is a fun article. My dad & and I often like to argue whether Bags & Bigg will ever make it into the hall of fame. As Houstonians, of course, we both think he deserves it. Glad to see some nat'l media think so too.

 

Check the front page of ESPN.com right now -- they've got this article on the front page with a picture of Bidge and Bags. Very nice.

Can someone post a screen cap before they change the front page?

 

One thing I've noticed about Biggio and Bagwell is that they often get UNDER-rated in Houston compared to national opinions.

Maybe its just that I'm so often used to Houston players being underated by national news, I discount my opinion of local folks too much for homerism.

 

I really wanted to see Bags hit HR#500.

 

I don't think Mark McGwire will make the hall of fame. Terrible strikeout numbers, 12 career stolen bases, mediocre hit and RBI numbers, and he only hit .300 three times, two of those seasons he played less than 100 games...

 

Here's that table a little easier to read:

Code:

<table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" border="0" width="418" style="color: white;" id="inlinetable">
<th colspan="11" style="background-color:black;">BAGWELL VS. THE WORLD</th>

<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black;">
<td width="34"  style="color: black;">
<b>Player</b>
</td>
<td width="34"  style="color: black;">
<b>H</b>
</td>
<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>R</b>
</td>
<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>HR</b>
</td>

<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>RBI</b>
</td>
<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>AVG</b>
</td>
<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>OBP</b>
</td>
<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>SLG</b>
</td>
<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>SB</b>
</td>
<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>OPS</b>
</td>
<td width="34" style="color: black;">
<b>OPS+</b>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black">
<td width="34">
Bagwell
</td>
<td width="34">
2311
</td>
<td width="34">
1517
</td>
<td width="34">
449
</td>
<td width="34">
1525
</td>
<td width="34">
.297
</td>
<td width="34">
.408
</td>

<td width="34">
.541
</td>
<td width="34">
202
</td>
<td width="34">
.949
</td>
<td width="34">
150
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black;">
<td width="34">
McGwire
</td>

<td width="34">
1626
</td>
<td width="34">
1167
</td>
<td width="34">
583
</td>
<td width="34">
1414
</td>
<td width="34">
.263
</td>
<td width="34">
.394
</td>
<td width="34">
.588
</td>
<td width="34">
12 
</td>
<td width="34">
.982
</td>
<td width="34">
163
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black">
<td width="34">
Murray
</td>
<td width="34">
3255
</td>
<td width="34">
1627
</td>
<td width="34">
504
</td>
<td width="34">
1917
</td>
<td width="34">
.287
</td>
<td width="34">
.359
</td>
<td width="34">
.476
</td>
<td width="34">
110
</td>
<td width="34">
.836
</td>
<td width="34">
129
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black">
<td width="34">
Perez
</td>
<td width="34">
2732
</td>
<td width="34">
1272
</td>
<td width="34">
379
</td>
<td width="34">
1652
</td>
<td width="34">
.279
</td>

<td width="34">
.341
</td>
<td width="34">
.463
</td>
<td width="34">
49
</td>
<td width="34">
.804
</td>
<td width="34">
122
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black;">

<td width="34">
Stargell
</td>
<td width="34">
2232
</td>
<td width="34">
1195
</td>
<td width="34">
475
</td>
<td width="34">
1540
</td>
<td width="34">
.282
</td>
<td width="34">
.360
</td>
<td width="34">
.529
</td>
<td width="34">
17
</td>
<td width="34">
.889
</td>
<td width="34">
147
</td>
</tr>

<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black;">
<td width="34">
McCovey 
</td>
<td width="34">
2211
</td>
<td width="34">
1229
</td>
<td width="34">
521
</td>
<td width="34">
1555
</td>
<td width="34">
.270
</td>
<td width="34">
.374
</td>
<td width="34">
.515
</td>
<td width="34">
26
</td>
<td width="34">
.889
</td>
<td width="34">
148
</td>

</tr>
<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black;">
<td width="34">
Killebrew
</td>
<td width="34">
2086
</td>
<td width="34">
1283
</td>
<td width="34">
573
</td>
<td width="34">
1584
</td>
<td width="34">
.256
</td>
<td width="34">
.376
</td>
<td width="34">
.509
</td>
<td width="34">
19
</td>
<td width="34">
.884
</td>
<td width="34">
143
</td>

</tr>
<tr valign="top" style="background-color:black;">
<td width="34">
Cepeda
</td>
<td width="34">
2351
</td>
<td width="34">
1131
</td>
<td width="34">
379 
</td>
<td width="34">
1365
</td>
<td width="34">
.297
</td>
<td width="34">
.350
</td>
<td width="34">
.499
</td>
<td width="34">
142
</td>
<td width="34">
.849
</td>
<td width="34">
133
</td>

</tr>
</table>

 

He'll make it because for McGuire, 500 homeruns still counts as an automatic ticket, for some reason, the same doesn't apply to Palmeiro.

 

Great stats for Bags. Man... really puts into perspective how much of a bad@ss he is.

Cool article.

 

He'll make it. Not first ballot, but he'll make it.

 

McGuire (sp?) and Palmeiro will both make it, and they both deserve it. A lot of Hall of Fame power hitters have "horrible strikeout numbers". It goes with the territory. You are aware that the former home run king was also the strikeout king, aren't you? Additionally, power hitters often have relatively high (or at least above average) OBP and not-so-breath-taking AVG. Killebrew, for example, hit over 570 jacks and couldn't scratch .260 for his career AVG. No one argues whether *he* belongs, though. This is why I believe Red is in. Bagwell, on the other hand, is a bona fide slugger *and* hits for average--incredible.

Now, it sure was nice to see a sportswriter counting B&B among the definites. Not even two years ago, a lot of those national guys had B&B on the bubble.

I especially enjoyed one of the talking heads's article on Biggio earlier this year.

About the comparison between Bagwell and HoF first baseman--Ray Kerby over at www.astrosdaily.com has assembled a similar chart comparing Biggio to HoF second baseman. He's not the very best, but he does pretty well.

 

Haven't had a chance to read this yet....did they have a poll like most Sportsnation articles do?

 

I don't know much about baseball, but has any other team had two potential HOF players on the same team for the majority of their careers and no playoff success (I say none because we didn't do squat until last yr with Beltran)? I know baseball is more of a team sport, so I'm trying my best not to put them in Stockton & Malone category.

Again, I don't really follow baseball. School me............

 

It's really unique to have two Hall of Famers on the same team, who both came up within a few years of each other, and both will retire within a year or so of each other so that they become inextricably linked in the minds of people. It's hard to make a comparison - but recently - Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs on the Red Sox for starters.

 

That is pretty damn impressive... Bagwell haters please take note. Biggio is a LOCK to get in, and has been for a year or two, his hits, HBP, stolen bases, doubles, playing style and personality will make him a 1st ballot no-brainer. I think Bagwell will make it in too, just not sure if he can get in on the first ballot thanks to those "no 500 homers" bastards.