There are three guys who I think belong in the Hall of Fame that aren't and I don't think they will make it.
They are Harold Baines, Edgar Martinez and Al Oliver.
Baines and Martinez are dismissed by many because they were primarily designated hitters. But if the DH is a position in the lineup, why are they excluded from Hall consideration? It seems to be an unwritten rule that if you were a DH you can't make it to Cooperstown. Paul Molitor was a DH the latter part of his career and he's in the Hall but more of his hits came as a position player than a DH.
Baines has 2,866 lifetime hits. People say that 3,000 is the magic number to make it to the Hall of Fame. So, basically, 134 hits and being a DH is keeping Baines out?
Martinez was one of the most feared hitters in the 90's. He has a .312 lifetime average. He hit for power and drove in runs. Oh, he was a DH. So what? The guy was maybe the best DH ever. He belongs in the Hall.
Now to Al Oliver. He wasn't a DH. He did some DH'ing in the latter part of his career but was primarily a first baseman and outfielder. His lifetime average is .303 which is the same as Pete Rose (another story for another day). Why isn't Oliver, who has 2,743 lifetime hits enshrined? I don't know. Maybe because as part of the Lumber Company in Pittsburgh he was overshadowed by Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell. Perhaps it was because he only clubbed 219 homers. Whatever the excuse, it isn't good enough. Oliver belongs in the Hall of Fame.
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