The 101 near-Hall Of Famers
There are currently over 270 players enshrined in the Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Yet there are quite a few guys that stick out in my mind as potential hall-of-famers or at least near hall-of-famers. So no, I wouldn't say that all 101 of these guys should be in there but I do say they are indeed worthy of consideration ahead of everyone else among those who played in the '50s or later and have retired.
There were some other great ballplayers that aren't on this list but were close to making it, but I wanted to keep the list at 101 just like my other extremely awesome lists located elsewhere on the site. In a similar vein the very amazing audio music clips section is 1001 songs strong. So there, I am providing continuity for you my wonderful visitor and isn't that such a nice thing in this world of upheaval and turmoil?
Among the guys who didn't quite make it on the list might be some of your personal favorites who you might include if you made up your own such list. Anyway, it's just my personal list and not meant to be a definitive one. That's what makes baseball so great. Folks debate and argue about this stuff all the time eerywhere especially at the barrooms. Not to mention at pubs, taverns, saloons, speakeasies, lounges, alehouses, beer gardens, rathskellers,and cantinas. Just not bistros. Annoying self-absorbed people are too busy there staring at their stupid I-phones or gabbing away about whatever..... But I'm not bitter.
Now take a trip down memory lane and ENJOY!
Note: Players are grouped by position and then within that position they are listed chronologically from debut year.
1B |
Mickey Vernon |
Ted Kluszewski |
Boog Powell |
Dick Allen |
Lee May |
Bill Buckner |
Steve Garvey |
Keith Hernandez |
Mark McGwire |
Rafael Palmeiro |
Don Mattingly |
Tino Martinez |
Carlos Delgado |
Paul Konerko |
Mark Teixeira
Ryan Howard
|
2B |
Junior Gilliam (Jim)
Willie Randolph
Lou Whitaker
Jeff Kent
SS
Marty Marion
Johnny Pesky
Maury Wills
Dave Concepcion
Julio Franco
Tony Fernandez
Omar Vizquel
Alex Rodriguez
Miguel Tejada
Jimmy Rollins
Michael Young
3B
Bob Elliott
Frank Malzone
Ken Boyer
Matt Williams
Aramis Ramirez
C
JoeTorre (As Player)
Thurman Munson
Jorge Posada |
OF |
Dom Dimaggio |
Del Ennis |
Carl Furillo
Vic Wertz
Harvey Kuenn
Rocky Colavito
Frank Howard
Vada Pinson
Pete Rose
Rusty Staub
Al Oliver
Dwight Evans
Dave Parker
Dale Murphy
George Bell
Joe Carter
Barry Bonds
Gary Sheffield
Albert (Joey) Belle
Juan Gonzalez
Sammy Sosa
Steve Finley
Moises Alou
Bernie Williams
Jim Edmonds
Manny Ramirez
Garret Anderson
Johnny Damon
Jermaine Dye
Raul Ibanez
Andruw Jones
Bobby Abreu
Magglio Ordonez
Carlos Beltran
Lance Berkman
Carlos Lee |
RP |
Roy Face |
John Franco |
Billy Wagner
Joe Nathan
Francisco Rodriguez (KRod)
SP
Allie Reynolds
Billy Pierce
Lew Burdette
Vern Law
Mike Cuellar
Dave McNally
Tommy John
Mickey Lolich
Mel Stottlemyre
Luis Tiant
Dennis Leonard
Ron Guidry
Dave Stewart
Orel Hershiser
Roger Clemens
Jamie Moyer
Jack McDowell
Kevin Brown
Curt Schilling
Andy Pettitte
Johan Santana |