I caught a little bit of an Astros game over the weekend, and while I was watching they flashed a graphic that showed Craig Biggio was currently #9 all time in career doubles, and in fact is only three two-baggers behind Hank Aaron for #8 on the list. Assuming he plays one more year, in Houston or elsewhere, in pursuit of his 3000th hit, and he could finish as high as #6, as he needs 21 more to pass Napoleon Lajoie. That’s some pretty rarefied air.
So as I was watching that, I was thinking that no matter what else Bidge’s eventual case for the Hall of Fame is, I’ve got to think that Top Ten all time in doubles is a lock cinch qualifier. Which got me to wondering: Who has the most career doubles without being enshrined? What about other counting stats?
A few minutes with Baseball Reference later, I had my answers. I only included players who are eligible for the Hall (no Pete Rose, no active or less-than-five-years-retired guys). Here’s my list:
Statistic #1 Non-HOF Player Total Leader Rank ======================================================= Runs Jimmy Ryan 1642 2295 32 Runs Dwight Evans 1470 2295 65 Hits Harold Baines 2866 4256 38 Hits Andre Dawson 2774 4256 44 Total bases Harold Baines 4604 6856 29 Total bases Dave Parker 4405 6856 41 Doubles Al Oliver 529 792 28 Triples Ed Konetchy 182 309 t15 Home runs Mark McGwire 583 755 7 Home runs Fred McGriff 493 755 t21 Home runs Jose Canseco 462 755 26 Home runs Dave Kingman 442 755 31 RBI Harold Baines 1628 2297 23 RBI Andre Dawson 1591 2297 28 Walks Eddie Yost 1614 2311 9 Stolen bases Vince Coleman 752 1406 6 Stolen bases Arlie Latham 739 1406 8
The Runs list is crowded with pre-1900 players. Dwight Evans, a highly underrated player, was the first all-20th century guy. Harold Baines, who will be a nominee this year, and Andre Dawson are the top two eligible non-Famers or close to it on several lists. I think both fall short of the Hall, Baines more than Dawson, but seeing them where they were over and over makes me a little more sympathetic to Dawson’s partisans.
(Another guy, not yet Hall-eligible, with even higher finishes in every non-speed category: Rafael Palmeiro, who was no worse than #29 in runs, hits, homers, doubles, RBIs, total bases, and walks. He’s going to give some people severe agida in a few years.)
I thought Triples might be a slightly oddball list, and it did produce some different names, but a high finish there is still a good predictor of Hall-worthiness, though some of the non-inductees are definitely not near misses like Dawson. Take a look at Ed Konetchy‘s career numbers and you’ll see what I mean. Same with stolen bases (Arlie Latham was a 19th century player) and somewhat to my surprise walks. How is it that a guy like Eddie Yost can have a season where he hits .231, slugs .336, yet draws 151 walks? He had only 176 total bases that year. I think if I were a manager back then, I’d fine any hurler who didn’t challenge Yost on every pitch. Weird.
And then there’s home runs. None of McGwire, McGriff, nor Canseco have been on a ballot yet, but any one of them could eventually supplant Dave Kingman for the highest non-enshrined slugger. Steroids or no, I think McGwire and Raffy should be voted in, but to say the least I expect that debate to be acrimonious. I think Crime Dog and Canseco fall short but expect both of them to have their supporters.
Anyway. More than you wanted to know, I’m sure, but I found it interesting.
I don’t think Canseco considered himself officially retired when the rest of us did.
McGwire will be in the same Hall class as Gwynn and Ripken; they’re eligible next year. I think all three will be in on the first ballot. Ripken and Gwynn are obvious shoe-ins. McGwire will get fewer votes, I think, but with 583 HRs, he’ll be in.