by Paul Semendinger
November 2024
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The following players are up for discussion for inclusion into the Baseball Hall of Fame via the 2025 Classic Baseball Ballot:
Dick Allen
Ken Boyer
John Donaldson
Steve Garvey
Vic Harris
Tommy John
Dave Parker
Luis Tiant
Let's take a quick look at each:
Dick Allen: Allen's lifetime WAR of 58.7 puts him under the threshold of 60 widely considered to be the low standard for the Hall of Fame. I also like to see how a player ranks by WAR at his position. I like to see if he is one of the best players at his position all-time who is not yet enshrined in the Hall. Allen, though, played three positions: First Base (807 games), Third Base (652 games), and Left Field (256 Games). At First Base, Allen sits behind Keith Hernandez (60.3 WAR) and ahead of John Olerud (58.2). That doesn't scream "Hall of Fame." I'd argue for Hernandez at first before Allen. At Third Base, Allen Is below Sal Bando (61.5) and Robin Ventura (56.1) and is tied with Darrell Evans with 58.7 WAR. There are much more worthy candidates at third (Graig Nettles - 67.9) ahead of Allen. As a Left Fielder, he fares much better, only Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Manny Ramirez, and Sherry Magee rank above him there by WAR, but then again, Allen only played two seasons worth of games in Left Field.
A power hitter, Allen didn't hit 400 homers. He didn't have 1,200 RBIs. He didn't hit .300. He was not a gifted defender. His teams never reached a World Series. It was only at the end of his career that he even reached the one playoff series he appeared in. I do not believe Dick Allen is a Hall of Famer.
Ken Boyer - With 5 Gold Gloves, Boyer is considered one of the greatest defensive third basemen ever. He was also an 11 time all-star. Boyer's lifetime WAR of 62.8 puts him over the threshold. Boyer is the greatest third baseman by WAR not named Graig Nettles to not be in the Hall of Fame. Ken Boyer played on one World Series team, the 1964 World Champion Cardinals. Boyer is deserving of the Hall of Fame. If he gets in, the path for Graig Nettles (67.9 WAR) to also get in is very clear.
Steve Garvey - When Garvey played, everyone knew he was a future Hall of Famer, except, he wasn't and isn't. He was a 10 time All-Star and he won an MVP. Garvey also had lots of big post season moments. He was on five World Series teams (one was World Champion). Garvey's lifetime WAR, though is only 38.0. That's way low. Anthony Rizzo's is 39.8. Among first basemen, Garvey is way below Don Mattingly (42.4 , and not a Hall of Famer).
Tommy John - YES! I'll repost an article I wrote regarding Tommy John in the days to come. Yes, yes, and yes. Tommy John won 288 games. He had 62.1 WAR. On the Hall of Fame Monitor, he ranks # 86 all time as a starting pitcher. He had the surgery (his risk) that changed the sport and is named for him. He pitched 26 years (yes, there is something praiseworthy about that kind of longevity). He has the most wins since 1890 of any pitcher not in the Hall of Fame. YES to Tommy John.
Dave Parker - I want to say YES. Dave Parker was one of my favoriate players ever. I want to say that he was the National League version of Jim Rice, the feared power hitter. But, Parker, after starting out great, had a long down period that took away his chances. 40.1 WAR. Nope. He ranks 54th all time in right field. David Justice had a higher WAR for his career. So did J.D. Drew. So did Jack Clark, by a significant margin. Parker didn't hit .300. He didn't hit even 350 homers. He had an MVP. He had a World Championship (two actually). He had Gold Gloves. But he doesn't have a strong Hall of Fame case. Jim Rice was his superior (and Rice doesn't really belong in the Hall of Fame at that).
Luis Tiant - 65.6 WAR...he trumps Tommy John there. But he's 97th on the Hall of Fame Monitor for pitchers (John beats him there). 229 wins (a lot less than Tommy John). One World Series...
Luis Tiant is a legend. He had that classic wind-up. It's close with Tiant. He ranks right along with some great pitchers in WAR. He's not quite Don Sutton, but he's better than Roy Halliday and Juan Marichal. I sense he'll get in. If he does, he deserves it. Tommy John deserves it more, but Tiant is also a fine choice.
John Donaldson and Vic Harris - These were both players from the Negro Leagues. They both seem worthy. The biographies about each are impressive. They were both legends. They are both Hall of Fame worthy based on what I have read. I don't quite understand how they match up with the other players on the ballot as they played in a different era.
If I were voting, my ballot would include Ken Boyer, Tommy John, and Luis Tiant.
Of these only Tommy John stands out as worthy imo.
Several Hall of Very Good candidates, especially Boyer and Tiant. Was shocked that Garvey grades out so low. Agree with Robert and Alan that Flood should be there. Wrong category maybe?
"if Curt Flood was not willing to sacrifice the rest of his career for free agency, what exactly does Miller have?"
He'd have Messersmith and McNally.
Rolen was a better player than Boyer, 70.1 WAR to 62.8 (5.6 per 162 to 5.0); 122 OPS+ to 116.
I'd like to see John and Tiant go in, and it's just sad that Tiant will not have lived to enjoy it.
Sentimentally, I like Dick Allen -- the awful racism that he put up with and fought against (which gained him a reputation as a malcontent) is worthy of being remembered. I'd be a malcontent, too, if I had to put up with bigoted abuse by his own "fans" in Philadelphia. He was also terrific in flashes, ROY and later an MVP, putting up 8.8 and 8.6 WAR, respectively. But he didn't do it often enough to make the HoF.
Ken Boyer always struck me as a Hall of the Very Good candidate, but I admit his numbers are…
Tommy John & Curt Flood belong in the Hall of Fame. John for both his pitching and because of the surgery. How many guys are in the HOF who had that surgery, he was a guinea pig, but since he'd be voted in now on some form of Veteran's Committee, why specifically doesn't have to be declared. Marvin Miller is in the Hall. Hey, if Curt Flood was not willing to sacrifice the rest of his career for free agency, what exactly does Miller have? Nothing! He, Flood, should go in under the Builder category.
Because of Scott Rolen, there really isn't a good reason to keep Ken Boyer out.
There are guys, from Jim Rice (my opinion, and Guidry…