The best not to

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.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 25, 2006 to Baseball | TrackBack