you may have seen it. . . yesterday, on ESPN, they were talking about current players and their likelihood of making the Hall. they mentioned guys like pudge, palmeiro, juan gone, barry, the unit, etc. as pretty-much shoe-ins. they mentioned bagwell as being maybe just a whisker away from being as much of a shoe-in as those guys. then, they talked about guys who are on the bubble: mark grace, larry walker, frank thomas. but nary a peep was heard about one craig biggio. thoughts? questions: how many gold gloves has bidge won? how many total hits does he have for his career? how many all-star appearances? has he won any silver sluggers?
I stated this in another thread. The baseball hall of fame is the hardest one to get into. It does not happen very often that 2 players that play 2nd base in one era get in. The fact that Roberto Alomar is in the same era as Biggio makes the climb that much more difficult for him. Alomar has excelled in almost every offensive category compared to Biggio. Alomar also is a much better defensive player. He has won more gold gloves and has more all star appearances. That being said, I feel that Biggio should still have a good chance to get in. But, he needs to increase his stat total for another year or two. He has slowed down a lot this year and that is not good because he needs to keep producing to get himself into the hall. It will be tough, but I would say that he will get in when its all said and done. Bagwell is close right now. But, he will continue to produce for another 4 years. This addition of stats will get him in for sure.
Yes they did. Read his statement: "they mentioned guys like pudge, palmeiro, juan gone, barry, the unit, etc. " etc. usually means that more were mentioned
in actuality, I don't remember if they did or did not mention alomar. the guys I wrote, I specifically remember. I'm pretty sure there were more. I was making macaroni and cheese. sue me. if they didn't mention alomar, then that does mean something. I don't see any way possible he doesn't get in, spitter or no spitter. but they did seem like they were trying to hit the really obvious ones. then they mentioned the 3 on the bubble with nary a peep about biggio. I don't too much care either way. I'd like him to go in, but I can't say where as I'd be shocked if he doesn't get in. the only reason it seemed like a big deal to me is because I've seen a lot of threads here over the last year where people have acted like biggio is a shoe-in. I wonder if his declining production will hurt his chances and damage the way fans and writers will think of his career. on a related note, they seemed to be harping on concrete achievements in their look at HOF possibles. with bagwell, they talked about his MVP and the fact that he's one of only 4 players ever to score something like 140 runs so many years in a row. [the others were mickey mantle, willie mays, and some other superhoss] anyway, I just thought it was interesting. I hope he gets in.
Biggio should be a first ballot Hofer. unfortunately, he probably won't make it at all. He had 2 years in which he probably should have won the MVP. He never did. He's not going to get 3000 hits. And his defense, while good, isn't Ozzie Smith stuff. Biggio's one of those guys who was VERY GOOD at everything, but not truly excellent at anything. I think he should be in the HoF. He's probably had a better career than Bagwell will. But Bags will be almost automatic because of his power #'s. Silly.
If Biggio does not get in it is a shame. The guy did something that NOBODY (not even Alomar) did. that is to excell at both catcher and 2B well enough to All-Star in BOTH. He also was the first 50 double 50 steal man since Tris Speaker before WW2. These are major achievements. Anybody should be able to agree to that.
it almost seems like, now, to get into the HOF, one has to have a gimmick. or at least something "juicy" that writers can wrap their minds around quickly and easily. for bidge, it's the all-star at 2 positions thing. if he's going to make it in, I think that will be what does it for him. is there anyone else in the Hall who has made the all-star team at 2 positions? anyone else where catcher was one of the two?
I believe Craig Biggio is the only player who went from his team's starting catcher to his team's starting 2B. I want to expand that to middle infielders, but I'm not that bold.
What about Biggio and Bagwell breaking a record as a tandem? I mean, how many times as Bagwell knocked in Biggio for a run? Has there ever been any other duo in history that have had that same kind of production where one bats the other in? I don't know. Maybe it's not that big of a deal, but I think it would be just another "gimmick" that could help Biggio. That would be a cool record. Can anyone else think of any other two players that have been playing together as long as Biggio and Bagwell with one batting right behind the other for the entire time?
based on what we're seeing with trammell and whitaker, I'm thinking even if bagwell and biggio shared some type of record that still might not do it. trammell and whitaker, I think, were the longest-running double play combination. of course, in bagwell and biggio, you have two players who are probably a few heads and shoulders above where trammell and whitaker are, individually. I still think biggio's best selling point is all-star catcher/2nd-baseman. it's hard to believe, lo those many years ago, that the babyfaced craig we've come to know and love was responsible for putting on the tools of war and throwing out baserunners. pudge rodriguez mike piazza craig biggio? it looks weird now, doesn't it?
I read and read that statment and see no mention of Alomar. They may have mentioned him, but how can you say "Yes they did."?
that's because of the lack of quality second basemen over the years, not some long-standing, unwritten rule governing their acceptance. if they're both deemed worthy, they'll both go in. besides, biggio will likely be eligible first, and no one will not vote for him because they're saving a vote for alomar. it doesn't work that way.
3 questions: - is ryne sandberg in the Hall? - how do biggio's career stats compare with sandberg's? - who was the last 2nd baseman to go in?
Sandberg (1981-1997): Avg - .285 HRs - 282 2B - 403 3B - 76 Hits - 2386 Runs - 1318 RBI - 1061 SB - 344 OBP - .344 SLG - .452 FLD% - .989 Biggio (1988-present): Avg - .290 HRs - 187 2B - 467 3B - 48 Hits - 2248 Runs - 1367 RBI - 853 SB - 376 OBP - .380 SLG - .435 FLD% - .985 Another similarity: In my opinion, they are 2 of the most over-rated defensive 2B in history.
