[Yahoo Sports] Jeff Bagwell's case for the Hall of Fame

I think he belongs. His total numbers are penalized by his shoulder injury. He didn't get to hang on long enough to accumulate the 500HRs, but he was very good at all aspects of the game, unlike many of his contemporaries.

 

I agree he should be in there.

The only thing he failed to mention would be stats based on ballpark, as he was relegated to the Astrodome for so many years that easily ate at his numbers.

 

I think he's borderline. It's funny, 12 years ago I would have said that Bagwell was a lock and Biggio was boderline but now I think it's the complete opposite. Clearly had Bagwell not had the shoulder issue he would be a lock but I don't think you can simply ignore his relative lack of counting stats. Also the fact that he only had one MVP and that was of course in the strike-shortened season.

One thing I think people forget about Bagwell was his base-running. I don't know that I ever saw him make a bad decision on the base paths and he got an extra base many times.

One thing that might be in his favor is timing. If I remember correctly he will be eligible a year before Biggio. If so I could easily see him not making it the first time but both going in the next year. That would be pretty epic, I have already told my wife that I'll be going to Cooperstown with or without her if that happens.

 

bagwell's home/away hr numbers don't suggest that

 

Baggy is my childhood icon, even over Biggio, but he isn't a first ballet guy. He is however a Hall of Famer so I can see him making it in his 2nd attempt.

FYI, I hate the term first ballet because if your a hall of famer then it shouldn't matter but sadly it does.

 

I'm biased, as i'm a stros' fan first...however, given his entire body of work, I think he deserves to be in...One thing regarding HR's was that he played a majority of his prime years in the Dome...he made good decisions and honestly, it's hard not to think of him as one of the best...

 

Bagwell's numbers really get smacked by a couple things.

1. He lost some prime career to injury. He missed a couple of almost half seasons when he was at his peak.
2. His career was shortened by injury. Had he not had a degenerative shoulder condition, its possible he could STILL be hitting for someone.
3. He played the first 10 years in the Astrodome, a very pitcher friendly park that loved to steal home runs.

When he retired, I remember reading an article that his adjusted stats from his MVP year make it one of the top 10 seasons by anyone, ever.

 

I'm hoping for that to happen, too. I'd love to take my sons up there in a couple of years to see both go in at the same time.

 

You do realize his home/away numbers are probably neutralized by the fact that he played in MMP later in his career. Baggy hit nearly as many homers in six seasons at MMP (108 in 3,038 AB) as he did in nine seasons in the Dome (126 in 4,699 AB).

Flip the time splits between the two parks and you see a substantial difference, especially given the state of his shoulder toward the latter stages of his career...

Finished in Top 3 of MVP Voting three times, and Top 10 six times. Also won ROY. Hell, dude led the league in Runs Scored three times as a first baseman!

 

Charlie P. on 790 mentioned he had an OBP of over .400, Slugging over .500 and 1500 runs scored and driven in...he was one of only a few to do that with names like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Frank Robinson and some other LEGENDS.

 

i don't think he will get in the first time around but eventually will.

 

I hate that the writer says Bagwell was never the best 1B in baseball. He was easily the best in the NL, and really him and Thomas were even for most of their respective careers. Their numbers are very similar on an annualized basis, while Bagwell has over 1,000 more career games at 1B than Thomas.

Bagwell was a great base runner, great hitter, and very good defensive 1B. Not to mention being the greatest player in a franchises 40+ year history has to count for something. Only negative about Bagwell is his struggles in the postseason.

Mcgriff and Delgado won't make it.

Thomas & Thome will make it.

Bagwell should make it.

 

Give any of those other guys the Astrodome for the first 10 years of their careers and see how they're counting stats add up.

(I havent looked at park adjusted stats, just trying to make a case for Bagwell)

 

He'll make it, the only question is whether it's first ballot or not.

The writer is wrong about him never being the best at his position.

 

Bagwell should be the in the HoF, no questions asked.

Of course what little credibility the voters had is gone once they put Jim Rice in.

 

Hey dumbass, defense and baserunning are part of the game, too. Frank Thomas and Bags were generally neck-in-neck offensively while they were in the league together. So, how does the Big Hurt compare to Bags on the basepaths or in the field? Thank you very much, Bagwell and his five tools were HEAD AND SHOULDERS better than Frank "I'll-Soon-Be-A-DH" Thomas. Hitting equals, and simply better at the rest of the game. Pujols' first few years, Bagwell was a far better first-baseman: because Pujols was playing third base.

And Mark "one trick pony" McGwire? BAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAA McGwire has more walks, more home runs, and more facial pock marks than Bagwell, and that's about it. As a total package, McGwire was *never* better than Bagwell, and neither was Thomas. Pujols, of course, has become an all-time great. But he began at third.

So, Mr. Dumbass Remington, allow me to correct your statement:
"During his career, Bagwell was generally the best first baseman in baseball."

That is all; thank you.

 

This is the only reasonable position. Every other argument is pure ignorance and bias.

 

No mention of his gold glove though. Baggy is a first ballot HOF.