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Gilbert MainesJohn, I've played some 3B, although mainly SS, maybe you have as well. It is surprising at first how different those positions are. The ball comes down the third base line like lightening. Fielding that position without a decent glove is suicidal.
Collins played alongside Long until he went to the AL. Long was very good. In the AL he played with Parent. I don't know much about Freddy Parent, but by then gloves were developing to the point that you could actually catch the ball rather than hope to knock it down, scramble for it, and retrieve it in time to throw out the runner. But all of this is regarding a batted ball, not one which is bunted.
The fielding of a batted ball is not Collins claim to fame, although it clearly was part of his job. He was good on bunts. Actually, he was the best third baseman of his time at fielding bunts.
This is true. It is also true that he nearly had a lifetime BA of .300. As you say: "then its hard to argue that he doesnt measure up to hall of fame standards". This is also true. However, I note that it seems somehow incongruous to use the terms "hall of fame" and "standards" in the same sentence.
IMHO Jimmy Collins is not close to top tier ballplayers, and maybe not second tier players either.
Edited to add: Traynor was a good fielder and a .320 hitter. But I do not consider him a top tier player. Do you?
My original contention was that simply being the best, does not necessarilly make you good.