Posted By:
warshawlawMattingly: You have to divide his career into two phases, pre-injury and post. In the years before he hurt his back he had numbers that would have put him in the hall if sustained for a normal career:
1984 153 603 91 207 44 2 23 110 .343
1985 159 652 107 211 48 3 35 145 .324
1986 162 677 117 238 53 2 31 113 .352
1987 141 569 93 186 38 2 30 115 .327
1988 144 599 94 186 37 0 18 88 .311
1989 158 631 79 191 37 2 23 113 .303
Had he been on a really solid team his totals would have been even better in the RBI and run categories. Afterwards, he was a decent average little power hitter. It is like two separate guys.
Jeter: He is a great player whose consistency is his enemy. Reminds me of Eddie Murray or Charlie Gehringer in that regard; send him out and he hits .310, scores 100x, drives in 75, plays a solid infield, etc. This year is his first breakout season at the plate. As a shortstop he certainly rates the HOF.
Williams: Bernie is a really good player, not great, but really good. I'd compare him to Henrich, Furillo, Grace, Dom DiMaggio, etc. Not a HOFer but a long, sustained excellent career.