5 Year Hall of Famers? Make your case

[drcy]

James Creighton should be in the Hall of Fame, but that is an exception to the rule rather than the rule being wrong.

[Jobu]

Jim Rice seems like a guy for this conversation if we are looking for guys in the Hall who did not dominate for more than a few years. He was really good in 1977-79 and 1983 and the decent to pretty good the rest of the time. 30+ HRs 4 times, 100+ rbs 8 times, and 100+ runs 3 times, and was not a great defender.

[Topnotchsy]

I feel like Johan Santana deserves to be in the Hall. I’d much prefer someone who was pretty much the undisputed best pitcher in baseball for half a decade in the Hall rather that guys who were never close to the best, but compiled solid stats for a long time.

Not sure how long Lefty O’Doul was a legit star but he’s another name that comes to mind.

[GaryPassamonte]

Ross Barnes 1871-1876. I know it's six years, but take a look. It's hard to top. Barnes's career was Koufax's in reverse.

[bgar3]

5 year totals,
93-35
93 complete games
20 shutouts
3-1 World Series
1912 combined 37-6
Outfielder for Cleveland including World Series.

[BLongley]

Jack Chesbro? He had about 5 good years of his 11, with his 41 win season often thought to be the only reason he got in the Hall.

I know his time was pre 1900, but Hoss Radbourn too? Similar to Chesbro with that one year where he won like 59 games and pitched every game... he did have a couple other good seasons as well, but still his total good seasons is around 5 I would say.

[BLongley]

For hitters it’s tougher, but maybe Ralph Kiner... he only played 9 years total... and had 5 maybe 6 solid years. Leading the league in homers for 6 years in a row...

[frankbmd]

Longevity is also a relative indicator of Hall of Fame potential, but if longevity is abbreviated by death, you can get in.

ADDIE JOSS

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BLongley

For hitters it’s tougher, but maybe Ralph Kiner... he only played 9 years total... and had 5 maybe 6 solid years. Leading the league in homers for 6 years in a row...

You seem to be subtracting one today. He played 10 years and led for 7 in a row.

[yanks12025]

Originally Posted by BLongley

For hitters it’s tougher, but maybe Ralph Kiner... he only played 9 years total... and had 5 maybe 6 solid years. Leading the league in homers for 6 years in a row...

I looked up his numbers and can't believe he didn't win MVP in 1947.. He finished 6th and Bob Elliott who had worse numbers than Kiner.

[Throttlesteer]

Larry Walker - from 1997 to 2002, he was beyond impressive. A couple of batting titles, some pop in the bat, and playing a position that gets little attention.

[riggs336]

Although "not a hall of famer on the best day of his life" (Bill James), Riggs Stephenson had a good run from 1926-1930 batting .342 with an OPS around .900 for the five year stretch. I asked him about the HOF in 1977. Not surprisingly he thought he should be in. I agreed with him at the time but I've changed my mind since. Nice man and a good ballplayer, though.

[Andrew1975]

Originally Posted by bgar3

5 year totals,
93-35
93 complete games
20 shutouts
3-1 World Series
1912 combined 37-6
Outfielder for Cleveland including World Series.

+1

[ruth_rookie]

Back to back MVP (‘60 and ‘61)
Steroid-free, single-season HR record
Maris gets my vote. Great idea for a thread btw. I love hearing debates like this.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

I feel like Johan Santana deserves to be in the Hall. I’d much prefer someone who was pretty much the undisputed best pitcher in baseball for half a decade in the Hall rather that guys who were never close to the best, but compiled solid stats for a long time.

Not sure how long Lefty O’Doul was a legit star but he’s another name that comes to mind.

Santana has a much stronger case than I thought. He would not be out of place in the Hall, for sure.

Lefty had basically four years as a top player.

[MooseDog]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Lefty had basically four years as a top player.

Lefty deserves to be in the Hall as a "builder" but his performance as a player certainly doesn't hurt.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Santana has a much stronger case than I thought. He would not be out of place in the Hall, for sure.

Lefty had basically four years as a top player.

At 2.4 percent in his first year of eligibility he has a long way to go.

[jpop43]

Don Mattingly: 1984- 1989

MVP, Batting Title, x5 All-Star, x3 Sliver Slugger, x5 Gold Gloves

[Jason19th]

I think the barber gets forgotten - but from 1950-1954 he went 73-33

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by jpop43

Don Mattingly: 1984- 1989

MVP, Batting Title, x5 All-Star, x3 Sliver Slugger, x5 Gold Gloves

Pedro Tony Oliva: 1964-1971

x3 Batting Title, x8 All-Star, x4 Hits leader, x4 Doubles leader, 1 Gold Glove*


* - I'm not real keen on gold glove awards as Palmeiro got one while being a DH.

[sycks22]

Bob Hamelin.

'94 ROY, next year he hit .168 and was out of baseball in a couple years. Maybe not a HOFer

[alaskapaul3]

Semi surprised no one mentioned Fred Lynn's Boston years 1975-80
Rookie of the year.
MVP
6 straight all star appearances
4 Gold Gloves

.308 124HR 521RBI 43 SB

...and then... the drop off

I'll go Al Spalding 1871-1876 for HOF (although , technically he is in as a pioneer)