100 Greatest Non-Hall of Famers: #100-81

One of my favorite memories as a young teen involved going outside after school, watching the snow melt into mud, and running around for a few minutes - to see if it was warm enough to play baseball. Some kids had a higher tolerance for lower temperatures, while others preferred to wait until the ground was clear and the temperatures were more May than March. 

I have fond memories of playing other sports with the gang, too. When we played touch football in the street, there was an adult who always offered to throw for both sides. My sister is his real estate agent now, and when she mentioned his name I immediately replied "he was our quarterback!" 

Football was fun. Basketball was okay. Street hockey was a disaster. And none of them had the same inner and outer warmth as the days when the winter ceded to spring and it was finally time to play ball.

While we wait for our favorite teams and players to take the field for Spring Training, let's take a look at a hundred great players of the past who didn't quite make it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

#100 - RF Jack Clark

Jack Clark's career output closely resembles that of Norm Cash, player #101 on our countdown. Both players were potent sluggers in a pitcher-friendly era and their near-identical statistical profile resulted in a near-identical OPS+ score. While Cash ever-so-slightly out-slugged Clark and has a batting title to his credit, Clark nudged Norm in on-base percentage and WAR, boosted by a slight lead in walks and total bases. It's enough to sneak "Jack the Ripper" into the top 100, but not enough for Cooperstown.

Cooperstown comparable: Larry Doby
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1998 BBWAA - 7 votes (1.5%)

#99 - 3B Buddy Bell

Buddy Bell is one of those underrated '70s stars that fascinates me as an '80s-'90s kid. He was the best in a long line of baseball-playing Bells. He played 2,405 regular season games without ever making the playoffs (fourth all-time on that dubious list). And he was traded in his prime, one-for-one, for an equally accomplished player at his own position. (Toby Harrah, who is seventh on the playoff-less list). The trade worked out well for Texas, as Bell won six Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and made four All-Star teams in the six seasons after the trade. I'm not sure why 2,514 career hits and a 66.3 WAR wasn't well-received by Hall of Fame voters. It surely wasn't Buddy's fault his teams were lousy.

Cooperstown comparable: Alan Trammell
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1995 BBWAA - 8 votes (1.7%)

#98 - LF Bobby Veach

Bobby Veach was one of the last cuts from my All-Time Tigers team, but he makes this list thanks to a .310 batting average, 2,000+ career hits, and three RBI crowns. His .442 career slugging percentage is impressive for someone with just 64 career home runs; the two-time league leader in doubles legged out ten or more triples in ten consecutive seasons. All told, Veach accumulated 2,942 total bases, 48 wins above replacement, and a 127 OPS+ for his career. He just didn't have the counting stats or longevity of his dead ball-era peers.

Cooperstown comparable: Minnie Minoso
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1937 BBWAA - 1 vote (0.5%)

#97 - SP Vida Blue

The co-ace of the Oakland Athletics' three-year reign atop the major leagues, Vida Blue won the AL Cy Young and MVP awards in 1971 - his first full season as a starter. A three-time 20-game winner and six-time All-Star, Blue's career numbers closely resemble his Hall of Fame teammate Catfish Hunter. Vida struggled a bit in the postseason, led the league in earned runs twice, and had a modest strikeout-to-walk ratio. Regardless, he might well have a plaque in Cooperstown if skinflint owner Charlie Finley's sale of Blue to the Yankees in 1976 had not been voided by MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

Cooperstown comparable: Jim "Catfish" Hunter
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1993 BBWAA - 37 votes (8.7%)

#96 - LF Frank Howard

The Aaron Judge of his day, Frank Howard was a massive slugger in an era that lacked the long ball. After winning Rookie of the Year and a World Series with the Dodgers, Howard was traded to Washington, where he became the "Capitol Punisher." From 1968 to 1970 he smacked a total of 136 home runs (twice leading the AL), drove in 343 runs (leading the AL in 1970), and accumulated 979 total bases (twice leading the majors). Similar to another slugging star of the sixties, Howard has an advantage over Rocky Colavito in OPS+ but struck out more and ranks among the worst defensive outfielders ever.

Cooperstown comparable: Jim Rice
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1979 BBWAA - 6 votes (1.4%)

#95 - 3B Bob Elliott

Bob Elliott ranks among the top 30 third basemen all-time in several categories, including hits (26th), doubles (23rd), RBI (18th), and WAR (27th). A seven-time All-Star, Elliott won the 1947 NL MVP award after setting career highs in batting average, slugging percentage, RBI, and WAR. His .815 career OPS is just slightly behind Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, and his offensive WAR total of 52.3 is just half a point behind newest Hall of Famer Scott Rolen. Elliott's home run power and defense were about average for his position, ranking him slightly below other hot corner stars you'll see on this countdown.

Cooperstown comparable: Bobby Doerr
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1964 BBWAA - 4 votes (2%)

#94 - IF Hardy Richardson

Hardy Richardson played just 1,334 professional games - barely in the top thousand of all-time. The 19th-century star batted over .300 in six of his 14 seasons, led the majors in home runs twice, and scored over 120 runs in four seasons. Richardson's 1,694 career hits aren't an eye-popping total, but when you average his production over a current 162-game schedule - 206 hits, 101 RBI, 300 total bases - his place among the greats of his day becomes clearer. Hardy's OPS+ of 131 is the highest of any second baseman with over 4,000 at-bats who is not enshrined in Cooperstown.

Cooperstown comparable: Frank "Home Run" Baker
Highest HOF Vote Total: N/A

#93 - SP Hippo Vaughn

source: Bored Panda/Mancave Pictures

Jim "Hippo" Vaughn won over 400 games and struck out over 3,000 batters over his impressive career. Had he accumulated those numbers in the major leagues he'd be a surefire Hall of Famer. In a seven-year peak from 1914 to 1920, Vaughn totaled five 20-win seasons, led the league in strikeouts and innings pitched twice, and had five seasons with an ERA of 2.20 or lower. After a disastrous 1921 season, Hippo continued his career in semi-pro ball. He makes this list based on his MLB career alone, in which he won 187 games, maintained a 2.49 ERA across 2,730 innings, and won the pitching triple crown in 1918.

Cooperstown comparable: Jack Chesbro
Highest HOF Vote Total: N/A

#92 - RP Joe Nathan

Let's show some love for the closers. Joe Nathan didn't get nearly as much Cooperstown support as Billy Wagner has, but his career accomplishments aren't far behind. A six-time All-Star and 2009 Reliever of the Year, Nathan's 377 saves rank tenth all-time, and his 151 ERA+ is higher than every Hall of Fame fireman except you-know-who. His fielding-independent ERA of 3.36 is a tad high, and his 2.87 strikeout-to-walk ratio is a tad low. But Nathan's overall numbers are better than most not-quite Cooperstown closers.

Cooperstown comparable: Bruce Sutter
Highest HOF Vote Total: 2022 BBWAA - 17 votes (4.3%)

 #91 - RF Rocky Colavito

A fan favorite throughout his career, particularly in Cleveland, Rocky Colavito mashed 358 home runs over an 11-year peak from 1956 to 1966. The AL Rookie of the Year runner-up in '56, Rocky finished third in MVP voting two years later and was named to nine All-Star teams. He led the league in total bases twice, posted six 100+ RBI seasons, and blasted over 40 home runs three times in four years from 1958-61. He ranks just ahead of Frank Howard on this list based on a batter batting eye and defensive metrics, though their offensive output is nearly even.

Cooperstown comparable: Gil Hodges
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1974 BBWAA - 2 votes (0.5%)

 

 

 #90 - SP Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee struggled with control early in his career and injuries later in his career. When he was "on", he was as dominant as any 21st-century ace. The 2008 American League Cy Young winner led the majors in strikeout-to-walk ratio three times and posted MLB's lowest walks per 9 innings ratio four times. While he rarely allowed free passes, Lee did give up nearly a hit per inning over his relatively short career. He was well on his way to a fourth consecutive 200-strikeout season when his left elbow finally gave out for good in 2014.

Cooperstown comparable: Dizzy Dean
Highest HOF Vote Total: 2020 BBWAA - 2 votes (0.5%)

 #89 - C Jorge Posada

A key member of the Yankees' late-1990s dynasty, Jorge Posada ranks among the greatest offensive catchers in the game's history. The five-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner managed just 1,664 career hits but made them count. Posada's home run total, doubles total, and RBI total are all top-12 among primary catchers. His .374 on-base percentage and .474 slugging percentage place him in the top ten among catchers with 1,000 career games.

Cooperstown comparable: Gabby Hartnett
Highest HOF Vote Total: 2017 BBWAA - 17 votes (3.8%)

 

#88 - OF/1B Al Oliver

source: The Shadow League

Al Oliver played every outfield position and first base for the Pirates, who found a place for his potent bat in their everyday lineup despite the presence of legends like Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell. A pure contact hitter, Oliver rarely walked and rarely struck out - resulting in a .303 lifetime batting average and a .344 on-base percentage. "Scoop" earned seven All-Star selections, three Silver Slugger awards, and won a batting title in 1982 while a member of the Montreal Expos. His 2,743 career hits place him 58th on the all-time list, in between Hall of Famers Luke Appling and Goose Goslin. 

Cooperstown comparable: Goose Goslin
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1991 BBWAA - 19 votes (4.3%)

 

 #87 - 3B Darrell Evans

A pure power-hitting third baseman, Darrell Evans made just two All-Star teams, never won a major award, and collected over 150 hits in a season just once. That said, his 414 home runs are fifth all-time among players who primarily manned the hot corner and, perhaps more impressively, Evans led the majors with 40 long balls in 1985 at age 38. While his 2,223 hits and .248 lifetime batting average aren't Hall-worthy, Evans earns points for longevity as much as long ball prowess. He also walked more than he struck out and led the majors in free passes for two consecutive seasons.

Cooperstown comparable: Andre Dawson
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1995 BBWAA - 8 votes (1.7%)

 

#86 - SP Jim Whitney

Jim Whitney lost more games than he won over his ten-year career. He lost 30 or more games three times, including a two-year record of 30-62 in the middle of his pro career. He led the league in hits allowed twice and wild pitches three times. But!!! The 1880s ace also led the league in fielding-independent ERA twice, walked just 411 batters over nearly 3,500 innings, and led all of professional baseball in strikeout-to-walk ratio four times in five seasons from 1883 to 1887. Whitney's 56.0 career WAR is higher than HOFers Eppa Rixey, Burleigh Grimes, and Jim Kaat - all of whom tossed well over 4,000 big league innings.

Cooperstown comparable: Juan Marichal
Highest HOF Vote Total: N/A

#85 - SS Miguel Tejada

If I handed you the resume of a player who finished 15th all-time at his position in hits, 8th in doubles, 9th in RBI, and 4th in home runs, would you expect to see that resume engraved on the walls of Cooperstown? How about if I add an American League MVP, six All-Star nods, and two Silver Slugger awards? Miguel Tejada might have been underappreciated in his era - except he peaked when PEDs were prevalent. His durability and production is overshadowed by his documented use of performance-enhancers, and his lackluster postseason output - along with a .336 career on-base percentage - can also explain why Miggy received far less Hall of Fame support than other steroid-tainted stars.

Cooperstown comparable: Ryne Sandberg
Highest HOF Vote Total: 2019 - 5 votes (1.2%)

 #84 - OF Jimmy Ryan

Jimmy Ryan batted .300 or higher in 11 of his 17 full seasons, though he never won a batting title. His career slash line of .308/.375/.444 stands out even among his high-average, low-power peers. In 1888 Ryan led all of baseball in hits, doubles, total bases, home runs, and slugging percentage. His counting stats - 2,513 hits, 1,643 runs scored, 1,093 RBI, 419 stolen bases - compare favorably with several Hall of Fame outfielders.

Cooperstown comparable: Jim O'Rourke
Highest HOF Vote Total: Appeared on many Veterans' Committee ballots

 #83 - RF Magglio Ordonez

An unheralded star of the early aughts, Magglio Ordonez was one home run and one RBI away from posting five consecutive seasons with 30+ homers, 100+ RBI, and a .300 or better batting average. The six-time All-Star compiled over 300 total bases in a season six times and boasted a career slugging percentage of .502 - equal to that of Hall of Famer Jim Rice. Ordonez led the majors in batting average and doubles in 2007, finishing second in AL MVP voting and earning his third Silver Slugger award. His counting stats fall short of Hall standards at his corner outfield position, though his career WAR score is equal to that of a recent inductee.

Cooperstown Comparable: Enos Slaughter
Highest HOF Vote Total - 2017 BBWAA - 3 votes (0.7%)

#82 - SP Nap Rucker

Just like Jim Whitney, George Napoleon Rucker pitched for a Hall-minimum ten seasons over a hundred years ago and, like Whitney, his won-lost record is underwhelming. However I've ranked Rucker higher because he allowed fewer hits per inning, had a lower earned run average, and struck out more batters per nine innings. "Nap" never led the league in ERA or whiffs, his strikeout to walk ratio is fairly standard for starters of his era, and his Hall of Fame case is undone by his brief career as much as lack of victories. But he did lead the National League in WAR for two consecutive seasons.

Cooperstown comparable: Candy Cummings
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1942 BBWAA - 15 votes (6.4%)*

*72 names appeared on the 1942 BBWAA ballot. 45 of these players were eventually enshrined, including all of the top 30. Rucker was 31st on the list.

#81 - 3B Bill Madlock

Bill Madlock won two batting titles in his first three full seasons - and then the Cubs traded him to San Francisco. Traded for the third time in 1979, "Mad Dog" found a home in Pittsburgh and immediately helped the Bucs win a World Series that fall. He won two more batting titles before being traded again in 1985. Every third baseman with a career .305 batting average and at least 2,000 hits is in the Hall of Fame - except Madlock, who just clears both bars. Every four-time batting champion who is eligible for Cooperstown has a plaque in the hallowed halls - except Madlock.

Cooperstown comparable: George Kell
Highest HOF Vote Total: 1993 BBWAA - 19 votes (4.5%)

Would you consider any of these players Hall-worthy? Do you have any favorites in this section?

 

 

The Top 100 Countdown will return next week with a look at players #80-61. Hope to see you then.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

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