Underrated HoFers

Here we are. Baseball will soon induct seven legends into their hallowed halls for induction. That got me thinking: Who would be on my All-Time team? There are 330 members or so for me to make my choices from. But there will be a twist here: these players, in my opinion, are UNDER-reported in terms of being communicable with all-time greats. You won’t see Johnny Bench, Babe Ruth, or any of those big celebrity names. Let’s look at the underrated. 

Underrated

Catcher: Roy Campanella. There’s a TON of great options for catcher, ranging from Johnny Bench to Yogi Berra and Josh Gibson. Campy edges out for me because of his sheer will and determination. Playing in the Negro Leagues around the same time as Gibson was fading away, Campanella picked up where Josh left off and then tore a new one in the Dodgers organization. Winning MVP in 1951,1953, and 1955, he helped Brooklyn to their only World title. Had he not been paralyzed after closing his shop in 1958, he might have been even better than what people say. Career stats: .283 AVG, .364 OBP, .498 SLG, 259 HR, 1,015 RBI. Inducted in 1969 BBWAA. 

First base: Johnny Mize. Big Cat was something out of this world when he had the stick. In a six year stretch, he had a .315 average where he finished in top 10 in MVP votes. Johnny was also one of those who could hit for power and had the eye to caution himself. He retired with 524 strikeouts, which most players get in two-three years in the bigs. He is the ONLY player in MLB history to finish with 50 or more homers and have less than 50 strikeouts, accomplishing this in 1947. Johnny served during the war, and was able to lead the Cardinals and Yankees to World Series titles. Career stats: .312 AVG, .397 OBP, .562 SLG, 359 HR, 1,337 RBI. Inducted via Veterans’ Committee in 1989.

Second base: Tony Lazzeri. “Poosh ‘em up Tony” was a key cog in the Murderer’s Row Yankees. Best known for a foul ball in the 1926 World Series, Lazzeri made up for it with his expert defense and timely offense. He hit a possible Series winning grand slam foul off of washed up Pete Alexander in the Series. Tony was able to become the first player to hit two grand slams in one game, and set the RBI record for one game with 11 set back in 1936. Tony was known to be very quiet instead of being showboating and whatnot. While he died young, he made a big impact on the game, including finishing tied for third in MVP votes with Joe Judge in 1928. Career stats: .292 AVG, .380 OBP, .467 SLG, .846 OPS. Inducted via Veterans’ Committee in 1991. 

Third base: George Kell. A quiet stalwart who was known for murdering baseballs, Kell was able to combine clean fielding with power hitting. He was also, like Mize, a great eye, having struck out only 13 times in 1949, a record for a batting champ. George was traded to Detroit in one of Connie Mack’s great destruction rebuilds, and his trade would haunt Connie Mack. Kell was a mainstay on the Tigers and would ultimately deny Ted Williams of his third Triple Crown. Kell’s best season came when he hit .340 with 114 runs scored and 101 runs batted in, finishing third in MVP votes to Yogi Berra. He hit at least .304 from 1946-1951 and would retire with almost three times as many walks and strikeouts. Career stats: .306 AVG, .367 OBP, .414 SLG, .781 OPS. Inducted via Veterans’ Committee in 1983. 

Shortstop: Arky Vaughan. This was probably the hardest pick because there were so many people to choose from. Vaughan was an outstanding fielder and great hitter, hitting over .300 in his first ten seasons. Vaughan was seen as almost an heir apparent to the Flying Dutchman Honus Wagner.  He holds the record for best average by a shortstop in the modern era (.385 in 1935). Making the All-Star team in nine consecutive seasons for the Pirates, Vaughan was also on the infamous 1947 Dodgers team which saw Jackie Robinson debut and Leo Durocher be suspended for a year. He tragically drowned in 1952 after trying to save a friend when his fishing boat capsized. Career stats: .318 BA, .406 OBP, 453 SLG, .859 OPS. Inducted via Veterans’ Committee in 1985. 

Left field: Ducky Joe Medwick. I almost picked Minnie Miñoso here, but I went with the man who ran like a duck. Medwick won the Triple Crown and was a key contributor to the Gashouse Gang Cardinals. His 1937 campaign was one of the wildest I’ve ever seen: .374 AVG, 31 HR, 154 RBI. He was able to hit for power and average, striking out only 60 times or fewer in his career. Ducky was able to outhit the entire 1941 Dodgers en route to leading them to the World Series that year. Career stats: .324 AVG, /362 OBP, .505 SLG, .867 OPS. Inducted by BBWAA in 1968. 

Center field: Hack Wilson. Had he not drunk himself to death, he would’ve been one of the best center fielders ever. He holds the modern RBI record with 191 set in 1930. He was instrumental in the rise of the late 20s and early 30s Cubs, but never could get over the hump. Hack was known for being a big swinger for the fences, and his 713 strikeouts hold court to that, but imagine what he could’ve been if he were sober. Career stats: .307 BA, .395 OBP, .545 SLG, .940 OPS. Elected via Veterans’ Committee in 1979. 

Right field: Mel Ott. Master Melvin was a king on the field and in the box. Staying in Polo Grounds for 21 years, he was able to clean up and hit for power with his masterful swing. Appearing in 10 consecutive All-Star games, Ott hit over 511 home runs and was easily one of the biggest draws to Polo Grounds. Mel was just masterful at everything he did. Career stats: .304 BA, .414 OBP, .533 SLG, .947 OPS. Inducted as player in 1951.

DH: Harold Baines. A relatively recent addition to the Hall, Harold was a great hitter and was one of the first true DH’s in baseball history. While never winning an MVP, he is one of a select few to be the #1 overall pick to be in the Hall. Plus, his longevity (three baseball decades) adds a lot to be desired. I guess with age comes experience. Career stats: .289 AVG, .356 OBP, .465 SLG, .820 OPS. Inducted via Veterans’ Committee in 2019.

Starting Pitcher: Lefty Grove. One of the best definitions of workhorses, Lefty was able to accomplish much in his career. Winning precisely 300 games, he won the Triple Crown for pitching twice while also winning nine ERA titles. The three year stretch from 1929-1932 is one of, if not the best, in all of baseball. His dominance was just out of this world. Career stats: 300-141 record, 3.06 career ERA. Inducted as player in 1947.

Relief Pitcher: Goose Gossage. True, you might argue Lee Smith might fit here, but I’m going with the player who meant more to his teams than Lee. Goose was the premier shutdown closer. Known for his opinions on old-school baseball, Goose spent his time with nine teams. Recording 20 or more saves in ten seasons, he also became the second player with 300 saves. Goose is in top five all-time list with relief innings, strikeouts, and games pitched. Career stats: 124-107 record, 3.01 ERA, 310 saves. Inducted as player in 2008.

Now for my bench:

Only five players, so as to save some sanity.

Gabby Hartnett. Many don’t know that he and Hack were two of the deadliest bats in the late 20s and early 30s with the Cubs. Lasting 19 seasons, he was responsible for the “Homer in the Gloamin’” which sent the Cubs to the World Series in 1938. Gabby was also known to be a soft-spoken leader for the new Cubs players and would even start in the first All-Star. Career stats: .297 AVG, .370 OBP, .489 SLG, .858 OPS.

Minnie Miñoso. You cannot have a Hall of Fame list without including a Negro League legend like Minoso. Inducted this year, Miñoso was one of those players who could hit for speed, power, and contact. He played five decades in the bigs, starting in 1946 and ending in 1980. He was known for his good-hearted smile and overall kindness to everyone while facing discrimination and stereotypes. Career stats: .299 AVG, .387 OBP, .461 SLG, .848 OPS. Elected via Veterans’ Committee in 2022.

Paul Molitor. Molly was a player that no one wanted to mess with. A true 5-tool player, he was able to be the anchor for Harvey’s Wallbangers of the 1982 Brewers. He was able to win it all late in his career with the Blue Jays, even finishing second in MVP that year. A member of the 3,000 hit club, he was also a member of the 500 stolen base club. Career stats: .306 AVG, .369 OBP, .448 SLG, .817 OPS. Inducted as player in 2004.

Richie Ashburn. I need to have at least one Phillies player on this list, so Whitey it is. A pure contact hitter, he was also known as a mini iron-man who could run down any fly ball. He made centerfield home for 12 years and was the Mets’ sole All-Star rep in their inaugural 1962 season. He was also known for being a great broadcaster alongside Harry Kalas. Career stats: .308 AVG, .396 OBP, .382 SLG, .778 OPS. Inducted via Veterans’ Committee in 1995.

Hughie Jennings: Ee-Yah Jennings (it’s what he said when he became a player-manager), was one of the earliest examples of a contact hitter. Key for the Baltimore Orioles in their early dangerous run in the mid 1890s, he holds the record for most hit by pitches all time. He was also hit .300 or better in five straight seasons, with a .401 clip in 1896. He also stole 359 bases, then a record before modern legends like Billy Hamilton and Ty Cobb came along. Career stats: .312 AVG, .391 OBP, .406 SLG, .797 OPS. Inducted as player by Old Timers Committee in 1945, but ceremony itself was not held until 2013.

Top Fan Rivalry contributor Dave Hummel