Al Oliver ... Hall of Famer?

Rizzuto was the Veterans Committee. Add Cone, Pettite, Wells to that soon. Hopefully not Posada, but the new defensive catcher metrics might do him in.

 

Al Oliver was a fine ball player. He does merit more consieration for the HOF. He was a star but not a superstar. He could hit but wasn't the best hitter during his era. He was a good glove but not the best glove. I'd love to see him in. He was a pretty good guy and a pretty good interview when he spoke. He may one day become a veteran's pick. I don't have much argument with his not getting in because of the competition he faced on the ballot.

 

So are you saying you think Posada gets in?

 

A lot of this also applies to Bill Madlock.

Both were good, but not Hall good.

 

Madlock should be in. Great hitter. Not a bad glove. I'd rank him higher than Oliver.

 

The key problem with Madlock is that despite having played for fifteen seasons, he had so realtively few at bats. A lot of people are overlooking how much weight should be given to his Hall credentials based on having garnered four batting titles. I don't care what era he played in, under what circumstances that is extraordinary and simply can't be summarily brushed aside. However, having said that, he simply doesn't have the other numbers to merit consideration. His 4 batting titles and .305 career batting average are great. Had he done that with 2500+ hits, I'd say his Hall worthiness would have increased exponentially. Also had he either 1000+ runs scored or runs batted in to go with that, I'd say he would be a lot more worthy. However, not only does he not have 1000+ in either category, but he never even had 100+ in a season for either.

Once again, if you really want to look at why he is on the outside looking in, it goes back to lack of career at bats. Consider this, while he did win four batting titles, he only placed in the top 10 in a season for hits three times!!!

 

Yeah a better player all the way around the Oliver. But not a Hall of Famer IMO.

 

Prediction? No, but I think I would vote for him. His numbers for a catcher are excellent (I might vote for Simmons too - not enough catchers, or at least not the right ones).

 

Madlock had a great run for about nine years, but to finish with barely 2,000 hits and just over .300 isn't going to get him anywhere close to Cooperstown.