Jeff Bagwell - HOF?

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Will Jeff Bagwell's retirement official - do you think he will get voted into the Hall of Fame?

 

[GB-Hack]

As I said on a previous thread, I think he's borderline, but his being the face of the Astros with Biggio, the MVP, good defense and baserunning, and being the Stros All-time home run leader gets him onto enough ballots eventually.

First ballot would surprise me.

 

[indiansnetwork]

My unofficial rule about HOF. Dominate for a few years, have solid all around numbers and be a all-star for a majority of years played. By this qualifications I think Bagwell deserves to be a HOF.

 

[Columbo]

A rookie of the year and an MVP go a long way with me.

Plus a MVP runner-up and a third.

And nine of his 15 seasons in the Astrodome.

If he had played his whole career at Minute Maid, he would have had 600 HRs.

Absolute HOF for me.

 

[KP]

It will take a couple shots because some will factor in Enron/Minute Maid, but fail to account for the dome, but he's in.
If he played in Enron/MM for the first 8-10 years his numbers would be mindnumbing.

Weren't there a lot of roid whispers around him? The way his body broke down.

 

[GB-Hack]

That was brought up yesterday. I always remember him being pretty squat, but he did always seem to have absolute tree trunks for legs.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Yes, there have been 'roid whispers about him. And he certainly got bigger and hit more home runs. I personally think that given the era that he played in it's fair to speculate given those facts... but would be unfair to punish him without better proof... And based on his career, I'd say he is borderline, but probably belonging in the HOF.

 

[KP]

Exactly, the size of his legs are what I'll remember. And to think, he was supposed to be the guy to replace Wade Boggs.

 

[spnited]

Borderline HOF ... probably out.

Note to idiotsnetwork: Bags was an all-star 4 times in 15 years, not the majority of his years played.

 

[Columbo]

Borderline HOF ... probably out.

Note to idiotsnetwork: Bags was an all-star 4 times in 15 years, not the majority of his years played.

Hard to believe it was just four, but you are correctamundo.

He didn't make the all-star teams in either of the years he finished seventh in the MVP voting.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

No to the Hall.

And please don't build anyone's case -- pro or con -- on All-Star selections. Not with fan voting and the rule that every team has to be represented.

 

[Football_Bat]

I'll put him in my Hall of Pretty Good.

 

[Columbo]

No to the Hall.

And please don't build anyone's case -- pro or con -- on All-Star selections. Not with fan voting and the rule that every team has to be represented.

I guess I should clarify....

Based on the standard previously established by casty and his mafia, Bagwell deserves to be in.

They are borderline numbers, but that is when MVP and a ROY, or postseason greatness has to be factored in.

And, count me as among those who believe that, yes, some people are first-ballot HOF, and some deserve to be in the Hall, but not with that distinction.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I don't care if he fell short of 500 HR... He was the best at his position in the NL for almost a decade...

He's in...

 

[Double Down]

His 1994 season was just sick. In 110 games, he hits .368 (2nd in league), drives in 116 (1st), had an outstanding OPB .451 (1st), led the league in slugging (.750), runs (104), total bases (300), was second in hits, second in HRs, first in extra base hits, first in runs created.

If he doesn't break a bone in his hand (and, of course, if the player's union doesn't strike) we might be talking about his 1994 season as one of the best by a player in the last 50 years.

We'll never know, like many stars of his era, if he did it clean for so many years. And that's too bad. I'm not sure you can say simply because he broke down late in his career, it meant he juiced. In fact, you could argue the opposite. If Bonds doesn't use roids for the last five years of his career, maybe his knee is so bad, he retires at 38. Bagwell had a statistical decline that was consistent with his age. I suppose I'm tempted to believe him, although Bill Rhoden would probably argue that makes me a racist.

I think he'll get in. He was a decent guy who played his entire career for one team, was great with the glove, and manage to avoid rumors that he juiced, unlike virtually 90 percent of his contemporary sluggers. It would not be an absolute travesty if he didn't make the cut, but I think he'll get in.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Jeff Bagwell deserves to be in his sport's Hall of Fame as much as Buff Bagwell does in a Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In other words, no.

 

[John Taylor]

I haven't formed a full opinion on Bagwell.

But here's a decent Neyer column on Bagwell as a Hall of Famer from last March (just don't read the part where he's saying how much better Brad Wilkerson will do than Soriano; Neyer hates Soriano).

 

[friend of the friendless]

Mr Concern,

Buff was the stuff. You can't mention Jeff Bagwell in the same breath as Marcus Buff Daddy.

YHS, etc

 

[casty33]

As of now, this appears to be a case where I need more time to study and determine: A) whether I think he'll make it, or B) whether or not I will vote for him. Honestly, I don't know.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

As of now, this appears to be a case where I need more time to study and determine: A) whether I think he'll make it, or B) whether or not I will vote for him. Honestly, I don't know.

Casty- I'm with you.

On one hand he has over 3,000 combined RBI and runs which is normally a sure ticket to the Hall of Fame. He is also arguably the greatest player in Astros history - so not voting for him could be a slap at Houston.

On the other hand - arguments can be made that he was not as good a player as Jim Rice, Andre Dawson, Don Mattingly or Fred McGriff (not saying the arguments are correct - just that they could be made).