outstanding fielder, winning five Gold Gloves and setting a major league record by leading third basemen in total chances the most times (9), and he shares National League records for leading the most times in putouts and assists (7), and double plays (6). Santo was also selected to the All-Star Team nine times, finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting four times, and, as captain of the Cubs, was an outstanding team-leader.
Ken Boyer spent most of his 15 big league seasons from 1955 to 1969 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the National League’s top third baseman from 1962 to 1964, and vied for that honor with Eddie Mathews in both 1956 and 1961. He was the top player at his position in the major leagues in at least two of those seasons. Boyer led the league in runs batted in only once, but he knocked in more than 100 runs twice and surpassed the 90 RBI-mark six other times. Playing in a ballpark in St. Louis that was extremely difficult for righthanded power hitters, Boyer still managed to hit 30 homers once and hit more than 20 long balls eight other times. He also batted over .300 five times and scored more than 100 runs three times. Like Santo, he won five Gold Gloves, and he was selected to the All-Star Team seven times. In 1964, the Cardinals captain led his team to a victory over the Yankees in the World Series by turning the Series around with his grand-slam home run off Al Downing in Game Four. Boyer was selected N.L. MVP that season, one of four times he finished in the top 10 in the voting.
Probably the only thing keeping Graig Nettles out of the Hall of Fame is his career batting average of .248. His 390 career home runs are the third highest total ever by a third baseman, and the most ever by an American League player at that position. While he was rated behind George Brett among A.L. third basemen throughout much of his career, he was selected to The Sporting News’ All-Star Team following each of the 1975, 1977, and 1978 seasons. He was also selected to the A.L. All-Star team six times and finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting twice. Although Nettles won only two Gold Gloves, he was one of the finest fielding third basemen in baseball history, shifting the momentum of the 1978 World Series with his great glove work in Game Three against the Dodgers.
Buddy Bell is one of the more underrated players at this position. He was not a dominant player, never having led the league in any major offensive category. He never scored 100 runs, and he knocked in 100 runs and hit as many as 20 home runs only one time each. However, Bell batted .300 twice, was selected to the All-Star Team five times, and finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting once, despite playing for mediocre teams in Cleveland and Texas throughout virtually his entire career. He was also the equal of Nettles, defensively, leading the league in fielding three times and winning six Gold Glove Awards.
Now, back to the subject at hand—George Kell. While Kell was a good player who was far from being the worst selection ever made by the Veterans Committee, he was not productive enough for a player at his position to legitimize his presence in Cooperstown. Santo and Boyer, both of whom were eligible for selection to the Hall of Fame when Kell was elected in 1983, would have been far better choices. Nettles and Bell, and perhaps even Madlock and former Cleveland Indian third baseman, Ken Keltner, have credentials equal to those of Kell.
SHORTSTOPS (22)
SHORTSTOPS (22)
Honus Wagner/Ernie Banks
As two of the three greatest shortstops in major league history (Alex Rodriguez being the other), Honus Wagner and Ernie Banks have overwhelming Hall of Fame credentials.
Honus Wagner was not only the finest shortstop of his time, but was the game’s greatest player during the first decade of the 20th century. From 1900 to 1909, Wagner won eight National League batting titles and led the league in runs batted in and stolen bases five times each,
Ken Boyer spent most of his 15 big league seasons from 1955 to 1969 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the National League’s top third baseman from 1962 to 1964, and vied for that honor with Eddie Mathews in both 1956 and 1961. He was the top player at his position in the major leagues in at least two of those seasons. Boyer led the league in runs batted in only once, but he knocked in more than 100 runs twice and surpassed the 90 RBI-mark six other times. Playing in a ballpark in St. Louis that was extremely difficult for righthanded power hitters, Boyer still managed to hit 30 homers once and hit more than 20 long balls eight other times. He also batted over .300 five times and scored more than 100 runs three times. Like Santo, he won five Gold Gloves, and he was selected to the All-Star Team seven times. In 1964, the Cardinals captain led his team to a victory over the Yankees in the World Series by turning the Series around with his grand-slam home run off Al Downing in Game Four. Boyer was selected N.L. MVP that season, one of four times he finished in the top 10 in the voting.
Probably the only thing keeping Graig Nettles out of the Hall of Fame is his career batting average of .248. His 390 career home runs are the third highest total ever by a third baseman, and the most ever by an American League player at that position. While he was rated behind George Brett among A.L. third basemen throughout much of his career, he was selected to The Sporting News’ All-Star Team following each of the 1975, 1977, and 1978 seasons. He was also selected to the A.L. All-Star team six times and finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting twice. Although Nettles won only two Gold Gloves, he was one of the finest fielding third basemen in baseball history, shifting the momentum of the 1978 World Series with his great glove work in Game Three against the Dodgers.
Buddy Bell is one of the more underrated players at this position. He was not a dominant player, never having led the league in any major offensive category. He never scored 100 runs, and he knocked in 100 runs and hit as many as 20 home runs only one time each. However, Bell batted .300 twice, was selected to the All-Star Team five times, and finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting once, despite playing for mediocre teams in Cleveland and Texas throughout virtually his entire career. He was also the equal of Nettles, defensively, leading the league in fielding three times and winning six Gold Glove Awards.
Now, back to the subject at hand—George Kell. While Kell was a good player who was far from being the worst selection ever made by the Veterans Committee, he was not productive enough for a player at his position to legitimize his presence in Cooperstown. Santo and Boyer, both of whom were eligible for selection to the Hall of Fame when Kell was elected in 1983, would have been far better choices. Nettles and Bell, and perhaps even Madlock and former Cleveland Indian third baseman, Ken Keltner, have credentials equal to those of Kell.
SHORTSTOPS (22)
SHORTSTOPS (22)
Honus Wagner/Ernie Banks
As two of the three greatest shortstops in major league history (Alex Rodriguez being the other), Honus Wagner and Ernie Banks have overwhelming Hall of Fame credentials.
Honus Wagner was not only the finest shortstop of his time, but was the game’s greatest player during the first decade of the 20th century. From 1900 to 1909, Wagner won eight National League batting titles and led the league in runs batted in and stolen bases five times each,
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