Bernie Williams - Cooperstown Bound?

[Crash Course]

With all the Carlos Beltran talk lately, I decided to take a peek at Bernie Williams (who, IIRC, Beltran said was his idol). Looking at CFers since 1900, here's the list of CF with most seasons of 30+ RCAA:

MODERN (1900-)
CF most seasons with RCAA >= 30

1    Tris Speaker             17   
2    Willie Mays              16   
3    Ty Cobb                  15   
4    Mickey Mantle            13   
5    Joe DiMaggio             11   
6    Ken Griffey Jr.           9   
T7   Bernie Williams           7   
T7   Earl Averill              7   
T9   Jimmy Wynn                6   
T9   Jim Edmonds               6   
T11  Duke Snider               5   
T11  Larry Doby                5   
T11  Hack Wilson               5   
T14  Edd Roush                 4   
T14  Earle Combs               4   
T14  Cesar Cedeno              4   
T14  Fred Lynn                 4   
T14  Kirby Puckett             4   
T14  Wally Berger              4   
T14  Dale Murphy               4   
T14  Ginger Beaumont           4   
T14  Richie Ashburn            4   

OK, Bernie's no where near the Mantles, Cobbs, Speakers and Mays of the world - but, he's ahead of the Sniders and Pucketts who are in the HOF.

How about OWP, say, greater than .600? Here's the list:

MODERN (1900-)
CF most seasons with OWP >= .6

1    Tris Speaker             19   
2    Willie Mays              17   
3    Ty Cobb                  15   
4    Mickey Mantle            12   
5    Joe DiMaggio             11   
T6   Larry Doby               10   
T6   Ken Griffey Jr.          10   
T8   Earl Averill              9   
T8   Bernie Williams           9   
T10  Edd Roush                 8   
T10  Richie Ashburn            8   
T12  Jim Edmonds               7   
T12  Cesar Cedeno              7   
T12  Jimmy Wynn                7   
T12  Duke Snider               7   
T12  Roy Thomas                7   
T17  Wally Berger              6   
T17  Earle Combs               6   
T17  Brett Butler              6   
T17  Amos Otis                 6   

Same deal as RCAA. Bernie's got nothing to be ashamed of here.

But, where Williams does take a hit is in "monster" seasons - see the following:

MODERN (1900-)
CF with most season where OPS >= .2 vs. the League Avg

1    Willie Mays              13   
2    Ty Cobb                  12   
3    Tris Speaker             11   
4    Mickey Mantle            10   
5    Ken Griffey Jr.           6   
T6   Duke Snider               5   
T6   Joe DiMaggio              5   
8    Hack Wilson               4   
T9   Dale Murphy               3   
T9   Earl Averill              3   
T9   Jim Edmonds               3   
T12  Brian Giles               2   
T12  Larry Doby                2   
T12  Fred Lynn                 2   
T12  Eric Davis                2   
T12  Al Kaline                 2   
T12  Bobby Murcer              2   
T18  Andre Dawson              1   
T18  Cesar Cedeno              1   
T18  Roger Bresnahan           1   
T18  Lance Berkman             1   
T18  Mike Donlin               1   
T18  Wally Berger              1   
T18  Brady Anderson            1   
T18  Stan Musial               1   
T18  Cy Williams               1   
T18  Bernie Williams           1   
T18  Al Simmons                1   
T18  Cy Seymour                1   
T18  Pete Reiser               1   
T18  Wally Judnich             1   
T18  Andy Pafko                1   
T18  Rickey Henderson          1   
T18  Heinie Manush             1   
T18  Ray Lankford              1   
T18  Jimmy Wynn                1   
T18  Benny Kauff               1   
T18  Hank Aaron                1   
T18  Richard Hidalgo           1   
T18  Kirby Puckett             1   

Just one. Bummer. And, this is probably why Bernie will not get much consideration for Cooperstown. He was real good for 7 or 9 seasons - but, only lights out in one - and, in that year (1998) he only played in 128 games.

Still, this all said, looking at the fact that he played with the Yankees for 15 years (including 2005) while doing this, the Yanks should strongly consider retiring his number when he's done. This year, he'll become only the 10th player to log 15 seasons in the pinstripes - that's nice company.

[Stageon]

I would say.... NO.