Harold Baines

[Fuzzy Bear]

Should Harold Baines go into the Hall of Fame?

Should he go if he plays this season, and achieves 3,000 hits and/or 400 HRs (he needs 16 jacks for 400 and under 140 hits for 3K)?

On the one hand, few people think of Baines as a Hall-of-Famer. His years as a DH have compounded this.

On the other hand, Baines has more hits than anyone else not in the Hall, plus he hit for power. He is a 6-time All-Star.

Would you put Baines in the Hall right now, with his 384 HRs, his 2,860+ hits, and his .289 average? Would you put him in if he came back this season and got his 400 HRs? his 3,000 hits? both?

If not, how would you justify not putting Baines in the Hall of Fame if he achieved the 3,000 hit milestone? Denying Baines would be setting a new precedent; a precedent that might apply to, say, Paul Molitor, who raised his BA and increased his durability AFTER he became primarily a DH.

Baines did more to put himself in HOF range in the late 1990s, and the most to extinguish his chances over the last two years.
He is, to me, an example of the "on the bubble" candidate that makes baseball discussions lively and invigorating. There are some players in the Hall that are inferior to Baines; there are some who will never be inducted who are superior. What does everyone out there think?

[Xanadu Dragon]

This does not meet Cooperstown standards:

HAROLD BAINES LEAGUE LEADERSHIP RANKINGS

HITS
1985 AL 5TH 198

DOUBLES
1988 AL T6TH 39

HOMERUNS
1984 AL T9TH 29

RBI
1982 AL 8TH 105
1985 AL 4TH 113

AVERAGE
1984 AL 10TH .304
1985 AL 6TH .309
1989 AL 8TH .309

SLG
1984 AL 1ST .541
1989 AL 10TH .465

OBA
1989 AL 7TH .395
1995 AL 10TH .403

OPS
1984 AL 6TH .903
1989 AL 7TH .860
1995 AL 9TH .943

OWP
1989 AL 7TH .701

RUNS CREATED/GAME
1989 AL 8TH 6.70

TOTAL BASES
1984 AL 6TH 308
1985 AL 9TH 299

EXTRA BASE HITS
1984 AL 6TH 67

Harold Baines is not a Hall of Famer. IF he played till he was 50, getting 15 hits a year until he got 3,000, this wouldn't make him a Hall of Famer either.

[gyb13]

Baines needs to find somewhere to play this year first. And even if he does, he's still a long way from both milestones, esp considering his performance the last couple of seasons. He hasn't played the field regularly since 1986 - that limits him to only 14 teams, all of which already have at least one better candidate to be the DH than Baines.

[sweaver]

Baines is as good or better than several players already in the Hall, but I do not believe he merits induction. I also believe he will not be elected. He was a very good player for several years, but not of Hall caliber.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Originally posted by sweaver
Baines is as good or better than several players already in the Hall, but I do not believe he merits induction. I also believe he will not be elected. He was a very good player for several years, but not of Hall caliber.

If Bainsey came back this year, got his 3,000 hits, and his 400 jacks, and retired, would he be a Hall-of-Famer then?

[gyb13]

That's still being debated (should HOF automatically elect players surpassing certain milestones?), but the fact is Baines is not going to get his 16 HR and 134 hits this season. (he has 11 HR and 83 hits in 128 gms the past 2 seasons)

[Skip]

Baines will not and should not get in. He is, however, the poster child for the very good career player, who deserves enshrinement more than many current inductees. Lets hope the HOF doesnt further dilute standards through games of "well if he ..., then he ..."

[KCBOOMER]

Baines has Vada Pinson like numbers and Pinson could at least play in the field. Nor will he improve those numbers substantially. If he isn't done he is all but done. Not an HoFer to me.

A lot could depend on ESPN. If they start on one of their "only player not in the HoF who has ..." campaigns they may put over the top. It sure didn't hurt Tony Perez.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
Baines has Vada Pinson like numbers and Pinson could at least play in the field. Nor will he improve those numbers substantially. If he isn't done he is all but done. Not an HoFer to me.

Perhaps a new thread discussing Vada Pinson is appropriate. Pinson did play CF, and did play in the 1960s, at a time where batting stats were severely depressed. Pinson's case is better than Baines' at this point.

Still, 3,000 hits. Can you really not be a great player and still get 3,000 hits? Dave Kingman ALMOST got 500 HRs, BUT FELL SHORT! Does the same principle apply to 3,000 hits? Would it apply if Baines gets 3,000 hits?

[Xanadu Dragon]

Originally posted by Fuzzy Bear

Perhaps a new thread discussing Vada Pinson is appropriate.

Agreed.

[SmedIndy]

Originally posted by Fuzzy Bear


Still, 3,000 hits. Can you really not be a great player and still get 3,000 hits? Dave Kingman ALMOST got 500 HRs, BUT FELL SHORT! Does the same principle apply to 3,000 hits? Would it apply if Baines gets 3,000 hits?

Yes, Baines is that player. He's a good player who has lasted a long time.

[KCBOOMER]

An incredibly long time.