{"id":4831,"date":"2010-05-04T12:25:23","date_gmt":"2010-05-04T19:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.seamheads.com\/?p=4831"},"modified":"2010-05-04T12:25:23","modified_gmt":"2010-05-04T19:25:23","slug":"the-21st-century-hall-of-famers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2010\/05\/04\/the-21st-century-hall-of-famers\/","title":{"rendered":"The 21st Century Hall of Famers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here is an interesting question.\u00c2\u00a0 How many of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153great baseball players\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of modern times have fans of the game been able to see during the 21st<\/sup> century (since 2001)?\u00c2\u00a0 Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first take a look at this question for position players and then for pitchers.<\/p>\n

The Position Players<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the end of the 2009 season, there were only ninety-seven (97) position players from the modern era (since 1920) who had posted obvious Hall of Fame numbers<\/strong> during their playing careers.\u00c2\u00a0 That is the conclusion of the CAWS Career Gauge.<\/p>\n

Bill James\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Win Shares system is the most comprehensive tool available to understand how good a season<\/strong> a player had.\u00c2\u00a0 It includes offensive and defensive contributions and adjusts for all relevant factors.\u00c2\u00a0 The CAWS Career Gauge (Career Assessment\/Win Shares) uses win shares to measure how good a career<\/strong> a player has had.<\/p>\n

Of the ninety-seven \u00e2\u20ac\u0153modern\u00e2\u20ac\u009d position players with HOF numbers, ten were active during the 2009 season.\u00c2\u00a0 And eleven others were still playing in 2001 or later.\u00c2\u00a0 That means a total of twenty-one (21) players or 22% of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153great\u00e2\u20ac\u009d position players of modern times were still active in the 21st<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n

This is NOT meant to be an argument for who \u00e2\u20ac\u0153belongs in the Hall of Fame.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 This is simply a presentation of those players who have posted obvious HOF numbers. <\/strong>We are all aware that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153other considerations\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sometimes keep \u00e2\u20ac\u0153great\u00e2\u20ac\u009d players out of the Hall.\u00c2\u00a0 The two best examples of this from the modern era are Pete Rose and Dick Allen.\u00c2\u00a0 And it would appear that questions about steroid use will hamper the chances of some of the following players ever being elected to the Hall.\u00c2\u00a0 My goal is simply to point out that these players had the best careers <\/strong>based on their numbers.<\/p>\n

Here are the ten position players who were active during 2009 and who have obvious HOF numbers. <\/strong>The first number is career win shares, the second is core value (the win shares for the ten best seasons) and the third is the CAWS score.\u00c2\u00a0 [CAWS = CV + .25(CWS \u00e2\u20ac\u201c CV)].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPOS. <\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCAWS<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alex Rodriguez<\/em>
\n<\/span><\/td>\n		 <\/span>SS<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n402<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n329<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n352<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Albert Pujols<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n		1B<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n350<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n350<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n350<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gary Sheffield <\/span><\/em><\/td>\nLF<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n430<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n305<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n336<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manny Ramirez <\/span><\/em><\/td>\nLF<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n397<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n285<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n313<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ken Griffey Jr. <\/span><\/em><\/td>\nCF<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n403<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n278<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n309<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chipper Jones <\/span><\/em><\/td>\n3B<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n369<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n271<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n296<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Derek Jeter <\/span><\/em><\/td>\nSS<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n348<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n273<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n292<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jim Thome <\/span><\/em><\/td>\n1B<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n352<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n267<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n288<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jason Giambi <\/span><\/em><\/td>\n1B<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n309<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n271<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n281<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ivan Rodriguez <\/span><\/em><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n326<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n225<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n250<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Mention should be made here of two other active players who are on the verge of establishing HOF numbers and should do so in 2010.\u00c2\u00a0 They are Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu.<\/p>\n

Here are the eleven retired position players who according to the CAWS Gauge have obvious HOF numbers<\/strong> (and played during the 2001 season or later).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPOS. <\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCAWS<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Barry Bonds
\n<\/span><\/td>\n		 <\/span>LF<\/span><\/td>\n707<\/span><\/td>\n427<\/span><\/td>\n497<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Craig Biggio<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n		2B<\/span><\/td>\n428<\/span><\/td>\n294<\/span><\/td>\n328<\/span>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frank Thomas <\/span><\/td>\n1B\/DH<\/span><\/td>\n405<\/span><\/td>\n301<\/span><\/td>\n327<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jeff Bagwell <\/span><\/td>\n1B<\/span><\/td>\n388<\/span><\/td>\n287<\/span><\/td>\n312<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tim Raines <\/span><\/td>\nLF<\/span><\/td>\n390<\/span><\/td>\n275<\/span><\/td>\n304<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roberto Alomar <\/span><\/td>\n2B<\/span><\/td>\n375<\/span><\/td>\n278<\/span><\/td>\n302<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mark McGwire <\/span><\/td>\n1B<\/span><\/td>\n342<\/span><\/td>\n283<\/span><\/td>\n298<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rafael Palmeiro <\/span><\/td>\n1B<\/span><\/td>\n387<\/span><\/td>\n297<\/span><\/td>\n290<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mike Piazza <\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\n325<\/span><\/td>\n273<\/span><\/td>\n286<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Barry Larkin <\/span><\/td>\nSS<\/span><\/td>\n347<\/span><\/td>\n258<\/span><\/td>\n280<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jeff Kent <\/span><\/td>\n2B<\/span><\/td>\n339<\/span><\/td>\n252<\/span><\/td>\n274<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

It is interesting to note the distribution by position of these twenty-one position players: five outfielders, five first basemen, three shortstops, three second basemen, two catchers, one third basemen and one designated hitter.\u00c2\u00a0 One might be inclined to argue about the appropriate position for Alex Rodriguez and Frank Thomas.\u00c2\u00a0 But the fact of the matter is that A-Rod has played more games at shortstop than anywhere else and the Big Hurt played more games at DH than at first base.<\/p>\n

The Pitchers<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Through the end of the 2009 season, the CAWS Gauge suggests that there have been only thirty-nine (39) pitchers since 1920 who have posted obvious Hall of Fame numbers <\/strong>during their careers.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of the thirty-nine \u00e2\u20ac\u0153modern\u00e2\u20ac\u009d pitchers with HOF numbers, three were active during the 2009 season.\u00c2\u00a0 And three others were retired but were still playing in 2001 or later.\u00c2\u00a0 That means a total of six pitchers or 15% of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153great\u00e2\u20ac\u009d pitchers of modern times were still active in the 21st<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are the three pitchers who were still active in 2009 and who have obvious HOF numbers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCAWS<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Randy Johnson<\/em>
\n<\/span><\/td>\n		326<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n230<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n254<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pedro Martinez<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n		256<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n206<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n219<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mariano Rivera <\/span><\/em><\/td>\n227<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n175<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n188<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Three other pitchers are still active and have a shot at establishing HOF numbers. They are: Trevor Hoffman, John Smoltz and Billy Wagner.<\/p>\n

Here are the three recently retired pitchers who have obvious HOF numbers and were still pitching in 2001 or later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCAWS<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roger Clemens
\n<\/span><\/td>\n		432<\/span><\/td>\n260<\/span><\/td>\n303<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Greg Maddux<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n		398<\/span><\/td>\n246<\/span><\/td>\n284<\/span>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tom Glavine <\/span><\/td>\n314<\/span><\/td>\n203<\/span><\/td>\n231<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

So, the CAWS Career Gauge has identified a total of 21 + 6 = 27 players who have played in the 21st<\/sup> century and who have obvious HOF numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 Of course, most of these players began their careers well before 2001.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Since 1920, there have been a total of 97 + 39 = 136 players who have posted such numbers during their careers.<\/p>\n

The question could be asked: Is this number of Hall of Famers in this time frame \u00e2\u20ac\u0153reasonable?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 And the rough answer would be: Yes, it seems so.\u00c2\u00a0 1920 to 2010 is a 90-year period.\u00c2\u00a0 If we take any 20-year time frame, it seems that approximately 20\/90 = .22 = 22% of the HOF players from the whole period should be playing during that time frame.\u00c2\u00a0 Well, 22% of 136 players = 30 players.\u00c2\u00a0 So, when the CAWS Gauge suggests that there have been 27 such players in this time frame (plus a few others who may make it), this certainly is within the realm of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153reasonableness.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

As mentioned above, some of these twenty-seven (27) players who have put up obvious HOF numbers during their careers may have been tainted by the steroids scandal.\u00c2\u00a0 Whether or not they will ever be elected to the Hall of Fame is at this point a matter of conjecture.<\/p>\n

The purpose of this essay is not to argue for the place of these players in the Hall of Fame.\u00c2\u00a0 Rather it is to document that in terms of the numbers they put together during their careers, each of these players was very special \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that is, they had the best careers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At this point in time, given the evidence of the Hall of Fame voting for Mark McGwire through 2010, I would assume that a number of these players will never be elected to the Hall despite their outstanding careers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you would like to get a free e-copy of Michael Hoban\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 100-page monograph: <\/em>A HOF HANDBOOK: Who Belongs and Who Does Not<\/em><\/strong>, please e-mail him at mike_hoban@msn.com<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here is an interesting question.\u00c2\u00a0 How many of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153great baseball players\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of modern times have fans of the game been able to see during the 21st century (since 2001)?\u00c2\u00a0 Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first take a look at this question for position players and then for pitchers. The Position Players At the end of the 2009 season, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,77,19],"tags":[6948,1804,4606,6323,6947,2879,4626,5468,460,6326,21230,1931,41,1850,432,1177,6324,6327,6949,6660],"class_list":["post-4831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","category-hall-of-fame","category-prof-hobans-hall-of-fame-blog","tag-21st-century","tag-baseball-players","tag-best-careers","tag-career-assessment","tag-century-hall","tag-conclusion","tag-core-value","tag-dick-allen","tag-game","tag-gauge","tag-hall-of-fame","tag-hall-of-famers","tag-hof","tag-pete-rose","tag-pitchers","tag-position-players","tag-relevant-factors","tag-score","tag-st-century","tag-steroid-use"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t