Cooperstown Chronicles – Jim Edmonds
A discussion I’ve been having with a great baseball mind has led me to profile Jim Edmonds . Photo courtesy of TSN Archives/Icon SMI The Numbers 1925 Games 7708 At Bats .284 Batting Average .528 Slugging % .905 OPS 132 OPS+ 1881 Hits 1207 Runs 414 Doubles 25 Triples 382 HRs 1176 RBIs 974 Walks 65 SBs Five .300 Seasons Four 100+ Run Seasons Seven 30+ Double Seasons Five 30+ HR Seasons Four 100+ RBI Seasons World Series: 2 World Series, 1 Ring, 64 Games, 230 At Bats, 63 Hits (.274), 33 Runs, 16 Doubles, 13 HRs, 43 RBIs, 30 Walks Awards 4-time All-Star 8 Gold Gloves 1 Silver Slugger MVP Votes in 6 Seasons Top Ten Finishes Batting Average – Once On-Base % – 3 Times Slugging % - 3 Times OPS – 3 Times At Bats – Once Runs – 3 Times Hits – Once Doubles – Once Home Runs – 4 Times RBIs – Twice Walks – 4 Times Extra-Base Hits – Twice Intentional Walks – Twice Hall of Fame Yardsticks: Gray Ink Batting - 60 (407), Average HOFer ≈ 144 Hall of Fame Monitor Batting - 88 (183), Likely HOFer ≈ 100 Hall of Fame Standards Batting - 40 (144), Average HOFer ≈ 50 He certainly belongs in the Rawlings Gold Glove Hall of Fame because of his defensive prowess, but I’m on the fence for Cooperstown. He did have a stretch of greatness from 1995-2005 (throwing out 1999 when he was limited to 55 games), where he averaged 99 Runs, 32 HRs, and 93 RBIs. He collected all eight of his Gold Gloves during that stretch meaning he was one of the most complete players in the league for a decade. He also had his share of postseason success in the second half of his career. It would be easier to induct him if he reached 2000 Hits, but he had 1200 Runs and nearly 1200 RBIs. He may have won even more Gold Gloves if it weren’t for Ken Griffey, Jr. He doesn’t pass the name test for induction, but if you look into the numbers, I think he did just enough to get in. References Baseball-reference.com Past Chronicles Dick Allen Roberto Alomar Richie Ashburn* Earl Averill * Harold Baines Dan Bancroft * Jake Beckley * Albert Belle Jim Bottomley* Pete Browning Jim Bunning * Bert Byleven Joe Carter Orlando Cepeda * Rocky Colavito Earle Combs * Dave Concepcion David Cone Roger Connor* Larry Corcoran Stan Coveleski * Mike Cuellar Kiki Cuyler * Bill Dahlen George Davis * Andre Dawson Larry Doby * Bobby Doerr * Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager) Dwight Evans Rick Ferrell * Wes Ferrell Chuck Finley Steve Finley Nellie Fox* John Franco Gary Gaetti Steve Garvey Lefty Gomez * Luis Gonzalez Dwight Gooden Joe Gordon Mark Grace Bobby Grich Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager) Ron Guidry Chick Hafey * Jesse Haines * Billy Herman * Keith Hernandez Orel Hershiser Whitey Herzog (Manager) Gil Hodges Ralph Houk (Manager) Waite Hoyt * Shoeless Joe Jackson Travis Jackson * Tommy John Bob Johnson Addie Joss * Jim Kaat George Kell * Joe Kelley * George Kelly * Tom Kelly (Manager) Chuck Klein * Jerry Koosman Bill James & Pete Palmer Barry Larkin Tony Lazzeri* Freddie Lindstrom* Mickey Lolich Ernie Lombardi * Fred Lynn Sherry Magee Roger Maris Rube Marquard * Billy Martin (Player/Manager) Dennis Martinez Edgar Martinez Bobby Matthews Don Mattingly Gene Mauch (Manager) Carl Mays Bill Mazeroski* Fred McGriff Mark McGwire Bid McPhee Johnny Mize * Paul Molitor * Jack Morris Tony Mullane Dale Murphy Graig Nettles Hal Newhouser * Lefty O’Doul Tony Oliva Al Oliver Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso Dave Parker Wes Parker Lance Parrish Vada Pinson Boog Powell Tim Raines Willie Randolph Pee Wee Reese * Allie Reynolds Jim Rice Phil Rizzuto * Brooks Robinson * Pete Ro$e Amos Rusie * Jimmy Ryan Ron Santo Curt Schilling Red Schoendienst * (Player/Manager) Ted Simmons Enos Slaughter * Lee Smith Rusty Staub Vern Stephens Dave Stieb Mel Stottlemyre Harry Stovey Sam Thompson Luís Tiant Joe Torre Alan Trammell George Van Haltren Arky Vaughan * Mo Vaughn Bobby Veach Mickey Vernon Frank Viola Bucky Walters Mickey Welch * Lou Whitaker Deacon White Bernie Williams Vic Willis * Maury Wills Hack Wilson * Ross Youngs * Veterans Committee Ballot * Signifies actual Hall of Famers
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Cooperstown Chronicles – Jim Edmonds
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