[legend]

With all the talk about Pujols being Hall of Fame worthy, which I am sure he will be when his time comes, I ask this question. Who playing today is a lock for the Hall of Fame and who else will eventually get in?

[Lefty Noob]

Maddux, Clemens are locks. Pujols, A-Rod, Jeter will be. Pedro most likely is. I'm uncertain about Randy Johnson, Vlad Guerrero, Junior Griffey. That's just off the top of my head... I'm sure I've left some out.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Ichiro...I would vote him in despite all the season's in Japan...Frank Thomas was a dominate force in the 90's...despite how he is now...maybe Andruw Jones (8 gold gloves and he is young)...Piazza...

[ThePundit]

Lefty: Randy Johnson, Pedro, Griffey, Guererro, A-Rod, Jeter are locks.

The only one that you mentioned who isn't a lock is Pujols. The only way he doesn't make it is if he gets injured and stops producing. Sort of like what happened to Don Mattingly.

Other locks are Mariano Rivera, Manny Ramirez & John Smoltz.

On the bubble is Tom Glavine and Trevor Hoffman. I would vote no for Glavine. I can't put Hoffman in until Goose Gossage gets in. But than I would probably vote yes for Hoffman.

[ThePundit]

Ah- Piazza - Probably but I have a problem voting for a guy who might have been the worst throwing catcher in baseball history. I'm trying to compare him to guys like Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench. I think it's a joke that Gary Carter is in.

Frank Thomas? Falls just short. Suzuki. if he gets 200 hits the next couple of years I guess. But I just don't think of him as a hall of famer although Wade Boggs probably has similar numbers.

And we all forgot Curt Schilling who is a lock in my opinion.

[legend]

In the American League I think you have these guys-
Jeter-mortal lock
A-Rod-mortal lock
Randy Johnson-mortal lock
Mariano Rivera- great chance
Manny Ramirez-mortal lock
Frank Thomas-mortal lock
Vladimir Guerrero-great chance
Jim Thome-good chance
Miguel Tejada-great chance
Then you have Sheffield, Mussina,Bernie Williams, Schilling, Garrett Anderson, and Giambi-all borderline candidates. Shefield has the best chance of this bunch, with over 1400 RBI.
In the National league you have these guys-
Barry Bonds-mortal lock
Jeff Kent-mortal lock
Jeff Bagwell- great chance
Craig Biggio-mortal lock
Tom Glavine-mortal lock
Pedro Martinez-mortal lock
Carlos Delgado-great chance
Chipper Jones-good chance
Andruw Jones-good chance
Mike Piazza-mortal lock
Trevor Hoffman-good chance
Ken Griffey,Jr-mortal lock
Greg Maddux-mortal lock
John Smoltz-Great chance
This doesn't even take into account guys that are on the rise or just entering their primes, like Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera, David Wright, Johan Santana,Chase Utley, and I could go on and on
These are the good old days, happening right now before our eyes folks!

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Ah- Piazza - Probably but I have a problem voting for a guy who might have been the worst throwing catcher in baseball history. I'm trying to compare him to guys like Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench. I think it's a joke that Gary Carter is in.

Frank Thomas? Falls just short. Suzuki. if he gets 200 hits the next couple of years I guess. But I just don't think of him as a hall of famer although Wade Boggs probably has similar numbers.

And we all forgot Curt Schilling who is a lock in my opinion.

Pundit...Ichiro is a Haller...same as Koufax is a Haller...what did Koufax have 5 or 6 good years?...Ichiro came over late in his career, adapted and starting banging away hit after hit... he runs, and he has a canon for an arm...and how many guys have taken a shot at the hits records?...Rose managed 230 at his peak, Boggs and Mattingly in the 230-240 range...Gywnn, Brett, Carew, all not within 20 hits of the guy...how is he not a Haller?...because of his great years in Japan?...you are going to hold a Hall of Fame Japanese career against him?...Sad...just sad...heck you got Schilling in there and he got off to a horrible career start...

Thomas is marginal...but Piazza is in...Ozzie Smith was all glove, speed, and a marginal hitter and he's a Haller...Piazza is the opposite...

No where is it written you have to excel in all areas of the game to be in...Schilling was not forgotten he is marginal....same as Thomas...dominate for a spell...won't post the big over all numbers...

[legend]

I'm not a big fan of frank Thomas but he has to go in. .307 lifetime average, 2 AL mVP Awards, 450 home runs and over 1450 RBI. 4 Silver Sluggers and a batting title. The only thing that will keep Ichiro out is if he doesn't make the required ten years in the majors, or if he falters in the coming seasons.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by legend

I'm not a big fan of frank Thomas but he has to go in. .307 lifetime average, 2 AL mVP Awards, 450 home runs and over 1450 RBI. 4 Silver Sluggers and a batting title. The only thing that will keep Ichiro out is if he doesn't make the required ten years in the majors, or if he falters in the coming seasons.

Add to it that the big hurt was the dominant hitter of the top half of the last decade...and yeah, he has the credits...I really think baseball should pro-rate it for Ichiro...sort of how they should treat Minnie Minoso...they got to take into account his Negro league days...

[Lefty Noob]

Yep, Bonds and Mariano... I knew there'd be some I forgot, though Barry's fate will really be up to the whims of the commish and the writers. Also, some of these guys I'm not convinced are stone-cold locks: Vlad Guererro, Ichiro, the Jonses, Delgado, Tejada get incompletes (need a few more good years IMO); Hoffman is a guy who might be hurt by the obvious anti-reliever bias at the Hall; Frank Thomas, Piazza, Sheff, Giambi, could go either way. Hard to compare across eras, but it just doesn't seem like these are guys who have made a lasting impact on the game.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Yep, Bonds and Mariano... I knew there'd be some I forgot, though Barry's fate will really be up to the whims of the commish and the writers. Also, some of these guys I'm not convinced are stone-cold locks: Vlad Guererro, Ichiro, the Jonses, Delgado, Tejada get incompletes (need a few more good years IMO); Hoffman is a guy who might be hurt by the obvious anti-reliever bias at the Hall; Frank Thomas, Piazza, Sheff, Giambi, could go either way. Hard to compare across eras, but it just doesn't seem like these are guys who have made a lasting impact on the game.

Aaah Lefty...you leaving out Ichiro man?...say it isn't so Lefty..say it isn't so

[Lefty Noob]

All I'm saying is I'd like to see 2-3 more really strong years out of him, then I think we can call him a lock.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

All I'm saying is I'd like to see 2-3 more really strong years out of him, then I think we can call him a lock.

Hey man, I am checking back in 3 years when you hit post number 65,665...

[legend]

Ichiro makes it only if he plays the ten years!

[StigRoarHusby]

Uh....Pudge Rodriguez anyone?