[ThePundit]

Craig Biggio is approaching 3000 hits. He's about 115 short. The Met announcers Gary Cohen and Ron Darling seemed to think that Biggio in the Hall of Fame is a no brainer. I totally disagree. Biggio was a very, very good player but I don't consider him a great player What does everyone else think?

[24/8/48fan]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Craig Biggio is approaching 3000 hits. He's about 115 short. The Met announcers Gary Cohen and Ron Darling seemed to think that Biggio in the Hall of Fame is a no brainer. I totally disagree. Biggio was a very, very good player but I don't consider him a great player What does everyone else think?

All I have to say is JIM RICE.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Craig Biggio is approaching 3000 hits. He's about 115 short. The Met announcers Gary Cohen and Ron Darling seemed to think that Biggio in the Hall of Fame is a no brainer. I totally disagree. Biggio was a very, very good player but I don't consider him a great player What does everyone else think?

I was about to post on this...total Hall of Famer...the guy has played catcher, seconf and outfield...has excelled at all three...has shown power, speed and durability...he is closing in on 1750 career run scored...has over 400 stolen baes and over 250 homers...add to it over 1,000 RBI's ..8 seasons over 100 runs...4 gold gloves...7 All-Star appearances (in two different positions...Catcher and 2B)...if he isn't a Hall of Famer who is?

[Lefty Noob]

It's getting harder and harder to tell HOFer from non-HOFer. When you first think of the name Craig Biggio, without knowing any of his numbers, does that name scream out Hall of Famer to you? Does the name invoke a reaction that, "Yes, this guy should be in Cooperstown alongside the Babe and Cobb and Teddy Ballgame"? It doesn't do it for me. The stats are impressive, but I just don't see him as a Hall of Famer.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

It's getting harder and harder to tell HOFer from non-HOFer. When you first think of the name Craig Biggio, without knowing any of his numbers, does that name scream out Hall of Famer to you? Does the name invoke a reaction that, "Yes, this guy should be in Cooperstown alongside the Babe and Cobb and Teddy Ballgame"? It doesn't do it for me. The stats are impressive, but I just don't see him as a Hall of Famer.

Just because he does not make it to being a face on Baseball's Mount Rushmore, doesn't mean he doesn't scream Hall...This is not as an elite a club as their is...its membership includes the likes of Don Sutton for gosh sake...and obscure players from every decade.

[EmpireWF]

Lots of guys names don't scream out Cooperstown. However, Biggio has excelled at the game for the majority of his career and I'd vote him in. He's been an All-Star at numerous positions and has been among the best in the game at his position. If he reaches 3000 hits (which I think he will), he's a 100% HOFer for sure.

[ThePundit]

agree with Lefty. The HOF is for the GREAT player. True, just like Sutton, Biggio has compiled some great numbers. He was just a consistently very, very good player. I don't think Sutton should be in either. I agree with you Gotham about Rice. But he was dominant for a number of years

[JackAigner]

Yes, absolutely. Craig Biggio should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. By the time he retires he will have 3000 hits, close to 300 home runs (after playing most of his prime in one of the worst ever hitter's parks), over 400 steals (and a good percentage), top five all time in doubles (a huge stat when you think about it), NL leader in leadoff home runs (by like 40), top 15 in runs scored. He almost never grounds into a double play. He was a great 2nd baseman. He is the best second basemen of his era, better than Alomar or Sandberg. He's top five all-time (either 4 or 5, depending on where you rank Jackie Robinson). In 2000, Bill James said he was a better player than Ken Griffey Jr. and the 35th best player of all time. Compare his stats to the 14 or so other hall of fame second basemen and you'll be surprised where he is. Biggio is 3 times better than the undeserving Hall-of-Fame second baseman, Bill Mazeroski (not defensively, of course, but defense shouldn't be enough to get you close to the Hall, sorry Rafael Belliard). Other intangibles...he's played his entire career with one club. He's a great leader. He's played four different positions regularly in his career.

[rmjvol]

Hi JackAigner, welcome to GoTeamsGo

I was on the fence over Biggio but I think you may have convinced me. I think that the total package makes the deal. And playing for 1 club is almost unheard of for a solid player these days.

But I don't think you're gonna get many others to chage sides on this one

Look forward to chatting with you.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by JackAigner

Yes, absolutely. Craig Biggio should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. By the time he retires he will have 3000 hits, close to 300 home runs (after playing most of his prime in one of the worst ever hitter's parks), over 400 steals (and a good percentage), top five all time in doubles (a huge stat when you think about it), NL leader in leadoff home runs (by like 40), top 15 in runs scored. He almost never grounds into a double play. He was a great 2nd baseman. He is the best second basemen of his era, better than Alomar or Sandberg. He's top five all-time (either 4 or 5, depending on where you rank Jackie Robinson). In 2000, Bill James said he was a better player than Ken Griffey Jr. and the 35th best player of all time. Compare his stats to the 14 or so other hall of fame second basemen and you'll be surprised where he is. Biggio is 3 times better than the undeserving Hall-of-Fame second baseman, Bill Mazeroski (not defensively, of course, but defense shouldn't be enough to get you close to the Hall, sorry Rafael Belliard). Other intangibles...he's played his entire career with one club. He's a great leader. He's played four different positions regularly in his career.

Welcome aboard Jack...finally a voice of reason...thanks for backing the view...though I still would take Sandberg over him at second, and Alomar at the peak of his game was no worse than his equal...still even if he were to fall short of the magical 3,000, the guy is a Hall of Famer hands down.

[legend]

Go to baseballreference.com and check out the numbers of Pee Wee Reese, Bill Mazeroski, and Phil Rizzuto, who are all in Cooperstown, and then tell me Craig Biggio is not a Hall of Famer.

[MJHMarc]

I always liked Biggio. Make some room in the Hall for him now!

Isn't he the all-time leader for the most hit-by-pitches?

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by MJHMarc

I always liked Biggio. Make some room in the Hall for him now!

Isn't he the all-time leader for the most hit-by-pitches?

Welcome JackAigner.

1) First of all Rizutto won an MVP and was the best bunter in baseball history. And besides he and Mazeroski weren't voted in - they were put in by their buddies. Two or Three wrongs don't make a right.

2) You can't go by numbers. Otherwise Don Mattingly would be in since he has identical numbers to Kirby Puckett.

3) I'll say it once and I'll keep saying it. In my opinion, The Hall of Fame is for the GREAT player -or someone who made such a special contribution to the game that they need to get in like Roger Maris...It is not for the very, very good player...Biggio was never a GREAT player...

Can you mention Biggio in the same breath as these guys? Joe Morgan, George Brett, even Kirby Puckett. I think not.

[legend]

Puckett has no business being in the Hall of Fame. If you put him, you need to put Kent Hrbek, his teammate who had as many RBI in many less at-bats and hit more homres. Biggio's numbers are every bit as good as Morgans, and Morgan is a Hall of Famer in my opinion. Somebody has to get on base to get knocked in, and Biggio is one of the game's all time best at that. Rizzuto, Reese, Lou Boudreau, look at the numbers. Biggio was every bit as good as these guys. There are precious few who we recognize as great when we are seeing them play.

[ThePundit]

But Puckett came up huge - both in the field and at bat and was the leader of 2 Twins World Series championships. I always considered Puckett a great player. Just as Jeter is a Hall of famer though he might not put up "Hall of Fame numbers."