Baseball Hall of Fame Near-Misses
The list of accomplished Major League Baseball players who have been excluded from the Hall of Fame has grown controversial in recent years as superstars from the steroid era have been widely boycotted by voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, and others finished with numbers that would have earned them a spot if the use of steroids and PEDs had not tarnished their reputations.
1987 Topps Baseball #320 Barry Bonds Rookie Card
In another category, gambling accusations against the likes of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Pete Rose have proven sufficient for exclusion. Beyond that, some players have been snubbed due to what is perceived as undignified or antisocial behavior, with Curt Schilling’s exclusion being a prime example. Despite their exclusion from Cooperstown, the cards for players in both categories have remained in high demand.
This article will look at a third category: the best “clean” players by position who have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The players appearing on this list were multiple-time All-Stars who consistently posted impressive numbers, and although they do not have a plaque in the Hall of Fame, their best cards demand attention.
Almost Hall-of-Famer Starting Lineup
1965 Topps Baseball #145 Luis Tiant Rookie Card
Pitcher – Luis Tiant
Throughout a 19-year career with six different teams, Tiant finished with a 229-172 record, a 3.30 ERA, and 49 career shutouts, including nine shutouts during the 1968 season alone. His career WAR of 65.6 was significantly better than Hall-of-Famer Don Drysdale’s. Tiant is no longer eligible for the Hall of Fame, but his 1965 Topps #145 rookie card will remain highly desirable, and Tiant cards throughout the 60s and 70s, especially as they approach mint condition, offer lasting value.
1971 Topps Baseball #5 Thurman Munson
Catcher – Thurman Munson
With honorable mention going to Bill Freehan and Jorge Posada, Munson’s brief career stands out. In eleven seasons with the Yankees, Munson won a Rookie-of-the-Year award, an MVP award, and was a seven-time All-Star. Munson led his team to two World Series wins, and his career .292 average is exceptional among catchers. His career was cut short when he died at age 32 in a plane crash. High-grade examples of his 1971 Topps #5 rookie card, a horizontal cut with a black background, are rare and prized among hobbyists.
1984 Topps Baseball #8 Don Mattingly Rookie Card
First Base – Don Mattingly
Arguments can be made for Keith Hernandez and Will Clark, but “Donnie Baseball’s” career included nine Gold Glove awards, six All-Star appearances, three Silver Slugger awards, and an MVP award in 1985. He once homered in 8 consecutive games, and his lifetime average of .307 puts him ahead of every current MLB player in that category. Mattingly’s 1984 Topps RC #8 is not exceedingly rare.
1979 Topps Baseball #123 Lou Whitaker
Second Base – Lou Whitaker
“Sweet Lou” should be in the Hall of Fame alongside his double-play partner, Alan Trammell. Whitaker’s lifetime WAR of 75.1 should have been sufficient to ensure his place. Whitaker won the ROY award in 1978 and was a 5-time All-Star. Whitaker’s 1978 #704 rookie card was shared with three other players, and his 1979 card #123 is also notable when kept in high-grade condition.
1955 Topps Baseball #125 Ken Boyer
Third Base – Ken Boyer
An eleven-time All-Star, Boyer consistently posted impressive numbers. With a lifetime average of .287 and 282 HR, he may not quite have earned a spot, but he certainly demands respect. In 1964, Boyer won the NL MVP award, and his lifetime WAR of 62.8 puts him in the same range as several HoF electees. His rookie card is the 1955 Topps #125, which requires serious investment at PSA 7 and better.
1992 Topps Traded #39T Nomar Garciaparra
Short Stop – Nomar Garciaparra
Excluding Omar Vizquel, who has been involved in a couple of “character clause” controversies that are likely to keep him out of the Hall of Fame, “Nomah,” as Boston fans lovingly called him, is probably the shortstop most deserving of a Hall of Fame spot. Before injuries got the best of him, Garciaparra kept pace with Derek Jeter. He was a Rookie-of-the-Year in 1997 and posted .357 and .372 batting averages in 1999 and 2000. A six-time All-Star, his career .313 average might have been enough to earn him a spot if he had remained consistent through the second half of his career. His 1992 Topps Traded #39T features him in a Team USA Olympic jersey.
Outfield – Dale Murphy
While Carlos Beltrán probably deserves this spot, his involvement in a sign-stealing scandal kept him out of the Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. Among snubbed outfielders, Dale Murphy’s résumé is the most plausible. After a slow start in his first full season in 1978, in which he led the league in strikeouts, Murphy quickly picked up his batting average and showed the potential for league-leading power at the plate. He won back-to-back NL MVP awards in 1982 and 1983, and his career 398 HRs and four Silver Slugger awards are exceptional among those not honored with a plaque in Cooperstown. His 1977 Topps RC #476 can be very valuable in mint condition. Strangely, Murphy appears again as a rookie on a 1978 card, #708.
