The Greatest Negro League Players Who NEVER Played MLB...

Major League Baseball has over 150 years of rich history, full of memorable moments, amazing accomplishments, and a huge number of legends and superstars, many of whom are immortalized in the Hall of Fame. It would be an easy assumption to make that since the beginning of professional baseball, most if not all of the greatest baseball players America produced earned an opportunity to play Major League Baseball. Sadly, that is not the case. Beginning in 1890, as baseball was becoming the country’s National Pastime, league owners struck what would become known as the “Gentleman’s Agreement,” a non-formal consensus between owners that no team would draft or sign a black player. This reprehensible act led to the color barrier in Major League Baseball, which lasted well over 50 years.

During that time, Major League Baseball was not truly a league of the best of the best, as many of the best players in the country played in the Negro Leagues and never got a chance to play in what was supposedly the top level of baseball. It wasn’t until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947 that the league truly become a representation of the best baseball players available. This led the way to Negro League players like Hank Aaaron and Willie Mays going on to have phenomenal MLB careers. However, today’s presentation will count down the 10 greatest Negro League players who never got the chance to play Major League Baseball. Before starting the list, it should be noted that in 2020, MLB officially recognized seven professional Negro Leagues that operated between 1920 and 1948 as the Major Leagues, meaning some of these players stats are now official MLB stats. Nevertheless, during their careers, they were denied the opportunity to play in the Major Leagues despite having obvious Major League talent.

Willie Wells

#10 Willie Wells, SS

Just as Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were getting their careers started, Willie Wells was wrapping his up. He played for 21 years in the Negro Leagues and according to former big leaguer Monte Irvin, “You should have seen Willie Wells play shortstop; as good as Ozzie Smith and a better hitter.” Despite his incredible hitting ability – a .330 career batting average with a league-leading .411 mark in 1930 – Wells was mainly known for his amazing defense. While playing in Mexico, his athleticism and acrobatic ability at shortstop earned him the nickname “El Diablo” – “The Devil.” He could also hit for power, leading his league in homers 3 times. He had an OPS over 1,000 for 7 straight years and led the league in steals twice, making him a true 5-tool player. He made 8 All Star teams during his Negro League career and also became a player-manager late in his career. Wells passed away in 1989, 8 years before he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Ben Taylor

#9 Ben Taylor, 1B

One of the earliest stars of the game, Ben Taylor’s career began in 1908, before the National Negro League was formed. He played wherever he could and became known as “Old Reliable” for his ability to consistently come through in clutch situations and drive in runs while playing nearly perfect defense at first base. Like Ted Williams, he was a naturally talented hitter who took it to the next level by taking a scientific approach to the game. He studied pitchers, worked on his mechanics, and became one of the best, consistently hitting over .300 every season. Taylor was also a true gentleman - soft-spoken and well-respected. Buck Leonard said: “I got most of my learning from Ben Taylor. He helped me when I first broke in with his team. He had been the best first baseman in Negro baseball up until that time, and he was the one who really taught me to play first base.” He died at age 64 in 1953 and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Rube Foster

#8 Andrew “Rube” Foster, P/Manager/Executive

Rube Foster makes this list not only because of his playing career, but also for an amazing career as a manager and top executive who is credited as the founder of the Negro Leagues. Although not all of his stats were recorded, Foster was considered one of the top pitchers in baseball in the early 20th Century. After his playing career, he was a great manager, winning over 700 games and setting high standards for his players, ensuring top personal conduct and professionalism. In 1920, Foster organized the National Negro Leagues, which flourished under his leadership. His hard work and tireless effort to make this league a success is what allowed the players on this list and many others to have the opportunities they had to play ball in front of thousands of people, earn a decent salary and for many, become Hall-of-Famers despite never playing in the Major Leagues. Foster had a nervous breakdown in 1926 and died in 1930. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.

#7 Smokey Joe Williams, P

One of the most feared pitchers in the game for over 20 years, Smokey Joe Williams was an absolute legend. The stories about his insane velocity were told for years. In one particular game in 1930, Williams struck out 27 batters over 12 innings while allowing a single hit. Ty Cobb said he was a “sure 30-game winner in the Major Leagues.” Anecdotes about Williams include several no-hitters, catchers having to be replaced mid-game due to a swollen catching hand, and victories in exhibition games against great pitchers such as Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander. He even once threw a no-hitter against the 1917 New York Giants in a barnstorming exhibition. Shortly before he passed away in 1951, after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, Williams said “The important thing is that the long fight against the ban has been lifted. I praise the Lord I’ve lived to see the day.” Williams was elected to the Hall of fame in 1999.

Turkey Stearnes

#6 Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, OF

One of the most underrated players of all time, Turkey Stearnes played 18 years in the Negro Leagues and retired with a .349 batting average. He led his league in home runs 6 times and won the batting title twice, including a .390 average in 1929. He had an unorthodox stance and running style which led to his nickname, Turkey, but according to Negro Leaguer Jim Canada, “He hit the ball nine miles. He was a show. People would go to see him play.” He was also a premiere defender and the perfect example of a 5-tool talent, with a throwing arm that made runners very hesitant to try to advance an extra base. "That man could hit the ball as far as anybody," Cool Papa Bell said. "And he was one of our best all-around players. He could field, he could hit, he could run. He had plenty of power." Stearnes passed away in 1979. According to his daughter, he was never bitter about not playing in the Major Leagues and appreciated every moment he got to play ball. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Cool Papa Bell

#5 James “Cool Papa” Bell, OF

One of, if not the fastest runner to ever play the game, Cool Papa Bell was the definition of electric. The story went that he could turn a light switch off and be in bed before it was dark. Bell was switch-hitting contact hitter who knew the strike zone extremely well and was always looking to find a way to get on base where he could utilize his insane speed. Bell had a career batting average of .325 and led the league in stolen bases 7 times. Once the league instituted an All-Star Game in 1933, he made 8 All Star Teams in 8 years, despite being in his thirties by this point. In his final season, 1946, Bell hit .400 in 120 at bats for the Homestead Grays, one year before Jackie Robinson’s Major League debut. Cool Papa Bell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974 and passed away in 1991 at the age of 87.

#4 Jon Henry “Pop” Lloyd, SS

Considered the best shortstop in Negro League history, Pop Lloyd played for 25 years and regularly hit well above .300 and was a rare combination of power and small-ball. Lloyd could hit for power when the situation dictated it, but he could also bunt and use the entire field to his advantage. He was a fantastic base-runner as well, stealing bases not just with pure speed but through knowing the situation and studying the opposing pitchers. Throughout most of his career, stats were not kept permanently, but from 1921 to 1929 – age 37 to 45 – he hit .349 with a .400 on-base percentage and 59 stolen bases. That was during his twilight years as a player. Lloyd simply had one of the best baseball IQ’s in the history of the game and, with this knowledge, went on to become a fantastic manager. “Pop Lloyd was the greatest player, the greatest manager, the greatest teacher,” said Bill Yancey, a shortstop who played with him. “He had the ability and knowledge and, above all, patience. I did not know what baseball was until I played under him.” In 1977, 13 years after he passed away, Pop Lloyd was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

#3 Walter “Buck” Leonard, 1B

A staple in the Homestead Grays batting lineup throughout the 30’s and 40’s, Buck Leonard had an amazing career that included 13 All Star Selections and an unreal .345 career batting average. He was one of the best pure hitters to ever pick up a bat and led the league in a variety of offensive categories multiple times including home runs, doubles and RBIs along with every offensive percentage statistic that you can think of. In 1938, he hit .420 with a .500 on-base percentage and unreal 1,240 OPS, all of which unsurpisingly led the league. Leonard was also a stellar defensive first baseman. His talent was so insane that when the color barrier was finally broken, despite his age of 45 years, he was still offered an MLB contract. Knowing he couldn’t play at his best anymore, Leonard declined and retired. Leonard passed away in 1997 but not before being elected into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

Oscar Charleston

#2 Oscar Charleston OF/1B

Oscar Charleston OF/1BAccording to the great Buck O’Neil, Oscar Charleston was like “Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker rolled into one.” During the 1920’s, no one was better. Charleston regularly hit over .400, including insane batting averages of .433 in 1921 and .427 in 1925. He also hit for massive power during a time when home runs were not the norm. He led the league in home runs 5 times, including 20 bombs in 1925, which was unheard of at the time due to the much shorter Negro League schedule. Charleston could also fly and regularly stole at least 20 bases per season during his prime. He was an excellent defender and used to play center-field very shallow due to his confidence that he was fast enough to catch anything hit over his head. There is no doubt he would have been an absolute superstar in the Major Leagues. Charleston was elite in everything he did on a baseball field and even went on to become a great manager. He passed away in 1954 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976.

Josh Gibson

#1 Josh Gibson C

The man, the myth, the legend himself – Josh Gibson was a spectacular talent who could hit the ball like no other. “Josh was a better power hitter than Babe Ruth, Ted Williams or anybody else I’ve ever seen,” said former Cleveland Buckeye pitcher and manager Alonzo Boone. “Anything he touched was hit hard. He could power outside pitches to right field. Shortstops would move to left field when Josh came to the plate.” Gibson was quickly hailed “The Black Babe Ruth,” and some fans who watched both play, decided it was more accurate to call Ruth “The White Josh Gibson.” From 1933 to 1938 he led the league in home runs and RBIs every season. In 1943, Gibson drove in 109 runs in just 69 games. His home run totals may not look amazing, but one has to take into account the much shorter Negroe League seasons. In 1937, for instance, Gibson hit 20 home runs in 39 games. That is the equivalent of hitting about 85 home runs throughout the course of a normal MLB season. His batting average was also ridiculous, easily topping .400 on multiple occasions. In 1943, he hit .433. Gibson has been said to have hit nearly 800 home runs throughout his career, although most of them were hit in barnstorming exhibitions and various other leagues. In his official career, he still had a home-run to at bat ratio that rivals the greatest power hitters of all time, and if he had ever been given the chance, there is no doubt Josh Gibson would have been one of the greatest MLB power-hitters to ever live. Oh, and by the way, he was also a phenomenal catcher with an arm that was both powerful and accurate. Tragically, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1942 and eventually died of a stroke in 1947. Gibson became the 2nd Negro League player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

And there you have it for 10 of the greatest Negro League players who never got a chance to play Major League Baseball. There are many others as well, and some who did get a brief chance to play in MLB such as the great Satchel Paige, which is why he wasn’t on the list. Thank you so much for checking out this video and feel free to mention some players I may have missed in the comments section below. Have a wonderful day and we’ll talk to you in the next one.

A HALL OF FAME SNUB From EACH of the 30 MLB Teams

The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame is one of the most exclusive clubs in all of sports.  The difficulty in getting elected can be proven by the sheer number of players who have not been elected despite public opinion that they are sure-fire 100% hall of famers.  Today we’ll be looking at a major hall of fame snub from each of the 30 Major League teams.  Some teams have multiple snubs, but I picked a player for each team, sometimes not choosing the obvious pick so that he could be represented by another team he played for that had less options.  So, if the player you expect isn’t picked, he might be represented by another team he played for. And also, steroid users will be included, so this might be an interesting comment section.  Now, onto the selections.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Curt Schilling

Starting with the Arizona Diamondbacks, it’s Curt Schilling.  How has Curt Schilling not yet been elected into the Hall of Fame despite an 11-2 postseason record with a 2.23 ERA along with over 3,100 career strikeouts, 3 seasons of at least 20 wins, 6 All Star selections and a World Series and NLCS MVP?  He was in the top 5 for the Cy Young Award 5 times, finishing second 4 times.  Obviously, this guy must be a heavy steroid user, right?  Nope.  He’s a conservative and has ruffled some feathers on Twitter with his personal opinions.  Let’s be honest – if he didn’t make his political opinions public and just retired onto a farm somewhere and never signed up for a Twitter account, he’d have a plaque right now in Cooperstown.  And in my opinion, that’s completely wrong.  He deserves to be in based on his career and no one – regardless of how extreme in either direction – should be held out because of their political views or takes.  For the D-Backs, I got Curt Schilling.

Atanta Braves: Andruw Jones

Next up is the Atlanta Braves and an honorable mention goes to Dale Murphy, but I have to take Andruw Jones.  What’s most shocking to me isn’t that he hasn’t been elected but that he only got 19.4% of the vote in 2020.  Are you kidding me?  One of the most elite players defensively and offensively for 10 years with no steroid connections can’t get 20% of the vote?  10 Gold Gloves and just 66 bombs shy of 500 home runs and he can’t get 20% of the vote?  In 2005, this guy crushed 51 home runs and drove in 128 runs and would’ve easily been the MVP if not for Albert Pujols in his prime.  He’s a 5-time All Star and is being held out because injuries derailed his career and he struggled for the last few years of his career.  But he still hit nearly 500 homers and won 10 Gold Goves; that’s all I need to know.  If Sandy Koufax is a sure fire hall of famer for 5 years of dominance, how is Andruw Jones not a Hall of Famer for 10 years of dominance with the bat and the glove?  For the Braves it’s Andruw Jones.

Baltimore Orioles: Rafael Palmeiro

Let the steroid conversations begin with my Orioles pick, which is Rafael Palmeiro.  There will be steroid guys on this list, so if you’re strictly against steroid users getting in the Hall, we know where you stand – you can just move on.  However, Rafael Palmeiro, despite being the first superstar name to fail a steroid test, became just the 4th player in history to hit 500 home runs and accumulate 3,000 hits.  He was also a slick fielder who won three Gold Gloves.  The big question with Palmeiro is, would he have been a Hall of Famer without steroids and when did he start using?  He was teammates with Jose Canseco as early as 1992 in Texas, so that’s not a good sign.  To me, he’s a borderline case because of that, but based strictly on the numbers, he’s an absolute Hall of Famer.

Boston Red Sox: Roger Clemens

Speaking of absolute Hall of Famers, my Boston Red Sox pick goes to the Rocket – Roger Clemens.  Clemens and Barry Bonds are the two steroid-connected players who, in my opinion, should absolutely be in because one can reasonably come to the conclusion that they would have been 100% hall of fame players even if they never touched steroids.  When Clemens started to decline in the mid-90’s, before he ever touched steroids, he was already a first ballot Hall of Famer with 3 Cy Young Awards, an MVP and three 20-win seasons.  This was simply one of the best starting pitchers in the history of the game and we can ignore his numbers after he went to Toronto and he’s still deserving of enshrinement in Cooperstown.  For the Red Sox, I’m taking Roger Clemens.

Chicago Cubs: Sammy Sosa

For the Chicago Cubs, I would have picked Ron Santo, but he finally got elected by the Veteran’s Committee in 2011 – right after he died so that he couldn’t enjoy the moment.  Nice job there.  So, instead, I’ll take a controversial selection and it’s Sammy Sosa.  I’ve gotten into some arguments over Sosa not being on my unofficial ballots I release on my YouTube channel.  However, the only reason he’s not on them is because I only have ten slots and Sosa is usually my 11th or 13th pick since I’m not 100% sure Sosa would have been a Hall of Famer without steroids.  That being said, this is a guy who broke Roger Maris’s 61 home run mark three times and hit an absolutely unconceivable 243 home runs in 4 years.  He was a 7-time All Star with over 600 home runs and yes – there are some advanced stats like WAR that don’t look that great, but this was one of the biggest names in the game and during a time when baseball turned a blind eye to the steroids. He and Mark McGwire brought baseball back to the USA after the ratings crashed post-strike. Unfortunately, they were also part of bringing it into darkness again with the steroid scandal, but all these years later, I feel that they were amongst the best in a league where steroids were everywhere.  He was one of the best in the league and put up numbers never seen before, and so Sammy Sosa is my pick for the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame snub. 

Chicago White Sox: Joe Jackson

For the White Sox, I’m going with Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was banned from baseball for life for his role in the fixing of the 1919 World Series. There are lots of debates on his involvement but statistically, if he was throwing the World Series, you wouldn’t know it - He had a series-leading .375 batting average, including the series’ only home run. Jackson threw out five baserunners and handled 30 chances in the outfield with no errors. Even in the games that the Sox lost, Jackson performed well statistically. Also, from the account of others involved, Jackson was not even in on the meetings.  They wanted to use his name to help gain more rapport with the gamblers.  All that aside, I believe Joe Jackson should get in the Hall of Fame because he has already paid the price for the scandal – he was banned from baseball for life and never allowed to participate again for the rest of his life.  Furthermore, at the time he played, there was no players union and players were not paid like they are now.  Also, White Sox owner Charles Comiskey had a reputation for paying his players as little as possible and even charging them for having their uniforms laundered.  At the end of the day, people make mistakes and Joe Jackson has passed away –MLB likes to hold players accountable for life for not being perfect while they kept the game segregated for 60 years.  Sometimes, it’s time to forgive and give a guy a plaque – Joe Jackson deserves one for a Hall of Fame baseball career.

Cincinnati Reds: Scott Rolen

For The Reds, I’m going with Scott Rolen.  If you’re wondering where another former Red who has more hits than any one in MLB history is, he’ll be included as well but I had to find a place for everyone, so he’ll be included with a different team.  I had to include Rolen somewhere as well.  This is a guy who, like Andruw Jones, was one of the best defensive and offensive players at his position for a decade.  He won eight Gold Glove Awards while offensively, he ranks in the top 15 among third basemen in home runs (316), RBI (1,287) and slugging percentage (.490).  The 7-time All-Star is more than deserving of enshrinement and I believe he will be elected within the next couple of years.

Cleveland Indians: Kenny Lofton

For the Cleveland Indians, there were several names I considered including Manny Ramirez, who hit 555 home runs.  The problem with Ramirez is he failed not one, but two PED tests and has a history of not being a great teammate, quitting on his teams and having an overall negative impact on the game.  However, I can’t deny his numbers as they are certainly Hall-of-Fame worthy.  Nevertheless, I’m going with Kenny Lofton, who somehow got booted from the ballot after just one year, despite a great career in which he had 2,428 hits, 622 steals, 4 Gold Gloves and 6 All Star Selections.  He played right amid the steroid era and still had a fantastic career defensively, offensively and on the basepaths.  If you look at the JAWS ranking for centerfielders, which is a metric measuring overall Hall of Fame worthiness, Lofton is 10th all time and above Hall-of-Famers Richie Ashburn, Andre Dawson, Kirby Puckett, Hack Wilson and several others. He might not be an absolute shoe-in, but he certainly was snubbed of more opportunities after getting less than 5% of the vote in his first year. 

Colorado Rockies: Todd Helton

The Rockies gave me the easiest choice of this entire list – Todd Helton.  He spent seventeen years with the same team, crushing 369 home runs with a .316 batting average.  He was elite with the bat and the glove, winning 3 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers while representing the Rockies in the All Star Game five consecutive seasons.  Maybe most impressively, his career OPS is 18th best in baseball history.  I believe he is an absolute Hall-of-Famer and anyone keeping him out because he plays in Denver is, in my opinion, absolutely absurd.  There is a Major League team in Denver.  A player should not be criticized because of where their team plays their home games.  Besides, it’s Denver – not the moon.  The ball carries well, but Helton was a machine at home and the road throughout his career, including the year 2000 when he hit .372 with 147 RBI.  He should absolutely be in as soon as possible.

Detroit Tigers: Lou Whitaker

Next comes the Detroit Tigers and I’m taking Lou Whitaker as their biggest Hall of Fame snub.  Going back to the JAWS ranking, Whitaker finds himself above Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio and Bill Mazeroski.  Yet the 5-time All Star, 3-time Gold Glover and 4-time Silver Slugger received a pathetic 2.9% of the vote, falling off the ballot immediately.  Are you kidding me?  Whitaker was not only a great defender, but had a dynamic bat with power, hitting at least 19 home runs 5 times, finishing with 244 in his career, which is a ton for a second baseman.  He also helped the Tigers win a World Series and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1978.  On baseball-reference, Whitaker has a higher WAR than Reggie Jackson, modern-day Frank Thomas, Derek Jeter and many other huge names.  Yet he fell off the ballot after one year.  That is an absolute snub.

Houston Astros: Billy Wagner

For the Houston Astros, I’m going with closer Billy Wagner.  The Astros drafted him in the first round and he pitched in Houston for 9 seasons.  He ranks sixth all time with 422 saves and his 1,196 career strikeouts as a reliever are the fourth-most in the history of baseball.  The 7-time All Star had an astonishing 2.31 career ERA and in his final big league season, he closed out 37 games for Atlanta with an even better 1.43 ERA.  As far as his regular season career, he should be a no-doubt Hall-of-Famer when compared to his peers who have already been voted in such as Bruce Sutter and Trevor Hoffman.  The downside for Wagner is his disappointing postseason career, but in my opinion, a great postseason career is a bonus that could put some one in who otherwise would be a borderline case.  It shouldn’t keep some one out who had a Hall-of-Fame career, which, in my opinion, Billy Wagner had.

Kansas City Royals: Dan Quisenberry

For the Royals, I’m going with another relief pitcher who was removed from the ballot after one year.  It’s the great submariner Dan Quisenberry.  Although I admit he is a borderline case and not a shoe-in, the fact that he was only on the ballot for a year is very upsetting.  This is a guy who led the American League in saves five out of six seasons and finished among the top three in Cy Young voting for an unbelievable for four straight years, which is insanely impressive for a reliever.  He finished his career with 244 saves and a 2.76 ERA but also helped the Royals win a World Series in 1985 with a 2.08 ERA.  He won the Rolaids Reliever of the Year 5 times and made three All Star Teams.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t so great during the last few years of his career, but certainly deserved more consideration in my opinion.

Los Angeles Angels: Bobby Grich

For the Los Angeles Angels, I’m going with Bobby Grich, who was on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1992 and got a mere 2.6% of the vote, falling off the ballot.  Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, Grich was an excellent player both offensively and defensively, making six All Star teams, winning 4 Gold Gloves and a silver slugger.  He didn’t get Hall of Fame support because his final career numbers aren’t overly spectacular – just 224 home runs and .266 batting average but if you consider his position, he is among the best offensive second baseman and ranks 8th all time on the JAWS list, ahead of several Hall of Famers including Ryne Sandberg, Jackie Robinson, Robert Alomar and Craig Biggio.  He also hit a clutch home run in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS that would’ve been an All-Time Great Home Run if Dave Henderson and the Red Sox hadn’t made history with an amazing come-from-behind victory.  Ultimately, Bobby Grich was undervalued in 1992 and his Hall of Fame case should get another look.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Orel Hershiser

The Los Angeles Dodgers are next and I’m going to go with Orel Hershiser, a staple in that Dodgers rotation throughout the 80’s and early 90’s.  He ended up playing 18 seasons and setting an MLB record with an astonishing 59 consecutive scoreless innings.  As far as the regular season, Hershiser dominated during the early part of his career and even won a Cy Young Award in 1988.  He made three consecutive All Star teams and won a Gold Glove.  His numbers eventually fell after some injuries and surgeries and he didn’t end up with the most impressive career totals – a 204-150 record with a 3.48 ERA.  Where I think he deserves heavier consideration is his postseason career.  Hershiser has both an ALCS and NLCS MVP along with a World Series MVP from 1988 when he helped the Dodgers win a World Series by throwing two complete games while allowing just 2 runs in 18 innings.  He dominated with the Indians as well and even pitched 5.1 innings of scoreless baseball in the 1999 playoffs with the New York Mets at age 40.  Hershiser ended his career with a 2.59 postseason ERA and for all his accomplishments there, as well as his dominance throughout the first 6 years of his career, I believe he was snubbed when got only 4.4% of the vote in 2007, falling off the ballot. 

Miami Marlins: Gary Sheffield

For the Miami Marlins, I’m going with a guy who played there since their inaugural season in 1993 through 1998 and helped them win a World Series title in ’97 by hitting .320 in 50 postseason at bats with 3 home runs.  I’m talking about Gary Sheffield, who does have 100% Hall of Fame stats, but unfortunately also has those PED connections.  He ended up 509 bombs, 9 All Star appearances, 5 Silver Sluggers, and a batting title in 1992.  The problem, as I mentioned, is his steroid connections as he did some training with Barry Bonds around 2002 and has ties to Balco during that time.  He also doesn’t have the best defensive metrics.  Sheffield was one of the most feared hitters in the game for well over a decade, however, and should definitely gain traction with more forgiving and younger voters.

Milwaukee Brewers: Cecil Cooper

For the Brewers, it has to be a great player who many have probably forgotten – Cecil Cooper.  Cooper was a 6th round draft pick by the Red Sox who never really broke out until he signed with Milwaukee in 1977 and hit .300 with 20 home runs.  He only got better from there, making five All Star teams, winning consecutive Gold Glove awards, leading the league in RBI twice and picking up two Silver Slugger awards.  He topped 200 hits three times and finished his career with a .298 batting average and 2,192 hits. He also hit .286 with a home run in the 1982 World Series.  For some one who was excellent on both sides of the ball and had as many accomplishments as he did, you’d expect at least a few Hall of Fame votes even if he doesn’t get enshrined.  Cecil Cooper did not receive a single vote during his one year of eligibility.  Not one.   

Minnesota Twins: Jim Kaat

The first name that came to mind for me with the Twins is Jim Kaat.  Kaat pitched 25 years in the Major Leagues and helped every team he played for including the Twins, for whom he picked up 25 wins in 1966.  He finished his career with 283 wins and an amazing 16 Gold Gloves.  The only pitcher with more is Greg Maddux.  Kaat struck out 2,461 batters, won at least 20 games 3 times, made three All Star teams and helped the Cardinals win a World Series in 1982 at the age of 43.  In 2003, he only got 26.2% of the vote and fell off the ballot after 15 years.  I believe longevity means a lot and when you combine his 25 year career with 16 Gold Gloves, over 2,400 strikeouts and nearly 300 wins, you have a Hall of Famer.

New York Mets: Keith Hernandez

For the New York Mets, I’m going with Keith Hernandez.  If you’re surprised by this, just listen to these career accomplishments.  In his 17 year career, Hernandez won 11 Gold Gloves, making him undeniably an elite defensive first baseman in the league for over a decade.  He also won two Silver Sluggers, was elected to five All Star Teams and even won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1979 by hitting .344 with 48 doubles and 105 RBI.  He helped both the Cardinals and Mets win a World Series.  Hernandez helped his teams win enough to have a higher career WAR than Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Mike Piazza, Vlad Guerrero and Willie Stargell.  Defense matters and if certain players like Ozzie Smith can get in on defense alone, how does some one who was elite both defensively and offensively not get in?  Keith Hernandez was snubbed.

New York Yankees: Roger Maris

My New York Yankees pick may be a little controversial because even I admit he doesn’t quite have the career numbers to merit induction.  However, there are certain accomplishments that create a legendary status that alone should be given a lot of weight in my opinion.  And when a player also has plenty of other supporting accomplishments on top of that, I start to think – this guy deserves a plaque.  That guy is Roger Maris, whose most famous accomplishment is, of course, hitting 61 home runs in 1961, breaking Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record and winning the MVP.  He did this in the face of constant pressure and harassment, with both writers and fans openly rooting against him. However, it is sometimes forgotten that the year before that, in 1960, Maris also won the MVP by hitting .283 with 39 home runs and 112 RBI.  He also won a Gold Glove that year.  He was a seven-time All Star who not only helped the Yankees win 2 World Series rings but won a ring later in his career with the Cardinals.  Roger Maris is part of baseball immortality and with 3 rings, 2 MVP’s, the single-season home run record (before the steroid era came along anyway), and a solid 12 year career, I would personally vote for him and would love for Roger Maris to have a plaque in Cooperstown.

Oakland A’s: Mark McGwire

If I’m going to have Sammy Sosa and Gary Sheffield on this list, there’s a couple Oakland A’s I have to consider.  One is Jason Giambi who won an MVP with Oakland and finished his 20 year career with 440 home runs.  However, the more obvious pick and the one I’m going with as the Oakland A’s snub is Mark McGwire.  Yes, he did steroids – perhaps throughout his career since he was teammates with Jose Canseco from the beginning.  However, McGwire was on a course with stardom since he was drafted in the first round out of USC.  He hit 49 home runs in his rookie year, breaking a rookie record, went on to hit 583 career bombs and, of course, famously broke Roger Maris’ single season record in 1998, helping to save baseball with Sammy Sosa, and becoming one of the biggest sports stars in the world.  He was simply one of baseball’s biggest stars for 15 years and with 12 All Star selections and even a Gold Glove, I believe he should have a plaque in Cooperstown, although many would disagree for obvious reasons. 

Philadelphia Phillies: Dick Allen

For the Phillies, I’m taking a player who probably would have been elected if the pandemic had not canceled the veteran’s committee meeting last year.  Instead, they didn’t elect anybody and now sadly Dick Allen has passed away and when he gets elected, as happens too often, he won’t be able to enjoy the moment.  It should have never gotten to that point as Dick Allen was a definite Hall of Famer with a 15 year career, Rookie of The Year in 1964, MVP Award in 1972, and seven All Star Selections.  During his peak 11 years from 1964 to 1974, only Hank Aaron had a higher OPS.  He topped leaderboards in nearly every offensive category and if you have any doubt that Dick Allen is a Hall of Famer, let me just say he has the same career OPS+ as Willie Mays.  The only issue is he didn’t play long enough to get to the key 500 home runs or 3,000 hits because of injury, but during his 15 years, he was more than great enough and he’ll probably be elected this year, especially since he just passed away, which is one of the best things you can do to improve your Hall of Fame chances and it’s a shame he won’t be able to be at his own ceremony.  Dick Allen is a Hall of Famer.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Dave Parker

The next team is the Pittsburgh Pirates and I’m going to go with Dave Parker, who never received more than 24.5% of the vote during his 15 years on the ballot.  In his prime, he was one of the most dangerous sluggers in baseball and had a cannon for an arm in the outfield.  He has big numbers and big awards, including an MVP, three Gold Gloves, an All Star Game MVP, two World Series Rings, and back-to-back batting titles. He was a key member of the Pittsburgh Pirates championship team in 1979, hitting .333 in the NLCS and .345 in the World Series.  Parker finished his career with over 2,700 hits and an insane 143 outfield assists.  Again, because he didn’t hit the big milestones with the zeroes at the end, he doesn’t get in and it’s ridiculous.  The same player could have hit 3,000 hits with no MVP’s, Gold Gloves or rings and would be first ballot Hall of Famer but Parker can’t get more than 24.5% of the vote. 

San Diego Padres: Steve Garvey

For the San Diego Padres, I’m going with Steve Garvey, who played for the All Star Team a ridiculous – for some one not in the Hall of Fame – TEN times.  This is another player who was elite on both sides of the ball, winning four Gold Gloves while finishing his career with a .294 batting average and 272 home runs.  If you need an MVP, you got one – Garvey won it in 1974 and finished second in 1978.  He, in fact, received MVP votes for 8 straight seasons.  On top of all that, he was an Iron-Man, breaking the NL record streak with 1,207 consecutive games played.  Want more records?  He set an MLB record with 159 errorless games at first base.  This was one of the best players in the game over a long period of time but again – he didn’t reach the magic 3,000 hit number.  Steve Garvey needs a plaque and he needs it now.

San Francisco Giants: Barry Bonds

For my favorite team, the San Francisco Giants, there really is one obvious choice although I do want to give a shoutout to Will Clark and a guy who will be on this list a little later, Jeff Kent – both who had amazing careers and deserve more consideration.  However, I’m going with Barry Bonds, one of the best players in the history of the game.  Bonds was a shoe-in first time no-brainer Hall of Famer before he ever touched, as Bob Costas would say, anything stronger than a Protein Shake.  We can ignore all of the video-game numbers he put up after the turn of the century and he’s still a Hall of Famer.  There is really only one argument to keep him out and that’s the fact that he eventually did use steroids, but to keep one of the greatest baseball players to ever live out of the Hall of Fame is something I just can’t get behind.  This is a guy who had to watch Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire be hailed as heroes who saved baseball while he knew he was 10 times as good as either of them.  He gave into temptation and I wish he never did it, but he did.  At the end of the day, this is one of the greats of all time and had won three MVP’s, made eight All Star Teams and won eight Gold Gloves before he touched steroids.  Bonds needs a plaque, and he needs it now. 

Seattle Mariners: Omar Vizquel

For the Seattle Mariners, I’m going to take Omar Vizquel, who spent his first 5 big league seasons with the M’s.  What I never understood about the lack of support for Omar is how Ozzie Smith was a first ballot Hall of Famer yet Omar Vizquel can’t even sniff the Hall of Fame.  When you compare their stats, Omar was, in many ways, an even better defender and certainly a better hitter.  He showed incredible longevity with a 24-year career in which he won 11 Gold Gloves and ended his career with 2,877 hits.  The only shortstops with more hits are Derek Jeter, Honus Wagner, Cal Ripken Jr. and Robin Yount, all sure-fire Hall of Famers.  The problem could be that only made three All Star teams and played for a variety of teams, which could hurt his case.  However, if Ozzie Smith is a Hall of Famer, I believe Omar Vizquel is as well. 

St. Louis Cardinals: Jim Edmonds/Ken Boyer

For the St. Louis Cardinals, I have to cheat and pick two players – first there’s Jim Edmonds, who got bumped off the ballot after one year.  A human highlight reel in centerfield, Edmonds won eight Gold Gloves and was just 7 home runs shy of 400 in his career.  For his first six seasons in St. Louis, he averaged 35 home runs a year.  He helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 2006 and hit 13 career postseason home runs.  How he fell off the ballot after one year I can’t explain.  Then there’s Ken Boyer, an elite offensive and defensive player, who won 5 Gold Gloves with 11 All Star Selections.  He won the MVP in 1964 for hitting .295 with 24 bombs and an MLB-best 119 RBIs while leading the Cardinals to the World Series. All of his numbers are right in line with other Hall of Famers, but somehow he got completely overlooked.  Both Jim Edmonds and Ken Boyer deserve more consideration.

Tampa Bay Rays: Fred McGriff

By far, the most confusing and frustrating snub in this entire list is Fred McGriff.  He could’ve easily been the pick for the Braves or Blue Jays, but since The Rays need a representative, I’ll give them Fred, who played for the Rays from their inaugural season in 1998 until 2001.  Overall, McGriff is a 100% absolute Hall of Famer who played the game clean right amidst the steroid era.  Instead of rewarding him for playing the game clean, he is punished – stupidly enough, while also punishing those who chose to do steroids.  Fred McGriff hit 493 home runs in his career and I am convinced if he hit a mere 7 more, he would already be in the Hall of Fame.  McGriff also made five All Star Teams, won a ring with Atlanta, has a .303 career postseason batting average with 10 bombs in 188 at bats and had 6 Top 10 MVP seasons.  His career batting line after 19 seasons is .284/.377/.509 and he won three Silver Sluggers with an All Star Game MVP as well.  Add to all that the fact that McGriff was one of the nicest guys in the league, popular with the fans and media.  If they don’t want to put in Bonds, Clemens or McGwire because of steroids, how in the hell do they keep out McGriff?

Texas Rangers: Al Oliver

For the Texas Rangers, I’m going with Al Oliver, who spent 4 seasons in Arlington, where he made 2 of his seven All Star Teams.  He also won a batting title with the Expos, hitting .331 in 1982 with a league high 204 hits and 109 RBI.  He received MVP votes in 10 separate seasons and retired with a batting average of .303 with over 9,000 career at bats.  This man hit over .300 in 9,000 Major League at bats and can’t get in the Hall of Fame.  He has more career hits than Chipper Jones, Lou Gerhig and Ted Williams. How was his Hall of Fame support in his first year on the ballot?  He got less than 5% of the vote and fell off immediately.  To this day, Al Oliver is still getting denied by the Hall of Fame, who won’t even put him on the veteran’s ballot. 

Toronto Blue Jays: Jeff Kent

For the Toronto Blue Jays, I could’ve given them any number of guys I’ve already used up such as Fred McGriff, Omar Vizquel or Roger Clemens.  I also considered Dave Stieb, who made 7 All Star Teams, but ultimately, I had to find a place for the great Jeff Kent.  Kent was drafted by the Blue Jays and made his debut with them although he found most of his success with the Mets, Giants, Astros and Dodgers.  Jeff Kent is a four-time Silver Slugger and five-time All Star who won the 2000 MVP despite playing on the same team as Barry Bonds.  The stat that makes it most shocking that he’s not in the hall is the fact that Jeff Kent has more home runs than any other second baseman – ever.  He has also been a clutch postseason player with multiple big moments, finishing his career with 9 postseason home runs in just 170 at bats.  Jeff Kent is absolutely a Hall of Famer and is still getting snubbed every year by the writers who only gave him 27.5% of the vote in 2020.

Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos: Pete Rose

But my final snub, appropriately enough, is the hit king and he will represent the Montreal Expos, now known as the Washington Nationals.  Pete Rose only spent 95 of his 3,562 games with Montreal and is certainly better represented by the Reds or Phillies, but the Nationals franchise didn’t have a lot of options now that Tim Raines has gotten in.  Pete Rose needed to be on here somewhere though.  Even though he did gamble on the game and deserved to be banned from participating, there was no rule that said he couldn’t get in the Hall of Fame until the Hall of Fame themselves created that rule once Rose was placed on the ineligible list, deciding that any one on the ineligible list is also ineligible for the Hall of Fame.  It’s a terrible policy in my opinion as the purpose of the rule was the keep gamblers from participating in MLB games and having a plaque in a museum is no threat to the integrity of the game.  Pete Rose has more hits than any one who has ever played this game, but was also a perfect example of how to play hard every day.  He ran out every grounder, made the head-first slide popular and through hard work and dedication, became one of the greatest of all time despite not being gifted athletically. Pete Rose may not have been the best person, but he was one of the best ballplayers ever and should be immortalized in Cooperstown while he’s still alive to enjoy it and know that his career is appreciated, even if he’s not allowed to wear a uniform again as an active participant. 

It is truly embarrassing that baseball has a Hall of Fame dedicated to all the greatest who ever played the game, yet the Hit King, Home Run King and perhaps the greatest pitcher of all time are all on the outside looking in.  However, even if you want to keep them out for their wrongdoings, what’s the excuse for not letting in many of the other guys I’ve talked about today?  What about Fred McGriff?  What bout Andruw Jones?  Al Oliver?  The Hall of Fame should be tough to get into, but history has shown that you don’t have to be Babe Ruth or Randy Johnson to get in.  If guys like Ozzie Smith, Harold Baines and Luke Appling are Hall of Famers, so are many of these guys.  Until they get in or at least get a fair shake, I’m calling them the biggest Hall of Fame Snubs in Major League Baseball.