There is a rumor going around that today we will be electing a new President. Actually, this is an Election Day that far supersedes who will become the leader of the free world. May I present to you the first-ever Threeunassisted vote for the Hall of Fame! Avoid the stress of politics and read on to participate in something a little bit more fun and less aggravating. I have gone through a deep vetting process to choose a nominee for each of the teams that are covered in this blog. I have run the numbers, conducted my own internal polling and have arrived at the three candidates that are most worthy of this inaugural event. These are three players who are steeped in their respective franchise’s history and who may one day get into Cooperstown thanks to either the Veterans’ Committee or the Classic Era ballot. It also just so happens that they all played first base.
Introducing the nominees:
Don Mattingly-New York Yankees
Despite never winning a World Series championship, Mattingly remains one of the most beloved players in Yankees’ history. Fans regard him as a sympathetic figure. He was the star in arguably the darkest period of Yankee baseball in my lifetime and his back injuries kept him from championships and Hall of Fame induction. For a four or five year span, Donnie Baseball was regarded as the best player in the game. He won a batting title in 1984 and was the American League Most Valuable Player the following season. His 1986 campaign was arguably better as he led the league in hits with 238, doubles with 53, slugging at .573 and OPS at .967. He was a nine time Gold Glove winner and captured three Silver Sluggers. In his one playoff series, he batted .417 in 25 plate appearances. Had he stuck around in 1996 to win a World Series, his Hall of Fame credentials would have been even more enhanced.
Ryan Howard–Philadelphia Phillies
He was the slugger on those great Phillies teams that won five consecutive division titles from 2007 through 2011. Howard was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2005 and captured the National League MVP the following season. When the Phillies became World Series Champions in 2008, Howard led the NL in home runs with 48 and RBI’s with 146. He was also named the MVP of the 2009 National League Championship Series. The Big Piece totaled five other top 10 MVP finishes and ranks second only behind Mike Schmidt in Phillies’ history with 384 home runs. Like Mattingly, injury robbed Howard of his full potential. He tore his Achilles tendon at the end of Game 5 of the 2011 Division series and was never able to eclipse 30 home runs again. His descent as a player coincided with the decline of the Phillies as the team did not finish above .500 again until 2021.
Keith Hernandez-New York Mets
It is hard to believe that Hernandez has been broadcasting Mets’ games longer than his actual Major League playing career. Because first base is primarily known as a power-hitting position, Hernandez’s Hall of Fame voting results have been skewed. He was an MVP in 1979 and is a two time World Series Champion, once with the Mets and the other with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won 11 Gold Gloves and is arguably the best fielding first baseman in baseball history. His on base percentage exceeded .400 six times during his 17 year career. Hernandez had three top ten MVP finishes while with the Mets and was one of the leaders on both of his championship teams. He is a lifetime .296 hitter with a .384 OBP and was a guy you wanted at the plate in a tough situation. His work in the booth alongside Gary Cohen and Ron Darling enhances his Hall of Fame credentials much like it did for Phil Rizzuto.
Put your vote in the comments section along with a simple reason for doing so. I’d love to see how this turns out!
Threeunassisted 