Is Andres Galarraga a HOF'er?

[AlecBoy006]

I think yes. For many reasons.

1) He did have some longevity in him, but that means nothing.

2) A .991 FP%

3) Collected 2333 hits. I think anyone with over 2000 hits should be considered.

4) Had an amazing peak from 94 through 98.

5) 1425 Runs driven in.

6) .288 batting average. Very good.

7) .499 Slugging percentage

8) OBP of 347

Stellar offensive and defensive numbers. I say yes.

[vtbub]

A very good player, but not a great one.

[AlecBoy006]

How do you figure no?

[digglahhh]

Perhaps, I'll get into why The Big Cat himself is not a HOFer a little later.

First though, the media in general has such a huge anti-Coors bias, that it won't matter.

Mickey Mantle wouldn't be in the HOF if he played in Coors...

I would love to see Larry Walker get some strong support when he is eligible, but I doubt it will happen.

[nerfan]

I voted borderline, but after reviewing the stats I would say no. His most comparable hitters are Orlando Cepeda, Jim Rice, Joe Carter, and Chili Davis, all of whom played in much more pitcher-friendly parks than Galaragga. Never did Galaragga walk more than 52 times intentionally. His OPS+ of 118 looks good, but then you realize- only 5 full seasons outside of Colorado did he have an OPS+ of even 100:eek: !

His best two seasons were 1997 and 1998.

In 1997 Galarraga was the 2nd best player on his team, behind Larry Walker.
In 1998 Galarraga was the 4th best player on his team, behind Larry (Chipper) Jones, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine. And arguements can be made for John Smoltz and Kerry Ligtenberg too.

Both years he finished behind a guy named Larry.

1996 looks good, too, but again he is beaten out by Ellis Burks.

His adjusted stats are .275/.345/.425, hardly the stuff of legends. He has a RC/27 of 6.10. By comparison, Mark Grace has a RC/27 of 6.22 and Fred McGriff has a RC/27 of 6.91.

Then, I guess, there is the issue of his fielding. "Big Cat" was supposed to be a great fielder. But he made 46 errors at FIRST over four years in Montreal, and actually has a fielding percent .001 below the leagues.

He also only batted .222/.286/.267 in 45 division series at-bats, and a mere .182/.289/.258 in all. Overall, in 66 post-season at-bats, he had THREE:eek: extra-base hits.

Then I suppose there is the matter of the batting title he won in 1993. In 1993, his OPS+ was 146 despite hitting .370. Why? He only took 24 walks. He was the best player on his team, but the team went 67-95.

Hmmmm... low consistency, the best player on his team once and only because the team sucked, below-average fielding, little plate discipline, poor postseason. This equation does not equal HOF'er.

[dl4060]

Galarraga had some nice years, but really not all that many. His career OPS+ is 118, which is very low for a first baseman. You really have to take a ton of air out of his 90's numbers because of the ballpark and the era. I like Walker and possibly Helton as candidates, but not Galarraga. He was a good player who lasted a long time, but not much more. He was a great defensive first baseman, but how much is that really worth. At first one has to hit, and Andres didn't hit well enough.

You really have to take alot off of his peak. Look at his 1995 stats. They seem nice, but check the league averages for that season in Coors. Galarraga was a mediocre offensive player that year.

[nerfan]

I would love to see Larry Walker get some strong support when he is eligible, but I doubt it will happen.

Unlike Galaragga, Walker was GOOD away from Coors, has an impressive 140 OPS+, was an above average fielder, created a ridiculous 8.31 RC/27, won three batting crowns, an MVP, not to mention that he walked. His most comparable players include Duke Snider, Manny Ramirez, Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Mize, Edgar Martinez, and Chuck Klein. Not bad company.

[jalbright]

I'll add my own two pennies as to why I don't buy the Big Cat as a HOFer.

I look at a number of things, and we'll go through them one by one:

1) he was a five time all star. Not bad, but not overwhelming for a HOFer. call that one neutral.

2) 155th in career win shares. That's a lower rank than there are MLB position players in the HOF and the MVP award has only been around for half of baseball's history. Definitely a poor showing in HOF terms.

3) 97th in black ink. This is a definite positive for him, though possibly aided by his time in Coors.

4) 152nd in gray ink. Forgetting about the possible influence of Coors, it's still not good enough. There aren't that many MLB position players in the Hall.

5) 200th in HOF standards for hitters. That's not particularly close to HOF level.

6) he averaged less than 20 Win Shares per 162 games over his career, or below minimal all-star level. That's not a HOF caliber performance.

7) He had 251 career win shares, which would put him 37th among 1B in the latest Bill James Historical Abstract. There should no more than 20 or so 1B in the Hall, and by that measure, Andres falls well short.

8) The total win shares in his best three years was 77. That's only good for 36th among 1B in the latest BJHA, which again is well short of HOF caliber.

9) His best 5 consecutive season total of win shares is 99, which is 67th among the 1B listed in the latest BJHA. That's way short of HOF caliber.

So out of those nine areas, he's got precisely one good HOF caliber mark, and that may have been aided by Coors. He adds one neutral qualification, and the rest are short of the mark, many by significant margins. To me, he's well short of the mark, though he was a good player.

Jim Albright

[nerfan]

Jailbright nailed Galarraga- he was a good but not HOF worthy player whose stats were GREATLY aided by Coors.

[brett]

Factoring in Coors field by using OPS+, a 118 OPS+ is just not cutting it for a first baseman. Keith Hernandez was 129.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Unlike Galaragga, Walker was GOOD away from Coors, has an impressive 140 OPS+, was an above average fielder, created a ridiculous 8.31 RC/27, won three batting crowns, an MVP, not to mention that he walked. His most comparable players include Duke Snider, Manny Ramirez, Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Mize, Edgar Martinez, and Chuck Klein. Not bad company.

Galarraga was better away from Coors than people think.

1993

Home 67 266 45 107 20 3 13 64 15 6 33 1 0 4 0 5 6 1 4 .402 .430 .647
Away 53 204 26 67 15 1 9 34 9 6 40 5 0 2 0 0 3 1 0 .328 .368 .544


1994

Home 51 204 39 71 9 0 16 44 10 5 34 6 0 3 0 4 4 3 3 .348 .390 .627
Away 52 213 38 62 12 0 15 41 9 3 59 2 0 2 0 4 6 5 0 .291 .323 .559


1995

Home 71 273 57 81 15 3 18 55 17 4 68 9 0 2 0 7 7 5 2 .297 .355 .571
Away 72 281 32 74 14 0 13 51 15 2 78 4 0 3 0 4 7 7 0 .263 .307 .452



1996

Home 79 320 81 115 23 1 32 103 25 3 72 11 0 4 0 8 3 9 4 .359 .419 .738
Away 80 306 38 75 16 2 15 47 15 0 85 6 0 4 0 6 3 9 4 .245 .290 .458


1997

Home 77 298 60 102 17 0 21 89 29 1 63 5 0 3 0 7 8 8 5 .342 .406 .611
Away 77 302 60 89 14 3 20 51 25 1 78 12 0 0 0 2 8 7 3 .295 .372 .560


His splits are significant, but his road stats aren't as bad as, say, Vinny Castilla's. Galarraga hit for a much higher BA at Coors than away, but his power away from Coors didn't drop off much. Only in 1996 was there a bizzare split in BA. There was big split in 1993, but even then, Galarraga still hit .328 on the road. In 5 years in Colorado, Gallaraga only hit 28 more HRs at home than on the road, and 17 of those 28 came in 1996 (100 at home, 72 on the road, 172 total as a Rockie).

Galarraga is not mentioned here because he was a guy who hung around a long time. He's a guy who got a late start; he was halfway into his age 25 season before he was a first time regular. He missed a year with cancer, and he had two mysteriously unproductive years in mid-career, just before coming to Colorado.

I don't support Galarraga for the HOF; he was unproductive at key times, but he's a "coulda been" who makes for interesting discussion. Galarraga was as good as a number of HOF first basemen at his best; he was light years ahead of George Kelly, and probably ahead of Jim Bottomley and, maybe, Frank Chance. Still, he ended up with 399 career HRs. Lopping off the 28 more HRs he hit in Coors, as opposed to on the road, that gives him .371. What would have happend, though, if Galarraga (A) didn't lose a year with cancer? Conservatively, given how he played in 1998 and 2000, we could give him those 28 HRs right back, 28 HRs being the total he hit in 2000. He may well have hit more. Then, let's say that Galarrage had normal years in 1991-92. He probably would have hit 25 HRs (net gain of 31 HRs) each of those years, given his star levels at that time; his BA would have been questionable. I believe that Galarraga had some injuries at that time, but I also remember the Expo organization being very confused in assigning roles to its players; these were the years they screwed up Tim Raines, moving him to third in the order. I think they tried to make Galarraga a different kind of hitter than he was, and it messed up his approach to the game.

Hmmm . . . Even with the breaks, Galarraga has difficulty getting past 450 HRs. We could get him up to 440 if he started from day 1 in 1986. Perhaps another 20 if he was given the job in 1985, but it's possible that he wasn't ready, and not just that the Expos were stuck with Dan Driessen, Pete Rose, and Terry Francona in 1984 and 1985. In 1983, the Expos had Al Oliver at 1B, hitting .300 with the team semi-contending, so it was unlikely that they would jettison Oliver in favor of an "unproven" commodity. Even here, we only would have Galarraga up to 470 HRs, if he were ready in 1983 (which he MIGHT have been).

For Gallaraga to have gotten to 500 HRs AND make the HOF, he would have had to (A) play his entire career in Wrigley Field, or a park like that, (B) have gotten started at age 22, (C) not have had the mid-career slump in 1991-92, and (D) not missed a year with cancer in 1999.

Had all of those things happened, Galarraga would be a candidate at the level of McGriff; maybe higher, as Galarraga is more highly thought of, defensively. He WAS a great player, at his best, but his peak was truncated, and his top years in Montreal were diminished by the park he played in. It seems like Galarraga misses being HOF caliber by a lot, but he really doesn't, and with better luck, he'd be no worse than borderline.

[cavalier1968]

I can think of 100 players better not in hall


CAv

[Fuzzy Bear]

I can think of 100 players better not in hall

I probably could as well, but Galarraga wouldn't be the worst guy there. Granted, that's not an argument for his induction, but he wouldn't be the worst guy in there.

I don't think he'll get close. He'll likely be one and done.

Here's a question: Who was better; Galarraga or Steve Garvey?

[tearforamariner]

Here's a question: Who was better; Galarraga or Steve Garvey?

Who was better: Galarraga. Who looked and felt more like a HoFer: Garvey. I wouldn't vote for either, but that's how I see it.

[tearforamariner]

3) Collected 2333 hits. I think anyone with over 2000 hits should be considered.


Do you know how many players have 2000 or more career hits?

Let's put it this way: The Big Cat isn't even in the Top 100 all-time in hits.

[AstrosFan]

245. That's how many. Galarraga ranks 118th.

[tearforamariner]

245. That's how many. Galarraga ranks 118th.

Thanks AstrosFan. I knew someone would know the exact number.

245 is an awful big number.

[AstrosFan]

Good old Sean Lahman. Always a huge help.

[Los Bravos]

Galarraga was better away from Coors than people think.Yes, he was. I would think his stellar 1998 proves that.He's a guy who got a late start; he was halfway into his age 25 season before he was a first time regular. He missed a year with cancer, and he had two mysteriously unproductive years in mid-career, just before coming to Colorado.He was about at the end of his rope until Don Baylor got him to open up his stance when Don was the Hitting coach in St. Louis. He kept that approach the rest of his career and it made a huge difference.

All of your other points are well taken and as much as I adore the man, I could only vote "borderline" and I know he's probably on the wrong side of that.

Having said that, I strongly dispute anyone's shortchanging him for his outstanding defense or thinking he was simply a Coors creation. He had several things go wrong that hurt his career totals (the late start, the mid career drought, the injuries and the serious, life threatening illness) and those all need to be taken into account.

[four tool]

If Galarraga had never played in Coors, we would not be having this discussion.

[Old Sweater]

I myself don't think he has the numbers to get in, Galarraga was liked by the media and was a ambassador to the game and his country. Two things that the BBWA tends to consider in their voting.

[nerfan]

If Galarraga had never played in Coors, we would not be having this discussion.
Galarraga was better away from Coors than people think.

Fuzzy Bear, Gallaragga's hit .333/.394/.631 at Coors and .379/.413/.638 at Mile High Stadium. Despite playing only about 5 years in Colorado, he has most of his HR there. In Montreal's Stade Olympique, a favorable park to hitters in his major years there, he hit .279/.343/.464. Respectable, but not the stuff of legends.

Put it this way. In 360 plate appearances in 1996 at Coors, he hit 32 home runs and had 103 RBI. He batted .359/.419/.738 there. Those are Bonds-like slugging numbers (though on-base not amazing). In 331 plate appearances away, he hit 15 home runs and had 47 RBI. But the big shocker is his slash stats. He batted just .245/.290/.458 away from Coors Field!

Extrapolated over 162 games, Galaragga would have had 235 hits, 47 doubles, 65 home runs, 211 RBI, 166 runs at Coors- probably one of the greatest off all hitting seasons.

Four tool, do you mean that he would be an HOF'er without coors, or do you mean he would be SO far out of the picture that we wouldn't be having this conversation?

Away over 162 games, he would have 151 hits, 31 doubles, 30 homers, 95 RBI, and 76 runs, with an OBP of, again .290.

This is simply RIDICULOUS! Galaragga hit 100 homers in Colorado, and 70 homers elsewhere during his time in Colorado.

1993- 107 hits at home/67 away (13 - 9 home runs)
1994- 71 hits at home/62 away (16 - 15 home runs)
1995- 81 hits at home/74 away (18 - 13 home runs)
1996- 115 hits at home/75 away (32 - 15 home runs)
1997- 102 hits at home/89 away (21 - 20 home runs)
Colorado Lifetime- 476 at home/367 away, 100/70 home runs

Also, he had a miserable 42 walks per 162 games, and had a 118 OPS+. Off the top of my head, I can name Chili Davis, Jim Rice, Dick Allen, Jack Clark, Will Clark, Darryl Strawberry, Pedro Guerrero, all of whom are not in the HOF. All of these players should not be in the HOF, but somehow Galaragga, aided by Coors, has a borderline chance? I don;t think so.

[mtortolero]

Was Galarraga on roids? I am from Venezuela and remember him in his early days not as with thafull of muscles body he had in the Coor´s years.

[Old Sweater]

Was Galarraga on roids?


IMO, no .

[four tool]

I meant he would not even be considered for the Hall without his Coors numbwers. No one is pushing anything he did in his non Colorado years as hall worthy.

[Old Sweater]

I meant he would not even be considered for the Hall without his Coors numbwers. No one is pushing anything he did in his non Colorado years as hall worthy.


And Mel Ott wouldn't have been considered for the HOF if it wasn't for that 257' right field fence in the Polo Grounds.

[nerfan]

And Mel Ott wouldn't have been considered for the HOF if it wasn't for that 257' right field fence in the Polo Grounds.

Mel's AIR is only 102.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I meant he would not even be considered for the Hall without his Coors numbwers. No one is pushing anything he did in his non Colorado years as hall worthy.

His 1987-88 years were HOF-caliber years with Montreal, if you factor in the park he played in. Had he played to that level every year he was in Montreal, people would not be as focused on what he did in Coors. That's now what happened, however, so . . .

[Skin & Bones]

His 1987-88 years were HOF-caliber years with Montreal, if you factor in the park he played in.

They were good, don't know about " HOF caliber " though. Guess it depends how you define " HOF caliber ". A 119 and 146 OPS+ for an above average defensive 1B...not exactly " HOF caliber " to me. I would argue that Derrek Lee has had more " HOF caliber " seasons than Andres.

[Fuzzy Bear]

They were good, don't know about " HOF caliber " though. Guess it depends how you define " HOF caliber ". A 119 and 146 OPS+ for an above average defensive 1B...not exactly " HOF caliber " to me. I would argue that Derrek Lee has had more " HOF caliber " seasons than Andres.

I give Galarraga a decent boost for those years, based on playing in Olympic Stadium, a terrible hitter's park. The Astroturf there didn't help a player like the Cat, not at all.

[Old Sweater]

Mel's AIR is only 102.


And that means?

Nevermind.

[hudsonharden]

I always saw Galaragga as a veterans committee type guy- as more Hispanics get into the Hall of Fame i think they'll give him the nod. He's worshiped in his native Venezuela.

[Los Bravos]

His 1987-88 years were HOF-caliber years with Montreal, if you factor in the park he played in.His time in Atlanta, where his home park was the pitcher friendly Turner Field, was similarly stellar, especially '98.

Along with Mel Ott, Chuck Klein needs to be mentioned as a park-aided hitter.

I really wish some of you guys would maybe back it up a notch. A simple "No, I don't really think so, and here's why" would cover it nicely. No need to be overtly insulting.

[four tool]

His 1987-88 years were HOF-caliber years with Montreal, if you factor in the park he played in. Had he played to that level every year he was in Montreal, people would not be as focused on what he did in Coors. That's now what happened, however, so . . .

Two years plus 5 at Coors equals a hall of fame career? Not IMHO.

Even with those so called HOF caliber years outside of Coors, he gets exactly 3 OPS+ in black or gray ink--for his career!

[four tool]

I just checked equivalent average, translated stats and the 750 run neutralized stats, none of them show him as having the numbers of a hall of famer. For instance, he doesn't to 500 HR or a .300 BA on any of them.

[nerfan]

And that means?

Nevermind.

AIR - I call this AIR because it is how pumped up a player's stats are by the park and leagues they played in. I looked at the median league OBP and SLG from 1901 to the present and it historically is around .335 for league OBP and .400 for league slugging. Not quite, but those are the closest round numbers. Next I take, 100*((park-adjusted Lg OBP/ .335) + (park-adjusted Lg SLG /.400) - 1) to come up with the player's AIR factor. 100 means they hit in historically average settings. Over 100 means higher offensive environment than usual. Under 100 means lower offensive environment than usual.

Taken straight from my favorite site, Baseball-reference.com

[Old Sweater]

AIR - I call this AIR because it is how pumped up a player's stats are by the park and leagues they played in. I looked at the median league OBP and SLG from 1901 to the present and it historically is around .335 for league OBP and .400 for league slugging. Not quite, but those are the closest round numbers. Next I take, 100*((park-adjusted Lg OBP/ .335) + (park-adjusted Lg SLG /.400) - 1) to come up with the player's AIR factor. 100 means they hit in historically average settings. Over 100 means higher offensive environment than usual. Under 100 means lower offensive environment than usual.

Taken straight from my favorite site, Baseball-reference.com


Lot of bookwork for 257' fence at the Polo Grounds just to figure that Mel Ott's AIR was 102.

[nerfan]

I didn't do it, BR did. I would never do it, I'm WAY too lazy! ;)

[The Kid]

I think Jim pretty much crushed this Galaragga argument.

[Philly-brownsfan]

My vote (probably in a distinct minority) is that - Yes- Andres Galaragga should be both in the Baseball Fever Hall Of Fame - NOW -and in that little obscure one in Cooperstown, NY when he becomes eligible in 2010. He did strike out too much, but his other numbers, 399 homers, 2,300 hits, a .288 career average, and a ton of RBI are Hall-worthy... and then there was his health - not just injuries that threaten a pro athletes career, but the fact that Galaragga triumphed over life-threatening illnesses.
Galaragga came back from cancer twice. Any discussion of his career must take that into account. He was a courageous man and his career numbers could have been significantly better if he'd been healthy those two seasons.
When he got sick the second time, he declared himself ready to play by Memorial Day, 2004. At the time he had 398 career home runs. I have to blame the Angels front office for not bringing him up from AAA, where he dominated, sooner and manager Mike Scioscisa for not playing him more once he was up for him not reaching 400 home runs. Also in Spring Training with the Mets in 2005, Andres had an ally in GM, Omar Minaya, but new manager Willie Randolph was no friend of his. Now needing just one homer for 400, Randolph didn't want A.G. on his team and so he was one of the last cuts. They could have chosen to carry him on the 25 -man roster until he got his milestone 400th HR - (As a Phillies fan, I always envisioned him getting #400 at our little bandbox, Citizens Bank Park, probably off a lefty, like Randy Wolf, when the Mets were scheduled to play the Phillies at the start of the third week of that season.) - Instead Randolph insisted that A.G. be cut and forced into retirement. As a result, some obscure career backup got the last spot on the roster, although the Mets could have easily carried Andres for the first few weeks of the season until A.G. got his big homer, and then quietly released him shortly afterwards.
I bring this up because as far as Hall Of Fame credentials go, finishing a career
with an even 400 home runs, for some reason, strikes the ear and seems at least five times better than finishing your career with 399.
Dennis Orlandini (Philly-brownsfan).

[Fuzzy Bear]

His time in Atlanta, where his home park was the pitcher friendly Turner Field, was similarly stellar, especially '98.


His 1998 season was his best; it also was a season that caused people to take Andres a little more seriously than just another Coors Field inflation case.

[jalbright]

My vote (probably in a distinct minority) is that - Yes- Andres Galaragga should be both in the Baseball Fever Hall Of Fame - NOW -and in that little obscure one in Cooperstown, NY when he becomes eligible in 2010. He did strike out too much, but his other numbers, 399 homers, 2,300 hits, a .288 career average, and a ton of RBI are Hall-worthy... and then there was his health - not just injuries that threaten a pro athletes career, but the fact that Galaragga triumphed over life-threatening illnesses.
Galaragga came back from cancer twice. Any discussion of his career must take that into account. He was a courageous man and his career numbers could have been significantly better if he'd been healthy those two seasons.

Dennis Orlandini (Philly-brownsfan).
My problem with giving him a break for his health is baseball is loaded with pitchers with sore arms plus the Ross Youngs/ Lou Gehrig/ George Sisler/ Andres Galarraga type issues. Really, to give players credit for time not played in the majors they have to have been excluded (the Negro leaguers, and, more controversially, pre 2000 Japanese players) or those in military service get a break, IMO. Otherwise, you get into way too many could have would have should have discussions for things that relate to the player or their health. I just don't want to go there, and if it's tough on the Galarragas of this world, so be it.

Jim Albright

[Los Bravos]

His 1998 season was his best; it also was a season that caused people to take Andres a little more seriously than just another Coors Field inflation case.People including me :waving

I had been skeptical, but the immediate impact he had in Atlanta, in the box, around the bag at First and (most importantly) in the clubhouse, made me an admirer for good. It still saddens and sickens me that El Gato and Smoltz only played one season together.

[Rose4theHall]

You seem to not be able to grasp what deserves to be in the HOF, let me show you why the Big Cat, while being a "good" player, is 100% undeserving of the HOF, which should only be "great" players:

1) He did have some longevity in him, but that means nothing. So why bring it up?

2) A .991 FP% First Base is known as having the least significance outside of pitcher when it comes to defense. It could be 1.000 and that still wouldnt really warrant HOF conversation.

3) Collected 2333 hits. I think anyone with over 2000 hits should be considered. This really irks me. The Hall Of Fame should be only the very best, and thats why 3000 hits the mark for greatness. If a player got 2000 hits in less than 11 seasons then thats good enough but do you really want Harold Baines in? Guys who play for 20+ seasons and dont have 3000 hits arent great players, they might be good, but the hall should be for great players only.

4) Had an amazing peak from 94 through 98. He wasnt very good in 1995, his OPS+ was (terrible for a 1B) 97. Plus his peak years were in the rarified air or Denver, which automatically discounts him, and probably Larry Walker and Todd Helton too. Sorry, its just how it is.

5) 1425 Runs driven in. 57th all time. Pretty good but Joe Carter, Dave Parker, Andre Dawson and Jim Rice have more and they arent getting in.

6) .288 batting average. Very good. No, its actually not "very good". Hitting over .300 is "very good". .288 is "good". Todd Helton, who I mentioned earlier, sports a .332 lifetime avg and probably wont make the HOF unless he gets the "automatic" milestones of 3000 hits, 600 HR etc, which IMO he wont.

7) .499 Slugging percentage Geoff Jenkins has that too.

8) OBP of .347 thats not even close being "very good". In fact its almost mediocre for a 1B

Stellar offensive and defensive numbers. I say yes.

They are OK, not stellar. Lets not forget that if the Rockies dont pick him off the scrapheap in 93 then his career is basically over. He deserves some kudos for reviving his career in Denver but thats not even close to a HOF-mention. If Andres goes in, then you would have to put in about 40 others who have better reasoning to go in. Sorry but the Big Cat is almost a perfect example of a "good ballplayer" but definitely isnt a "great".

[west coast orange and black]

i have enjoyed reading about andres...
but, it's "galarraga".

two things that i will not ever forget:
he played that final season with the giants knowing that his cancer had reocuured, but he did not make the news public until afew months after the season ended;
he swiped second after a walking lead to put himself in scoring position in a tight game late that season. it was a pure pro move. it was a beautiful baseball moment.

and, yeah, hudsonharden's got it right:
galarraga could run for office and get elected in his native venezuela.

[philliesfiend55]

To Philly-brownsfan:
Your posting on Andres Galaraaga's place in baseball history, particularly the latter part of his career when he struggled successfully to beat cancer and struggled unsuccessfully to reach 400 home runs was definitive! Well done!!

[Brad Harris]

I think yes. For many reasons.

And I say no, for many reasons.

1) He did have some longevity in him, but that means nothing.

So why use it as an excuse? :laugh

2) A .991 FP%

Also means nothing as this is the worst statistic by which to judge fielding percentage. To boot, Galarraga played the easiest position on the field.

3) Collected 2333 hits. I think anyone with over 2000 hits should be considered.

Considered isn't the same as "yes" or "borderline." I'm opposed to hard numbers being used for consideration per se, though it's not a bad way for the Screening Committee to begin their search. No opposition to Galarraga making the ballot, just adamantly opposed to his staying on it after the first year.

4) Had an amazing peak from 94 through 98.

Hardly. His best 5 consecutive seasons were actually 1986-1990, which include his best single season (1988). Galarraga's best seasons not only pale in comparison to Hall of Fame first basemen, but to practically all his contemporaries. He had a few good years, but nothing that remotely says "Hall of Fame."

5) 1425 Runs driven in.

A first baseman who averaged 71 RBI per season? Gosh...we need to get a petition going to rectify this injustice.

6) .288 batting average. Very good.

Well it's not the Mendoza line, but during the years Galarraga played (1985-2004), at least 67 other full-time players had a higher batting average throughout that same time. Galarraga's .288 BA was only 5% better than the league average during his career. That's not bad, but it's not anywhere close to what you'd expect from a Hall-of-Famer.

7) .499 Slugging percentage

A sub-.500 slugging percentage for a first baseman in the 1990s? That's just criminally underwhelming.

8) OBP of 347

Completely a product of high batting averages as Galarraga played 20 seasons and drew more as many as 50 walks in a given year just twice.

Stellar offensive and defensive numbers.

I suggest you read more than Galarraga's bubble gum card backs if that's what you think.

I say yes.

Dante Bichette, Jose Canseco and Brady Anderson will be expecting your call next. Say 'hello' for the rest of us.

[Brad Harris]

For purposes of illustration, here are Galarraga's career BA/OBP/SLG/OPS lines for his games in Colorado and his games everywhere else:

@ COL: .348/.400/.633
@ Others: .275/.336/.470

That doesn't just include his "home" games there. That includes all Galarraga's games in either Mile High Stadium or Coors Field vs. all his games everywhere else.

Without playing in Denver, Galarraga would be no more remembered than Wally Joyner.

[redban]

I say no on Galarraga. He had some excellent seasons, but his career totals don't merit a Hall of Fame induction. It's more glaring when you compare him to other first baseman of his day too. No MVP awards (or even a top 5 finish) doesn't help his cause.
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[mtortolero]

How many others players in baseball history had that huge increase in carrer HR/AB, gone from 1 Hr by each 31 AB to 1 Hr by each 13 AB just after being 32 years old and keep it by five years, when is suppose that power number should dissapear?

[jalbright]

How many others players in baseball history had that huge increase in carrer HR/AB, gone from 1 Hr by each 31 AB to 1 Hr by each 13 AB just after being 32 years old and keep it by five years, when is suppose that power number should dissapear?

About as many as had the good fortune to move to a city with a launching pad for a home ballpark at that age, like Galarraga.

[joshfan]

Outstanding batsman, fine fielder and had solid seasons post cancer
No hitter ,outside of Ritchie Allen, put a bigger dent in the baseball

[JDD]

If he hit in his twenties like he hit in his thirties, well....

His is an interesting case. He was a mess in Saint Louis, and went looking for a home. He found the right one and the numbers show it. He was on the verge of being out of baseball, but then hits .370 his first year in Coors.

I just can't vote for a guy who led the league in strikeouts during what should have been his peak seasons (ages 27-29), and his best season were right after the strike when most fans know the ball was just not the same when the players came back in 1995.

He had a lot of value, but his career was not among the best to play the game, if that is current standard of the Hall of Fame.

[Ace Venom]

About as many as had the good fortune to move to a city with a launching pad for a home ballpark at that age, like Galarraga.

This is also going to cause problems for Yankees players when it comes to their new stadium. Home runs are already flying out of that place. I'm sure Donny Baseball would have had a good time playing in that band box. Galarraga was a borderline candidate for me in the first place, but there are far too many good candidates and better first basemen still waiting for the call that haven't gotten that call. I say no to Galarraga. It's going to take a special sort of offensive player to go into Cooperstown with a Colorado Rockies cap. My money is on Larry Walker eventually getting the call.

[Los Bravos]

He was a mess in Saint Louis, and went looking for a home. He found the right one and the numbers show it. He was on the verge of being out of baseball, but then hits .370 his first year in Coors.Again, I point out that Don Baylor was his hitting coach in '92 in St. Louis and began altering his stance, widening it so he could see the ball with both eyes. He had a productive spring that year but was hit on the wrist very early in the season and missed signifigant time. If you look at his splits, he came on strong in the second half of that season, from July onward.

It's my contention that he would have made a dramatic improvement if Baylor had gotten the Marlins managerial job (or any other available one) and signed him to play there, while continuing to work on his stance with him. Clearly, most of these other places wouldn't have resulted in that exact level of improvement, but he was solidly on the way back from the douldrums his career had fallen into after 1988.