Jeff Heath

[Cowtipper]

Jeff Heath played from 1936 to 1949, hitting .293 with 194 home runs, 887 RBI and 102 triples. His career OPS+ of 139 is 78th all-time. He hit over 20 home runs four times, and he had 18 or more triples twice. In fact, he led the league in triples in 1938 and 1941.

An All-Star twice, Heath wasn't often a league leader, but he did appear on the leader boards quite often. For example, he was on the slugging %, HR and EXBH leader boards six times.

Statistically, Heath is similar to one Hall of Famer (according to Baseball Reference): Chick Hafey. The other players he is similar to are Ken Williams, Mike Sweeney, Wally Berger, Jackie Jensen, Tommy Henrich, Pedro Guerrero, Brian Jordan, Raul Ibanez and Rondell White.

The Baseball Page ranks him as the 39th best left fielder of all time.

Should Jeff Heath be in the Hall of Fame?

[jjpm74]

When Dolph Camilli becomes the new Ron Santo of hall of fame cases, I might start thinking about Heath. Until then, his HOF chances are about as good and valid as Ray Knight if he were a better hitter.

[Paul Wendt]

Jeff Heath is Mike Donlin with a medium-length career, 5500 PA rather than 4200 PA.

His claim to fame in Bill James's book, and grounds for boycott in my book (not drafting him in the Suburbs of Cooperstown project here this winter):
Jeff Heath's aggressive hostility to Willard Brown, a Negro Leagues slugger responsible for integrating the St Louis Browns.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Jeff Heath is Mike Donlin with a medium-length career, 5500 PA rather than 4200 PA.

His claim to fame in Bill James's book, and grounds for boycott in my book (not drafting him in the Suburbs of Cooperstown project here this winter):
Jeff Heath's aggressive hostility to Willard Brown, a Negro Leagues slugger responsible for integrating the St Louis Browns.

And Brown did make the HOF, albeit via the same special election that elected Effa Manley and Andy Cooper and ignored Buck O'Neil, Minnie Minoso and Grant Johnson.

[Paul Wendt]

And Brown did make the HOF, albeit via the same special election that elected Effa Manley and Andy Cooper and ignored Buck O'Neil, Minnie Minoso and Grant Johnson.

That's true.
I'll bet Jeff Heat never guessed that putting him or keeping him out of the Hall of Fame might be an issue.