Just How Good is Jim Thome?

Jim Thome recently passed Mark McGwire for the #9 spot on the all-time home run list with 584 round trippers.  So, an obvious question arises: Just how good is Jim Thome?  Or, better yet, does his career really reflect Hall of Fame numbers? The answer is Yes.  At the end of the 2009 season, Jim […]

Just How Good were Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens?

Here is the short answer.  According to the numbers alone, Barry Bonds had the #2 best career of any position player of the modern era (behind only Babe Ruth) and Roger Clemens is the greatest right-handed pitcher of the period (since 1920).  And yet neither of these great players may make it into the Hall […]

Just How Good is Pedro Martinez?

It does appear at this point that Pedro Martinez is probably retired so this may be a good time to ask: Just how good was Pedro and does he have the numbers to justify induction into the Hall of Fame? Of course, this question is related to the broader question of whether there is an […]

Just How Good is Mariano Rivera?

“Mariano Rivera is the best reliever in baseball history.”  If I were to make such a claim, there would surely be some fans who would agree with me and many who would not.  And, of course, all would want to know on what basis I made such a claim. Bill James’ Win Shares system is […]

Just How Good is Chipper Jones?

As Chipper Jones seems to be heading towards retirement at the end of the 2010 season, it would appear to be a good point at which to ask – Just how good a career has he had?  After all, he has played seventeen seasons for the same team (the Atlanta Braves) and was an All-Star […]

The 21st Century Hall of Famers

Here is an interesting question.  How many of the “great baseball players” of modern times have fans of the game been able to see during the 21st century (since 2001)?  Let’s first take a look at this question for position players and then for pitchers. The Position Players At the end of the 2009 season, […]

Just How Good is Albert Pujols?

Would you believe that Albert Pujols is already one of the top twenty position players of the modern era (since 1920)?  In addition to that, he is the third best first baseman of the period – behind only Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx.  These are conclusions drawn from the CAWS Career Gauge. Bill James’ Win […]

Just How Good is Derek Jeter?

Here is the short answer.  At the end of the 2009 season, Derek Jeter moved into 6th place among the best shortstops of the modern era (since 1920).  For more details, keep reading. Bill James’ Win Shares system is the most comprehensive tool available to understand how good a season a player had.  It includes […]

The 2010 HOF Ballot – The Case for Tim Raines

Tim Raines appears on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot for the third time this year.  In 2008, he got 132 votes or 24.3% of the votes.  In 2009, his vote total fell to 122 or 22.6% of the vote.  This would apparently indicate that he does not have a good chance of being elected […]

The 2010 HOF Ballot – The Case for Barry Larkin

Barry Larkin appears on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. Given his career achievements, he certainly has the credentials to be inducted into the Hall.

The 2010 HOF Ballot – The Case for Roberto Alomar

Roberto Alomar appears on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. Given his career achievements, he has the credentials to be a first round pick for the Hall.

The 2010 HOF Ballot – How Many REAL Hall of Famers?

The BBWAA 2010 Hall of Fame Ballot contains the names of twenty-six players that the baseball writers may vote for if they feel they belong in the Hall of Fame. Of the twenty-six players, nineteen are position players and seven are pitchers.

John Smoltz and the Hall of Fame

As John Smoltz nears the end of his career, a number of people are raising the question as to whether he has the credentials for election to the Hall of Fame.

Manny and the Hall of Fame

Manny Ramirez has now joined those other superstars who have been tainted by the “steroids scandal.” And the obvious question in some peoples’ minds is what effect will this have on his chances for induction into the Hall of Fame.

Dick Allen and Fred McGriff and Core Value

In creating the CAWS Career Gauge, I have defined a player’s Core Value (CV) to be the sum of a player’s win shares for his ten best seasons. This concept is at the heart of the Gauge. But why is a player’s CV important in determining whether he has HOF numbers?

Core Value and the Hall of Fame

It is common knowledge that the Hall of Fame requires ten years of service at the major league level to be considered for induction. But I have always felt that the 10-year requirement was meant to imply more than that.

HALL OF FAME HANDBOOK available for FREE

I have put together a document entitled A HALL OF FAME HANDBOOK: Who Belongs and Who Does Not. This is a 100-page MS WORD monograph which contains an explanation of the CAWS Career Gauge (Career Assessment/Win Shares) as well as a number of articles that have appeared on this site.

2013 Hall of Fame Ballot

In a post to SABR-L, Bill Gilbert wrote that in 2013 the following players will appear on the BBWAA ballot for the first time: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa and Curt Schilling. The implication is, of course, that this is a very strong group – and indeed it is.

Steroids and the Hall of Fame – Part 3

The Psychology of Voting In the previous two articles, I have stated that given the evidence supplied by Mark McGwire’s first three years of eligibility for the Hall of Fame, I do not believe that the BBWAA writers will ever elect him to the Hall.

Steroids and the Hall of Fame – Part 2

Bonds, Clemens and ARod will Never be Elected to the Hall of Fame In the case of Mark McGwire, the writers who determine who is elected to the Hall of Fame have so far sent a very clear message – If we think you did steroids, you will not get into the Hall of Fame. […]

Steroids and the Hall of Fame – Part 1

Mark McGwire – First Batter Up In 1998, Mark McGwire was the toast of baseball – perhaps the most popular baseball player since 1970. His pursuit of the season home-run crown and his battle with Sammy Sosa for the same was the feel-good story of the year. Together, they were credited with helping baseball recover […]

Jim Bunning and the Hall of Fame

Recently on SABR-L there was a discussion regarding Jim Bunning’s credentials for the Hall of Fame. It seems that at least one SABR member felt that if Bunning had not been elected to Congress, then he would not have been elected to the Hall. There followed a number of notes from different members saying why […]

Mike Mussina in the Hall of Fame?

Mike Mussina retired recently after his first 20-win season in 2008 and a number of pundits began to ask the question: Does he belong in the Hall of Fame?

Hall of Fame Credentials: Jim Rice and Tim Raines

In the 2008 BBWAA balloting for the Hall of Fame, Jim Rice received 72.2% of the vote. It seems that he may be poised to be elected this year – in his 15th year on the ballot. 2008 was Tim Raines first year on the ballot and he received 24.3% of the vote.

Recent Players among the Top 25 – Infielders and Catchers

Here is an interesting question. According to the CAWS Career Gauge, how many of the top 25 players at each position in the 20th century were still playing in the 21st century (2001 or later)? Let’s take a look.

Recent Players Among the Top 25 – the Outfielders

Here is an interesting question. According to the CAWS Career Gauge, how many of the top 25 players at each position in the 20th century were still playing in the 21st century (2001 or later)? Let’s take a look.

Sammy Sosa – Odd Man Out

There has been a “rule of thumb” in baseball for quite some time that any player who accumulates 3000 hits in his career will be elected to the Hall of Fame. Likewise, it has been said that any player who hits 500 home runs is virtually guaranteed induction into the Hall as well. But is […]

Pedro Martinez – Hall of Fame Numbers?

Does Pedro Martinez have Hall of Fame numbers? Many fans would argue this question in different ways. That is, they would use different numbers and different metrics to make their case, either pro or con.

Blacks in Baseball – A Question of Quality, not Quantity

On October 10, 2008, Carl Bialik wrote an article in the WALL STREET JOURNAL entitled Out of Left Field: The Errors In Counting Black Ballplayers. Here are four excerpts from the article that reflect its message.

The 25 Catchers With the Best Careers

Here are the 25 catchers who had the best careers during the 20th century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).

The 25 Shortstops With the Best Careers

Here are the 25 shortstops who had the best careers during the 20th century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).

The 25 Third Basemen With the Best Careers

Here are the 25 third basemen who had the best careers during the 20th century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).

The Veterans Committee Nominees: “After-1942 Election”

The Hall of Fame has announced the candidates for the Veterans Committee’s “After-1942 election.”   Here is part of the press release.

The 25 Second Basemen With the Best Careers

Here are the 25 second basemen who had the best careers during the 20th century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).

The 25 First Basemen With the Best Careers

Here are the 25 first basemen who had the best careers during the 20th century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).

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