Should Albert Belle be in the MLB Hall of Fame?

[Mr. Friscus]

I agree about Rose, but with Albert Belle I think he is a marginal pick at best for the HOF for the following reasons. He had some great years for sure but his post season numbers were mediocre batting .230 well under his career batting average. In his only world series he also hit .230 and the Indians lost. He was also a nut job and team chemistry is a big part of baseball.

I think baseball is different than football/basketball, in that you can't always skewer a star player for their team not succeeding in the playoffs.

Now, the numbers for the Belle himself in the playoffs are certainly a blemish, but there have been many stud HOF'ers who never did much in the postseason.
- Barry bonds never won a championship, hit .203 in 4 NL Championship series
- Willie Mays made it to the playoffs 5 times and only hit 1 HR and 6 extra base hits in 99 plate appearances. He hit .182 in the world series agains the yankees.
- Mark McGwire had a good 1989 ALCS, but then hit .189 over his next 7 playoff series.

Other noteable players who struggled in the playoffs were Jackie Robinson, A-Rod, Jeff Bagwell, Jim Thome, Tom Glavine, Clayton Kershaw, Dwight Gooden, Mike Schmidt, etc.

 

[tahuyaman]

I could see him getting in eventually. But because he was less than an inspiring teammate and his mediocre post season numbers make him questionable IMO.

I think he was a good teammate. He just didn’t like sports writers.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

I think he was a good teammate. He just didn’t like sports writers.

and that's the thing that shouldn't matter when dictating who was great and who was not.

If there's a list of entities I cannot stand in sports.. its...
1. MLB HOF voters
2. NCAA football rankers

 

[Devils_Advocate]

what one did on the field is mostly what should matter....so the guy was asshole,so was ty cobb and cap anson....

And Babe Ruth.

 

[Devils_Advocate]

His numbers are not good enough for the Hall but he was a great player the years he played.

 

[Harry Dresden]

And Babe Ruth.

babe ruth spent a lot of time at the orphanages with the kids.....maybe he didnt care for the sports writers....

 

[Mr. Friscus]

His numbers are not good enough for the Hall but he was a great player the years he played.

Belle, for his career, hit .295, hit 381 home runs, 1239 RBI, 1726 hits, 974 runs, walked 683 times, struck out 991 times, had a career .369 on-base percentage, and a slugging percentage of .564

His average 162 game season average looks like this: 295, 40 homers, 130 RBI, 72 walks, 101 strikeouts, 103 runs, 41 doubles, and nine stolen bases.

Here's a look at all the accomplishments that Belle had:
- Silver Slugger Team...1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
- All Star...1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- Participated in Home Run Derby...1993 (6th place), 1994 (7th place), 1995 (2nd place)
- AL RBI leader....1993, 1995 (tie), 1996
- AL Home Run leader...1995
- AL Slugging Percentage leader...1995, 1998
- AL Doubles leader...1995
- AL Runs leader....1995
- AL Outfield Assist leader (RF)...1999 (tie)
- First player to ever hit 50 HR and 50 Doubles...1995
- The Sporting News Player of the Year...1995
- Baseball Digest Player of the Year...1995
- Cleveland's nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award...1993, 1994
- Hit 15 home runs at Oriole Park in his career prior to becoming an Oriole, which is the most by any opponent
- Led Major Leagues in the 1990s with 1,099 RBI
- Led Major Leagues in Extra Base Hits in the 1990s with 711
- One of 5 players to have led the AL in home runs, runs and slugging percentage. Others are: Mickey Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez
- Holds various batting records for the White Sox
- Inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2005


He was so exceptional, for even a shorter period of time, that he should be in the HOF. He was an absolute beast, and only the petty sports writers kept him out because he didn't sent them Christmas cards.

 

[Devils_Advocate]

Belle, for his career, hit .295, hit 381 home runs, 1239 RBI, 1726 hits, 974 runs, walked 683 times, struck out 991 times, had a career .369 on-base percentage, and a slugging percentage of .564

His average 162 game season average looks like this: 295, 40 homers, 130 RBI, 72 walks, 101 strikeouts, 103 runs, 41 doubles, and nine stolen bases.

Here's a look at all the accomplishments that Belle had:
- Silver Slugger Team...1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
- All Star...1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- Participated in Home Run Derby...1993 (6th place), 1994 (7th place), 1995 (2nd place)
- AL RBI leader....1993, 1995 (tie), 1996
- AL Home Run leader...1995
- AL Slugging Percentage leader...1995, 1998
- AL Doubles leader...1995
- AL Runs leader....1995
- AL Outfield Assist leader (RF)...1999 (tie)
- First player to ever hit 50 HR and 50 Doubles...1995
- The Sporting News Player of the Year...1995
- Baseball Digest Player of the Year...1995
- Cleveland's nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award...1993, 1994
- Hit 15 home runs at Oriole Park in his career prior to becoming an Oriole, which is the most by any opponent
- Led Major Leagues in the 1990s with 1,099 RBI
- Led Major Leagues in Extra Base Hits in the 1990s with 711
- One of 5 players to have led the AL in home runs, runs and slugging percentage. Others are: Mickey Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez
- Holds various batting records for the White Sox
- Inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2005


He was so exceptional, for even a shorter period of time, that he should be in the HOF. He was an absolute beast, and only the petty sports writers kept him out because he didn't sent them Christmas cards.

That is how it works and truthfully I would have not voted him in either but not because of his attitude but because he lacked the numbers for milestones.

He most likely will get in when the Committee votes him in after he has passed away but not until then.

Did you know Mark Grace had the most hits in the 1990’s and was exceptional First Baseman but he ain’t getting in until after his death.

Look, I understand we like our favorite player to get in but Belle isn’t getting in while we are alive.

 

[MarathonMike]

Belle, for his career, hit .295, hit 381 home runs, 1239 RBI, 1726 hits, 974 runs, walked 683 times, struck out 991 times, had a career .369 on-base percentage, and a slugging percentage of .564

His average 162 game season average looks like this: 295, 40 homers, 130 RBI, 72 walks, 101 strikeouts, 103 runs, 41 doubles, and nine stolen bases.

Here's a look at all the accomplishments that Belle had:
- Silver Slugger Team...1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
- All Star...1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- Participated in Home Run Derby...1993 (6th place), 1994 (7th place), 1995 (2nd place)
- AL RBI leader....1993, 1995 (tie), 1996
- AL Home Run leader...1995
- AL Slugging Percentage leader...1995, 1998
- AL Doubles leader...1995
- AL Runs leader....1995
- AL Outfield Assist leader (RF)...1999 (tie)
- First player to ever hit 50 HR and 50 Doubles...1995
- The Sporting News Player of the Year...1995
- Baseball Digest Player of the Year...1995
- Cleveland's nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award...1993, 1994
- Hit 15 home runs at Oriole Park in his career prior to becoming an Oriole, which is the most by any opponent
- Led Major Leagues in the 1990s with 1,099 RBI
- Led Major Leagues in Extra Base Hits in the 1990s with 711
- One of 5 players to have led the AL in home runs, runs and slugging percentage. Others are: Mickey Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez
- Holds various batting records for the White Sox
- Inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2005


He was so exceptional, for even a shorter period of time, that he should be in the HOF. He was an absolute beast, and only the petty sports writers kept him out because he didn't sent them Christmas cards.

For the years he played Belle put up great HOF worthy numbers. But IMO with his injury shortened career and his poor post season career stats, he is the classic "bubble" guy for the HOF. And Yes Ty Cobb makes Albert Belle look like Albert Schweitzer.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Look, I understand we like our favorite player to get in but Belle isn’t getting in while we are alive.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just pointing the problem with that... the fact that sports writers get their widdle feewings hurt and keep people from achievements.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

For the years he played Belle put up great HOF worthy numbers. But IMO with his injury shortened career and his poor post season career stats, he is the classic "bubble" guy for the HOF. And Yes Ty Cobb makes Albert Belle look like Albert Schweitzer.

The quality vs. longetivity argument is always up for debate when evaluating players, but I think an important question to ask for any HOF candidate is, "Were you ever the best at your position"...

Albert Belle was the most feared hitter in baseball for a 2-3 years absolutely, and a threat for 10 years. Even legendary players can't always say that.