MLB inducted two new members into the Hall of Fame this week: a pair of legendary center fielders, Andruw Jones and Carlos Beltran. Surprisingly, Beltran and Jones join Ken Griffey Jr. and Kirby Puckett as the only center fielders to make the Hall since 1981.
It’s hard to believe that so few members of the hall in recent years have come from one of the game’s premier positions, but it’s possible Beltran and Jones can pave the way for more in the future. Among those center fielders who haven’t quite been able to get there is one Guardians legend who has re-emerged as one of the biggest snubs in recent memory.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently wrote an article about the 30 biggest current HOF snubs. At No. 3 on the list was Guardians legend Kenny Lofton, who fell off the ballot after one year in 2013 when he received just 3.2 percent of the votes.
“One of the best leadoff hitters in MLB history, hitting .299/.372/.423 for a 107 OPS+ with 2,428 hits, 1,528 runs scored and 622 steals. His 68.4 WAR ranks ninth all-time among center fielders, behind six Hall of Famers, Mike Trout and Carlos Beltran. Played in the postseason 11 times in his 17-year career. One of the most egregious one-and-done cases ever by the BBWAA,” Reuter wrote.
This decision by the voters has aged poorly, as Lofton’s numbers have put him in rarified air with many of his peers, all of whom are now in Cooperstown. He was one of the most consistent and dangerous leadoff hitters of all-time and has six All-Star selections and four Gold Gloves on his resume, the latter of which would likely have been much higher if his career didn’t overlap with Jones, Griffey, and so many other outstanding center fielders during his time.
Jones getting in with fewer than 2,000 hits was unprecedented, and that’s not to say that he didn’t deserve it, but it makes you wonder if this is a sign that the voters will start prioritizing peaks over longevity. Lofton checked both boxes and had over 2,400 hits, and with each passing year, it looks more unbelievable that he never even got close to Cooperstown. There’s unfortunately nothing that can be done about this, and it’s a shame the voters missed the mark so badly on this front.
Lofton is one of the best to ever do it and should be remembered as such.
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