19. Craig Biggio
He has more than 2,700 hits and should reach 3,000, but he doesn't have to get to that magic number. This guy has done everything on the field: hit for average (four times over .300), hit for power (six times with 20-plus homers, twice with 50-plus doubles), steal bases (as many as 50 in one season), draw walks (.400 on-base percentage four times), score runs, win Gold Gloves, change positions, hustle (one year he grounded into zero double plays while playing every game), stay healthy
well, everything except clean his helmet.
20. Jeff Bagwell
The inside of Bagwell's shoulder is a bigger mess than a postgame spread under attack from David Wells and David Ortiz. It's even possible his career might be over. I fear the nonthinking man's response will be: "Bagwell didn't hit 500 home runs, he played in the Steroid Era, he choked in the playoffs and he had that crazy batting stance, so I'm not voting for him."
Let's do a quick comparison of Bagwell to the post-World War II first basemen who have made the Hall, along with one who will:
BAGWELL VS. THE WORLD
Player H R HR RBI AVG OBP SLG SB OPS OPS+
Bagwell 2311 1517 449 1525 .297 .408 .541 202 .949 150
McGwire 1626 1167 583 1414 .263 .394 .588 12 .982 163
Murray 3255 1627 504 1917 .287 .359 .476 110 .836 129
Perez 2732 1272 379 1652 .279 .341 .463 49 .804 122
Stargell 2232 1195 475 1540 .282 .360 .529 17 .889 147
McCovey 2211 1229 521 1555 .270 .374 .515 26 .889 148
Killebrew 2086 1283 573 1584 .256 .376 .509 19 .884 143
Cepeda 2351 1131 379 1365 .297 .350 .499 142 .849 133
Bagwell is the best player of the bunch. Only McGwire tops him in adjusted OPS; only Murray can come close as a fielder; and none is in the same league as Bagwell as a base runner. Bagwell's 152 runs scored in 2000 ranks as the most in one season since 1950. He was such an alert, aggressive runner, he once led the majors in frequency of going from first to third on singles. He put up monster numbers despite spending most of his career in the Astrodome. Add it all up, and the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia ranks him as the 21st best player (not including pitchers) of all time, entering the 2005 season.
Now, that's my case for Bagwell's enshrinement
I think I've persuaded the jury.