Prospects for Future Phillies Hall of Famers

Another Hall of Fame voting season has passed. Three players were elected by the BBWAA this year: Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Pudge Rodriguez. For a Phillies fan, it is interesting to note that a number of players from the dominant turn of the century teams, including the 2007 World Championship, are becoming eligible. This year, Pat Burrell and Matt Stairs were both on the ballot. But neither received a vote.  In the next three years, however, a number of Phillies players who deserve serious consideration will become eligible. It is possible that a few players who donned the red pinstripes may find themselves in Cooperstown soon. 

Next year, two former Phillies, Jim Thome and Scott Rolen, will become eligible. Those, of course, spent most of his career with Cleveland. However, as indicated by his enshrinement in the Phillies Wall of Fame, he was a fan favorite in his time in Philadelphia. 

Over the course of his twenty-two year career, Thome hit 612 home runs, knocked in 1,699 runs, batted .276 and posted an OPS of .956. Thome seems to be a prime candidate for first year induction. 

Rollen was not a part of the 2007 Championship team. He did spend his first six seasons with the Phillies, and ended his seventeen career with a .281 batting average. He hit 316 career home runs and batted in 1,287 runs. His career numbers are impressive. But whether he is inducted into the Hall is questionable. 

For the 2019 class, two pitchers from the famed "Four Aces" of 2010 will become eligible: Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt. Halladay will forever be remembered for pitching a perfect game and a play-off no-hitter in the same year. Over the course of his career, Halladay won 203 games, posted a 3.38 ERA, while striking out 2,117.  Although Halladay was certainly a fan favorite and a quality pitcher, his case for induction seems somewhat weak. 

Similarly, Oswalt was a quality pitcher, winning 163 with a 3.36 ERA in thirteen years. But the case for his induction seems weak. 

The class of 2020 sees Cliff Lee and Bobby Abreu becoming eligible. Lee enshrined his way into the hearts of Phil illies fans when he turned down more money as a free agent to return to Philadelphia in 2009. He was a dominant left-handed pitcher when he was healthy. Over the course of his career, he racked up 143 wins compared to 91 losses and posted a 3.52 ERA. Like Oswalt, it would appear that Lee's candidacy for induction is a challenge. 

Abreu spent nine seasons with the Phillies in his eighteen year career. He batted .291 with 288 home runs,1,363 RBIs and 1,453 runs. His OPS was .870. While not a likely first-year inductee, Abreu may have the numbers for eventually making the Hall. 

With the number of quality players becoming eligible, it is quite possible for two to three former Phillies to be inducted in the next gen years. The strongest case is for Jim Thome, who should go in as an Indian. But other former Phillies may join him in Cooperstown. 

By: William J. Kovatch, Jr. 






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