Why is Keith Hernandez not in the Hall of Fame ?

Question

he certainly has the numbers for it (in my opinion) check for yourself, http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=115826

He won 11 Gold Gloves in a row, superior defense, what keeps him out of the Hall of Fame?

Answer 1

he stinks

Answer 2

Idk, but those Just For Men commericals with Walt "Clyde" Drexler are awesome

Answer 3

It's gotta be the 'stache.

Answer 4

Several players have been inducted into the HOF for their outstanding defense despite not being offensive powerhouses (start with Ozzie).  Keith Hernandez was not only a terrific 1st baseman (he essentially redefined the way the position was played) but a also very good hitter (I'm sure you know the numbers, there's no need to regurgitate them) and clearly the leader of the Mets teams of the mid-1980s.  They were perennial contenders and of course, in 1986 took it all while putting on a show bigger than just baseball.  There's also an MVP award that he shared, but should have won outright.

Why isn't he in?  Don Mattingly.  Any discussion of Hernandez in the HOF requires a head-to-head comparison of the two.  They were both team leaders in NY, won MVPs, played great defense while anchoring their team's offense.  Mattingly was a better hitter, in terms of both contact and power, but not by a huge amount.  Neither could outrun an oak tree.  Keith had the admitted drug use and a reputation as a hound, while Donnie baseball was a clean-cut family man.

Regarding their relative defensive abilities, I wanted to know how much better Hernandez was, so I ran some detailed stats on Keith, Don and their contemporaries.  I wouldn't have guessed it, but on paper at least, the best defensive 1st baseman in the major leagues during the 1980s was (drum roll)...

Eddie Murray.

Surprised the h**l out of me, but Eddie didn't just "not drop" the ball, he got to more balls than he should have, in fact he got to more than  Hernandez and Mattingly on a per game basis.  You can dig deep at a site like http://www.baseball-reference.com/.  Couple that with 3,000 hits, the home runs, rbi, etc and he clearly stood way above the others.

So the bottom line is that Keith wouldn't go in unless Donnie does.  Donnie won't go in because he never met those magic milestones.  At least Keith has a couple of rings and some Seinfeld screen time.  As long as Steve Garvey doesn't get voted in, there's some logic to it all.

Answer 5

When you play an offensive position, gold gloves don't get you in the Hall. Hernandez stats aren't remotely HOF worthy, which is why he only lasted one year on the ballot.

I see one guy actually comparing him to Eddie Murray. Murray is the definition of a first ballot HOFer. Hernandez, possibly the best defensive first baseman in history, isn't even in the same catagory as Murray.

Hernandez statwise barely makes the Hall of Good, let alone the Hall of Fame.

Answer 6

T-Mac-  that's Frazier, not Drexler.

I think that Keith should be in the Hall because he was possibly the finest defensive First baseman that ever lived.  The stat analysis that puts Murray ahead of him is fine.  I don't care.  Does it show how often he got the lead runner on a bunt play?  How many times he actually turned a sacrifice attempt into a Double Play?  How other teams altered their offensive strategy because he was there?

And he was a fine offensive player, but not quite hallworthy on just that.

Answer 7

o ya keith hernandez from JFM i forgot  

Answer 8

Was asked last night. Gold Gloves don't get you into the Hall of Fame. Production at the plate does that. There are some exceptions (Davey Conception), but not many.

Answer 9

I don't know.  He's been retired long enough for eligibility to be considered.  maybe it's because they've seen him in those awful Just For Men commercials.

Answer 10

Cocaine - he admitted to playing his best baseball under the influence.