Kostya Kennedy: Mex Belongs In Hall
By Mike Silva ~ January 23rd, 2009. Filed under: Hall of Fame.
SI’s Kostya Kennedy wrote a piece earlier today that stated it was a “crime” that Keith Hernandez has not yet been voted into the Hall of Fame. Those that are frequent readers of the site know how combustible the Hall of Fame topic can be. Just a week ago, Joseph DelGrippo suggested Jack Morris for induction, and the masses were ready to “tar and feather” him to their computer. So let me be the next one to rattle the cages of our loyal readers: I agree with Kennedy and believe Hernandez should be inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
When you look at his overall statistics, it’s hard to make a case for Mex in the Hall. Kennedy is correct in citing Keith’s standing when it comes to OBP, OPS, and clutching hitting (GWRBI). I look at it more from his play at first base and on the field leadership. If you’re into comparables, you definitely can give credence to Kennedy’s numbers versus Gwynn and Tony Perez, but no one defined first base like Keith Hernandez.
No one was better than Hernandez when it came to fielding bunts. When was the last time you saw a first baseman charge in and throw out a runner at third on a sacrifice? Name me someone that did it on a decent to above average bunt? Hernandez did this with regularity. Think about how much better he made an average Mets infield during the eighties. Often we forget how a great first baseman can impact an entire defense (John Olerud did this in 1999 as well). Eleven gold gloves is certainly something that shouldn’t be overlooked. The fact of the matter is Keith Hernandez DOMINATED the game defensively for a decade. Isn’t defense a part of the game? If players like Joe Gordon and Bill Mazeroksi are elected why would Hernandez be such a stretch?
Leadership is something that can’t be measured by a formula. Hernandez, along with Gary Carter, was the heart and soul of a championship team. His arrival in 1983 is cited as the day the Mets began their ascent into the league’s elite. There are many players that compiled statistics, but how many turned ballclub’s into champions?
Often election into the Hall requires one to be on the right ballot. That is why players like Jim Rice, Bruce Sutter, Don Sutton, and Phi Niekro took so long. It’s also why Tim Raines and Bert Blyleven might need to wait a few more years. Playing a position like first base makes election that much harder. Many have discounted the position when it comes to defense and only focus on the power numbers. Legendary defenders at the position at not easy to come by, so why not reward one of the few?
The Veterans Committee was established so that you can still vote in deserving players that have failed to meet the criteria on the regular ballot. We need to start realizing that there is more to a player then just the numbers you read on Baseball Reference. There is an intrinsic value to a member of the Hall. Numbers are the biggest part, but shouldn’t be the sole indicator of whether a player changed the game. Anyone who saw Hernandez play knows the impact he had on the first base position. They understand what he meant to the New York Mets. I dare say we have yet to see anyone play as good a first base since his retirement in 1991. The next time the Veterans Committee votes will be 2011. I hope Keith Hernandez is considered for induction. It’s long past due.
