Posted by MikeT23 on 7/30/2013 10:39:00 AM (view original):
Biggio, Lofton, Raines even Bernie Williams fall into that category.
BW played CF for 16 seasons on a bunch of winning teams, hit .297 on his career with an OPS+ of 125 during the steroid era and was never linked to 'roids. Made 5 straight All-Star teams and was top 17 in MVP voting 6 times. He won 4 GG. Among the 2013 candidates, he was 17th in career WAR and 16th on WAR7. That was with all the 'roided up MFers on the ballot.
But he can't be a serious HOF candidate.
Why not? No reason not to at least consider Williams's case. And Lofton was better than Williams.
Comparison is the only tool we have. Not every Hall of Fame candidate is Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds. Some are Tony Gwynn and Tim Raines. Others are Bernie Williams and Kenny Lofton.
No one is arguing that being better than the worst Hall of Famer should get a guy in. But if he is above average (relative other Hall of Famers at his position) then he should be in. Disclaimer, I have no idea if Lofton is above HOF CF average. But he was good enough that we should look.