5 Year Hall of Famers? Make your case

[Peter_Spaeth]

Newhouser? Ed Walsh?

[drcy]

James Creighton should be in the Hall of Fame, but that is an exception to the rule rather than the rule being wrong.

[Jobu]

Jim Rice seems like a guy for this conversation if we are looking for guys in the Hall who did not dominate for more than a few years. He was really good in 1977-79 and 1983 and the decent to pretty good the rest of the time. 30+ HRs 4 times, 100+ rbs 8 times, and 100+ runs 3 times, and was not a great defender.

[Topnotchsy]

I feel like Johan Santana deserves to be in the Hall. I’d much prefer someone who was pretty much the undisputed best pitcher in baseball for half a decade in the Hall rather that guys who were never close to the best, but compiled solid stats for a long time.

Not sure how long Lefty O’Doul was a legit star but he’s another name that comes to mind.

[GaryPassamonte]

Ross Barnes 1871-1876. I know it's six years, but take a look. It's hard to top. Barnes's career was Koufax's in reverse.

[bgar3]

5 year totals,
93-35
93 complete games
20 shutouts
3-1 World Series
1912 combined 37-6
Outfielder for Cleveland including World Series.

[BLongley]

Jack Chesbro? He had about 5 good years of his 11, with his 41 win season often thought to be the only reason he got in the Hall.

I know his time was pre 1900, but Hoss Radbourn too? Similar to Chesbro with that one year where he won like 59 games and pitched every game... he did have a couple other good seasons as well, but still his total good seasons is around 5 I would say.

[BLongley]

For hitters it’s tougher, but maybe Ralph Kiner... he only played 9 years total... and had 5 maybe 6 solid years. Leading the league in homers for 6 years in a row...

[riggs336]

Although "not a hall of famer on the best day of his life" (Bill James), Riggs Stephenson had a good run from 1926-1930 batting .342 with an OPS around .900 for the five year stretch. I asked him about the HOF in 1977. Not surprisingly he thought he should be in. I agreed with him at the time but I've changed my mind since. Nice man and a good ballplayer, though.

[Andrew1975]

Originally Posted by bgar3

5 year totals,
93-35
93 complete games
20 shutouts
3-1 World Series
1912 combined 37-6
Outfielder for Cleveland including World Series.

+1

[ruth_rookie]

Back to back MVP (‘60 and ‘61)
Steroid-free, single-season HR record
Maris gets my vote. Great idea for a thread btw. I love hearing debates like this.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

I feel like Johan Santana deserves to be in the Hall. I’d much prefer someone who was pretty much the undisputed best pitcher in baseball for half a decade in the Hall rather that guys who were never close to the best, but compiled solid stats for a long time.

Not sure how long Lefty O’Doul was a legit star but he’s another name that comes to mind.

Santana has a much stronger case than I thought. He would not be out of place in the Hall, for sure.

Lefty had basically four years as a top player.

[MooseDog]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Lefty had basically four years as a top player.

Lefty deserves to be in the Hall as a "builder" but his performance as a player certainly doesn't hurt.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Santana has a much stronger case than I thought. He would not be out of place in the Hall, for sure.

Lefty had basically four years as a top player.

At 2.4 percent in his first year of eligibility he has a long way to go.

[jpop43]

Don Mattingly: 1984- 1989

MVP, Batting Title, x5 All-Star, x3 Sliver Slugger, x5 Gold Gloves

[sycks22]

Bob Hamelin.

'94 ROY, next year he hit .168 and was out of baseball in a couple years. Maybe not a HOFer

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Newhouser? Ed Walsh?

Walsh had 7 years as a top pitcher.

[Fred]

Gavvy Cravath - From 1913-1919 he led the league in HRs in 6 out of 7 years. In 1913, the year he didn't lead the league, he was second. He also led the league in RBIs twice in that period.

Lefty O'Doul - hit .365 from 1928-1932

Probably a lot of 5 year guys out there.

I can think of a few more right off the bat.