The National Baseball Hall of Fame is running low on candidates. Now, it’s easy to say, just vote in whoever is worthy but I heard a new voter recently say that he could only find six of the ten allowed. The big issue here is the steroid guys, most aren’t getting in, but they’ve skewed numbers. So now, 300 wins are no longer the mark for pitchers because it’s no longer attainable. 500 home runs may soon be too hard to get, so we could see guys with 400 getting in soon, which is okay if they check off a lot of other boxes.
Todd Helton Was Aided By Coors Field
Lately, there has been an undercurrent and some votes from what I can see online, Todd Helton has been a name being thrown around. One strike against Helton is the fact that the Coors Field humidor wasn’t installed until the 2003 season. The 1999 season had the highest batting average, .327, and .557 slugging percentage. Helton hit .372 with 147 RBI and 42 home runs, and a .698 slugging percentage. All marks he would never get close to again. Todd could hit, but he was aided in a big way.
Coors Field Is a Doubles Factory
Helton’s two biggest years for doubles were pre-humidor in 1999 (39), 2000 (59), and 2001 (54). Even post humidor the alleys there are very big. Helton drove in 543 at home and 349 on the road. He’s currently seventh all-time. The same number of games as doubles. His batting average was .332 at home and .285 on the road. Helton hit 227 home runs at home and 142 on the road. Larry Walker got in the Hall based on his Expos numbers. Voters could see what he did outside of Colorado. Helton only played for the Rockies. I don’t see it.
Gary Sheffield Is Close, But No Cigar
The first issue with Sheffield is this article. It’s all about the cream and the clear. Sheffield and Bonds had a falling out before the 2002 season. 1999, 2000, and 2001 were arguably his finest all-around seasons. He did hit 509 home runs. He was a shortstop who turned into a third baseman and then the outfield. Plus 300 games as a designated hitter as well. He ranks 30th all-time in RBI, just ahead of Sammy Sosa. Sosa is another no-way based on events and to be honest, Sosa wasn’t a great hitter. His lifetime .273 batting average says a lot compared to his 609 home runs. Before Sosa hit 66, he was hitting 10-15 home runs and then the numbers became artificial. I’d say no way to both, based on events.
If the Hall needs to put in two players a year because many others fall short, then so be it. Diluting the Hall of Fame doesn’t make any sense at all.
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