The eight MLB players with WAR > 70 that are not in the HOF.

As Mookie Betts approaches a lifetime WAR of 70, it's interesting to see who else has hit that milestone but not gotten in the HOF. Obviously, some of the eight have controversy swirling around them. What has been the knock on Lou Whitaker?

Mookie Betts (64.5; milestone: 70)

With another star-level season, Betts will surpass the 70-WAR threshold. Coincidentally, 70 position players in league history have gotten to that level. Of those players who are eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, only eight (Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Pete Rose, Bill Dahlen, Lou Whitaker, Rafael Palmeiro, Bobby Grich and Carlos Beltrán) aren’t enshrined in Cooperstown. There’s already no real doubt that Betts is en route to the Hall of Fame, but crossing the 70-WAR mark will further entrench him among the elite players in MLB history.

Notable players approaching 60 WAR: Freeman (55.7), Machado (54.9), Arenado (54.4)

Click here for link at https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/hitters-approaching-s

Not another Bad Bill Dahlen belongs in the Hall of Fame post

Looking at the numbers it seems like he does though.

Regarded as one of the best fielding shortstops of his time and a very good hitter.

Had the longest hitting streak in history (42 games) before Wee Willie Keeler and eventually DiMaggio.

Why Grich belongs in the Hall of Fame

According to JAWS from Baseball Reference, Grich is the 8th best 2B of all time. Here are the 8th best at the rest of the positions. 1B: Frank Thomas 3B: Brooks Robinson C: Bill Dickey LF: Tim Raines CF: Duke Snider RF: Reggie Jackson SS: Ernie Banks. All of these guys are no-brainer HOFers.

He's a foul one

Mr Grich

Whitaker also. I truly don't understand the holdup with him *

His top 3 Baseball Reference Similarity Scores are

Sandberg, Trammell, and Alomar, with Joe Morgan 6th. That's pretty fast company.

I don't treat WAR as a be-all and end-all stat, but

like most other counting stats, at a certain point, you hit a threshold of greatness. For me, 70 WAR is a sure fire, no debate Hall of Famer.

All of the players you listed should be in the Hall of Fame, notwithstanding any opinion of steroid issues.

I wonder if there should be a per-year minimum average.

Bobby Grich played 24 years. Does he really deserve to be in the HOF simply because he kept showing up for years as a backup?

JAWS score

This is a really good measure. It averages the total WAR with the 7-year peak WAR to weed out the compilers a little.

Click here for link at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaffe_Wins_Above_Replacement

Grich only played 17 years...and 2 of those were when

he first came up and only had a few ABs.

Thanks for the correction. I got him mixed up with

Rick Dempsey.

Rick Dempsey should be in the HoF...

if only for the rain delay entertainment he provided.

25.1 WAR in 24 years. Sounds like he's HoSM worthy *