Derek Jeter: Hall of Famer?
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Derek Jeter Effect
Derek Jeter is one of the most prolific players in Major League Baseball. Furthermore, he is captain to one of the most prestigious teams in the baseball, the New York Yankees. However, does popularity alone justify a player’s eligibility into the Hall of Fame?
I would dare assume that the majority of MLB fans would say, "Yes" without batting an eye. I partially don't blame them, heck; his nickname is "Mr. November" for crying out loud! When it comes to clutch, he is it, and I can think of nobody better when it comes to playoff performances.
Jeter has 5 World Series championships (including the most recent against Philadelphia), and has a World Series MVP. He also is winner of 4 golden glove awards and possess a career batting average of over 300.
With all that said, I still question the quick response due to fan loyalty. The following is a list of reasons why Jeter does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame (if he were to retire today):
Top MLB Shortstops
1.) Derek is not the most dominating shortstop in his era.
In fact, Derek Jeter isn't even the best shortstop on his team! Alex Rodriguez is the best shortstop in the game, and Jeter (the Captain) wouldn't even relinquish his throne to the better player. I can easily rattle off four shortstops that are not only better at the position, but also have a more legitimate bid for the Hall of Fame during his era.
For example, someone who I think should be an automatic bid for the Hall, Omar Visquel. He was an average hitter at the plate, but a dominant defensive shortstop. He's the second all time golden glove champion, with 11 (2 behind Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith), having won it in both the American League and National League.
Number three would have be Jimmy Rollins. He possesses all-star qualities in every aspect of the game from batting to fielding. He hits for power and contact, steals bases, and hardly makes any defensive mistakes. He is a 3-time golden glove winner and holds yearly titles in stolen bases and the 2007 NL MVP award.
Next is Miguel Tejada who also holds yearly titles in RBIs and the 2002 AL MVP award. His best asset is his work at the plate, for he can hit for contact and for power. He is a dominant force and is someone I would place ahead of Derek Jeter.
And last but not least...Alex Rodriguez...the name justifies itself, for he is arguably the best player in baseball, and for many years he was a dominant shortstop with 2 golden gloves under his belt.
MLB Statistics
2.) Derek doesn't have the stats to back it up
If one looks at it from a statistical point of view, Jeter does not hold a single batting title, no season MVPs, no season with over 25 homeruns (only 3 seasons with over 20 homeruns), only one season with RBIs over 100, and has a ridiculous amount of errors.
Speaking of errors, in total, Jeter has 213 errors in 15 years (an average of 14.2 errors per year.). To put that in perspective, Omar Visquel (as mentioned above, 11-time gold glove winner) has a total of 183 errors in 21 years (an average of 8.7 errors per year.)
Or even better, let’s take the average shortstop, someone like Adam Everett. He’s solid and has been a starter for the Detroit Tigers for 9 years. He is your everyday player, but by no means a household name and hardly a Hall of Fame candidate. He has committed 84 errors in his career, averaging 12 errors per season.
New York Yankee Effect
3) Derek is a Yankee!
That’s right folks...whether anyone wants to admit it or not, he gets special treatment because he is a New York Yankee. If Jeter began his career for any other team, nobody would pay him much attention.
Derek would be the equivalent of a Yunel Escobar, the Atlanta Braves current shortstop...(meaning good but definitely not Hall of Fame material.). The Yankees is a major enterprise and is, by far, the most recognizable American sports franchise. And since Derek is their proclaimed captain, he receives a lot of attention.
Now, I’m not saying that the attention isn’t well deserved...Derek Jeter is a good player. He hits in the clutch and helps the Yankees win ball games. He does the right things and says the right things. He is a good role model for children all across the United States and is loved by millions.
However, the Hall of Fame isn’t about popularity. The Hall of Fame is not about clutch hitters during the month of November. The Hall of Fame isn’t about average shortstops that commit 13-15 errors during their golden glove season.
The Hall of Fame is about the best of the best. It’s about being a dominant player at your position during an extended period of time. Derek Jeter simply doesn’t demonstrate these qualities...
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Cableguy ~ Thanks for your comment, now allow me to retort. Look buddy, I have the stats down. In fact, aside from the Reyes analysis (which I may revoke after further reading) all my other picks were dead on. Even you admitted that ARod and Tejada are better candidates for the part. As for Rollins and Vizquel, those are just personal opinions. If I were building a World Series team, I'd want my Captain(my shortstop) to be able to produce outs. I'd gladly take defense over offense in that position. These are qualities that I just don't see in Derek Jeter. But that's just a personal preference. So, when it comes to that argument, you can't deny that Vizquel is a better defensive shortstop over a long period of time. And Rollins, despite his post season performances, has been rock solid from a defensive and offensive stand point. There's really no argument. He outshines Jeter in almost every category. And let us not forget that Jeter has never won a season MVP, Rollins has.
In the end, this article was not a critique on who should be in the Hall of Fame. In fact, it was far from that. This was just an analysis on whether Derek Jeter belonged in the Hall of Fame. My answer is no...
Are you serious? Jeter not a hall of famer? Did anyone see the catch he made against the Red Sox diving into the stands...that heart, grit....leadership...his stats are amazing...All-Time Yankees hit leader....5 rings....Rookie of the Year..world series MVP...4 gold gloves...more clutch then anyone I ever saw....pull yor head from your arse and stop yankees hating and recognize Jeter is a ball player, and anyone who says they wouldn't want to build a championship around him at short...obviously want's a losing team.
Yankee fan ~ Hmm, a little hostile, aren't we? First off, I never said I was a 'yanker-hater', in fact, I don't have anything against them (other then they 'buy' championships, but that's a different subject entirely.) So, if anything, it sounds like you're being biased especially with a user name such as YANKEE FAN.
Now, let's dissect your 'stat' analysis. No doubt Jeter is a great leader, with 5 World Series Championships and a World Series MVP. However, baseball is a team concept, more so than other sports like basketball and even football. In those particular sports, an individual player such as Michael Jordan or Payton Manning can literally take over a game and win it for them. Baseball is a game of situation and an overall team effort. In MLB, individual players can have amazing stats, do everything right and never make it to the playoffs much less the World Series. For example in '98 when McGuire and Sosa where going for the homerun record, did their teams make the playoffs? NO.
So, did Jeter win 5 championships? Really? I can't believe you are flaunting that AMAZING STAT at me. Great players are all over the place and just because they don't win 5 championships doesn't mean they aren't great. On the flip side, just because somebody owns a handful of championships doesn't automatically make them as a great player. How about this, another Yankee, Chuckle Knoblauch...2nd baseman, has 4 championships, golden glove winner, 2 silver slugs, rookie of the year (some of those stats look awfully familiar don't they?)...is he a hall of famer? No, not even close. Who cares? Now, does he have Jeter's hitting stats? No, but don't dangle your teams 5 World Series rings in my face and say that Jeter is a hall of famer because of it. Don't get me wrong here, it's a fantastic accomplishment, but it shouldn't be included for a hall of fame bid. The Yankees won 5 championships not Jeter.
Now, lets go with stats...has he reached 3,000 hits yet? No...has he had a season MVP yet, No. (I mean, just that one alone should be a red flag...how can you NOT be the best player in the league for at least one season and be a hall of famer? Think about it!). Lets see...has he had a season with more than 25 homeruns? No. Does he hold a single batting title for any season?...No
Look...I'm not questioning Jeter's talent. He's a good player. And yes, I would gladly have him on my team. But the hall of fame isn't about good players. They are looking for great, the best...Not only the best, but the best at their position during their era. And at this point, I don't think Jeter has accomplished that greatness quite yet. Just an opinion, Yankee Fan.
All I can say is WOW!!! These sporty hubs get alot more heated than the forums.
you CAN fluent his 5 world series rings cause he was so instrumental in it happening. He played better than everyone else when it mattered most. He will retire with 0ver 3,500 hits, a career lifetime average of .300 easily and top 5 all time runs in baseball history, along with alteast 5 rings, how is that not hall of fame? even right now he is hall of fame bound. EVERYBODY except for Palmerio who is ELIGABLE for the hall is in that has as many runs as Jeter.
I love this article! i totally agree with it! Haha!! yea right "jason", really?? 3,500 hits? lol!
Well this article's a wash. lol
Jeter is Mr Clutch? Given the fact that Jeter has almost 20% more at-bats and plate appearances in the postseason than ANYONE else EVER he's is exactly what this post describes him as which is good. His postseason numbers look so good, because he's been at the plate so many f'ing times, nobody seems to remember that he also struck out over a hundred times in the postseason, or that in almost every stat that looks at quality (OBP, SLG, AVG) he's not in the top ten (or probably even the top 50.
@ drej2522: Hmm, Ozzy Smith (2002 HOF): never won an MVP, never hit more than 6 home runs in a season, never won a batting title (only had one season with a BA over .300), does NOT have 3,000 hits. Looks like your standards are a bit off...
NMS16 ~ Thanks for commenting...at least yours was civil. :)
Yeah, Ozzy Smith's hitting numbers don't match up with Jeters...sure
However, Ozzy does have a record...the most golden gloves ever. I think that's an automatic 'shoe in'. If you hold the best in something, you should be a HOFer.
Besides, Ozzy was a great defensive shortstop (golden glove record aside). Again, defense is just as important as offense, especially in the shortstop position.
According to the Baseball Almanac, there are currently 21 HOF Shortstops (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hof/hofstss.shtml) Let’s assume that Jeter is inducted into the HOF today (9/27/10). How would his regular season stats fair? Of the now 22 HOF Shortstops he would have the following rankings: AVG: 3rd, OBP: 7th, SLG: 5th, Hits: 4th, HR: 4th, RBI: 7th, R: 2nd, and SB: 8th. His lowest ranking is 8th!
In fact, assuming we give each of these categories equal weight, his average position would be 5th out of 22!
With all due respect, I don't see how you can deny his admission to the HOF based on his current statistical merits. He is essentially in the top quartile of his current HOF peer group and he has won a Golden Glove in 25% of his seasons played (including one at the ripe age of 35).
Sorry the pasted link is not correct. It is:
NMS16 ~ I partially agree with you here...I think he's automatically in now.
I wrote this article almost a year ago when it was still kind of a controversial issue (although, his hitting numbers were pretty substantial even then).
As his stats continue to climb, and he breaks the 3,000 hitting barrier, he's going to be a first ballot HOFer, no doubt.
My only argument out of this whole argument is that Jeter is in there due to his longevity.
When I look at him, I don't see any pop. I'm not awed by his presence or even excited to see him come to the plate. He's just there with a great team and a great line up. But hey, at least he's a .300+ hitter, right?
Agreed...and throughout his career he has experienced an unprecedented amount of protection in the lineup. The Yankees are going to have to bring him back and they are going to have to really overpay him. I remember reading a recent article that argued that Jeter, not AROD, is going to be the Yanks albatross.
Sounds like the hate runs deep.
(1) Honus Wagner never won an MVP and Jeter was in the top 10 in the MVP voting more times than him.
(2) Jeter's season averages are 207 hits, .837 OPS, 17 homers, 119 runs, 80 RBI, 23 SB, with a .315 batting average, .285 OBP, and a .452 slugging %.
(3) His pace for the all-time hit record is faster than Pete Rose and among shortstops he was the hit leader in his 15th season.
One number. 3,000
This article was written about a year and a half ago, but thank you JQ for throwing that recent number out there.
This article does raise good point, about what being in the hall of fame is about but, the hall of fame is not just about stats. The hall of fame can be about firsts.
Jeter will most likely be the first career yankee, to be in the hall, as a 3,000 hits member with a .300 plus career batting average. The hall of fame is also about standing out. Look at babe Ruth.
Apparently overrated things like mvps and a 100 rbis mean something. Omar vizquel is a below average hitter who has a 272 career average and isn't in the same area code as Derek Jeter.You say the postseason stats don't matter meanwhile I don't even remember Vizquel being an integral part of a playoff run for any of the teams he played for.If anything you've overrated Omar Vizquel for no legitimate reason. Guy is a upgrade over Ozzie Smith that's about it.Jeter is a proven leader and winner and has accomplished more in vizquel's lifetime. Now to Jimmy Rollins why is he a hall of famer? 250 hitter? I mean what is he excaltly except for shooting his mouth off and getting beaten in the World Series.Guy is the most overrated in the league as a player at least the past 3 years. Miguel Tejada is a joke and lied to Congress about his steroid use and plead guilt to lying to them.Alex Rodriguez already dug his own grave by admitting to the same sort of thing so these last 2 guys have no credibility anymore.Jeter has never been linked to steroids or any other illegal drugs of that sort.If Vizquel was as good as Jeter he wouldn't have become a backup infielder and hardly ever play. Vizquel has never played a meaningful inning of baseball in his life and never had a pressure filled inning in his life or at bat in his life.If he was in New York he would be eaten alive by the fans and he probably wouldn't be able to take it.Vizquel should get hardly any attention to be honest he's one of the most overrated players at best.
Jeter was already a lock HOFer when this article was written. Dis his post season numbers if you like but they are very close to his career regular season stats- better power wise. He's not a "bad" shortstop defensively, and besides, the Hall is full of Killebrew, Kiner, Ted Williams, Carew and Cepeda, to name just a few, who weren't exactly perennial gold glove candidates. While most of Jeter's gold gloves are undeserved, and his range is quite ordinary, a .976 fielding percentage hardly disqualifies a guy with all his other credentials (even as they were in 2009) Ludicrous!
He has 3000 hits he is automatic in
I would like to see you do a piece on Mo Rivera. If Jeter is not worthy, the guy who blew the WS and plays an inning every third day is definitely no HOF.
Personally I hate the Yankees and am constantly praying for the team's plane to fall out of the sky in a ball of fire but regardless Jeter has 3,089 hits going into the season over 200 homers and over 1,000 RBI's.
Recent inductee Barry Larkin played longer, never even came CLOSE to 3,000 hits, didn't hit 200 Home runs and didn't get 1,000 RBI's, never lead the league in any offensive category and has more Errors.
He did however have a nice smile . . . so based on that alone Jeter will easily make it first ballot!
Is this Article a JOKE? Jeter is better than ALL of the other SS's you mentioned LOL.
Derek Jeter doesn't have the stats to back it up and yet people like Jimmy Rollins do? LMFAO Funniest Article I've read in a LONG time.
And to the guy that laughed at suggestion Jeter will reach 3,500 hits. Are you still laughing?
@ GREG,Jeter now has 3,138 hits and is one pace to finish the year somewhere around 3,270. Looks like you are getting ready to sit down with a big plate CROW and dig in. HAHAHA
Jeter is not a hall of famer,take all his stats an put Jeter on the Padre or the Nats(Expos)during the yankee's championship runs jeter would had never won any rings...Jeter is fan favorite a good player not a great player.The Hall of Fame is for great not good player.If this happens will start seeing more good player in the Hall of Fame an less deserving player.Lets be real Jeter is not a Hall of Famer,Mo.Rivera is
"When I look at him, I don't see any pop. I'm not awed by his presence or even excited to see him come to the plate. He's just there with a great team and a great line up. But hey, at least he's a .300+ hitter, right?"
This quote demonstrates a lack of understanding of what a great baseball player is. You want to see someone with "pop" you should watched archived games in the mid 2000 steroid era.
Why does he have so many plate appearances? Because, unlike so many other stars with large guaranteed contracts, he plays through injuries. He works hard and he takes care of himself off the field so he can perform on it.
Derek Jeter is as clutch as they come. As someone who has been watching him for years, he is always the man you want at the plate in clutch situations or with tough pitchers on the mound. He is hard to strike out, goes deep into counts, fouls off a lot of pitches to tire out good pitchers, will still bunt to sacrifice and get bunt hits, and can make contact when he needs to in order to move a runner along. I personally, think this is more exciting than watching a power hitter swinging for the fences all the time strike out 160 times in a year but hit 35-40 home runs.
Plus, Derek Jeter is, and always was, on pace with Pete Rose, they are usually days apart in terms of age/hits when Jeter makes milestones.
I admit that although he has won Golden Gloves, he is an over-rated fielder. His pick jump and throw signature move is often only necessary because he didn't get to the ball quick enough to make a normal throw when another SS would have. However, even if Jeter was a DH all of his life he would be HOF.
cableguy 2 years ago
Omar Vizquel??? Yes, a fine glove, but his offense is too weak to be considered a serious candidate for the Hall in an era in which a SS must produce. Vizquel's output is not remotely in a class with Jeter's. Take any important measure (OBP, OPS, Ave., Hrs., RBIs, SB%) and either you immediately disqualify Vizquel if you do not believe Jeter worthy of the honor. Vizquel becomes merely another in the class of "good field - fair hit" - actually they're dime a dozen and in truth they are not the difference for World Series champs. Famously Davey Johnson said of Raf Santana -"He's what a championship team needs at short - he just has to make the routine plays." In light of the new measure for Hall SSs, Jeter may not qualify but the good field - fair hit guys surely do not. ARod surely qualifies before Jeter and perhaps Tejada too but Rollins, whose stats and glove fail in all regards, never, and as to your comment about Reyes, really. The poor guy's career may be over before this season. Hey, guy, you gotta check the stats before entering the opinion arena.