64. Jeff Bagwell
Not only is Jeff Bagwell one of the greatest players in MLB history, but he may also be one of the five best first basemen ever to play the game. Just one look at his resume should be enough to have ensured his enshrinement in Cooperstown, yet seemingly unfounded PED allegations have hampered his candidacy.
Sent to the Houston Astros in exchange for Larry Andersen in what was one of the most lopsided trades in history, Bagwell became a star almost from the moment he put on an Astros jersey. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1991, made four All-Star Games, won the 1994 MVP award and finished in the top ten on five other occasions, and won three SIlver Slugger awards.
A first baseman, Bagwell had a blend of power and speed that just had not been seen from that position. He finished with a .297/.408/.540 batting line, hitting 449 home runs and stealing 202 bases. Defensively, the Gold Glove winner had one of the best arms of anyone ever to play first, as he finished his career with 1,704 assists, third best in MLB history.
Yet, as impressive as Bagwell’s career was, he has not been enshrined in the Hall of Fame at this point. From the moment he appeared on the ballot, whispers of PED usage began to surface, although he had never been linked to steroids during his playing days. Fortunately, these seemingly baseless allegations are fading, and having received 71.6% of the vote last year, he seems almost certain to be inducted in the next few years.
Jeff Bagwell may have been overshadowed by some of the bigger sluggers during his era, but his career stands among the best that the game has to offer.
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