Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB Hall of Fame: Breaking Down the Ballot

By David Hill

Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; The 4 Hall of Fame plagues of Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz installed and available for viewing in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; The 4 Hall of Fame plagues of Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz installed and available for viewing in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 36
Next

Embed from Getty Images

Casey Blake (1999-2011)

Every so often, there are players on the MLB Hall of Fame ballot that make me wonder how they got there. Casey Blake was that player this season.

That is not to say that he had a subpar career. Indeed, he was a solid player, ending up with a 13 year career despite not having a true shot at the Majors until he was signed by the Cleveland Indians prior to the 2003 season. Over the next eight seasons, he turned into a solid third baseman/utility player, routinely hitting double digit home runs and 20 or more doubles.

In his career, spent primarily with the Indians and the Dodgers, Blake was a good, but not spectacular, player. He had a career .264/.336/.442 batting line, hitting 167 home runs and 264 doubles. Had he been given more of a chance before he turned 29 years old, Blake’s numbers may have been much better.

However, he was much more of a solid player than a special talent. He never made an All Star Game, or received an MVP vote. His defense at third was solid, but not Gold Glove caliber. Blake had a good, but relatively non-descript, career.

If Casey Blake gets a vote for the Hall of Fame, that would be a moderate upset. A solid player, he simply does not have a chance at being enshrined.

Home/Baseball Hall of Fame