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Hall of Fame: Why is Jeff Kent Being Ignored?

By David Hill

Oct 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; A general view of the exterior of the stadium before game three of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; A general view of the exterior of the stadium before game three of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jeff Kent was one of the best offensive players to ever play second base in MLB history. So why is he being ignored on the Hall of Fame ballot?

In looking at his resume, Jeff Kent would appear to be a Hall of Fame caliber player. Despite being a bit of a late bloomer, Kent was a five time All Star, winning the 2000 National League MVP award. He had a career .290/.356/.500 batting line, with 377 home runs and 1518 RBI. That type of production from a second baseman put Kent amongst the greatest offensive players ever to play the position.

Instead of being a first or second ballot Hall of Famer, Kent has continued to languish in the vote. He has been stuck in the mid teens, getting 16.6% of the vote last year. Now in his fourth year on the ballot, nothing has changed. He has already been eliminated from being inducted into the Hall, and has been named on only 12.4% of the votes that have been revealed. It appears to be another year without any appreciable gain for Kent.

So, why is Kent being ignored when it comes to the Hall of Fame ballot? The first reason likely has to do with his less than amicable relationship with the media. After all, we have seen the media take their time to induct players like Jim Rice due to that contentious relationship, he never 29.4% of the ballot.

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The other possibility is that Kent is being painted with the same PED brush that has touched Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and others. Even then, it does not make sense that Kent would remain as far down the ballot as he does, given that all three of those previously mentioned players have received a significant boost this year.

It may well be a combination of those two factors, as well as how his numbers seem low for a player who had a 17 year career. However, it took until Kent was 30 years old before he truly blossomed, becoming a star when he reached the Giants. That also coincided with his being left at second base and not moved around the diamond, as had been the case before.

Even with that slower start to his career, Kent more than made up for lost time. He established himself as one of the best offensive second basemen in the game, comparing favorably with Ryne Sandberg. In fact, Sandberg is considered the tenth most similar player to Kent, with the others being corner infielders or outfielders.

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Jeff Kent is not going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. It may even take until the Veteran’s Committee until he gets his due. Nonetheless, Jeff Kent deserves to be in the Hall.

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