Johnny Damon – 1st time on ballot
One may not think of Johnny Damon as a viable candidate for the MLB Hall of Fame, but his case is stronger than one would think.
A two time All Star, Damon was never an MVP candidate or earned any accolades over the season. However, during his career, Damon produced a solid .284/.352/.433 batting line, with 235 homers and 522 doubles. He had solid speed, stealing 408 bases and hitting 109 triples. That speed also helped Damon leg out several of his 2769 hits, a total that ranks 54th on the all time list.
In general, those numbers seem decent, but nothing spectacular. Yet, when combined, Damon was actually amongst the greatest players in baseball history. He is one of 11 players to end his career with at least 2500 hits, 500 doubles, 100 triples, and 200 homers. Each of the other ten are in the Hall of Fame, and include such luminaries as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, and Willie Mays.
Even though Damon was not in the same class as those luminaries, he was a good player in his own right. A consistent hitter, Damon’s abilities were often overlooked. He was looked upon as a solid complimentary piece, instead of a true star. However, Damon was a more important piece of the roster than one may have realized.
Johnny Damon may not get a lot of support for the MLB Hall of Fame. However, his case is much better than one may realize.