On Sunday, two former Detroit Tigers teammates from the 1980s will be inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame
The Detroit Tigers had a tremendous run of success in the 1980s, with two American League East titles and one World Series. Those teams are now receiving some recognition as two of the team’s star players are elected to the MLB Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Already, those top Tigers teams have seen manager Sparky Anderson make the MLB Hall of Fame. The Bridgewater, South Dakota native won 2,194 games between his work with the Big Red Machine of the 1970s and the Tigers of the 1980s.
Other members of those teams are short of MLB Hall of Fame credentials, but one has been passed over for much too long and really would have been deserving to go in with his teammates this season. First, a couple of guys who aren’t quite at that level, but are definitely elite players:
Lance Parrish, Catcher
Parrish had a tremendous career behind the plate, but his body, like many catchers, broke down as he hit his 30s, meaning he didn’t end up with the career numbers that would make him worthy of the Hall of Fame. Still, a career behind the plate with 324 home runs is nothing to sneeze at.
Chet Lemon, Center Fielder
Lemon was one of the best defenders in an era with incredible defenders, which meant he did not get the recognition for his glove that he really should have. He hit a production wall as he hit his mid-30s and was out of the league quickly, but he finished with a .273/.355/.442 career line, peppering the gaps for 396 doubles, 61 triples, and powering out 215 home runs over his career.
Kirk Gibson, Left Fielder
More well-known for his postseason heroics in game one of the 1988 World Series, Gibson was the ALCS MVP for the Tigers in 1984, and his power/speed combination was a big part of the Tigers attack. He played at full-tilt, which often led to injuries, and that lessened the impact he was able to have in his career, with 255 home runs and 284 stolen bases over his career with a 123 career OPS+.
Darrell Evans, Right Fielder
Defensively flexible, Evans had a long career playing primarily the infield corners as a slugger for the Braves, Giants, and Tigers. Evans finished his 21-year career with 414 home runs, a guy who drew a ton of walks and hit for power way before on-base percentage was a valued statistic.
So, those are the guys who are understandably just short of the MLB Hall of Fame. Who is the one guy that deserves to be in?