Call to the pen
Fansided

Adrian Beltre’s Hall of Fame credentials

By Bill Felber

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 30: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers stands on the field during the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 30: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers stands on the field during the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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Adrian Beltre
6 Mar 1998: Infielder Wade Boggs of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in action during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at the Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. The Twins defeated the Devil Rays 20-5. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Kirn /All /

Peak bWAR

Beltre’s peak seasons were 2010-14, a five-year period during which he averaged 5.52 WAR. Compared with our field of 20, that is not an especially compelling total. In fact it ranks 12th, slightly below the group average of 5.93.

One of the recurring themes of Beltre’s candidacy is that he is likely to be viewed more favorably by those who value lifetime achievement than by those who look first toward peak dominance. We see that in WAR and we will see it again in several of the other categories.

Not that there’s anything wrong with a 5.52 WAR; a team staffed with 5.52 WAR players would win every pennant in a walk. At the same time, three of the five non Hall of Famers included in or study – Rolen (6.44), Boyer (6.34) and Bell (5.84) had better peak WARS than Beltre.

Fortunately for Beltre, peak value performance may well not be decisive among voters. Jones averaged 6.28 WAR during his 1998-2002 peak seasons. That is better than Beltre, but not a great deal better…and it ranks only 10th among our 20. When voters considered his candidacy this past January, they managed to look past that so-so (by HOF standards) peak WAR.

Here is how Beltre compares with the five best in our survey as measured by peak WAR

1.       Wade Boggs 1985-89      8.42

2.       Ron Santo 1964-68          8.40

3.       Mike Schmidt 1980-84    8.10

4.       George Brett 1976-80     7.70

5.       Eddie Mathews 1953-577.40

12     Adrian Beltre 2010-14     5.52

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