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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 9
Next
Adrian Beltre
1933: Pie Traynor #20 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for an action portrait circa 1933. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

Batting Average

Due to its era-sensitivity, batting average needs to be considered in context – which, candidly, is why such “new” stats as OPS+ have been developed. Still, it has a sort of legacy status among baseball stats and thus ought not to be blown off entirely.

Beltre’s career .286 mark does not measure up with the category leaders, who for the most part they played during eras when batters were far more batting average conscious.

It does, however, compare nicely with the group average of .290.

Some consensus Hall of Famers do worse. Mike Schmidt had a career .261 average. Eddie Mathews’ career average was .271, and Brooks Robinson managed just .267.

Measured by peak average, Beltre ranks 10th at .316. Again, the category is dominated by third basemen from earlier, more batting average-conscious seasons. Also again, Beltre compares favorably with Jones (.320), and is ahead of Mathews (.300), Robinson (.281) and Schmidt (.280)

Here’s how Beltre compares with the best third basemen of all time for career batting average:

1.       Wade Boggs                       .328

2.       Pie Traynor                         .320

3.       Fred Lindstrom                 .311

4.       Deacon White                   .308

5.       Home Run Baker              .307

13.     Adrian Beltre                   .286

Here’s how Beltre compares with the best third basemen of all time for five season peak batting average:

1.       Deacon White 1882-86   .362

2.       Wade Boggs 1985-89      .357

3.       Pie Traynor 1928-32        .336

4.       Fred Lindstrom 1927-31 .333

5.       George Brett 1976-80      .330

10.    Adrian Beltre 2010-14     .316 

Home/Baseball Hall of Fame