Lance Berkman – 1st year on ballot
Of all the players on the ballot, Lance Berkman may have the most underrated case for induction into the MLB Hall of Fame.
A solid player, Berkman was a key part of the Astros Killer B’s, helping the team to contention in the 1990s and into the 2000s. He was a six time All Star, finishing in the top ten of the MVP vote six times. Berkman posted a lifetime ..293/.406/.537 batting line, hitting 366 homers and 422 doubles while driving in 1234 runs. He was also a decent outfielder, especially early in his career when he was in left field.
While the numbers may not overwhelm, Berkman has a decent case. Based on the Hall of Fame monitor and standards created by Bill James, Berkman is just below the average player that has been inducted into Cooperstown. His seven year peak, and overall WAR, are just below that threshold as well. In fact, e is considered the 20th best left fielder in baseball history, ahead of the likes of Jim Rice and Lou Brock.
Even though Berkman has a respectable case for induction, it is mainly in a non-traditional way. His counting stats put him in the Hall of Very Good, alongside the likes of Don Mattingly and Minnie Minoso. He may well stay on the ballot for all ten years, but Berkman is not likely to be inducted at any point.
Lance Berkman had a solid, and relatively underrated, career. It just was not a Hall of Fame caliber one.