MLB Hall of Fame: Harold Baines helping Fred McGriff

It may be too little, too late, but Fred McGriff is getting a boost in his final year on the MLB Hall of Fame ballot.

Over the years, Fred McGriff has not had the support for the MLB Hall of Fame that one would have expected from his career numbers. A solid first baseman for a number of teams, particularly the Rays, Braves, and Blue Jays, McGriff was a steady power threat and run producer. A five time All Star, McGriff had a lifetime .284/.377/.509 batting line, hitting 493 homers and driving in 1550 runs over his 19 years in the majors.

As impressive as his production had been, McGriff has not had much consideration for the Hall. Overshadowed throughout his career, his numbers pale in comparison to those put up during the PED Era. Yet, the voters have stood upon their soapbox, demanding that these numbers be produced by those without the taint of PED usage. Despite those protestations, McGriff had yet to receive more than 23.9% of the vote in any of his nine years on the ballot.

However, McGriff’s fortunes may be changing due to the induction of one of the newest members of the Hall of Fame. Harold Baines‘ controversial inclusion by the Veteran’s Committee just a few weeks ago has changed the narrative of which players are considered to be Hall of Fame caliber. Baines was certainly a solid player, but he was considered a questionable choice nonetheless.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

At this point, Baines induction appears to be a boon for McGriff. While only 89 ballots have been made public, McGriff has received 37.6% of the vote thus far. Obviously, he is still a long way from being voted in, as he needs 274 more votes to be inducted in his final year on the ballot.

However, this dramatic increase in support bodes well for the future. One has to imagine that McGriff will find his way onto the Today’s Game ballot in the coming years. Should that happen, McGriff may have his best chance at being inducted, with his Hall of Fame case getting the consideration that it has deserved.

One has to wonder what if. What if McGriff had hit seven more homers, giving him 500 home runs for his career. What if the strike had not happened in 1994, costing him those final weeks as he chased a milestone? Would PEDs have become as prevalent as the game looked to draw fans back based on offense? Would McGriff have been given more consideration by the BBWAA?

Right now, McGriff is starting to get that consideration. While it is likely far too late to be voted in, his excellent career is being recognized for what it was. A steady player whose career coincided with the peak of the Steroid Era, McGriff deserved better than he had received on the ballot.

Now that Harold Baines has been selected to join the MLB Hall of Fame, other candidates are getting another look. Fred McGriff is benefiting from that additional scrutiny, and may find himself enshrined in Cooperstown in the coming years.