Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Kansas City Royals, Bret Saberhagen
WAR value: 40.7
Bret Saberhagen spent 16 years in MLB, but his best playing days came in the eight years he spent with the Kansas City Royals. 40.7 of his career 58.9 WAR came in those eight impressive campaigns.
1985 was the year he cemented his legacy in Kansas City. The 21-year-old Saberhagen not only won a Cy Young Award, but he did so in a World Series championship year for the club. This was only his second season at the MLB level and his first as a full-time starter.
It only took until 1989 for him to win his second Cy Young Award in a year when he also finished eighth in MVP voting. The fascinating thing with Saberhagen is while he made three All-Star Games, he never made it in a year when he won a Cy Young.
The former Royals ace also spent time with the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, and Boston Red Sox. So why is he on this list with the Royals? That has to do with his award-winning success, along with the fact the Royals do not have many superstar legends outside of George Brett.
Winning a Cy Young and a World Series in the same season is an impressive enough feat for any player. All Saberhagen did was continue to get better throughout his career. He threw a no-hitter in 1991 as well, so the accolades are certainly there for Hall of Fame consideration.