Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Texas Rangers, Rafael Palmeiro
WAR value: 44.6
Rafael Palmeiro finished his career with over 3,000 hits and 585 home runs. Unfortunately, his entire career is marred with allegations of steroid use. The slugger denied using steroids in front of Congress, only for the evidence to keep mounting up against him. Thus, he remains on the outside looking in.
Palmeiro spent half of his MLB career with the Texas Rangers. He hit 321 home runs with the club and was an everyday player who was routinely playing at an MVP level. His best season in Texas came in 1993 when he posted a 6.9 WAR.
It is sad that a player with 3,000 hits and over 500 home runs fell off the Hall of Fame ballot. However, this is not shocking news given his connection to steroids and other PEDs. The fact he vehemently denied using them when his name kept popping up in reports may have pushed him off the ballot faster as well.
On the field the slugger was a special player to watch. Even in his final season with the Rangers, in 2003, he was able to launch 38 home runs. He was extremely consistent and stuck around until 2005 in Baltimore so he could reach that 3,000-hit total. Yet MLB fans old enough to remember that feat recall the weird feeling when it happened, given all the steroid talk and a suspension given to Palmeiro.
His career ended with boos and a lack of fanfare, making his case one of the saddets on the list.