MLB History: The best player from each franchise not in the Hall of Fame

Fans of each and every MLB team have players who are special to them for one reason or another. Maybe it is a monumental home run, or a pitch that clinched a championship and uplifted a city.

The best of the best end up reaching the Hall of Fame. However, there are plenty of legitimate stars from each team that never get enshrined in Cooperstown. That does not mean they were “bad” by any measure. They are just, for one reason or another, not getting enough support from voters.

Our goal here is to take a look at the best player from each MLB team not currently in the Hall of Fame. For our measurements, we will be referencing WAR values found on Baseball Reference and only include the total the player had with the specific team in focus.

This list features former All-Stars, controversial players, and some who are still not eligible for enshrinement. The final category had to be included because some teams are still very young and lack a prominent history.

We start with the Baltimore Orioles and the American League East division and go down the standings all the way to the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Boston Red Sox, Dwight Evans

WAR value: 66.5

Dwight Evans ranks fourth all-time in Boston Red Sox history when it comes to WAR. So why is he not in the Hall of Fame? Well, sometimes longevity can hurt players if they never hit any notable career benchmarks.

Evans spent 19 seasons with the Red Sox and made three All-Star Games, while also winning eight Gold Gloves. He also hit 379 home runs in a Red Sox uniform.

Evans played more games in a Red Sox uniform than Ted Williams and by WAR alone, belongs in Cooperstown. He may end up being a player who gets in via a separate voting committee, far too long after he deserved recognition.

The outfielder finished top-10 in AL MVP voting four times and likely would have been enshrined easily if he was a part of a title winner in Boston. Instead, he is one of the more glaring omissions from the Hall that plenty agree should be in by now.

For reference, Evans’ WAR in Boston is nearly 14 points higher than David Ortiz. And it appears the latter is a lock once he is eligible.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: New York Yankees, Andy Pettitte

WAR value: 51.3

Andy Pettitte is one of the best pitchers in New York Yankees history. However, he is the first member of our list who dealt with the fallout of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The southpaw has 256 career wins, 219 of which came in New York. He was a part of five World Series winning teams, which is just wild, and was a three-time All-Star. His WAR value ranks third among pitchers in team history behind only Whitey Ford and Mariano Rivera.

But the PED issue hangs over his head and will until he either falls off the ballot or the perception of voters drastically changes. We are talking about the Yankees’ all-time leader in strikeouts and several other impressive categories. There is just no getting around the elephant in the room, unfortunately.

Pettitte just couldn’t get enough of the Yankees as he had three separate stints with the team. The second came after some time in Houston, while the third came after a planned retirement. He kept coming back, the fans loved him, and now he will have to wait to see if he can get in the Hall of Fame alongside other PED users such as former teammate Roger Clemens.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Tampa Bay Rays, Evan Longoria

WAR value: 51.2

Here we have our first young MLB franchise on the list. The Tampa Bay Rays, formerly the Devil Rays, began play in 1998 and that means there is not much history in St. Pete. However, one player does stand out as a franchise legend.

Evan Longoria is the franchise leader in countless offensive categories, and no one is even close to his 51.2 WAR value. He spent 10 seasons in Tampa and burst onto the scene as the AL Rookie of the Year in 2008.

His only three All-Star Game appearances came in his first three MLB seasons, but he did receive MVP votes in years when he did not make the Midsummer Classic. Longoria was a legitimate superstar in Tampa and brought excitement to a franchise that was just trying to get fans in the stands.

His overall Hall of Fame case is up for debate. The veteran’s pace has slowed in four seasons in San Francisco, and the highest honor he receives may be whatever the Rays franchise has planned for him upon retirement. No one in the Bay will forget the way he showed up in 2008 en route to a World Series appearance for the Rays.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Toronto Blue Jays, Carlos Delgado

WAR value: 36.8

The Toronto Blue Jays are another interesting MLB franchise. They do have two World Series titles, but those came in consecutive years in 1992 and 1993. And when it comes to Hall of Fame talent, Carlos Delgado stands out as an easy choice.

Delgado spent 12 years with the Blue Jays after being signed as a teenager. He launched 336 home runs in Canada, which gives him the franchise lead. In general, he finished his career with an impressive mark of 473 home runs.

The left-handed hitter was an absolute force in the Toronto lineup. He had 30 or more home runs in eight separate years and was a doubles machine as well. His 343 doubles with the Blue Jays has him atop that all-time list as well.

After leaving Toronto he spent one season in Miami and four with the New York Mets. But his best baseball came north of the border and while he may never be enshrined, he is a legend of the Blue Jays franchise. Unfortunately, he was never able to play in a postseason game with his first club.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Chicago White Sox, Mark Buehrle

WAR value: 48.9

Mark Buehrle did it all during his 12 years with the Chicago White Sox. He made four All-Star Games, threw a no-hitter, added a perfect game, and won a World Series title. The southpaw was also always available and as durable as they come.

In total, Buehrle finished his career with 214 wins and an average of 221 innings pitched per season. Of course, his innings total won’t break any records due to how the game was played decades ago. But this is a major accomplishment in this era and Buehrle remains on the Hall of Fame ballot next year, which proves there are those out there who find him deserving.

Buehrle was never a pitcher with a flashy ERA or league-leading strikeout total. He was just always consistent and rarely had a bad start. He also retired with four Gold Glove Awards, proving his true value on defense in addition to his pitching.

The lefty has a career WAR of 60.0 in 16 seasons and he will now be hoping voters continue to see his name on the ballot and appreciate him more with time. For now, he remains a White Sox franchise legend and one of the better pitchers to never win a Cy Young Award.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Cleveland Indians, Kenny Lofton

WAR value: 48.6

Kenny Lofton was a legitimate star with the Cleveland Indians. He won four consecutive Gold Glove Awards and any Indians highlight package from the 1990s is always guaranteed to feature at least one or two insane catches from Lofton.

His WAR also puts him fifth all-time in team history among position players. But Lofton spent 17 years in MLB and only 10 in Cleveland. He is another player whose longevity may be hurting his Hall of Fame case.

His stolen base totals from 1992-1996 are easily the most wild stats to his name. Lofton led the league for five straight years and had 75 stolen bases in 1996. He was swiping bags with ease and once he was on base, he was the ultimate distraction for any pitcher.

Lofton played until he was 40 years old and his production dropped drastically in 2002 when he left Cleveland for the second time. Still, this is a player with almost 2,500 hits and 622 career stolen bases.

The center fielder is already enshrined in the Indians Hall of Fame. But it may take a veterans committee to get him into Cooperstown as more time passes and his numbers hold up against modern players.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker

WAR value: 75.1

Lou Whitaker not being in the Hall of Fame is a genuine head-scratcher. This is a player whose career was filled with accolades in addition to his 75.1 career WAR value in 19 seasons.

The second baseman spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers and retired with a trophy case full of awards. He was the 1978 Rookie of the Year, a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, three-time Gold Glove winner, and World Series champion.

Sometimes longevity is going to hurt any player’s case. But Whitaker was an everyday player for 16 of his 19 MLB seasons. And aside from a quick 20-game debut in 1977, he never posted a negative WAR value in any other season. In fact, he never even posted one below 1.5.

Whitaker ranks fourth all-time in WAR among Tigers batters and is third in games played. He is also tied 51st overall in MLB history for WAR among position players. At this point it is fair to question what exactly he did wrong for voters to ignore him so easily.

Is it a lack of one MVP-level season? The highest he ever finished in the voting was eighth in 1983, but winning MVP is not a qualification for enshrinement anyway. Several players on this list have strong cases for the Hall of Fame. But few can match Whitaker’s resume, and his WAR alone tells the tale.

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.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Minnesota Twins, Joe Mauer

WAR value: 55.2

Joe Mauer was one of the best players in baseball in a stretch that lasted from 2006-2013. The Minnesota Twins star was named MVP in 2009 and made six All-Star Games in that span. So what slowed down one of the most elite players in baseball? Injuries ultimately stopped a legendary ascent, but Mauer still retired as one of the best catchers to ever play the game.

It is easy to see a player win an MVP and slow down after, only to say he ended up showing major regression. But if you look at Mauer’s career, he still posted a 3.9 WAR in 2017, which was his second-to-last year in MLB. He was firmly set in at first base by that point, but that doesn’t take away from his legacy. If anything, the move to first after 2013 ultimately elongated his career that was riddled with injuries.

Mauer, a catcher, led the league in batting average three separate times. Some fans may think he did that because he was not playing everyday. However, the fewest games he played in any of those three seasons was 138 in his MVP season of 2009. He retired with a slash line of .306/.388/.439. So no matter where he was on the field, he could hit.

Mauer is still not eligible for the Hall of Fame, but his case remains up in the air. He ranks third all-time in Twins franchise history with his 55.2 WAR, behind only Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. Seeing the company he ranks among seems to point toward the fact he belongs in Cooperstown.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Houston Astros, Jose Cruz

WAR value: 51.4

Jose Cruz is one of several players on this list who retired with great counting stats, but who never had one mind-blowing season in his MLB career. Still, he posted a 51.4 WAR with the Houston Astros and a 54.4 mark for his entire career.

Cruz spent 13 seasons with the Astros and finished his MLB career with 2,251 hits. He was also a two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger. He was simply the model of consistency during his time in Houston. Cruz routinely posted respectable WAR values and went above 6.0 in back-to-back seasons from 1983-1984. He was able to finish top-8 in MVP voting both of those years as well.

He did not even spend his entire career with the Astros and still ranks third all-time in franchise history for WAR behind only Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. Cruz was so special the team retired his number and inducted him into their own Hall of Fame.

Cruz faces a tough battle into the actual Hall of Fame and likely will never get in; at least not anytime soon. It would take a veterans committee and his lack of awards or any notable statistical benchmarks will keep him out. However, plenty of Astros fans can likely make a solid case for why he does indeed belong.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Los Angeles Angels, Chuck Finley

WAR value: 52.0

Some Los Angeles Angels fans may have expected to see Mike Trout’s name on this list. But he is still in the prime of his career so we wanted to get a bit more historical.

Thus, Chuck Finley makes the list as the franchise’s all-time leader in WAR for pitchers. The southpaw spent 14 seasons with the Angels, reaching four All-Star Games in that time period. He is the franchise leader in pitcher wins as well with 165.

Finley is a pitcher who never had a flashy win total or strikeout number. He was just consistent and the WAR continued to build during what was a solid career without any major lows. He had at least 200 strikeouts in three separate seasons and won at least 15 games in six seasons.

Finley ultimately wrapped up his career in Cleveland and St. Louis before calling it quits. He did make the All-Star Game in 2000, so his value stretched throughout his entire career.

The former Angel fell off the Hall of Fame ballot almost immediately, but was recognized in the Angels Hall of Fame. That appears to be his peak after a great, but not legendary career. So when it comes to Angels in general, Trout is the automatic lock waiting to get into the Hall of Fame. But if he can stay healthy, that enshrinement will not be for nearly two decades.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Oakland Athletics, Mark McGwire

WAR value: 42.9

Some may see it as controversial to put Mark McGwire on this list for the Oakland Athletics. But there is a good reasoning behind the decision. While his biggest overall moment came in St. Louis, McGwire spent most of his historic career in Oakland.

This is a slugger who retired with 583 career home runs and if he would have been enshrined, his playing days with the A’s would make up most of his career. He was a Rookie of the Year and also won a World Series with Oakland. His career was much more than just a few flashy home run seasons in Missouri.

But discussion of which team he would go in under is a moot point considering he admitted to using PEDs throughout his MLB career. That is much different than others who were only alleged to used banned substances. McGwire may have though admitting it would help his chances of enshrinement, but not much changed in that regard.

That is truly a shame because few will ever forget the 70 home runs he launched in 1998. However, few will also ever forget the fact steroids surround the bulk of his career story. Fans in Oakland saw the young McGwire rise up into a true star. He seemed to get on base at will and made pitchers pay all the time. Unfortunately, there is more to the story and his actions are one of the ultimate sins of the game.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Seattle Mariners, Ichiro Suzuki

WAR value: 56.4

We know Ichiro Suzuki is getting into the Hall of Fame once he is eligible. So this becomes more about appreciating his career than making a case for him. Because when it comes to the Seattle Mariners, he is the best player still waiting to get in.

Ichiro made his MLB debut in 2001 and immediately racked up the awards. He was named Rookie of the Year, MVP, an All-Star, a Silver Slugger, and he took home a Gold Glove. His 242 hits in his first year against MLB pitching made it clear this young man was truly a special talent.

His career is a special one because even though he started to slow down his pace after a decade, it was because he was approaching 40 years of age. If he had come over as a 21-year-old, he may have set records that would never have been broken.

Ichiro still managed to break the 3,000-hit mark in MLB and made 10 All-Star Games. And in addition to all his dominance on offense, he took home 10 Gold Gloves as well. Few players ever showed off the arm he did in right field.

The Mariners legend ultimately called it quits in 2019 so he has a few years to go before enshrinement. He stands out as one of the few locks ready for Cooperstown after a career than changed the idea of how a batter can be effective in MLB. In an era of home runs, Ichiro would slap just about any ball into the outfield for an easy hit.

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.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Atlanta Braves, Andruw Jones

WAR value: 61.0

Andruw Jones is, without a doubt, one of the best players to ever wear an Atlanta Braves uniform. He compiled a 61.0 WAR in only 12 seasons with the team and the first season only featured limited action as he was still a teenager.

Jones won 10 Gold Gloves, made five All-Star Games, and even hit 368 home runs during his time in Atlanta. He was also on the field nearly every single day and provided that rare mix of excellence on offense and defense. Having one of your best power hitters play center field is not a common thing in today’s game.

He has also gained steady support in Hall of Fame voting since becoming eligible, but he has a long way to go for enshrinement. Jones may end up being one of the players who it takes a long time to get in, but a veterans committee realizes he did enough without ever being a true superstar of the game.

There has to be some consideration for the fact he was a perennial Gold Glove winner when it comes to his Hall of Fame consideration. 10 straight years of playing elite defense at a position that requires so much speed and athleticism is nothing to discount. And it’s not like he was struggling on offense at all during that stretch.

Jones ranks fourth in Braves history in the WAR category for batters. Going above 60.0 in his Braves career alone should mean he gets in at some point.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Miami Marlins, Josh Johnson

WAR value: 25.8

The Miami, formerly Florida, Marlins are one of the younger franchises in MLB. And while they have won two World Series titles, they have struggled to find any success in other seasons. The Marlins are now known as a team that loves to sell off young talent in favor of keeping the payroll low.

So they presented one of the bigger challenges for this list with the needed criteria. Pitcher Josh Johnson ends up taking the spot with a 25.8 WAR in eight years, even though he was only a regular starter in four of those.

Johnson was a two-time All-Star and is the franchise leader for WAR by a pitcher by a large margin over Dontrelle Willis. Does that make him the best pitcher in franchise history? Well, by the WAR measure the answer would be yes. Jose Fernandez may have taken that mantle is not for his tragic death so young.

Johnson is, as you may have guessed, not bound for the Hall of Fame. But he may get some recognition from the Marlins franchise as time passes and the team continues to only go with young, cheap players.

His best season came in 2010 when he led the league in ERA at 2.30 and also finished fifth in Cy Young voting. Unfortunately for Johnson, he was not around when the Marlins were chasing World Series titles.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: New York Mets, Dwight Gooden

WAR value: 41.6

There was simply no denying Dwight Gooden’s dominance on the mound during his time with the New York Mets. He won the Rookie of the Year in 1984 before becoming the Cy Young Award winner a year later. He continued to play at an elite level in the following years, but off-the-field issues started to slow his potential.

Gooden spent 11 years with the Mets and had 157 wins, along with 1,875 strikeouts. His 1984 season is one for the ages. Gooden logged 276.2 innings and had a league-leading 268 strikeouts. The craziest thing is that he had 276 strikeouts a year prior in only 218 innings.

He looked like a true superstar from the start and his 12.2 WAR in 1985 draws modern comparisons to what Jacob deGrom is doing with the team.

Substance and legal issues ended up contributing to Gooden’s downfall. He was able to pitch until 2000 with the New York Yankees, but was never the same after being suspended for the 1995 season.

Gooden finished his career with 194 total wins. That number easily could have been 300 if he did not have the off-the-field issues, which makes his case a sad one. Still, he remains an important player in Mets history and is in the team’s own Hall of Fame.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Philadelphia Phillies, Chase Utley

WAR value: 62.0

It is hard for any Philadelphia Phillies player to approach the numbers Mike Schmidt put up during his legendary career. But Chase Utley is a player right behind him in several all-time marks, including WAR.

Utley spent 13 seasons with the Phillies and made six All-Star Games. He also won four Silver Sluggers and was part of the 2008 World Series winning squad. His 9.0 WAR that season was key to the team’s success.

The aggressive second baseman finished his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and called it quits after the 2018 season, so he is not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame. His case will be an interesting one, but it is unlikely he gets in right away.

Going over 60.0 in career WAR is always a plus. However, he was not a perennial All-Star and did not even reach 2,000 hits in his career. He also never took home a single Gold Glove Award. What he did do was have a six-year stretch of being an elite player. Whether that is enough for enshrinement remains to be seen.

Utley is someone who will also be beloved for his play in Philly. And he deserves all the recognition the team wants to give him. It would just be a surprise for him to make it into the Hall of Fame given the way the current voting system has worked.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Washington Nationals, Ryan Zimmerman

WAR value: 40.0

The Washington Nationals also carry the history of the Montreal Expos before them. Even with that being the case, active player Ryan Zimmerman was the top choice for this list. He ranks fourth among batters in franchise history with his 40.0 WAR and holds a special place in the heart of Nationals fans.

Zimmerman was the team’s first draft pick after the move in 2005 and made his MLB debut that same year. He is another player on this list who is probably not Hall of Fame bound, but still fits the criteria of being a team’s best player not enshrined.

Once he is eligible, there is no way he makes it in. The resume is just not there. However, he will get a ton of honors from the Nationals, and rightfully so. Zimmerman is still a two-time All-Star who has played his entire career with the organization and who was on the 2019 championship team.

It is rare for any player to spend 16 seasons with one club. Add in the fact Zimmerman was the new team’s first draft pick and the fact he ranks so high in franchise history, it is easy to see why he will always be the first face of the franchise.

And for all the hype surrounding Bryce Harper’s career in Washington, Zimmerman is way ahead of him in WAR with the franchise.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Chicago Cubs, Sammy Sosa

WAR value: 58.8

The case of Sammy Sosa is a fascinating one. Here we have someone who was beloved as a member of the Chicago Cubs when he was hitting well over 60 home runs per year on several different occasions. He even won an MVP award and was named to seven All-Star Games.

Yet Sosa, who retired with 606 career home runs, remains out of the Hall of Fame. He maintained his innocence for years, but the connection to PEDs has been too much for voters to overcome. That is a sharp contrast to the way he was looked at during his exciting career in Chicago.

That is the sad case of those connected to PEDs. Fans love seeing the players mash home runs and the league promotes the players as their top stars. Then all of a sudden, the narrative changes and they are ostracized from the game they helped promote.

Sosa remains different from someone like Barry Bonds because it truly was the home runs that put him on a pedestal. He was not elite in any other category, even though he does rank sixth all-time in Cubs history for WAR. And that came in only 13 years with the club.

Under normal circumstances, Sosa’s home runs would earn him automatic enshrinement. But throw in the PED allegations along with the fact he was not a perennial MVP or All-Star and it is easy to see where excuses may come from when voters are asked about his case.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose

WAR value: 78.1

Pete Rose is an extremely unique case on this list. While we have several alleged PED users included, Rose never enhanced his body to help his performance. But he committed the ultimate sin in the eyes of the league. That is betting on the game.

Everyone likely has taken a side to this argument by now. But regardless of what Rose did while serving as a manager, his playing days are among the best we have ever seen. He retired with 4,256 hits and 17 All-Star Game appearances. He was also a Rookie of the Year, MVP, and a three-time World Series champion. Rose truly did it all in addition to hitting the ball at a record rate.

Yet his name is synonymous with betting on baseball. The issue appears to be the way Rose handled himself once MLB started looking into the matter. Also, the fact he bet while as a manager seemed to be a much bigger issue than if he did so as a player.

Rose is a player who presents a case where it is foolish to keep his hit record out of the Hall of Fame. While the Hall won’t consider those banned from the game, a piece of baseball history is missing its proper recognition.

Will Rose ever get in? That may depend on if a new MLB Commissioner one day decides enough punishment is enough. It would then be up to voters to determine if they are over the fact he did bet on the game while serving as a manager. The sin won’t go away even if the ban does.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun

WAR value: 47.1

Ryan Braun is another controversial player on this list, even though he was not around during the first surge of steroid users back in the late 1990s. The Milwaukee Brewers slugger actually served a suspension for PEDs, which is much different than others who were only alleged users.

On the field, Braun is one of the best players to ever wear a Brewers uniform. He is the franchise leader in home runs with 352 and was named MVP during the 2011 season.

Braun made his debut back in 2007 and was named Rookie of the Year the same season. While five straight All-Star Game appearances did follow, anyone considering his case is going to be hung up on the PED use and suspensions.

Even if the steroid label was not attached to his name, Braun would not likely have any shot of getting into the Hall of Fame. He is in the category of a player on this list who will be in the team’s own Hall of Fame, but that is it. The slugger just never did enough to take that leap into the legend conversation.

When it comes to franchise leaders, Robin Yount holds the most offensive records. But Braun is right behind him, along with Paul Molitor, in plenty of categories. That puts him high up in Milwaukee history, which may just be fine for Braun after what is still a successful career.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Pittsburgh Pirates, Andrew McCutchen

WAR value: 40.4

Younger generations of MLB fans may have no idea the Pittsburgh Pirates have a long and storied history. For modern-day fans, Andrew McCutchen may be the most memorable player in team history.

McCutchen, of course, is still playing with the Philadelphia Phillies. But his heyday came in Pittsburgh during his time there from 2009-2017. He was the MVP in 2013 and one of the main reasons the team was actually able to make it back to the postseason. Unfortunately, they never made much noise in October.

The outfielder is yet another player who is not likely headed to Cooperstown upon retirement. Yet he did enough during his time in Pittsburgh to warrant recognition there for the rest of his life. McCutchen made five straight All-Star Games and won four straight Silver Sluggers. Throwing in the MVP trophy cemented his legacy in a city starved for success from the Pirates.

McCutchen was also, and still is, one of the more likable players in the game. He is just fun and his personality always made him an easy player to root for. His career .379 on-base percentage while in Pittsburgh also illustrates why he was easy to root for.

McCutchen is already a legend in Pittsburgh for what he did in nine years with the team. And if the franchise ever committed to spending, he may have stayed to continue what they had built during the time he was an MVP.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: St. Louis Cardinals, Curt Flood

WAR value: 42.3

Curt Flood is a special inclusion on this list because his impact was felt off the baseball diamond as well. He was a key figure in the fight for free agency and took the case all the way up to the Supreme Court.

Flood did not win the case, but what he did was put his name and reputation on the line in order to fight for what was right. For that alone, he belongs in the Hall of Fame. But let’s look at what he did on the field as well.

Flood was also a three-time All-Star who won seven Gold Gloves as well. He won two World Series titles with the team and his WAR value ranks eighth all-time among Cardinals batters. So it is not like Flood would only get in for his labor battle. He was an All-Star player who put his name on the line for that fight.

Sadly, Flood passed away at the age of 59 back in 1997. Hopefully, voters on one of the committees can get him in for both his play and his fight for free agency. Who knows what would have happened if Flood just stayed quiet and didn’t make it a national issue. Others may have been too scared to step up and do the same.

The Hall of Fame is supposed to include not only star players, but those who had a positive impact on the game. Floods being left out is a glaring omission.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Arizona Diamondbacks, Luis Gonzalez

WAR value: 30.0

The Arizona Diamondbacks only began play in 1998. That is why it was so shocking when the team won the World Series in 2001, with Luis Gonzalez leading the way. Having Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling on the mound helped as well.

Gonzalez only spent eight years in Arizona, but ranks second behind Paul Goldschmidt in WAR for batters. He also had one of the famous hits in MLB history that clinched the 2001 World Series. That alone cemented his legacy in team history. Don’t forget that he was the one who finally slayed the mighty beast that was Mariano Rivera.

In general, Gonzalez had an impressive MLB career. He retired with 2,591 hits and 354 home runs. 2,500 hits and 350 home runs is not exactly 3,000 and 500, but those marks warrant recognition. Just not in the Hall of Fame.

Gonzalez dropped off the ballot rather quickly, but makes our list for what he did with a young franchise upon arrival. He made his first All-Star team while in Arizona and added four more during his time there. He also took home a Silver Slugger.

The lefty was only slightly above-average before being sent to the desert. But once he arrived he stepped up his game and that is why the Diamondbacks, a team that began in 1998, retired his number.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Colorado Rockies, Todd Helton

WAR value: 61.8

The Colorado Rockies are another young franchise that only began play in 1993. Todd Helton debuted in 1997 and is one of the true legends so far in franchise history.

Helton leads countless offensive categories and in terms of games played, no one is even close to his mark of 2,247. He retired with 2,519 hits, 369 home runs, and won three Gold Gloves in addition to his success on offense. The WAR value speaks for itself as well.

Helton is currently on the Hall of Fame ballot and has seen a steady rise in votes the past several years. It is fair to ask how his candidacy changes from 2021 to 2022, but the Hall of Fame voters are not always the most logical bunch.

If Helton had the hit and home run total without the high WAR, he may not gain enough support. However, his stats prove he was doing it all and in a way that contributed to helping his team win. Adding the Gold Gloves proves, for a time, he was an asset on defense as well. Retiring with a .316 batting average and .953 OPS screams Hall of Fame as well.

It would appear, given his current voting trajectory, Helton will get into Cooperstown. Perhaps voters want to wait a few years because he was not a first-ballot guy during his career. Regardless, Helton is a Rockies legend and should be enshrined soon enough.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Los Angeles Dodgers, Orel Hershiser

WAR value: 39.6

Orel Hershiser is one of the more interesting cases on this entire list. His career WAR of 51.3 is impressive, but his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers is the strongest part of his resume.

Hershiser spent 13 seasons with the Dodgers and in that time he made three All-Star Games, won a Cy Young Award, won a World Series, and was named MVP of that Series. 1988 was the best year of his career and it came at a perfect time to help the Dodgers win it all.

His career ERA with the Dodgers in 3.12 and he was an absolute workhorse for the team once he hit his prime. He led the league in innings every year from 1987-1989 and had 33 complete games in that span as well.

Hershiser went on to spend time with the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets, before a forgettable return to Los Angeles in 2000 before retirement.

During his prime, Hershiser was nearly unbeatable. The problem, for Hall of Fame consideration, is he was not elite again after a strong three or four-year stretch. That may keep him in the category of a franchise legend who did enough to win a World Series, but not enough to stand out among all the best pitchers in the history of the game.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: San Diego Padres, Jake Peavy

WAR value: 24.8

The San Diego Padres do not have an illustrious history of dominant pitching. The most notable pitcher in franchise history is Trevor Hoffman, who was a closer. However, Jake Peavy deserves some recognition if we are looking at others who had solid careers in San Diego.

Let’s start by saying Peavy is not headed to Cooperstown. He makes this list because outside of Hoffman and Tony Gwynn, the Padres are a tough team to find superstar talents. That is obviously changing in the present time, but this is new for the franchise.

Peavy spent eight years with the club and won a Cy Young Award in 2007. He was the league-leader in ERA and strikeouts that year, thus boosting his value for his eventual trade in 2009 to the Chicago White Sox.

Peavy was not terrible after leaving San Diego, but it is where he played his best baseball. The right-hander left with 92 wins and a 3.29 ERA. He is also fourth in team history in terms of batters faced, further illustrating how the Padres lack a dynamic history of pitching success.

The starter should hold a special place in Padres history for winning his Cy Young Award while in San Diego. Ending up in the team’s Hall of Fame will be his best hope of any sort of enshrinement.

Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: San Francisco Giants, Barry Bonds

WAR value: 112.5

We end this list with one of the most valuable and decorated players in MLB history. And the crazy thing is that while Barry Bonds put up legendary numbers in San Francisco, he was still a young star during his seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bonds ended up joining the Giants in 1993 after winning two MVP awards in Pittsburgh. He ultimately added five more in San Francisco, with four coming during an insane run from 2001-2004.

Like others on this list, the numbers alone make Bonds one of the more obvious Hall of Famers of all time. However, no one is associated with PEDs more than this man. This is 14-time All-Star who hit 762 home runs during one of the more exciting careers ever seen.

And it is not like the media hated him during his career. He was still taking home MVP awards left and right. However, the Hall of Fame voters have still been wary of putting him in. One interesting fact is that Bonds has inched closer to enshrinement every year since being eligible. He was on nearly 62 percent of ballots in 2021.

Given the way Hall voters handle PED users, Bonds will likely fall short and hope a veterans committee can get him in. If anything, his accomplishments during his career deserve some recognition if his records are ultimately recognized by MLB.