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

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.