During the late ’90s and early 2000s, the game of baseball was dominated by tremendous players in the outfield. You had Ken Griffey Jr, Ichiro Suzuki, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa. All of those players in their own right deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame (although with Bonds and Sosa there should be an asterisk). Not to be overlooked, however, is one of the most passionate and hardworking players in MLB history in Jim Edmonds.
Jim Edmonds Hall of Fame Profile
Career:
Edmonds was drafted in the seventh round to the California Angels and grinded through five years of minor league baseball before making his debut in 1993. In just his third season in the big leagues, Edmonds reached the All Star game after hitting thirty-three home runs to go along with 107 RBI’s. It seemed later on as though Edmonds would wear the title of “snubbed” throughout his career; he was left out of three All Star games, in 1998, 2001, and 2002, despite hitting over 300 in all three seasons. In 1998, former Rookie of the Year Ben Grieve made the all star game despite hitting just .288 to Edmonds’ .307. Edmonds also crushed twenty-five home runs that season.
Games missed, Injuries, Character, and Gold Gloves:
Edmonds will be hurt by the fact that he never completed a full season of baseball. The most games that Edmonds completed in a single season in his career was 154. In 2006, Edmonds continually dealt with concussion-like symptoms and was forced into retirement after tearing his Achilles tendon. Edmonds saw his greatest success with the St. Louis Cardinals and, in recognition of that fact, signed a one-day contract to retire with the club that he helped capture a World Series title in 2006.
What Jim Edmonds will be able to count on are his eight gold gloves, five of which were won in consecutive years from 2000-2005. During that span, Edmonds ran the table as the best defensive outfielder in the game. Edmonds did not have the power numbers to put him among the MLB’s greatest, but for a man who played during the steroid era to achieve so much while playing clean should be taken into consideration. Will Edmonds get into the Hall of Fame? Probably not. But does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? Most definitely. Some baseball writers do not respect “very good”, and therefore might not give Edmonds the credit he deserves, especially when taking into account that he should have played in the All Star game in each one of his prime years.
HoF Prognosis:
Edmonds in his prime was arguably the best defensive outfielder of his time. He was an eight-time gold glove award winner and was a four-time All Star. Edmonds probably would have gone to more All Star games as well had it not been for the punishment he put his body through by making game-saving grabs and crashing into walls seemingly night-in and night-out. Above all, even if Edmonds does not get in, he will be a player remembered for his heart and passion.
If nothing else, Edmonds can say he did it the right way during baseball’s steroid era.
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