Are players like Frank Thomas, Jim Thome and Gary Sheffield Hall of Famers?

Question

Is say no, if you think they are tell me why they are HOFers.

Answer 1

Thomas NO!

Thome NO!

Sheffield NO!

All are very good players but if they get in then put in Fred McGriff. None of them are GREAT players. That's why the Hall is a little diluted. McGwire doesn't deserve to ever get in either. He was very good but not Hall of Fame material.

Guys like Griffey and A-Rod could never play again and I would say, Yes, because they have demonstrated greatness. I put Griffey in the Clemente class because although he isn't dead his numbers were hampered by unfortunate events. Griffey is GREAT! A-Rod is GREAT! Bonds is GREAT!

So guy below me: You are basically saying Fred McGriff (of whom I happen to be a very big fan) should be in the Hall? or are you saying just because you hit 500 homers that's an automatic ticket? People who solely base the Hall just on numbers hasn't a clue. It's about the compiled stats and the fashion in which they were compiled. Anybody can obtain stats over a long period of time. And just being good at hitting homers doesn't make you a GREAT player.

Answer 2

To me, Frank Thomas is a Hall of Famer. Perhaps not on the first ballot though.
I remember during the early 90's when Frank Thomas was a very feared hitter. One of the elite, he hit for power, average, and rarely swung at bad pitches. His body of work is there too.
Career .303 hitter, 500+ home runs

Jim Thome is not a HOF. Although he may get in eventually.
To me, Jim Thome was never the best or elite in his own era. A good power hitter, but only a career avg. @.282. Other first basemen were better during the 90's and early 2000's. I think of Thome as a Fred McGriff type player. Valuable, but not great in the HOF catagory.

Gary Sheffield is not a HOF. Although this is by far the toughest call of the three for me.
The first 8 years of his career he missed alot of games. It has tkaen him 19 years to get 450 HR. Also, he has never hit more than 43 in a season. Compared to his contemperaries, not very impressive. Also, his attitude with the media and steriod allegations should factor into this. Regardless of our own opinion of Sheffield, those issues will be a factor with HOF voters. To me, his body of work has not been consistent enough for the HOF with players like Tony Gwynn or Kirby Puckett. To me, it's too little too late with Sheffield. But this was a tough one because of his production the last few years.

Answer 3

Frank Thomas is a Hall of Famer, he was too dominant for too long. He's too strong and got on base at too high of a rate for him to be denied the Hall. He's in.

Jim Thome= not in. He was never, at any point in his career, the best player on his team. With the Indians, Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle often were better. With the Phillies, Bobby Abreu got it done with the bat and leather. With the White Sox, he can't stay healthy, and Konerko and Dye have been there to protect him. He's just not a Hall of Famer.

Gary Sheffield = in. one of the most consistent, feared, and productive hitters of the 1990's and early 2000's. He's not a big home run hitter, although he approaches 500 jacks. He drove in runs at alarming rates. Amazing player, Hall of Fame worthy.

Answer 4

Frank Thomas was arguably the best player in baseball for much of the 1990s. He had seven straight seasons in which he batted .300, hit at least 200 homers, and broke the 100 mark in walks, runs and RBI. He's a two-time MVP, has 500 homers, and has an OBP that ranks in the top 20 of all time. He's fallen off a lot from his prime, but he's still a no-doubt HOFer in my book.

Jim Thome has quietly put together a great career, like a Ralph Kiner with greater longevity. When all is said and done, he'll retire with over 500 homers and a .400 OBP. He's never won an MVP, but his mid-90s seasons were among the best of his era, and he's 16th all-time in the very important OPS category. I'd like to see him strike out less, but it's tough to knock anything else he's done. I believe he'll deservedly make the Hall, although maybe not in his first try.

Sheffield is the toughest call, but I think he'll get in based on longevity. Again, he's a guy who'll likely get 500 homers with impressive OBP and OPS numbers, and it's tough to deny guys like that their place. He's never won an MVP, but I think his consistent production over two decades will get him in. I would vote for Thomas and Thome over him, but Sheff will eventually be voted in. I'm undecided, personally, on him because I prefer strong peak years to a long and "distinguished" career.

As for the comparison Veritas made to McGriff, there's a big difference - the Crime Dog has the 75th-best OPS of all-time, as compared to two top-20 guys in Thomas and Thome. You can use McGriff's exclusion to argue against Shef, but not the others.

Answer 5

All 3 are very good if not great players. But did any of them change the game around themselves? I say no. They were great for a few years, but they didn't transend anything. The value of numbers has changed. It used to be a given that anyone who hits 500 homeruns get into the HOF. With the number of players passing 500 recently that number has lost its magic.
Expansion has helped to inflate offensive numbers. I cannot equate their numbers to those of Frank Robinson, Mike Schmidt, and Hank Aaron. Although these 3 players are great, I can't put them in the HOF.

Answer 6

That's so tough to say. They're all going to be borderline because their numbers are so similar, and they are all similar players. Sheffield plays a tougher position, but come on, if Manny can field the same spot, it can't be THAT demanding. I can't say for sure. I'd guess that 1 of the 3 will get in.

Answer 7

The guy above me has no clue about baseball. Frank Thomas has more that 500 homers, and obviously not many people have that many. So hes definately going to be a hall of famer

Answer 8

because look at there numbers they say it all well i think Thomas and thome are Sheffield maybe

Answer 9

Frank Thomas is already in the HOF.
Jim Thome could be in next year as either an Indian or Phillie.
Gary Sheffield took steroids so he doesn't stand a chance.

Answer 10

Shefield should eventually make it and Frank Thomas I can almost guarntee will be a first ballot get in