Here is something I got to talking about the other day with someone....

 

If Cal Ripken Jr. had not broken the consecutive game streak and if it were never discussed or made a big deal about, would he be a first ballot hall of famer???

 

Yearly Averages: 143 games/yr (first season 23 games), .276 B Avg, 20.5 HR, 81 RBI, .447 SLG, 78.4 Runs, 152 Hits, .977 Fielding % (SS and 3B)

 

 

Career Totals 3001 G, 11551 AB, 1647 R, 3184 H, 603 2B, 44 3B, 431 HR, 1695 RBI, 5168 TB, 1129 BB, 1305 SO, 36 SB, 39 CS, .340 OBP, .447 SLB, .276 AVG

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=121222

YES!!! His stats would have gotten him in on the 1st try even without "the streak"

We had this discussion on BGP a while back and I was villified for saying he wasn't really a Hall of Famer. In retrospect though, I think he would be because he really changed the way shortstop was played. He ushered in the era of power-hitting shortstops, something that hadn't been seen previously.

 

Now, in my own humble opinion, if Cal had taken a few more games off during his career, his numbers would have been better. If you look at splits for his career his statistics got worse as the season wore on.

I say yes just because he was one of my alltime favorites.

Same could be said, about any MLB player, with extraordinary accomplishments....part of who Cal, Jr. is/was, is the consecutive streak.

 

If you're asking from a "stats" standpoint only, I would say "Yes", based off hits, HR's, fielding % and he was the mainstay for the Orioles.

Possibly. Without looking at the #'s, he revolutionized the SS position. It used to be for small, quick guys with a decent arm. He moved the big, athletic guy who hit for power from first base to SS. IMO, it's opened the position up to guys like A-Rod...

I think the 3184 hits and the 431 Homeruns (mostly as a shortstop) would have made him a shoo-in on the first ballot. The streak made him near unanimous.

The streak helped baseball not himself!

Ripken played the game as it was meant to be played. His style of play at SS set the tone for other players coming to the league at that position. He was a clutch player and his behavior off the field also earned him respect. MLB could use more guys like Cal Ripkin. With or without the streak I believe he was a HOF player but as Strike3 mentioned the streak gave him another personality and identified him as a player.

The streak helped baseball not himself!

I think both benefited from the streak. It brought positive attention to the league and Ripkin as well.

I think both benefited from the streak. It brought positive attention to the league and Ripkin as well.

 

I just meant I don't think it swayed any votes whether he should be in the HOF or not.

I think the 3184 hits and the 431 Homeruns (mostly as a shortstop) would have made him a shoo-in on the first ballot. The streak made him near unanimous.

 

 

:thumb:

This is what gets him in.

I would say that he definately would have even w/o the streak. Cal Ripken is the perfect model of what an MLB player should be. Class all the way. Ripken re defined the postion of shortstop and the "stereotype" player at that position. Ripken was a big man that could hit for power. Shortstops were not known a lot for that before him.

 

This will be a great GREAT H.O.F. induction on Sunday.

Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn are two of my all time favorite baseball players, heck -- they are baseball.

 

On another note I would lover to see Ripken as MLB commish one day.....sooner rather than later.

I just meant I don't think it swayed any votes whether he should be in the HOF or not.

He would have gotten in on the first ballot, I assume. But, if he had missed say game # 800 during his "streak", he would not have been the third highest vote getter of all time. Not even close.

 

Ripken is a class act, no doubt. I am just kind of weird about streaks like this when he was put in many situations where he was injured or unable to go, and just got his name in the box to keep the streak going... that streak elevated him into one of the all time elite/great status... something I feel he is not necessarily.

IMO he would make for a great commish!