Note - This article was first published by the IBWAA.
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By Paul Semendinger
This article is now the third in what has become a short series.
The process began when I noted that most of the players who were able to finish in the top 10 each year in the voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame from 1960 through 1985 eventually gained entry into Cooperstown's hallowed halls.
The most notable exception was Marty Marion, the former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop of the 1940s.
My next article asked whether Marion deserved to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. I was rooting for him but sadly determined that he fell short for a number of reasons.
All of that brings us to today where I will list the next four shortstops who should be seriously considered for induction into the Hall of Fame:
1) Alex Rodriguez - A-Rod's numbers speak for themselves. He was a terrific defensive shortstop and a multiple MVP award winner with the Mariners and Rangers before moving to third base with the Yankees. His lifetime numbers are among the greatest in the sport: 696 homers. 3,115 hits. 2,086 runs batted in. Rodriguez's numbers are more than Hall of Fame worthy. He is not in because of PEDs. There's nothing more to say here.
2) Bill Dahlen - Dahlen has the highest lifetime WAR (75.3) of any shortstop not already in the Hall of Fame. His lifetime WAR sits very comfortably between Ozzie Smith (8th all-time among shortstops) at 76.9 and Derek Jeter (10th) at 71.3. Many experts claim that 60 WAR or above is Hall of Fame worthy. Dahlen clearly surpasses that mark. When ranked by WAR, all of the top 17 shortstops of all-time are in the Hall of Fame except Dahlen.
Dahlen played from 1891 to 1911 and, in a way, bridged the gap from the original game to a more modern one. He was a standout defensive shortstop. He recorded 7,505 assists in his career, a total surpassed by only three players in baseball history (Ozzie Smith, Luis Aparicio, and Omar Vizquel) - all from the more modern game. Dahlen was also a solid hitter. He amassed 2,461 hits. In two separate seasons he batted over .350 and enjoyed modest power for his day.
3) Jack Glasscock - The Hall of Fame has not included a number of pre-1900 players who deserve serious consideration. Glasscock was a stellar fielder who became an excellent hitter in baseball's earliest days.
During his career, Glasscock was considered the best at his position and he is still considered by many as the best shortstop of the 1800s. If he was the best at his position at the dawn of the professional game, and for that entire period, he deserves inclusion. Glasscock set numerous fielding records during his career and made himself into one of the game's best hitters. He led the National League in hits twice. He stole 50 bases in a season three times. And, in his time, he was one of the most difficult players to strike out.
4) Bert Campaneris - After Marty Marion, one of the players who appeared the most in the top ten vote getters and has not been enshrined in the Hall of Fame is Maury Wills.
Wills' case rests, a great deal, on his stolen bases, including the 104 steals he had in 1962. Wills led the league in stolen bases six times and was among the top 10 in stolen bases in a season 11 times.
Wills has a case, but Bert Campaneris, who appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot only once, has a stronger case.
Campaneris also led the league in steals six times. He was among the top ten 12 times. Campaneris also had more lifetime stolen bases (649) than Wills (586).
By WAR, Campaneris ranks 22nd all-time among shortstops (53.0). Wills is 46th (39.6).
Campaneris was the shortstop on five division champions and on three World Series winners. A six-time All-Star, Campaneris was also an excellent fielder. In the first half of the 1970s, he was the best shortstop in the American League
Honorable Mentions - There are other shortstops that deserve at least some consideration for the Hall of Fame. These are Vern Stephens, Roger Peckinpaugh, Maury Wills, and Dave Concepcion.
With just a few more excellent years, Francisco Lindor will thrust himself into the discussion. Lindor's case is strong and getting stronger; he has increased his WAR every season since coming to the New York Mets: 2021 (3.0), 2022 (5.6), 2023 (6.0), 2024 (7.0).
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Dr. Paul Semendinger is an adjunct professor at Ramapo College and the author of numerous award-winning books. His novel, Scattering the Ashes, now out on audio book.
Alan Trammell
Always liked Campaneris. I remember when he played all 9 positions in a single game.