Do you know how many hitters whose best years were during the decade of the 1980's are in the Hall of Fame? 13: Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Gary Carter, Eddie Murray, Ryne Sandberg, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Jim Rice, and Andre Dawson.
Of those, 7 played primarily in the AL during that time. That leaves 3B Mike Schmidt, SS Ozzie Smith, C Gary Carter, 2B Ryne Sandberg, and OF Tony Gwynn and Andre Dawson.
Murph's stats are inarguably better than Smith and Carter, who got in because of the positions they played. As a slugger, his numbers are better than Sandberg, who hit .285 for his career, compared to Murph's .265. But Sandberg had only 282 HR's and 1,061 RBI, compared to Murph's 398 and 1,266. Gwynn got in by virtue of his high average (he was undoubtedly the best pure hitter of his era). Schmidt was definitely the class of the 80's. But you can't tell me that Andre Dawson is HOF-worthy, and Murph is not. Dawson's numbers are a little better (and he played a little longer). But compare Dawson's 8 All Star appearances to Murph's 7, Dawson had 7 Gold Gloves to Murph's 5 (all in center field). They each had 4 silver sluggers. And Murph has 2 MVP's, to Dawson's 1 (Dawson finished 2nd to Murph in 1983).
So, for the 80's, 4 AL outfielders are in the Hall; 2 NL outfielders are in the Hall. There should be 3.
Of those, 7 played primarily in the AL during that time. That leaves 3B Mike Schmidt, SS Ozzie Smith, C Gary Carter, 2B Ryne Sandberg, and OF Tony Gwynn and Andre Dawson.
Murph's stats are inarguably better than Smith and Carter, who got in because of the positions they played. As a slugger, his numbers are better than Sandberg, who hit .285 for his career, compared to Murph's .265. But Sandberg had only 282 HR's and 1,061 RBI, compared to Murph's 398 and 1,266. Gwynn got in by virtue of his high average (he was undoubtedly the best pure hitter of his era). Schmidt was definitely the class of the 80's. But you can't tell me that Andre Dawson is HOF-worthy, and Murph is not. Dawson's numbers are a little better (and he played a little longer). But compare Dawson's 8 All Star appearances to Murph's 7, Dawson had 7 Gold Gloves to Murph's 5 (all in center field). They each had 4 silver sluggers. And Murph has 2 MVP's, to Dawson's 1 (Dawson finished 2nd to Murph in 1983).
So, for the 80's, 4 AL outfielders are in the Hall; 2 NL outfielders are in the Hall. There should be 3.
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