Greatest offensive season by someone who didn't make it to the HOF

[White Knight]

Ok, let's rule out current players and those who have been up for consideration to the HOF for 5 years or less. Which player had the best offensive year that was rejected by the HOF? Off the top of my head, I'd say Roger Maris' 1961. Don Mattingly's 1985 and 1986 seasons were also exceptional. I'll still take Maris' 1961. However, in 10 years or so, I'll go with Mark McGwire's 1998, or Sammy Sosa's 2001 (IF Sosa doesn't make it to the
Hall, but I believe he will and Mac won't). Thoughts?

[BoSox Rule]

Norm Cash 1961
.361/.487/.662, 201 OPS+, 178 RC

His 201 OPS+ is tops for players not in the Hall of Fame. His total of 178 RC is behind only Babe Herman in 1930 (188 RC). Luis Gonzalez 2001 and Carlos Delgado 2000 will most likely eventually be ahead.

[jjpm74]

Look at Bill Lange's 7 years in the Majors:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/langebi01.shtml

He takes the cake, IMO.

[White Knight]

Look at Bill Lange's 7 years in the Majors:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/langebi01.shtml

He takes the cake, IMO.

His 1895 season certainly is up there, if you count that era.

[White Knight]

Norm Cash 1961
.361/.487/.662, 201 OPS+, 178 RC

His 201 OPS+ is tops for players not in the Hall of Fame. His total of 178 RC is behind only Babe Herman in 1930 (188 RC). Luis Gonzalez 2001 and Carlos Delgado 2000 will most likely eventually be ahead.

Ahh yeah, forgot about him. Do you think he was robbed that year by Maris?

[BoSox Rule]

No, but Mantle sure was.

EDIT- Actually, Cash may have been robbed of the MVP. Maris had the record so that automatically gave it to him even though he wasn't anywhere near the player that Mantle/Cash was that year. Cash was a very good defender over at 1B that year and Mantle had already started to decline defensively. Mantle probably still deserved it because he was a CF.

[J W]

Rico Petrocelli, 1969:

535 AB, .297/.403/.589, OPS+ 167

Also a range factor way above league average for a shortstop. And yet, only 7th in MVP voting that season.

[m8644]

Please forgive me if I am wrong, but I remember reading a few years back that Cash is on record saying that his 1961 season he used a corked bat.

I'm sorry I have no proof, like I said, I do remember reading something about that a while back.

[philkid3]

I'm with a couple people in here, Cash is the first person who comes to mind.

Clark in '89, as well.

[RuthMayBond]

No Fred Dunlap, Ross Barnes, Pete Browning, Tip O'Neill?

[philkid3]

I always kind've forget Pete Browning isn't in the Hall of Fame.

[Brian McKenna]

My vote goes for Tip O'Neill - led the league in everything.

Lefty O'Doul put up a couple of fine seasons.

[NineWorldSeries]

Zoilo Versalles?

I mean, I don't think it was the greatest offensive year ever, but he simply dominated the league in 1965 as a shortstop. Plus I like saying "Zoilo."

[RuthMayBond]

Zoilo Versalles?

I mean, I don't think it was the greatest offensive year ever, but he simply dominated the league in 1965 as a shortstop. Plus I like saying "Zoilo."

I'm not sure he was the best player on his team

[KCGHOST]

The highest RCAA in a single season by a non-HoFer would go to Tip O'Neill in 1887 with 138. Fred Dunlap in 1884 racked up 135 RCAA.

In the modern era Mark McGwire's 118 in 1998 is tops for a non-Hofer.