Gary Gaetti

[Cowtipper]

Gary Gaetti played 20 years in the majors, from 1981 to 2000. In that time, he hit .255 with 2280 hits, 360 home runs and 1341 RBI. A two time All-Star, he also won four Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and he was the ALCS MVP in 1987. Gaetti hit over 20 home runs eight times in his career, and over 30 home runs three times.

Statistically similar to two Hall of Famers - Carlton Fisk and Gary Carter - Gaetti hit a home run in his first big league at-bat and he once started two triple plays in the same game. Those aren't really reasons why he should be in the Hall, however they are rather interesting bits of information.

A solid defender, Gaetti often led the league in putouts, assists and double plays. He was even considered the best fielding third baseman in the AL during the 1980s, according to some sources (1)

According to The Baseball Page, he is the 24th best third baseman of all time.

In 2006, he drew a whopping four votes for the Hall of Fame.

So what do you think - should Gary Gaetti be in the Hall of Fame?

[jalbright]

His ten most comparable, in order are:

Graig Nettles
Carlton Fisk
Ron Santo
Joe Carter
Chili Davis
Ruben Sierra
Tim Wallach
Don Baylor
Gary Carter
Darrell Evans

There are two names in the HOF, but they're both catchers, which is a sufficient reason to think they're probably better than Gaetti. Santo is a popular pick as an unfairly excluded outsider, and Darrell Evans certainly has his devotees. Joe Carter and Graig Nettles also have significant support, but I'm not among them and I have trouble seeing that either will ever be enshrined. Darrell Evans will have to overcome his low average, and I'm not sure he can. The remaining four (Davis, Sierra, Wallach, and Baylor) are not guys who I think have any significant level of support, nor do they deserve any. I think this set of comparables indicates Gaetti isn't a good HOF candidate, and I agree.

[jjpm74]

When I was looking for a suitable candidate for my SOC roster, Gaetti was one of many third basemen I looked at. I came to the conclusion that he falls roughly in the top 40 at his position and that while a good player, he never came close in terms of HOF numbers.

[NineWorldSeries]

Dangit!!! I voted "yes" by mistake! No way should he be in there.

[jalbright]

Dangit!!! I voted "yes" by mistake! No way should be be in there.

I'll edit the poll to make the totals right.

[Fuzzy Bear]

There are a whole lot of guys that rank behind Gaetti.

Darrell Evans has him beat on career HRs. Tim Wallach beats Gaetti on OWP, having played in worse hitters' parks. Santo and Boyer are ahead, of course.

Graig Nettles is way ahead of Gaetti (indeed, Nettles is ahead of Robinson, if the truth be known). Nettles' .551 OWP is eighty one points ahead of the .470 career OWP posted by Gaetti. Then there's Bill Madlock, who was nothing special on defense, but who won four (4) batting titles, and posted a .626 career OWP, 126 points better than Gaetti.

If we want to go back further, it's hard to argue that Gaetti rises to the level of Bob Elliott, Stan Hack, and Heine Groh. Hack is, clearly, a HOFer. Elliott won an MVP award, and Groh was the best 3B in the NL during his time.

Not all of the guys I mentioned belong in the HOF, but all of them, I believe, were better than Gary Gaetti. Gaetti's .470 OWP from a guy who hit .360 career HRs may be the lowest OWP of any player with 300 HRs or more. He was not consistent from year to year, and he was not patient at the plate. His power faded beginning in 1989, and given what we know now, his sudden power "resurgence" in 1995 is somewhat suspect; his jump to 35 HRs came at a time when HR totals jumped precipitiously all around.

There are a lot of third basemen ahaed of Gaetti in Cooperstown's line. For Gaetti to be a HOFer in my eyes, you'd have to convince me that he was the greatest defensive third baseman of all time, and I don't think that's anywhere near the case.

[Colorado Express]

As a Twins' fan, I love Gaetti, but there is no way he should be in the HOF.

[Love The Game]

.255 won't get you in tha Hall. With his other #'s, .310 may have gotten him in. The 2 other guys you compared him to are catchers. Totally different offensive expectations between catchers and 3rd baggers. I voted no.

[Paul Wendt]

There are a whole lot of guys that rank behind [==> above] Gaetti.
. . .
Not all of the guys I mentioned belong in the HOF, but all of them, I believe, were better than Gary Gaetti.

add Ezra Sutton, Tommy Leach, Buddy Bell.

Ron Cey, Robin Ventura and Matt Williams?

Gary Gaetti, Frank Viola, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, Jeff Reardon, Greg Gagne - after 1987 we thought they were building at least a few Hall of Fame careers.

[KCGHOST]

Good grief, Gary Gaetti?? The guy's OBP was 25 points below league average.

[mr.baseball123]

If baseball voted like the football hall of fame, he'd be in. Personally, I don't they he'll ever be elected.

[Fuzzy Bear]

add Ezra Sutton, Tommy Leach, Buddy Bell.

Ron Cey, Robin Ventura and Matt Williams?

I didn't think of these guys, but, yes, they were all better then Gaetti.

In truth, Toby Harrah was a much better player than Gaetti.

[baseball junkie]

Gary Gaetti!? Let's put Kent Hrbek in too. Seriously :disbelief:

[Captain Cold Nose]

If baseball voted like the football hall of fame, he'd be in. Personally, I don't they he'll ever be elected.

How do you figure? If anything the football hall of fame has a better voting process.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Let's see... how I can I put this in a way that isn't cliche...

Dame!

...

Attempted Japanese. :P