Each of these guys finished within 90% of a "Hall of Fame" milestone. That is, they each had at least 2,700 hits, 450 home runs, 270 wins, 2,700 strikeouts and/or 450 saves, but didn't quite reach the milestone numbers of 3,000, 500, 300, 3,000 and/or 500 respectively. Which of them should be in the Hall of Fame? I'm omitting guys who aren't yet eligible or who are currently active.
...close to 3,000 hits, but not quite:
Harold Baines (2,866)
Vada Pinson (2,757)
Al Oliver (2,743)
Rusty Staub (2,716)
Bill Buckner (2,715)
Dave Parker (2,712)
Doc Cramer (2,705)
Omitted:
Barry Bonds (2,935)
Ivan Rodriguez (2,844)
Omar Vizquel (2,843)
Alex Rodriguez (2,820)
Ken Griffey (2,781)
Johnny Damon (2,733)
....close to 500 home runs, but not quite:
Fred McGriff (493)
Jose Canseco (462)
Omitted:
Carlos Delgado (473)
Chipper Jones (459)
...close to 300 wins, but not quite:
Bobby Mathews (297)
Tommy John (288)
Tony Mullane (284)
Jim Kaat (283)
Omitted:
Mike Mussina (270)
...close to 3,000 strikeouts, but not quite:
Mickey Lolich (2,832)
Frank Tanana (2,773)
Omitted:
Mike Mussina (2,813)
...close to 500 saves, but not quite:
Lee Smith (478)
...close to 3,000 hits, but not quite:
Harold Baines (2,866)
Vada Pinson (2,757)
Al Oliver (2,743)
Rusty Staub (2,716)
Bill Buckner (2,715)
Dave Parker (2,712)
Doc Cramer (2,705)
Omitted:
Barry Bonds (2,935)
Ivan Rodriguez (2,844)
Omar Vizquel (2,843)
Alex Rodriguez (2,820)
Ken Griffey (2,781)
Johnny Damon (2,733)
....close to 500 home runs, but not quite:
Fred McGriff (493)
Jose Canseco (462)
Omitted:
Carlos Delgado (473)
Chipper Jones (459)
...close to 300 wins, but not quite:
Bobby Mathews (297)
Tommy John (288)
Tony Mullane (284)
Jim Kaat (283)
Omitted:
Mike Mussina (270)
...close to 3,000 strikeouts, but not quite:
Mickey Lolich (2,832)
Frank Tanana (2,773)
Omitted:
Mike Mussina (2,813)
...close to 500 saves, but not quite:
Lee Smith (478)
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