Simon: What makes Jeff Bagwell a Hall of Famer?
From SABR member Mark Simon at ESPN.com on January 18, 2017:
Jeff Bagwell was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday night. What stats show the former Houston Astros first baseman to be a HOF-caliber player?
It starts with a combination of reaching base and hitting for power. Bagwell hit .300 or better six times in his career, drew 100 walks seven seasons in a row and finished with 449 home runs and 1,529 RBIs.
Bagwell had seven seasons of 30 home runs and 100 walks. Only six players had more (Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Jim Thome, Lou Gehrig, Frank Thomas and Ted Williams).
Bagwell and Craig Biggio — a 2015 HOF inductee — remain the faces of the Astros. Bagwell is the Astros’ all-time leader in home runs and RBIs. He ranks second to Biggio in games, runs scored, hits, total bases and doubles. His 202 stolen bases rank sixth. Combine the entire package and Bagwell is the franchise leader in wins above replacement at 79.6.
Read the full article here: http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/128546/what-makes-jeff-bagwell-a-hall-of-famer
Originally published: January 18, 2017. Last Updated: January 18, 2017.