MLB Hall of Fame: 10 current players who are locks

8 of 11

Jul 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Ichiro Suzuki (31) doubles in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Ichiro Suzuki

Many will argue that Ichiro Suzuki should have a higher place on my list than 4th, and frankly I was sorely tempted to place him higher.

As the table below shows, Ichiro (that’s the only name you need to use) has some of the best numbers in Major League Baseball, and while there are some analysts who believe Ichiro is over-rated because he doesn’t walk much, and doesn’t hit for power, I have to say those analysts are morons.

Ichiro is closing in on 3000 hits, appeared in a whopping 10 consecutive All-Star games, won 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards, and hit .300 with at least 200 hits in yes – 10 consecutive seasons! Doesn’t hit for power or walk? Who cares!?

Year	Age	Tm	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Awards
2001 ★	27	SEA	127	*242*	34	8	8	69	56	30	53	.350	.381	.457	.838	AS,MVP-1,RoY-1,GG,SS
2002 ★	28	SEA	111	208	27	8	8	51	31	68	62	.321	.388	.425	.813	AS,MVP-17,GG
2003 ★	29	SEA	111	212	29	8	13	62	34	36	69	.312	.352	.436	.788	AS,MVP-23,GG
2004 ★	30	SEA	101	*262*	24	5	8	60	36	49	63	*.372*	.414	.455	.869	AS,MVP-7,GG
2005 ★	31	SEA	111	206	21	12	15	68	33	48	66	.303	.350	.436	.786	AS,GG
2006 ★	32	SEA	110	*224*	20	9	9	49	45	49	71	.322	.370	.416	.786	AS,MVP-15,GG
2007 ★	33	SEA	111	*238*	22	7	6	68	37	49	77	.351	.396	.431	.827	AS,MVP-8,GG,SS
2008 ★	34	SEA	103	*213*	20	7	6	42	43	51	65	.310	.361	.386	.747	AS,MVP-20,GG
2009 ★	35	SEA	88	*225*	31	4	11	46	26	32	71	.352	.386	.465	.851	AS,MVP-9,GG,SS
2010 ★	36	SEA	74	*214*	30	3	6	43	42	45	86	.315	.359	.394	.754	AS,MVP-17,GG
2011	37	SEA	80	184	22	3	5	47	40	39	69	.272	.310	.335	.645
2012	38	TOT	77	178	28	6	9	55	29	22	61	.283	.307	.390	.696
2012	38	SEA	49	105	15	5	4	28	15	17	40	.261	.288	.353	.642
2012	38	NYY	28	73	13	1	5	27	14	5	21	.322	.340	.454	.794
2013	39	NYY	57	136	15	3	7	35	20	26	63	.262	.297	.342	.639
2014	40	NYY	25	60	6	1	0	11	6	15	38	.300	.350	.340	.690
14 Yrs	1286	2802	329	84	111	706	478	559	914	.318	.361	.412	.773
162 Game Avg.	97	212	25	6	8	53	36	42	69	.318	.361	.412	.773

SEA (12 yrs)	1176	2533	295	79	99	633	438	513	792	.322	.366	.418	.784
NYY (3 yrs)	110	269	34	5	12	73	40	46	122	.284	.319	.369	.687

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2014.

It’s possible that Suzuki doesn’t get the respect as one of the best players around because he was first a Japanese player, and didn’t start in the Major Leagues until he was 27 years of age. The truth is, it’s that very fact that makes him such a possible lock for the Hall of Fame!

Imagine what Ichiro may have done (Pete Rose?) if he had started like many other players at a young 22 or something. He’s a lock for me, and again could easily have been in my top 2 or 3.

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