MLB: Top 5 Hall of Fame candidates for 2017

3. Ivan Rodriguez

Catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez had an impressive career with the Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Washington Nationals. He is best known for being a rock behind the plate with 13 Gold Gloves, including 10 straight from 1992 to 2001. Pudge was an instrumental part of the 2003 Florida Marlins World Series title and helped the Tigers make it to the World Series in 2006.

His best years came with the Rangers. With the Rangers, Pudge got his 10 consecutive Gold Gloves and was named the American League Most Valuable Player in 1999. He had three other top 10 MVP finishes. Pudge fell just short of 3,000 hits with 2,884 career hits, but he did get 300 home runs, which is impressive for a catcher.

Pudge’s fWAR of 68.9 ranks third all-time among catchers. The only two catchers above him are Johnny Bench and Gary Carter. With all due respect to the well-deserving Hall of Famer Mike Piazza, if Piazza’s in the Hall of Fame, there’s no reason why Rodriguez shouldn’t be a first ballot selection. Pudge was as dominant behind the plate as Piazza was at the plate and was at least comparable to Piazza at the plate. He has been unfairly tied to PEDs, but there’s no proof to suggest that he used. That might hurt him, but enough voters should come to their senses and get Pudge in Cooperstown.

Next: 2. Vladimir Guerrero