Put Belle in the HOF

13

Preface: I'm not kidding.

I think Albert Belle belongs in the HOF. I know the pot was stirred last week with the Pujols HOF discussions, but when comparing career numbers to other greats, Belle stacks up well in the short time he played.

Don't forget that at one point in his career, he led the league in runs, total bases (3), doubles, home runs, RBI (3), slugging, and OPS. He was a dominant player in his era, and should be rewarded.

Date

Tue 07/18/06, 11:46 am EST

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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1212 days ago

Score 1

As much as I love the Tribe and as much as I loved the almost-glory years of the Tribe, I don't think Belle deserves the hall. Character is part of the equation.

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JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

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how do i get a table to line up?

ASwaffAll-American

1212 days ago

Score 2

Character SHOULD be part of the equation. Yet Ty Cobb is in the Hall. I wouldn't vote for him because I think character should be part of the equation, but let's not pretend like everyone in the Hall is a nice guy.

JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

Score 0

my table that i have comparing him to johnny mize, duke snider and others won't post correctly... i'll try again

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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1212 days ago

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I don't know, I can't figure out the tables either.

The Widening GeierSoccer Kid

1212 days ago

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juice and corked bats will keep Sosa out, and should keep Belle, the first of that era to go huge, out too.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1212 days ago

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Sosa will get in, eventually

JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

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you think albert juiced?

Bobbyjim45Draft Pick

1212 days ago

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Albert played alongside guys who did juice and was pretty big, so you'd have to assume he juiced as well.

BigPPupMajor Leaguer

1212 days ago

Score 1

Theres a lot more to the Hall of Fame than numbers. Cpcp is right if it was all stats, Pete Rose coulda made it easily. Belle will keep himself out of the Hall by his actions.

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JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

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pete rose signed a lifetime ban. his numbers obviously support him being in the HOF. i don't remember character being part of the criteria.

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1212 days ago

Score 3

Love the article, the premise, the argument...I even really like Belle, however; Joey Belle won't make it... He's ahead of Canseco, Baines, Dwight Evans, Rocky Colavito, Moises Alou and George Foster but behing McGriff, Dale Murphy, Dick Allen, Juan Gonzales, Carlos Delgado and Jim Rice.... if he'd squeeze 2-3 more seasons in, he would have been a lock - dude went 50hrs with 52 2Bs in 1995!

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JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

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I'm going to disagree that he's behind Carlos Delgado and Dick Allen -- he was much more dominant in the time he played.

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1212 days ago

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fair enough...but Allen was FEARED, and was very dominant for a short time... people were only scared of Belle... they are very similar though. Delgado has done it, consistently for a long time...

Ray agmJV Squad

1212 days ago

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haha Joey Belle. nice.

Bleeding GreenVarsity

1212 days ago

Score 1

He is the classic guy that has some of the so called "automatic hof numbers", but no one will think of as a HoFer. Frankly, I think Belle was a very good player, not a hall of famer. He is not one among the greats to ever play the game. However, with the low standard the hall has had lately.. I suppose he should be in.

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JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

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although i'm the same guy that argues that willie mccovey isn't a HOF player...

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JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

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mcgriff had 80+ RBI every year from 88-02... impressive

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1212 days ago

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in some bad parks, too

1212 days ago

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Belle was an awesome offensive force in his day. Unfortunately, he flamed out fairly quick and he's completely insane, two things the Hall doesn't like very much. Great conversation topic though. The real question is, what's your favorite wacko Albert Belle moment? The bicep flex and screaming "I got your cork right here!"? Throwing the ball into the stands at the heckling fan during warmups?

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JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

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i don't agree that he "flamed out" because he retired from injuries... he had 9 straight 100+ RBI seasons to end his career

BarkingclamVarsity

1212 days ago

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Or swearing during the playoffs (on NBC, as I recall). That was a big moment for me as a kid. I think that Albert doesn't deserve to get in - because he wasn't a dominant player for a long stretch. At the same time, they've let in players that are about his calaber before, so I imagine he will get in. That said, I think that the baseball hall of fame needs a serious overhaul. But that's another topic for another day.

JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

Score 2

how much more dominant can the guy be? for nine seasons, he was one of the top-3 batters in baseball. he hit 373HR in the first 10 full seasons of his career. he was robbed of the MVP in '95 and '96, and in 1998 he led the league in slugging, OPS, total bases, extra base hits and runs created, and was second in doubles, HR and RBI. sick stuff, if you ask me.

BarkingclamVarsity

1212 days ago

Score 1

I'm not saying that he won't get in - he will, if only due to the Veteran's committee - but that I think the Hall of Fame should be about the Cream of the Cream of the Cream of the best (although it isn't). He's good - but so was Barry Bonds, so was Mark McGuire, so was Sammy Sosa, so was Ken Griffey Jr. If he was a clear-cut, dominating hitter over them all - then maybe I'd agree too. Either way, I'm sure he'll get in, despite my reservations.

JoebookRed-Shirting

1212 days ago

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Bark, I don't think he'll get in because he was a jerk, which I think should make no difference. What you are saying is that only a certain amount of hitters from that era will get in, and I'm saying that for nine seasons, he was as dominating as anyone in the league, including Sosa, McGwire, Thomas, Griffey... everyone.

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1211 days ago

Score 0

RE:Barkingclam I think when you said "Cream of the Cream of the Cream" that was the most the word "cream" has been used in a baseball converstation without being coupled with the word "clear" in the last two years :-)

1211 days ago

Score 0

I don't think Belle played long enough to make it into the Hall. He had some great years, but not enough of them to warrant a call to Copperstown.

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BarkingclamVarsity

1210 days ago

Score 0

So you're saying he shouldn't be in the Policeman's hall of fame now, too? That's cold, Christof.

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Categories: Opinions | MLB Opinions | Albert Belle Opinions | Opinions by User Joebook | July 18, 2006