Many baseball players are known for their clutch performances at the plate.  Graig Nettles certainly had many clutch hits in his long career, but he may have been known for having more clutch performances with his glove.

Many players start off fast and tail off, but Graig Nettles really hit his stride eight years into his pro career.  He was a power-hitting third baseman and was a big part of the Yankees' three consecutive American League Pennants in the ’70s.  As his bat came alive, more people paid attention to his aggressive fielding and noticed his wide range at the hot corner.  Although he did it well in the 1978 World Series, his defensive expertise was never better, and he robbed Reggie Smith of extra-base hits twice in Game 3.

Despite his ability to hit the long ball, Graig Nettles had a fairly low Batting Average and only hit higher than .270 once.  He did walk a lot, though, and for a power hitter, did not strike out that much.  Still, justifying Nettles for the Hall with a .248 career Batting Average does prove difficult, and without an MVP season proves harder.  Of course, how many teams in the ’70s wanted Nettles as their third baseman?  Likely, the answer is almost all of them.

David Cone may not be best remembered for winning a Cy Young Award. He may be best known as a true hired gun that baseball teams coveted in their stretch drives.

Cone had the coveted label as a big game pitcher. Cone was at his best during high-pressure situations and showcased his abilities as a member of five World Series-winning teams. He was a very smart pitcher who used a variety of skills to defeat opposing batters. Cone was the subject of various sex scandals, yet was able to shut out those distractions and often had his best outings while the target of public ridicule. As such, he shook off those labels and kept only one: winner.

What prevented David Cone from making a serious run at the Hall of Fame was a few bad seasons that really brought down his overall career numbers. He failed to make the 200-win milestone, though had he had more offensive run support, he could have made it. His “hired gun” status also gave him a label that was unsatisfactory to some, though he was one of many to receive it. Flat out, David Cone was one of the top pitchers of the ’90s, and that should not be denied.

A converted third baseman, Bucky Walters took the mound later in his career, but once he did, he made up for the lost time.  Walters would even win the MVP for his pitching prowess and was one of the rare hurlers who could often be used as a pinch-hitter.

Walters did not just win the MVP in 1939; he won the coveted pitcher’s Triple Crown in the process.  He would win twenty games on two more occasions and, with a dazzling sinking fastball, was more than adept at fanning hitters.  The prime of his career saw Walters as the Reds’ staff ace, winning games, eating innings, and leading Cincinnati to a World Series title in 1940.

Walter did not reach the 200-win mark, but he did start late and did not receive much run support during his seasons in Philadelphia.  He had a very good career and is often brought up as a candidate for the Veterans Committee.

You would not think that an eleven-time All-Star would be forgotten among Hall of Fame consideration, but in the case of career-long Detroit Tiger, Bill Freehan that appears to be the reality.

Bill Freehan gained a lot of respect among Major League players.  He may not have been a huge force with his bat (though he did have a few respectable seasons), but he was among the best in handling a pitching staff and the defensive roles of a professional catcher.  It was primarily through these attributes that Freehan gained as much MVP support as he did, as he was a serious contender in two seasons.  Freehan may not have won the MVP, but he did win the Gold Glove five times and was an All-Star eleven times.

Bill Freehan was never a regular in any top ten offensive categories, but few catchers were when he played.  He did more than most at that position, and as such, a great overall ballplayer, it is curious that the respect he got in terms of postseason awards did not translate into a larger Hall of Fame vote.