From 1953 to 1960, there were few in the majors who were as good a line drive hitter as Harvey Kuenn.  From that time period, he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award and won a Batting Title.  Considering that during the 50’s he only batted under .300 once, it was easy to see how, even on average Detroit Tigers teams, he could still make eight All-Star teams.

Kuenn led the league in hits four times, and it seemed like he got those hits in every part of the field possible.  In the ’50s, he was the game’s most consistent hitter, with a swing so effortless it looked natural.  These skills would serve him well as a hitting coach and manager later in his career.

As good as Kuenn was, he was largely ineffective after 1963, and with his great batting eye failing, he had little else to contribute, as he was not known for his fielding prowess or his power.  Still, the numbers he put up for Detroit over an eight-year period were good enough to get him a really solid look from the Hall.

Outside of Boston, it may be forgotten how good Dwight Evans was.  It could be because he played on teams with the more popular players, but Evans was a huge component in both the 1975 and 1986 World Series runs.

Starting off in an outfield with Fred Lynn and Jim Rice, Evans was essentially the number three man in the outfield, but became a huge contributor with his defensive play in the field.  Year by year, his offensive numbers slowly began to improve, and by the 1980s, Evans was contributing with power and a huge amount of walks, leading to very high On-base percentages.  That patience at the plate may have cost him sexy Batting Average numbers, but he showed such a complete mastery of the game that this should not be overlooked.

Evans was a very good player and posted excellent career numbers, but like so many on this list, he is the victim of being in the shadows of others and not having a monster year.  Evans quietly left the ballot in 1999, and despite high Sabremetric numbers, there seems to be little reason to think Evans will be strongly considered by the Veterans Committee.  This is too bad, as he at least deserves more than just a glance.

Just what would Keith Hernandez be most famous for?  Could it be for his eleven consecutive Gold Gloves?  How about his 1979 MVP?  The two World Series rings, perhaps?  Maybe his tenacious play as a Met?  It could also be for his association with cocaine.  Likely, many think of Keith Hernandez and remember that Seinfeld episode instead.  Just as long as it isn’t for those terrible Just for Men commercials.

Although Keith Hernandez had a longer tenure with the Cardinals and won a World Series and MVP there, it can be easily argued that his best days were as a New York Met.  He embodied the party hard, play harder attitude, and quickly became the leader of his second franchise.  Hernandez did not just win Gold Gloves; he reinvented the position.  It was virtually impossible to bunt on him, and his judgments on the field were rarely wrong.  Hernandez was not a power hitter, but a very good contact hitter, and showed a high On Base Percentage when it wasn’t the vogue statistic to have.

What has hampered Hernandez’s Hall of Fame case was the allegations in St. Louis that he was not a hustler (mostly made by his manager, Whitey Herzog) and was a drug abuser.  The latter proved to be true, though the former was accurate as well; it can only be imagined what numbers he would have put up.  Keith Hernandez likely left the ballot after nine years because of those issues, but with the recent surge of sabermetrics, a look at Keith Hernandez should make him an interesting case for future consideration.

Generally, the mold of the Relief Pitcher is a blazing fastball and a powerful delivery.  Dan Quisenberry did not fit that mold… or any other one, for that matter.

The “Quiz” was a control pitcher who rarely struck anyone out.  He used a submarine delivery, which features his primary weapon: the sinking fastball.  Quisenberry looked to get batters out with weak grounders, and it often worked.  He claimed he found “a delivery in his flaw” and for years he kept batters off balance with his style.  For a six-year period, there was no closer that was more effective than Dan Quisenberry, and he was a constant threat to win the Cy Young Award.

Strangely, Dan Quisenberry did not make it past the first ballot for the Hall of Fame.  Considering he has similar numbers and came from the same era as Bruce Sutter (who just got in), the low vote tally is even more puzzling.   After 1986, his numbers sharply dropped, and this could be the principal reason he has been omitted as he went from All-Star to liability in a very quick time frame.  Still, when you are the best at your position for multiple years, like Dan Quisenberry, you deserve better than a “one and done” for HOF enshrinement.