Is Mark Grace a Hall of Famer? He's Already Received One Vote

Mark Grace is easily my all-time favorite baseball player. I loved him as a player -- I grew up rooting for fellow left-handers -- and I loved his off-field personality. He's just a really likable guy. Still, his baseball career, while a very nice one, is hardly Hall of Fame worthy.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune disagrees, otherwise he just felt like tossing Grace a vote. Either way, Mark Grace has garnered a vote for the prestigious Hall in Cooperstown. One of Rogers' thoughts was that he doesn't like to be "a curmudgeon with a ridiculously high standard" when filling out his ballot. I agree with that stance, but you still have to maintain high standards for the Hall of Fame.

Rogers discusses Grace's postseason -- albeit a small sample -- prowess, when he threw up insane stats in the 1989 NLCS and kick-started the series-winning rally off Mariano Rivera in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. He brings up the fact that Grace lead the majors in hits for the '90s. Rogers also points out Grace's outstanding defense and leadership in the clubhouse.

Again, I love Grace, but what he did just wasn't enough. We're looking at career similars (via baseball-reference) of Keith Hernandez, John Olerud, and Wally Joyner, among others. Grace won four gold gloves and played in three All-Star Games in 16 seasons. He never finished in the top 10 in MVP voting, and he only hit 173 career home runs.

I can get on board with the stellar .383 career on-base percentage, and -- with 511 -- he is 39th in career doubles. Having the most hits in a decade is a feat, for sure, because every other decade leader is in the Hall of Fame. Still, he ended with a bit less than 2,500 hits, and that's not an automatic qualifier.

All things considered, Mark Grace was a very good player for a decent stretch in the majors. He was probably the best of all-time at faking a check swing and convincing the umpire he didn't go around. He is also one hell of a great guy. A Hall of Famer, however, he is not. I believe even he would agree with that.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-04-2009 @ 6:29PM

Leo said...

I salute Matt Snyder voting for his favorite player...but I remember Grace for taking his foot off the bag with 2 out more than anything else and running to the Cub home dugout with a visiting team 1st base coach yelling at the ump for doing it more than anything else. He was great with the glove but not as good as Hernandez and no way near Mattingly with the bat...but he's your boyhood hero so honor him...good for you!

1-04-2009 @ 6:40PM

Matt Snyder said...

I think you misunderstood. I definitely do NOT think Mark Grace is a Hall of Famer.

Thanks for the comment, though.

1-04-2009 @ 7:16PM

jesse said...

Who are the hits leaders by decade? I thought Willie Wilson had the most in the 80's and he's not going to be in any time soon.

1-04-2009 @ 7:43PM

Actually, I made a mistake on the 1980s, but not because the player's on-field career wasn't worthy of the Hall. It was Pete Rose.

All the rest are in. I'm trying to find a list and I'll post the link.

1-04-2009 @ 7:57PM

Looking at his stats I'd say he led the 70's by far, but Rose retired in 1986 and looking at the stats quickly Wilson had at least 300 more hits in the 80's than Rose

1-05-2009 @ 1:12AM

Here we go.

1900s: Honus Wagner
1910s: Ty Cobb
1920s: Rogers Hornsby
1930s: Paul Waner
1940s: Lou Boudreau
1950s: Richie Ashburn
1960s: Roberto Clemente
1970s: Pete Rose
1980s: Robin Yount

And, of course, Grace for the 90s.

So, yeah, I made a mistake when discussing my mistake. The fact remains that Grace is only one on the list who doesn't belong in the Hall (only Rose isn't there, and if you eliminate his lifetime ban he'd be there).

I tip my cap to Gracie for adding himself to this prestigious list, nevertheless.

1-04-2009 @ 8:56PM

NeonDon said...

Never thought I'd disagree with you on this one, Matt. Grace DOES deserve to get in for that one stat of leading a decade in hits alone (1990's), then add fielding, and character (which got Maz and Puckett in) plus, plus. That's why all the others are in--hits, not just HRs, used to be valued along with character (e.g. Monte Irvin--the worst stats in the Hall). However, it's the Hall of FAME, not STATS. But then again, if Gil Hodges, who outhit Puckett in one seven-year stretch of his own career with Brooklyn and had the stats AND character isn't in, as player AND mgr., Gracie doesn't have much of a chance, unfortunately. I know how you feel, Matt. Colavito is mine!

1-05-2009 @ 12:19AM

Without getting into this too much again, Grace put up very ordinary numbers at a power position (even Cecil Fielder and Mo Vaughn were able to hold down 1B). Puckett put up a much higher BA and power than Grace at a skill position (primarily CF).

1-05-2009 @ 2:51AM

Murph said...

this is why writers should NOT have the vote.. they vote for who they liked and dont vote for who they didn't like. who on the ballot didnt get a vote because of thinking like this? and it happens year after year

1-05-2009 @ 7:45PM

Being voted into the Hall is not about power positions vs skill positions--what kind of nonsense is that? Is SS a power position or a skill position? HOFers Ernie Banks vs Pee Wee Reese. Is 2nd a power pos. or a skill pos.? HOFers Maz and Nellie Fox vs Joe Gordon and Ryne Sandberg. What babble.

1-05-2009 @ 10:23PM

I could have sworn I read that about Willie Wilson, maybe on the back of a baseball card or something. Oh well, thanks for the list Matt.

I'm not saying getting into the Hall is necessarily "power positions vs. skill positions", I'm saying it's comparing players: I'm saying that Mark Grace's stats pale in comparison to guys with the same responsibilities on the field. He's very much overshadowed by recent guys like Frank Thomas, Bagwell, Ortiz, Mattingly, Thome, Giambi, Delgado...did I miss anybody? You could even argue that guys like Derrek Lee or Tino Martinez are/were better.

Now let's look at recent guys with Puckett's job (CF) who are better than him: Griffey Jr., Bonds...anybody else? The only other guys I can think of who would be close are Bernie Williams and Kenny Lofton, who both aren't as good as Puckett was

To say that certain positions don't have higher expectations just means that you don't know what you're talking about. Why would Ozzie Smith be in with a .260 career average and 60 career HR? That would only be tolerated out of a Shortstop or possibly Catcher for the Hall.

2B, SS, CF, and C are "skill" positions because not nearly as many people are able to perform those jobs.
RF, LF, 1B, and 3B (and DH needless to say) are "power" positions because they're considered not as demanding to play, therefore players there are expected to hit more.

That's enough time wasted I think...

1-10-2009 @ 3:01AM

Jesse...Talk about not knowing what you're talking about...name 10 HOF outfielders you think should be in from the 90s and 2000s and tell me how many compare in power numbers to Mantle, Mays, Snider, DiMaggio, etc. Then look at the SS's of the 90s and 2000s and compare their hitting stats with Rizzuto, Reese, and Aparicio, etc. HOFers. The game has changed, in case you hadn't noticed, Jesse. And you don't vote a guy in because he's better than another guy at the same position. (Geesh, wasting my time with this guy. He's all yours, Matt.)

1-10-2009 @ 11:52AM

bachslunch said...

Jesse, Willie Wilson indeed can claim to have the most hits over a particular ten year period, but not one coinciding with the start and end of a decade (he had 1727 hits from 1979 to 1988, most of any player during that particular 10 year span). And I agree, that's precisely the problem with using this line of argument for Mark Grace regarding the HoF -- the "most in a decade" is an artificial cherry-picked limitation, one NeonDon apparently has been taken in by. Steve Garvey has the most hits from 1975 to 1984, but so what?

And by the way, Jesse, you're right about position adjustment.

1-13-2009 @ 10:39AM

Johnny Mac said...

When I consider who should/shouldn't be in the hall of fame, I compare that player to other players of the same position in the time they played. Mark Grace is also my favorite player of all time, but I do not think he should be a HOFer. He should be compared against : Don Mattingly, Will Clark, Fred McGriff, Eddie Murray, Jeff Bagwell, Jon Olerud, Frank Thomas, Cecil Fielder, Wally Joyner, Mark McGwire, Tino Martinez, Todd Helton, Mo Vaughn, etc...

I would only rank him above Martinez, Vaughn, Olerud, & Joyner of that group.

1-12-2009 @ 3:21PM

Scott said...

This is a hard call. I feel it's not very clear as to where he'll end up. Mark Grace is my favorite all-time player, he's definitely among the greatest Cubs. He was a solid hitter, fielder, leader, and finished 2nd in RotY votes; not to mention the forementioned hit-king of the 90's.

I think two things will really play a big roll as to whether or not he gets the 75% of votes he needs: 1) the voters who consider the longevity of success (13 years) he had, that counts greatly; & 2) who the other players on the ballot are year-by-year will also effect who votes for him and who doesn't.

peace

1-14-2009 @ 12:24AM

Adam Johnson said...

Ahhh....so the hall lets Tony Perez, a very average, occasional All-Star, never Superstar, 4th or 5th best player on a great team, in, and these type of arguments ensue. First off, Mark Grace is a highly respectable player, but a far and distant reach for being Hall of Fame worthy. A vote? Is that the hope that some of you are holding onto? For the record, Tony Phillips,. Todd Stottlemyre, Walt Weiss, Terry Steinbach, and a myriad of other "serviceable" MLB veterans have received "A" vote.

Last thing, for the last reply, how could you possibly put Frank Thomas in that group? Everyone in there is a 0-40 vote player, whereas The Big Hurt is a surefire first ballot.

I love you Mark for your baseball career and as an announcer, but lets get real here.