5 reasons why Carlos Beltrán belongs in Hall of Fame

Now in his first 12 months on the Hall of Fame poll, Carlos Beltrán’s candidacy is nothing in need of polarizing. On benefit alone, the longtime middle fielder has one of the best case for election amongst all of the first-timers this 12 months primarily based on his efficiency and manufacturing over a 20-year massive league profession. The Puerto Rican-born Beltrán was, in spite of everything, a Rookie of the Year winner (1999), a nine-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove honoree.

While Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters need to weigh that issue as they take into account whether or not to place a verify subsequent to Beltrán’s identify, let’s concentrate on his on-field exploits right here. Although he cracked the highest 5 in MVP voting solely as soon as (ending fourth within the NL in 2006) and fell in need of lots of the “conventional milestones,” like 3,000 hits and 500 dwelling runs, listed below are 5 stats that make a robust case for Beltrán’s place in Cooperstown.

1,500 Runs and 1,500 RBIs

Only 38 gamers in AL/NL historical past have reached the 1,500 mark in each runs scored and runs batted in. With 1,582 runs and 1,587 RBIs, Beltrán is considered one of them.

Of these, 29 have been enshrined within the Hall of Fame — and that doesn’t depend Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols and Adrián Beltré, every of whom will not be but eligible however must be a first-ballot electee.

That leaves solely the next names not in Cooperstown: Alex Rodríguez, Manny Ramírez, Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds and Rafael Palmeiro — a gaggle of superstars who’ve all been related to performance-enhancing medication in some kind.

Put merely, if a participant scores and drives in 1,500 runs, Hall of Fame induction normally follows.

500 Doubles, 400 Home Runs and 300 Stolen Bases

Even extra uncommon is the five hundred/400/300 membership.

Only 5 gamers in AL/NL historical past have achieved 500 doubles, 400 homers and 300 steals of their careers. Here’s the record in full: Rodríguez, Bonds, Andre Dawson, Willie Mays … and Beltrán, who has 565 two-baggers, 435 dingers and 312 thefts. That is a set of essentially the most dynamic power-speed threats baseball has ever seen.

What’s wild is that even for those who take away the qualifier for 500 doubles, the record stays unchanged: It’s the identical 5 gamers — and solely them. If you wish to boil down Beltrán’s case to a single stat, that is as persuasive as any.

Unparalleled Stolen Base Rate

Speaking of swipes, Beltrán’s profession stolen base success charge is the greatest amongst all gamers with at the least 200 profession steals within the Live Ball Era (since 1920).

Highest SB% within the Live Ball Era (minimal 200 SB)

It’s much more noteworthy when laid out like so, as a result of you possibly can see the sizable hole between Beltrán on the high in comparison with the a lot smaller percentage-point variations that spherical out the remainder of the highest 5.

Of the 64 place gamers to achieve 70 profession WAR in AL/NL historical past within the Modern Era (since 1900), all however 11 — together with Beltrán — are Hall of Famers.

The 10 others? Many of the names have already got been talked about: Pujols, Beltré, Rodríguez, Bonds, Palmeiro and Rose. The 4 remaining are Scott Rolen (on the poll and trending towards being elected), Lou Whitaker and Bobby Grich — a pair of second basemen who’re two of essentially the most ignored gamers within the historical past of Hall voting — and, none apart from Mike Trout, who in fact nonetheless is lively and nearly definitely shall be a first-balloter.

Last however definitely not least, there’s Beltrán’s unimaginable October résumé.

In his postseason profession, he slashed .307/.412/.609 — good for a 1.021 OPS that checks in among the many high 10 in AL/NL historical past.

Highest Postseason OPS (minimal 100 PA)

Beltrán’s most memorable playoff efficiency got here in 2004 with the Astros, when he hit eight homers to tie Bonds’ 2002 run for many in a single postseason (since surpassed by Randy Arozarena’s 10 in 2020). But Beltrán additionally crushed within the 2006 NLCS with the Mets (regardless of the lingering reminiscence of that sequence being his notorious series-ending strikeout wanting) in addition to within the 2012 and ’13 playoffs with the Cardinals.

All advised, Beltrán completed with 16 profession postseason dwelling runs and extra walks (37) than strikeouts (33) in 65 video games. That’s the signal of a star participant rising to the event towards one of the best the game has to supply.