No he won't: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/bitterbill/2009/01/jeff-cant-make-hall-of-fame.html Smells like HOFer (but not like teen spirit): http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3851366&name=Neyer_Rob Tough call but probably not: http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/will-cooperstown-come-calling-for-jeff-kent/
Seriously? A first ballot HOFer? Um...isn't that 123.87% impossible these days? If people like Ripken aren't considered 100 proof first balloters, how is Kent???
like i said he wont be a 1st ballot hof but he wil definitely get in despite what that writer above thinks.
everyone knew Ripken was getting in 1st ballot. Just no unanimously (sp?). Personally, I don't think Kent passes he eye test. I never really thought about him as a great or dominant player. Just steady as hell. So my best guess is that it will take a few ballots for him to get in. As it gets farther and farther away from his playing days, it will become more about his numbers and less about memories of him actually playing the game. Then people will look and say he had HOF numbers and put him in. But before that happens, a lot of people will just think "man he was really good, just not quite great". Heck, I doubt anyone considers him the best 2B of his era. I would easily take Alomar over him, possibly Biggio. Also, if Sandberg didn't get in on the 1st ballot, no way in hell does Kent deserve to.
He'll get in because his numbers are outstanding for 2B. I don't think it will be on the first ballot but he probably won't have to wait long. Personally, I wouldn't vote for him. I can't get to baseballreference.com to look at his numbers but my impression of him is a really good, not great player that benefited enormously from having Barry Bonds in the lineup with him for all those years. EDIT: Finally able to get baseballreference.com to load. With Barry Bonds (6 Seasons): AVG: .297 R: 95 HR: 29 RBI: 115 Without Barry Bonds (11 Seasons): AVG: .285 R: 68 HR: 19 RBI: 76 When Kent gets to the HOF, he should send Barry Bonds a thank you note...
