The Case for Mark Loretta's Hall of Fame Enshrinement

I’m not sure if this a joke or not, but it was crazy enough to get me to register. Evers being in the HOF is certainly questionable (and likely is only in because of the poem) but if his stats are pathetic, what is Lorettas? Evers played during the deadball era, really can’t compare too many offensive stats. Looking at OPS+ which is adjusted for park factors and is compared to the players of their time, Evers has a 106 OPS+. Not that bad of a number. Loretta has a 98 career OPS+. Not earth shattering bad, but certainly not good. He wont even stay on the ballot most likely.

…even though it shouldn’t be.

Let’s try applying Bill James’ Keltner list:

Was he ever regarded as the best player in baseball? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in baseball?

His mother might have thought so, but there is no evidence that anyone else ever did.

Was he the best player on his team?

In 2003 and 2004 he might be considered the best player (marginally) on two mediocre Padre teams.

Was he the best player in baseball at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position?

Maybe in 2004 he could be considered the best 2B. Otherwise no.

Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races?

Probably not. He played 2B, not very well, on the 2005 Padres team that finished 82-80 and was blown to bits by the Cardinals in the NLDS. He was a bench player on 2 division winning Dodger teams.

Was he a good enough player that he could continue to play regularly after passing his prime?

Yes. He was a regular until 35 and a bench player for two more years, despite the fact that he really wasn’t very good after he was 33.

Is he the very best player in baseball history who is not in the Hall of Fame?

Please. Donne moi un break.

Are most players who have comparable career statistics in the Hall of Fame?

No. None of the 10 most comparable players to him, measured by similarity scores, are in the hall of fame, or even considered for it.

Do the player’s numbers meet Hall of Fame standards?

No. Not by any metric I could find. For instance, he scores 23 on the Hall of Fame Standards metric (average HOF=50) and 27 on the Hall of Fame Monitor (likely HOF=100. These rank 609 and 639 all time. (And yes, they do adjust for position.)

These scores surprised me, as I expected him to score much lower. The stats still don’t meet hall of fame standards.

Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics?

A little. He has that "Clubhouse Leader™ label.

Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in?

Surely you jest. I don’t have time for an exhaustive list, but Craig Biggio and Jeff Kent would have to be ahead of him for a start.

How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close?

He had a pretty good year in 2004, when he finished 9th. That was the only time he ever made the ballot.

How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the other players who played in this many go to the Hall of Fame?

He played in the all star game twice (2004 and 2006). One could argue for his inclusion in 2003, but then again he was really not that good in 2006 so the two kind of balance. Most HOFers played in more than 2 all star games.

If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant?

Unlikely at best.

What impact did the player have on baseball history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way?

Not that I know of.

Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?

 I see no reason that he didn’t.

In short, nothing about Mark Loretta suggests that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.