Kansas City Royals Next Hall of Fame Player

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When it comes to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, the Kansas City Royals are not exactly well represented. While they have Royals lifer George Brett enshrined, he is the only player currently in the Hall of Fame who went in with the KC on his hat. Yes, Harmon Killebrew and Gaylord Perry played for the Royals and earned their induction in the Hall, but they are remembered for their time on other teams. Likewise, Whitey Herzog managed the Royals, but was inducted as a Cardinal. The Royals wing, consisting of Brett alone, is quite the solitary place.

With the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this weekend, it is a time to look back upon the past, as the greats of the game are joined by new faces. For fans of those teams represented, it is a time of celebration and joy. For others, it is a time to remember the history while wondering if, at some point, another member of their team will get a call.

This year, as has been the case for most years, the Kansas City Royals did not have a member of their franchise inducted. While there were players from the Royals on the ballot, with Jermaine Dye and Tom Gordon, neither came close to even staying on the ballot for a second year. In fact, Gordon was the only player to even receive one vote for enshrinement.

When will the Royals have another player inducted, and when that happens, who will it be? Let us take a look over some of the most likely candidates at this point in time.

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Dan Quisenberry

The fact that Dan Quisenberry only had one year on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot is ludicrous. In that one year, in 1996, Quisenberry only received 3.8% of the vote, just shy of that 5.0% threshold. While he was on the Veteran’s Committee ballot last year, Quisenberry again failed to earn induction in to the Hall.

When one looks at Quisenberry’s career numbers, especially given the utilization of closers and bullpen arms in the modern era, they are not overly impressive. His 244 career saves rank rank 34th all time, and while his 2.76 ERA and 1.175 WHiP are impressive, Quisenberry only struck out 379 batters in 1043.1 innings. When compared to the flamethrowers of today, that number is certainly not going to attract attention.

Yet, in his prime, there may not have been a better closer. His six year run from 1980 through 1985 was truly special, as Quisenberry notched 212 saves with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.087 WHiP. He was a three time All-Star, finished in the top three of the Cy Young vote four times and placed third in the 1984 MVP vote. Quisenberry also held the single season saves record when he recorded 45 saves in 1983.

Perhaps Quisenberry would be looked at differently if his career had not declined sharply after that 1985 season. Or, perhaps Quisenberry would have had more support if one of those second place finishes was a Cy Young award victory. Yet, for a pitcher that is statistically very comparable to Bruce Sutter, Quisenberry’s lack of support is disappointing.

Maybe Dan Quisenberry will get another chance with the Veteran’s Committee. Even if that happens, this Kansas City Royals great just does not seem likely to get the support he needs.

Next: The second greatest player in Royals history

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Frank White

George Brett was certainly the key to the Kansas City Royals offense during their run of dominance in the mid 1970’s through the mid 1980’s, but Frank White may have been the key to the Royals defense. His steady presence in the middle of the Royals infield certainly kept quite a few ground balls from finding their way to the outfield.

In fact, one could argue that White was the greatest defensive second baseman in baseball history. He won eight Gold Glove awards, and is second all time with 126 total zone runs saved as a second baseman. He ranks twelfth all time in putouts and assists, while White’s 1382 double plays rank ninth in baseball history. There were certainly few second basemen ever to play that would rank among White’s equal on the diamond.

That is not to say that White was a one dimensional player. In an era when the all glove, no bat middle infielder ruled the baseball world, White was an anomaly, capable of hitting double digit home runs while stealing bases. His career marks of 2006 hits, 160 home runs and 178 stolen bases, to go along with his .255/.293/.383 batting line, are certainly solid numbers.

Even though White’s offense alone would not likely be enough to make the Hall of Fame, his defensive acumen should be. His numbers compare quite favorably to another defensive specialist with a solid bat in Bill Mazeroski. Maz was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee, while White was off the BBWAA ballot just like Quisenberry, garnering 3.8% of the vote in 1996.

If Mazeroski is in the Hall of Fame, Frank White should be as well. Perhaps he can find his way on the Veteran’s Committee ballot in the future and get the recognition that the Kansas City Royals great deserves.

Next: He deserved a better fate

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Mike Sweeney

From 1995 through 2012, with the exception of that astonishing 2003 season, the Kansas City Royals were a laughingstock. A completely moribund franchise after the passing of Ewing Kauffman, the Royals once proud lineage was tattered. Unfortunately for Mike Sweeney, he became a symbol of that era in Royals history.

This is not Sweeney’s fault at all, unless one wants to blame him for being loyal to a franchise that let everyone else go. While players like Carlos Beltran, Johnny Damon and even Jermaine Dye were allowed to leave, Sweeney remained loyal to the Royals, hoping to be a part of the team when everything turned around. Alas, that was not to be the case, and he eventually left in search of a postseason berth. Fortunately, in his final season, he was able to see postseason action with the Phillies, getting a single in his only career playoff at bat.

Sweeney had a solid career overall. In his sixteen years, he was a five time All-Star, finishing as high as eleventh in the 2000 MVP ballot. He amassed 1540 hits, 215 home runs and 909 RBI, but his career truly took off during his seven year peak. From 1999 through 2005, before injuries took their toll, Sweeney was among the top first basemen in the American League, posting a .313/.383/.521 batting line with 163 home runs and 676 RBI. In an era when PED fueled sluggers looked more like comic book characters than baseball players, Sweeney posted a 130 OPS+, despite not having the same type of power.

Unfortunately, injuries ravaged Sweeney after 2005, as he averaged only 61 games per season over the next five years. His career, which had seemed so promising, was virtually over by the time he was 32. One has to wonder what Sweeney’s career, and the Royals as a whole, would have looked like if he stayed healthy.

Mike Sweeney is not likely to get off the first ballot when he become eligible next year, but his career was better than may have been remembered. It would certainly be a shock if Mike Sweeney was to be the next member of the Kansas City Royals to be inducted.

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Johnny Damon

Here’s a fun exercise for you. Go to your favorite statistical website, and pull up the list of players in baseball history who have had over 2500 hits, 500 doubles, 100 triples and 200 home runs. On that list, you will find eleven players. The first ten, including the likes of Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Lou Gehrig and George Brett, are all Hall of Fame players. The eleventh player on the list? Johnny Damon.

Yes, former Kansas City Royals outfielder Johnny Damon is a member of such a hallowed group. Perhaps best remembered for his time with the Red Sox, where he helped bring a championship to Boston for the first time in 86 years, Damon had a better career than one may have thought.

Overall, during his 18 year career, Damon posted a .284/.352/.433 batting line with 2769 hits, 522 doubles, 109 triples, 235 home runs and 408 stolen bases. His impressive batting statistics were accomplished in 2344 games, less than all but four other players on that list. Yet, despite his excellent production over his career, Damon only made two All-Star games and never finished higher than 13th in the MVP ballot.

Add in that Damon won two World Series, including that one in 2004 to break the “Curse of the Bambino,” then his case may gain some traction. Voters like postseason heroics, as those playoff feats have helped players like Jack Morris get far more support than deserved. Could the same happen for Damon, and his already solid case?

If the underappreciated Johnny Damon gets into the Hall of Fame, he likely would not be wearing a Kansas City Royals hat. He would, however, be the fourth player affiliated with the team to be enshrined.

Next: He almost returned

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Carlos Beltran

When the Kansas City Royals traded Carlos Beltran away midway through the 2004 season, he was beginning to emerge as a superstar. Unfortunately, the Royals return was forgettable, while Beltran went on to have a stellar career. Then, last season, with the Royals looking for help in right field, Beltran almost returned, but instead spurned the Royals for the New York Yankees.

As it turns out, the Royals should be glad that he signed elsewhere. Clearly on the back nine of his career, Beltran has not produced in the way that the Yankees had hoped. While he has improved this season, Beltran has essentially become a platoon player, seeing the majority of his time in the lineup against right handed pitching at this point.

These struggles do not diminish the type of career that Beltran has had. Entering last night’s action, he has posted a .280/.355/.490 batting line with 2388 hits, 380 home runs, 1407 RBI and 311 stolen bases. These numbers, which are certainly excellent, may not be enough for Beltran’s enshrinement. However, if he reaches the 2500 hit, 400 home run and 1500 RBI marks, voters may think differently about his candidacy.

It really would not be that much of a difference, but voters tend to like those round numbers. Just another season and a half of solid production could get Beltran there, allowing the former five tool center fielder to have a better case. Add in his eight All-Star appearances, three Gold Glove awards, Rookie of the Year award and two Sliver Sluggers, and Beltran would have a compelling case.

It seems likely that Carlos Beltran would be on the outside looking in, but the former Kansas City Royals young slugger could have a decent case for induction to the Hall of Fame.

Next: His career truly blossomed on the West Coast

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Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke was expected to be an ace, but one had to wonder if he would ever be the pitcher that the Kansas City Royals had hoped for. He had walked away from baseball after suffering a mental breakdown during a bullpen session in 2006, but later came back to appear in relief with the Royals. He put his anxiety issues behind him in 2007, and in 2009, won the Cy Young award despite pitching on a team that won only 65 games during the season.

Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, Greinke began to put together a solid resume, but his career truly took off when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead of caving in under the glare of the big city spotlight, Greinke has gone forth and put together three dominant seasons, highlighted by his impressive 43.2 scoreless inning streak this season.

Despite only making three All-Star teams, Greinke’s overall statistics are solid. While his 132-92 record with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.198 WHiP may not seem like potential Hall of Fame numbers, one has to look at his statistics since heading to the Dodgers. In his two and a half years there, Greinke has posted a 41-14 record with a 2.32 ERA and a 1.054 WHiP. At age 31, if he can replicate that production over the next two or three years, Greinke could find himself in the conversation for induction.

While it may be a matter of extrapolation as to whether or not Zack Greinke could end up in the Hall of Fame at some point, his career is beginning to trend that way. It would be a nice way to finish off a career that almost never started, a fitting capstone to the former Kansas City Royals pitcher’s perseverance.

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Alex Gordon

Back when Alex Gordon was struggling at third base and was banished to the minors, it would have been difficult to imagine the transformation that has occurred. When it was learned that the Kansas City Royals planned on teaching him how to play left field, the expectations for Gordon were at rock bottom. Just shows how much we knew back then.

After being converted to the outfield, Gordon became a completely different player. No longer expected to be the second coming of George Brett, Gordon instead turned into one of the best all around players in baseball today. His highlight reel catches, with one made seemingly every day, have become the stuff of highlight reel legend.

A four time Gold Glove winner and a three time All-Star, Gordon has begun to build an impressive resume. While his offensive numbers to this point, a .269/.349/.436 batting line with 132 home runs and 82 stolen bases, may not seem particularly stellar for a 31 year old, one has to take into account the complete package with Gordon. With his defense, stellar arm and the way he has completely shut down teams trying to take an extra base on any ball hit to left, he has proven to be a special player.

But will Alex Gordon be considered a Hall of Fame player? That remains to be seen. If he can get another four or five seasons similar to his production from between 2011 through this year, he very well could be. Hopefully, that happens with Gordon wearing a Kansas City Royals uniform.

Next: The new leader

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

It may be some time before the Kansas City Royals have another player inducted into the Hall of Fame. After all, those players who would be eligible at this point came from the 1990’s through the 2000’s, when the Royals were either in sell mode, or those players just were not that great to begin with.

Unless one of the old veterans, like Frank White or Dan Quisenberry can find their way into the Hall, perhaps the best bet for the next member of the Royals to be enshrined would come from the somewhat current crop. Johnny Damon’s overall performance was historic, but would that be enough? Can Carlos Beltran get those numbers that the voters tend to like?

What do you think? Who will be the next player to suit up for the Kansas City Royals that will eventually be enshrined? Let us know in the poll below!

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