Cooperstown Chronicles - Fred Lynn

Photo courtesy of TSN Archives/Icon SMI

FeathersForever, a friend of mine from Sporting News, wanted me to profile Fred Lynn. 

The Numbers
Played 1974-1990 (17 Years)
1969 Games
6925 At Bats
.283 Batting Average
1960 Hits
1063 Runs 
388 Doubles 
43 Triples
306 HRs
3352 Total Bases
1116 RBI
72 SB 
857 Walks

Two 100 Run Seasons
Two 40 Double Seasons
One 30 HR Seasons
Two 100 RBI Seasons
Four .300 Seasons

Playoffs:  15 Games, 22 for 54 (.407), 8 Runs, 4 Doubles, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 5 Walks

Awards
1975 MVP
1975 Rookie of the Year
1982 ALCS MVP
1983 All-Star Game MVP
4 Gold Gloves
9 All-Star Appearances
MVP Votes in 4 Seasons

Top Ten Finishes
Batting Average - 4 Times (1979 Batting Crown)
On-base % - 3 Times (Led league in 1979)
Slugging % - Four Times (Led league in 1975 & 1979)
OPS - Five Times (Led league in 1975 & 1979)
Runs - Twice (Led league in 1975)
Hits - Once
Total Bases - Twice
Doubles - 5 Times (Led league in 1975)
Triples - Twice
HR - Twice
RBI - Twice
Walks - Twice

Fred Lynn had a couple of fabulous seasons in 1975 & 1979.  If he put together six to eight more years in that class he would either be in the HOF already or I’d be pushing for him to get in.  As it turns out, he didn’t have more than 161 Hits, 89 Runs, 38 Doubles, 25 HR, or 86 RBI in any season other than his top two.  He was a solid player, and a great fielder, but that’s where the superlatives stop.  He can enjoy the fact that he was an All-Star more times than Paul Molitor, but he won’t be joining him on the walls of Cooperstown anytime soon.   

The Hall of Fame yardsticks support my assessment.
Black Ink: Batting - 15  (Average HOFer ≈ 27)
Gray Ink: Batting - 69  (Average HOFer ≈ 144)
HOF Standards: Batting - 33.3  (Average HOFer ≈ 50)
HOF Monitor: Batting - 85.0  (Likely HOFer > 100)

References
Baseball-reference.com

Past Chronicles
Roberto Alomar
Harold Baines
Albert Belle
Pete Browning
Bert Byleven
Joe Carter
Orlando Cepeda*
Rocky Colavito
Dave Concepcion
David Cone
Larry Corcoran
Mike Cuellar
Andre Dawson
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Dwight Evans
Chuck Finley
Steve Finley
John Franco
Gary Gaetti
Steve Garvey
Luis Gonzalez
Dwight Gooden
Mark Grace
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Ron Guidry
Keith Hernandez
Orel Hershiser
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Gil Hodges
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Tommy John
Jim Kaat
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Jerry Koosman
Barry Larkin
Mickey Lolich
Sherry Magee
Roger Maris
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Dennis Martinez
Edgar Martinez
Bobby Matthews
Don Mattingly
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Paul Molitor*
Jack Morris
Tony Mullane
Dale Murphy
Graig Nettles
Lefty O’Doul
Tony Oliva
Al Oliver
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Dave Parker
Wes Parker
Lance Parrish
Boog Powell
Tim Raines
Willie Randolph
Jim Rice
Phil Rizzuto*
Brooks Robinson*
Pete Ro$e
Jimmy Ryan
Ron Santo
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Rusty Staub
Dave Stieb
Harry Stovey
Alan Trammell
George Van Haltren
Mo Vaughn
Bobby Veach
Frank Viola
Lou Whitaker
Bernie Williams
Maury Wills

* Signifies actual Hall of Famer

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