Next for Johnny Damon: Hall of Fame?

Despite just two All-Star game appearances in his 16 major league seasons, Detroit Tigers center fielder Johnny Damon should be heavily considered as a Hall of Famer once he hangs up his cleats for good.

Damon, 36, recorded his 2,500th career hit on July 6 in a game against the Baltimore Orioles.

He became just the 92nd player in league history to do so and is currently seventh among active players in hits (2,502).

Thanks to his superior combination of hitting ability and speed, Johnny Damon has scored 1,535 runs with five different teams and has the second-most triples among active players (97, second to only Carl Crawford).

Damon has not been linked to performance enhancers, and his 212 career round-trippers back up that statement.

In fact, his lack of power is most likely the reason the speedy Damon has received little to no credit throughout his illustrious career. The .288 career hitter has stolen 20-plus bases and scored 100-plus runs 10 times in his 16 seasons.

When judging a player's numbers and production for Hall of Fame candidacy, winning is also a very important factor. Damon has done that very well throughout his career, as well.

The two-time World Series champ reached the playoffs on seven different occasions: once with Oakland, three times with Boston, and three times with the New York Yankees.

In his twelve playoff series, Damon has produced a .279 batting average with nine home runs, 30 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. In his only two World Series appearances (Boston in '04, New York in '09), Damon put up an average of .326 with 10 runs and three stolen bases.

The only thing the former first-round draft pick didn't do on a consistent basis is be named an All-Star, despite great efforts.

So, we now know he has the numbers to be considered Hall-worthy, but I failed to mention the classy approach to the game which he has exhibited over the years.

Damon was a leader in the clubhouse while the Boston Red Sox attempted to break the curse of the Bambino, and eventually succeeded. Sluggers Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz got quite a bit of the credit, and deservedly so, but I don't really think Boston would have been able to do it without Damon in the clubhouse.

Not only did Damon have one of his best seasons statistically (.304 BA, 20 HR, 94 RBI, 19 stolen bases), but Damon's outgoing personality and long, caveman-esque hairdo helped liven up the players as well as the die-hard Sox fans.

Johnny plays the game the right way, and it isn't often that you hear a complaint from him or even one about him.

Damon was even recently quoted as saying he loves playing in Detroit and loves the fans. Even at the age of 36, Damon hasn't slowed down all that much. He's still scoring runs for his team and winning them ballgames; he hit a walk-off homer the same day he got his 2,500th hit.

His average (.271) right now may be the second-lowest of his career, but he is still on pace to set a career-high in doubles as he currently has 21 on the season.

With more than 200 career homers, 1,000 RBIs, 1,500 runs scored, and 2,500 hits, the numbers are there, but will the voters' hearts be in the same place? Only time will tell.