Tip O'Neill Hit for the Triple Crown; Still Not in the Hall of Fame

Tip O'Neill is one of only 12 different players in the history of MLB to hit for the triple crown. He was the first to do it, and he remains as the ONLY player in the history of MLB to do it and NOT be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Hitting for the triple crown is "known" as a sure way to get in the Hall of Fame, and many assume that hitting for the crown puts you in, for sure. It's true, except for O'Neill.

He hit for the triple crown, but so did 11 others. Here's a fact about O'Neill that no one else can say: O'Neill still remains as the only player in the history of MLB to lead the league in 2B, 3B, and HR during the same season, the only player ever. Many historians believe that accomplishment will never be duplicated.  

I do not believe that he is the best player in history that is not in the Hall of Fame, though he would almost surely have to be included on anyone's short list of "should be's."

As far as left field goes, I believe he is the best player in history that is not in the Hall of Fame, other than Ken Williams from the 1920s. Other left fielders that come to mind, but I don't believe were as good as O'Neill: Charlie Keller (1940s), Albert Belle (1990s), Shoeless Joe Jackson (1910s)--of course, Lefty O'Doul (1920s), Bob Johnson (1930s), Bob Meusel (1920s), Riggs Stephenson (1920s), Walt Wilmot (1890s), off the top of my head, you get the point. 

He's arguably at or near the top of the left-field should be's for the Hall of Fame.

His 1887 season was incredible. He had a .435 BA that season and that .435 BA still ranks second on the all-time single season BA list. His 167 R that season still ranks fourth on the all time single season R list. They were both MLB records at the time. Here are his stats for that 1887 season.

1887: .435 BA, .490 OB%, .691 SLG%, 30 SB, 167 R, 52 2B, 19 3B, 14 HR and 123 RBI

Not a bad season, he not only led the league in BA, HR and RBI to hit for the triple crown. He also led the league in OB%, SLG%, R, 2B, 3B and hits. That's at least nine categories he led the league in.

I don't even know what the hell you call that. The Octagonagle crown, I don't even think that's enough. The only major categories that he didn't lead the league in were FA and SB and he had 30 SB, not bad.

So, why is he not in the Hall of Fame? Before someone starts going No. 1 up your leg, let me tell you this. O'Neill only played 10 seasons. Hall of Fame voters generally love long careers, not short ones.

Let's see, O'Neill's career falls in the... "short ones" category. The bigger reason: He played six of his 10 seasons in the American Association and historians generally regard the American Association as an inferior league to the National League in the 1880s. And it was.

But let's not hold that against O'Neill; there wasn't much else he could do other than lead the league in nine of the 11 major categories. The fact is, there is only one player from the 1880s American Association that is in the Hall of Fame, Charlie Comiskey.

Comiskey was put in as a "Pioneer of the game" and isn't really in as a player. O'Neill and Harry Stovey are probably the two most deserving from that league that belong in, at least out of the non pitchers.

We've primarily talked about his 1887 season only. What about his career numbers? He ended his career with a .326 BA and he still remains in the top 20 all time in the history of MLB in R per AB. So, his career numbers are great, too. 

Quick facts: His 1887 St. Louis Browns would later become the St. Louis Cardinals that we know and love now. He had Charlie Comiskey at First Base, Yank Robinson at Second Base, Arlie Latham at Third Base, Bob Caruthers at Starting Pitcher, and Dave Foutz at Starting Pitcher.

An unbelievable team that dominated the league and many historians bring up as one of the best teams in history. O'Neill was arguably the best player from the best team ever.

The speaker of the house, Tip O'Neill, was named after "this" Tip O'Neill.

I'll go ahead and bring up the only bad part of Tip O'Neill and his game. Defense. Couldn't cover the field, couldn't catch the ball, and couldn't throw the ball. Other than that, he was perfectly fine on defense.