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Atlanta Braves Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux to vote on Hall of Fame

By Fred Owens

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 10: Former Atlanta Braves third baseman and Hall of Fame inductee Chipper Jones #10 of the Atlanta Braves addresses the crowd before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on August 10, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 10: Former Atlanta Braves third baseman and Hall of Fame inductee Chipper Jones #10 of the Atlanta Braves addresses the crowd before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on August 10, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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Former Atlanta Braves first baseman Fred McGriff gets another shot at the Hall of Fame this year. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves – Fred McGriff

Atlanta Braves fans and writers on this site are split on whether McGriff belongs in the Hall of Fame.

I respect Mitchell’s opinion, but in 2013, I wrote this about McGriff.

"Fred McGriff had ten consecutive seasons with 30+ home runs for the Padres and Braves. Pitchers didn’t want to see him at the plate with the game on the line. If he’s not elected, Crime Dog should bite the nonvoters hard and often."

I haven’t changed my mind. Baseball is swimming in numbers, but let’s cut to the chase. During an era when players openly cheated while Bud Selig and others turned a blind eye, McGriff was the most dangerous steroid-free hitter in the game. Tom Verducci sums up the case for Crime Dog better than I can.

Atlanta Braves – Dale Murphy

Two weeks ago, Sam said Dale Murphy isn’t a hall of fame player because he doesn’t measure up to past center fielders already in the Hall.

In many ways, the case for Murph resembles that of McGriff.  He gets little credit for winning back-to-back NL MVPs and playing so well for that weren’t always good. From 1978 through 1989, the braves finished higher than fourth place three times. In two of those seasons, Murph was NL MVP; in the third year, he finished ninth in MVP voting.

In 2012 I wrote that Murph wouldn’t be selected and why I felt he should.

"In order to compare him with his peers during that time I ran a search on Baseball-Reference for players  with numbers similar to his. Specifically they had to have: Played 50% of at least 1900 games in LF, CF or RF Had an OBP of at least .350 a slugging % of at least .475 and OPS+ of at least 120 The search turned up one name; Dale Murphy."

In 2013, I discussed Murph in what I consider the proper context and my conclusion after reviewing his career.

"My conclusion then and now is that had he played for the Yankees, Red Sox or Dodgers he would already be in the hall."

The coming ballot is Murph’s last and best chance, but I don’t think he makes it.

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