Sports Reference Blog

26 Responses to “B-R: HoF Candidate – Edgardo Alfonzo”

1. All Giants Fans Everywhere Says: December 12th, 2011 at 5:44 pm

   What? No.

2. Dan Says: December 12th, 2011 at 6:29 pm

   For a time there in 1999-2000 he was the best player in New York.

   But HOF? No.

3. Mike S Says: December 12th, 2011 at 6:50 pm

   No, he's not a HOF'er, but Alfonzo deserves to be on the ballot. That he was omitted in favor of guys like Tony Womack and Terry Mulholland is a joke.

4. Met fan for life Says: December 12th, 2011 at 7:00 pm

   One of my favorite Mets of all time. His star shone briefly, but brightly. Clearly not a Hall of Famer, but well-remembered.

5. Shoop Says: December 12th, 2011 at 8:39 pm

   Is this a Jeopardy answer?

   The question being "Name a player who is wholly unqualified to be in the HOF?"

   Personally I think the answer should have been Johnnie LeMaster.

   (God I miss the blog)

6. Jay Says: December 12th, 2011 at 8:49 pm

   My fellow Mets fan for life has it exactly right. Edgardo Alfonzo was a fine player for several years, and an excellent player for a couple, but the Hall of Fame is not for fine players. It is not even for players who were excellent for a couple of seasons. If Fonzie had been able to maintain his 1999-2000 numbers, then yes, he would be a Hall of Famer, but he didn't maintain those numbers. He faded young. His last good year was 2002, when he was 28. Players whose best years are behind them when they are 28 do not belong in the Hall. And really, it is ridiculous to ask if he belongs.

7. DavidRF Says: December 12th, 2011 at 9:32 pm

   Alfonzo has the 5th highest WAR of the newly eligibles... behind Brian Jordan and ahead of Javy Lopez. If Brian Jordan gets inducted, then we'll can discuss Edgardo.

   I thought this was going to be a link to special candidate profiles with Alfonzo being a random example. But this just looks like a Jim DeShaies style plug for a favorite-son vote or two. :-)

8. Mets Says: December 12th, 2011 at 10:32 pm

   I wonder what could have been if it wasn't for the back injuries...

   Definitely not a HoF but one of my favorite players of all time, and a much more deserving candidate than Terry Mulholland or the dreadful Tony Womack.

9. Chris Says: December 12th, 2011 at 11:22 pm

   No disrespect to Alfonzo or his fans, but I am surprised this is even up for discussion.

10. simarc Says: December 13th, 2011 at 12:04 am

    Gr8 player for the Mets for a very short period of time. Definitely a fan favorite. Certainly not a HOF'er and most probably not even worth of the Hall of the Very Good either.

11. Pat D Says: December 13th, 2011 at 2:22 am

    It's funny, because as soon as I looked at his stats, I immediately thought of Carlos Baerga. Two really good years, then kind of a sharp decline but hung around for several more years.

    So naturally I feel really smart right now after seeing Baerga as the top similarity score.

    It is slightly curious he's not on the ballot, but he'd get like 3-4 votes at most anyway.

12. Kelly Says: December 13th, 2011 at 3:44 am

    @2 and 19, I have always suspected he was on PED's during that 99-00 stretch and probably before. At least he sure fits the profile.

13. DavidRF Says: December 13th, 2011 at 9:12 am

    @12
    You know, before there were steroids, guys used to have their careers flame out all the time.

    Called up to the majors very young and after a couple years of adjustment breaks out and is all-star caliber from ages 23-26 and MVP caliber from 25-26 before having an off year, a move to an easier position brings a comeback season but then he declines and its washed up at age 32. That's not that uncommon of a story from an historical perspective.

14. Dvd Avins Says: December 13th, 2011 at 11:07 am

    Perhpas he'll be on the ballot 5 years after his time in Mexico or Japan.

15. ctorg Says: December 13th, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    As a Mets fan, he's in my personal Hall of Fame, the qualifications for which are entirely subjective and have to do with how much I liked them when they played. He's there with Mookie Wilson, Gooden, Straw, and others. But he's not even close to the (slightly more objective) Baseball Hall of Fame standard. He was extremely good for a very short time.

16. Brett Kiser Says: December 13th, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    Does anyone think any player from this year's freshman class (their first year on the ballot) will be retained for next year? I think Bernie Williams will get the mandatry 5% for retention but can't see anyone else in this weak class. Javy lopez and Vinny Castilla may get 5% but I won't hold my breath, and Alfonzo might get a vote, but 5% seems like quite a stretch.

17. Jim Says: December 13th, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    @ Dan:

    The best player in NY 1999-2000 was Bernie Williams, hands down. Stop it with this Edgardo Alfonzo non-sense.

18. Hartvig Says: December 13th, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    Ah, how soon we forget.

    There was a time, however brief, that Edgardo's name was mentioned in the same breath as Ryne Sandberg, Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, Jeff Kent, etc.

    But realistically his career and peak were both short and his peak was only very briefly exceptional- he's deserving of being on the ballot but not of serious consideration for the Hall.

19. cleaner100 Says: December 13th, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    At first glance, I pretty much agree that Edgardo didn't have a HOF career, though some individual years were superb. He sure burned out rapidly in '06, at a young age.

    Good call on the Baerga similarities. I agree, though Alfonzo did have a better career OBP and slightly more power.

    Does the fact that he primarily played 2B and 3B sweeten the pot at all? I'm curious if there is any valid argument that he does belong in. I can't really see one.

20. Ottoman Says: December 13th, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    4 nice seasons in a row do not make a HOFer!

21. MetsFan Says: December 14th, 2011 at 2:00 am

    Oh Fonzie, just another example of how injuries crippled a would-be Hall of Fame (or at least deserving of consideration) career.

22. kidqueens Says: December 14th, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    I would say that Jeter may have been the best ballplayer in NY in 99-2000. Any one else agree?

23. Joe Garrison Says: December 15th, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    I see two HOF-type seasons and that's it.

    I miss the blog too.

24. Dan Says: December 19th, 2011 at 12:20 am

    @ kidqueen

    Jeter himself called Alfonzo the best player in New York in 2000.

    @ Jim

    How about we stop it with the yankee worship nonsense and give Alfonzo his due. There was a time where his level of play exceeded any one player from the Bronx. Your golden shortstop even said so himself.

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