Sports Reference Blog

B-R: HoF Candidate – Jeff Bagwell

Posted by Neil on December 13, 2011

Jeff Bagwell

Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (BagPipes)

Position: First Baseman
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 0", Weight: 195 lb.

Born: May 27, 1968 in Boston, MA (Age 43)
High School: Xavier (Middletown, CT)
School: University of Hartford
Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 4th round of the 1989 amateur draft.
Signed June 10, 1989. (All Transactions)
Debut: April 8, 1991
Team: Astros 1991-2005
Agents: Barry Axelrod [*]
Final Game: October 2, 2005

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
1989 21 BOS-min A,Rk 69 262 229 30 71 14 2 2 22 1 1 26 25 .310 .386 .415 .801 95 7 3 3 1 0 WHV,RES · FLOR,GULF
1990 22 BOS-min AA 136 569 481 63 160 34 7 4 61 5 7 73 57 .333 .422 .457 .880 220 6 3 6 12 NBR · EL
1991 23 HOU NL 156 650 554 79 163 26 4 15 82 7 4 75 116 .294 .387 .437 .824 139 242 12 13 1 7 5 *3 RoY-1
1992 24 HOU NL 162 697 586 87 160 34 6 18 96 10 6 84 97 .273 .368 .444 .812 135 260 17 12 2 13 13 *3 MVP-19
1993 25 HOU NL 142 609 535 76 171 37 4 20 88 13 4 62 73 .320 .388 .516 .903 144 276 20 3 0 9 6 *3 MVP-20
1994 26 HOU NL 110 479 400 104 147 32 2 39 116 15 4 65 65 .368 .451 .750 1.201 213 300 12 4 0 10 14 *3/9 AS,MVP-1,GG,SS
1995 27 HOU-min AA 4 16 12 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 .167 .375 .167 .542 2 0 1 0 0 1 JAC · TL
1995 27 HOU NL 114 539 448 88 130 29 0 21 87 12 5 79 102 .290 .399 .496 .894 142 222 9 6 0 6 12 *3 MVP-15
1996 28 HOU NL 162 719 568 111 179 48 2 31 120 21 7 135 114 .315 .451 .570 1.021 178 324 15 10 0 6 20 *3 AS,MVP-9
1997 29 HOU NL 162 717 566 109 162 40 2 43 135 31 10 127 122 .286 .425 .592 1.017 168 335 10 16 0 8 27 *3/D AS,MVP-3,SS
1998 30 HOU NL 147 661 540 124 164 33 1 34 111 19 7 109 90 .304 .424 .557 .981 158 301 14 7 0 5 8 *3
1999 31 HOU NL 162 729 562 143 171 35 0 42 126 30 11 149 127 .304 .454 .591 1.045 162 332 18 11 0 7 16 *3/D AS,MVP-2,SS
2000 32 HOU NL 159 719 590 152 183 37 1 47 132 9 6 107 116 .310 .424 .615 1.039 152 363 19 15 0 7 11 *3/D MVP-7
2001 33 HOU NL 161 717 600 126 173 43 4 39 130 11 3 106 135 .288 .397 .568 .966 139 341 20 6 0 5 5 *3 MVP-7
2002 34 HOU NL 158 691 571 94 166 33 2 31 98 7 3 101 130 .291 .401 .518 .919 135 296 16 10 0 9 8 *3/D
2003 35 HOU NL 160 702 605 109 168 28 2 39 100 11 4 88 119 .278 .373 .524 .897 128 317 25 6 0 3 3 *3 MVP-14
2004 36 HOU NL 156 679 572 104 152 29 2 27 89 6 4 96 131 .266 .377 .465 .842 115 266 12 8 0 3 6 *3/D
2005 37 HOU-min AA 3 12 9 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 3 .222 .417 .222 .639 2 1 0 0 0 0 CPC · TL
2005 37 HOU NL 39 123 100 11 25 4 0 3 19 0 0 18 21 .250 .358 .380 .738 94 38 2 1 0 4 1 3
15 Seasons 2150 9431 7797 1517 2314 488 32 449 1529 202 78 1401 1558 .297 .408 .540 .948 149 4213 221 128 3 102 155
162 Game Avg. 162 711 587 114 174 37 2 34 115 15 6 106 117 .297 .408 .540 .948 149 317 17 10 0 8 12
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/13/2011.

Similarity Scores

Explanation of Similarity Scores
Similar Batters 

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 Compare Stats to Similars
  1. Carlos Delgado (879)
  2. Frank Thomas (874)
  3. Fred McGriff (865)
  4. Vladimir Guerrero (860)
  5. Chipper Jones (859)
  6. Andres Galarraga (844)
  7. Willie Stargell (843) *
  8. Jason Giambi (842)
  9. Todd Helton (831)
  10. Orlando Cepeda (825) *

* - Signifies Hall of Famer
Most Similar by Ages 

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  1. Jack Stivetts (979)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  2. Alvin Davis (969)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  3. James Loney (975)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  4. Don Hurst (941)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  5. Joey Votto (941)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  6. Magglio Ordonez (927)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  7. Adrian Gonzalez (941)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  8. Hal Trosky (934)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  9. Hal Trosky (920)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  10. Frank Thomas (905)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  11. Frank Thomas (917)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  12. Frank Thomas (917)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  13. Frank Thomas (913)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  14. Rafael Palmeiro (907)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  15. Gary Sheffield (899)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C

* - Signifies Hall of Famer

Related posts:

  1. PFR: Hof Candidate – Steve Atwater
  2. B-R: HoF Candidate – Edgardo Alfonzo
  3. PFR: Hof Candidate – Jerome Bettis

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 at 3:05 pm and is filed under Announcement, Baseball-Reference.com, Hall of Fame. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

33 Responses to “B-R: HoF Candidate – Jeff Bagwell”

  1. Matt Says: December 14th, 2011 at 2:37 am

    He's definetly one of the better candidates, thats for sure. but will he get in on his first yr... no.

  2. Chris Says: December 14th, 2011 at 8:28 am

    Lookin at the class, I certainly hope he gets in...hes done more than the others...Matt, you are correct that he wont get in on his first year eligible....however...this is year 2 for voting for him...i hope this is our year...got my ticket for cooperstown on hold lol

  3. Chris Says: December 14th, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Bagwell is why I became an Astros fan in 1991....lets give him his due

  4. Lonestarr Says: December 14th, 2011 at 9:09 am

    Definitely in the next 3-5 years, at most. That 1994 line is just ludicrous.

  5. Jonathan Goldstein Says: December 14th, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    I have been writing to HOF voters for years about him. I think he deserves to be in the Hall.

  6. David Says: December 14th, 2011 at 5:29 pm

    On his accomplishments alone he should have gotten in his 1st year. It's a shame that he is being associated with the "steroid era". Guilt by association? There has been no proof or admission. He is definitely deserving and both he and Biggio are exactly the kind of people the that should be representing the HOF.

  7. Joe Garrison Says: December 14th, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    There is a reason Bill James wrote the following about Jeff Bagwell in the biography section of the updated Historical Abstract:

    "Pass"

  8. doovy Says: December 15th, 2011 at 12:52 am

    This is so worth the discussion especially after seeing Vinny Castilla and Jeromy Burnitz on the same list. Bagwell is a must. He should have had 2 MVPs, one in 1994, and the second one should have come in 1999.

    On a different note, I don't get it....why did Bill James write "Pass" on Bagwell's section?

  9. Bryant Says: December 15th, 2011 at 2:44 am

    "Why did Bill James write 'Pass' on Bagwell's section?"

    Because Bags is a big can of worms to get into. James' commentary notes that he was an extremely well-balanced player. His accomplishments are strong: he is arguably the best first baseman between Gehrig and Pujols. Yet the numbers from his high-powered bat don't look much different from his much iffier contemporaries such as Juan Gone, Giambino, Carlos Delgado or Crime Dog, etc. Not to mention he was light years behind The Kid or Bonds. They all played during the Steroid Era.

    In my book, he gets extra credit for all those years putting up with the 'Dome and his all-round great play. He managed to stay out of the Mitchell report. He put great to insane numbers for nearly 15 years until he couldn't play any more. Bagwell packed in about 80 WAR (bref) in just 15 seasons.

    Hall of Famer, no doubt.

  10. Doug Says: December 15th, 2011 at 3:01 am

    Interesting note that the last man to score more runs in a season than Bagwell did in 2000 was the great Lou Gehrig in 1936. Not bad. And nobody's topped Bagwell's figure in the last 11 years, either.

  11. Iron Horse Says: December 15th, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    "light years behind The Kid (Ken Griffey Jr. or Bonds"

    Just to enlighten those out there, Ken Griffey Jr. was clearly a great player and and easy HOF pick, but he was NOT "light years ahead of Bagwell.

    Bagwell led the NL in Runs Scored 3x and RBI one.
    KGJ led the league in Runs 1x and RBI 1x. KGJ did lead the league in HR 4x, tho.

    Bagwell has a career OPS+ of 149
    KGJ career OPS+ is 135

    Bagwell had 1517 runs scored and 1529 RBI in 2150 games (1.42 per game)
    KGJ had 1662 runs and 1836 RBI in 2671 games (1.31 per game)

    Both were great defenders, though KGJ played the more demanding position.
    Griffey also hung around a little longer and dragged his career averages down a bit.

    Yet, it would be egregious and erroneous to characterize Bagwell as "light years" behind Griffey. Bagwell was every bit the player Griffey was and thus should waltz into the HOF.

  12. LexRedsFan Says: December 15th, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    I'm sold. Give me a vote and Bags gets another "yes".

  13. Pete Says: December 15th, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    If I had a vote I would vote for Bagwell, definitely.

  14. simarc Says: December 15th, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    Look at those power numbers and his OBP and that's all I need to see. Add to it that he did this in that "hitter's paradise" (wink/win) called the Astrodome and I'd give him a ticket straight to Cooperstown.

  15. Bryant Says: December 16th, 2011 at 12:14 am

    Noted for my mis-articulated comparison between Bags and Kid, Iron Horse.

    Where I spoke of Griffey being light years ahead of Bagwell, the context I failed to frame in was that Griffey reached national acclaim more quickly than Bagwell.

    Not to mention when Bags did break out in 1994, had he been able to play the entire season while maintaining those otherworldly rates, he would have finished with 13.1 WAR instead of 8.9 (his hitting progressively improved). Not to mention 57 HR, 170 RBI, 153 R, 95 BB, 22 SB, 216 H, 47 2B, 441 TB, etc. Or that Bonds would have started juicing much earlier if he hadn't been already.

    KGJ's career WAR through his first 15 seasons was also just under 80 (77.4). No telling how much bags had left in the tank with otherwise healthy shoulder.

    Agreed that they are/were equal players. And both should be/have been first-ballot.

  16. Hippie J Says: December 16th, 2011 at 12:25 am

    @15

    You have to remember that Bagwell wouldn't have finished 1994, even if the strike didn't happen. He injured his thumb and was lost for the year right before the strike suspended play.

  17. Bryant Says: December 16th, 2011 at 12:33 am

    @10 Doug, 11 Iron Horse: Those run totals / rates were a testament to Bagpipe's elite baserunning skills. Biggio also. Three occasions of four years one of them lead the majors in scoring with not less than 143. Also, both Griffey and Bagwell had a four-year streak of 120+ runs scored/year.

  18. Bryant Says: December 16th, 2011 at 12:40 am

    @16 Hippie J: I recall that the strike ended the season a day after his. (it was actually a broken hand on an incoming pitch) Bags was unreal. He just kept getting better as the season progressed.

  19. Hippie J Says: December 16th, 2011 at 1:28 am

    Ah yes. I also wish that Kirby Puckett would have been able to finish that year as well, since he was on pace for over 160 RBI.

    It would be nice to see Biggio and Bagwell go in together. They both fit the criteria, I think.

  20. Bryant Says: December 16th, 2011 at 2:11 am

    Puckett was phenomenal. One of my faves. He was great for a long time, too: still seemed to be every bit at peak even when he was forced to retire. Agreed; it would have been great to see Bags have enough to play a couple more seasons with Big.

  21. JohnBoy Says: December 16th, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    He should be a Hall of Famer on the 1st ballot, but sadly, the steroid era will cast doubt on anyone but Casey Candaele.

  22. JohnBoy Says: December 16th, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    Actually, Candaele surged to 3 and 4 HRs in Houston, so it is possible he bulked up as well. Oh, the humanity!

  23. M Says: December 16th, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    I think the BBWA separates HOF candidates into two sections. Those that should be first ballot HOFamers and those that should be HOFamers. I don't think Bagwell should be on this list... http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/First_Ballot_Hall_of_Famer, but could you imagine a player with a career 149+ OPS not getting in? Doubtful.

  24. Mackhold Says: December 16th, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    I grew up in Houston and rooted for him for 15 years. By the numbers he belongs. I am suspicious about possible use, though. I watched him and Biggio play side-by-side: Biggio had the same lean frame for all those years, but Bagwell evolved into a different body type. Then seemed to shrink again after the crackdown. On the other hand, I never heard him linked to it. I hope my suspicions are wrong. Without them I don't see an argument against his selection. His numbers are dynamite: OBP, Power/Speed, Slugging Percentage, great defense at the position. . . . And he was fun to watch play.

  25. Brian Says: December 16th, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    A great player. He should be in the HOF in my opinion

  26. Blake Walker Says: December 17th, 2011 at 3:16 am

    Astros fan going back to when Eddie Mathews played 1B ...on stats alone, Bagwell's in; this is not a case where you ask about HOF standards being lowered with his entry. But, again, that's on the stats.

    I don't know about steroids; he sure looked like he was juiced, didn't he?

    Certainly the best 1B Astros have ever had.

  27. Chris Says: December 17th, 2011 at 7:22 am

    Keep in mind guys...Bagwell was first year ballot in 2011 and got 47% of the vote. In a way...i kinda hope he doesnt get elected this year...but in 2013 class with Biggio so I make one trip to Cooperstown to see both

  28. Sal Says: December 17th, 2011 at 11:21 am

    My philosophy on steroids and The Hall is that if you are caught red-handed, you shouldn't be voted in. Just thinking that someone might have been on steroids is not an excuse to keep them out.

    Bagwell is not more than a border-line Hall of Famer, but he's still right on that border, and unsubstantiated steroid allegations would not change my feelings on the matter. To me, he's innocent until proven otherwise.

  29. Quinn Says: December 17th, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    Looking at the ballot, Bagwell definitely deserves to be in the HOF. 400+ homeruns and a .297 BA in 15 seasons seems good enough to me. There is the fact that he might have taken steroids, but I don't think he did.

  30. Allan Aguirre Says: December 17th, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    this guy definetly deserves to get in one day

  31. ctorg Says: December 18th, 2011 at 12:55 am

    A guy who gets on base 40% of the time in over 9000 plate appearances? That right there puts him in contention. Add in the 449 homers, the excellent fielding, and the fact that he was just a very smart, polished player, and to me he is a definite pick.

    As for steroids, I'm of the opinion that they shouldn't factor into the equation. I'm not convinced that the effects of steroids are as extreme as they've been made out to be, and I see the whole issue as one of a systemic problem within the sport, not something individual players should be penalized for (during the era in which there was no testing, that is). That's just my own take on it.

  32. JIMMYV Says: December 18th, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    Bags should be in... he played most of his career in a pitchers park, hit for average, power, and had an OBP over .400... Twice he was a 30-30 guy... He was the best all around first baseman of his era... As far as juicing goes, he is innocent until proven guilty...we can't assume everybody who had good numbers were cheating....

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