MLB News: Two Former Dodgers Added to HOF Ballot in 2022
Aside from winning a World Series, many if not all Major Leaguers dream about making it to Cooperstown and joining an elite group in the baseball Hall of Fame. There have been so many great players who have carved out nice careers in the game where it be as coaches, players, announcers, etc. Out of the tens of thousands of individuals who have passed through the game, only 329 have been voted into the HOF with 232 being players.
It’s a rare honor that many will reach. Even if players don’t get voted into the HOF, it’s still a great honor to be added to the ballot and be recognized as someone who has put together a career worthy of consideration. In fact, two former Dodgers were added to the ballot for 2022. Those players are outfielder Carl Crawford and shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
Carl Crawford
Crawford was drafted in the second round of the 1999 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He quickly established himself as a top player in the American League-leading in steals in 4 different seasons while also leading in triples each year from 2004-06. After signing a 7-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, Crawford was traded a season and a half later to the Dodgers along with Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett.
While Crawford wasn’t able to replicate his same success from Tampa Bay, he was still serviceable to Los Angeles, most notably in the 2013 NLDS. He helped the Dodgers advance past the Braves into the NLCS with a .353 batting average and 3 home runs. However, over the next 3 seasons, he was only able to play in 204 games before being released by the team in 2016.
Crawford ended his career playing in parts of 15 seasons in MLB. In these 15 seasons, he finished with a career slash line of .290/.330/.435 with 136 home runs, 766 RBI, 480 stolen bases, and 123 triples (.278 with 18 home runs, 99 RBI, and 48 stolen bases with the Dodgers). He was also named a 4-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in 2010.
Jimmy Rollins
J-Roll was drafted in the second round of the 1996 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Like Crawford, he quickly established himself as one of the game’s top talents. He accrued 4 gold gloves, 3 All-Star appearances, and a Silver Slugger award. After 15 seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, Rollins was then traded to the Dodgers to serve as the starting shortstop.
In his lone season with the Boys in Blue, Rollins .224 with 13 home runs with 41 RBI in 144 games before handing over the job to rookie shortstop Corey Seager. He then finished out his career appearing in 41 games for the Chicago White Sox before hanging up the cleats.
In 17 big league seasons, Rollins finished with a career .264/.324/.418 slash line with 216 home runs, 887 RBI, and 453 stolen bases.
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Crawford no and Rollins an outside maybe. There are a number of shortstops with far better stats still not there
Rollins maybe, I can’t see Crawford getting in
How about Maury Wills the real #30 who changed baseball, beat Ty Cobbs record, rookie of the year, All star SS? LONG overdue & insulting he is not in and his number isn’t retired!
Scott – I enjoyed your rant for Wills. I am with you brah. He wasn’t rookie of the year. MVP yes.
Has Crawford put a fence around his pool yet?
Did Crawford play for us? I thought he just got his checks.
With all due respect to the above, who were fine players, I’ve got about as much chance of making the HOF as they do. All for my pithy comments about baseball here.
I can think of a few Dodgers that should be in the Hall of Fame if players like Harold Baines are in it ….. no nepotism in the voting …. (thank you Tony LaRussa)