All time "Should be in the Hall of Fame" team?

One of the best questions I've seen on here in quite a while. Well thought out and well presented too.

Your list is very good and you give good arguments. I'll go one step forward and create a second team (ignoring the inelligibles like Jackson and Rose and HGH user McGwire).

C: Ted Simmons - 8 time all star and one of the best hitting catchers (before Mike Piazza came along). 2472 Hits, 248 HR, 1389 RBI, .285 BA, .437 SLG. Not as good defensively and not as much power as Johnny Bench but the numbers are comparable (JB: 2048 Hits, 389 HR, 1376 RBI, .267 BA, .476 SLG).

1B: Gil Hodges - solid numbers as a player, 370 HR, 1274 RBI, .273 BA, .487 SLG. But it's his job in leading the hapless Mets to the Title in 1969 that should put him over the top.

2B: Lou Whitaker - 3 gold gloves, 5 all stars, 2369 hits, 244 HR, 1084 RBI, .276 BA, .426 SLG.

SS: Dave Concepcion - overlooked in the Big Red machine. 5 gold gloves and 9 all stars. 2326 hits, Offensively slightly better than Ozzie Smith but a notch below him defensively.

3B: Stan Hack - maybe not deserving a HOF spot but is overlooked at 3B. A 4 time all star, had 2193 Hits and a .301 batting average.

OF: Sherry Magee - the guy with 2 girl names. Underrated player from the dead ball era in the early 1900's. From 1905 through 1914, Magee finished in the National League Top 10 in home runs and RBIs seven times, including leading the NL in RBIs four times. Was also one of the finest defensive outfielders in the era. He finished his career at the age of 34 (which probably hurt his chances of the HOF) and died of pneumonia at the age of 44.

OF: Dale Murphy - at age of 31 looked like a sure HOFer. Had 310 HR, 927 RBI, a.279 BA, and .500 SLG. But after that he only managed 88 HR, 339 RBI, .234 BA, and .396 SLG. (Barry Bonds numbers at 31 were 334 HR, 993 RBI, and .288 BA). Also has 2 MVP awards and 398 career home runs on his resume.

OF: Andre Dawson - 8 gold gloves, 8 all stars, an MVP, 2774 hits, 438 HR, 1591 RBI, .279 BA, and a .482 SLG. What are they waiting for? All elligible players with more total bases are in the Hall and only Harold Baines is not in among the RBI leaders.

LHP: Billy Pierce - the best left handed pitcher in the AL behind Whitey Ford in the 50's. From 1951 to 1960 he was 157-112 with a 3.02 ERA and 155 complete games.. 7 time all star.

RHP: Jack Morris - 254-186 record, 3.90 ERA and 2478 strikeouts. What helps him his is world series performances. 1984 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 1991 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA.

RP: Dan Quisenberry - a career cut short from arm trouble. From 1980 to 1985 he had 212 saves, a 2.45 ERA and 5 top five Cy Young finishes.

Some others:

Graig Nettles - if Bill Mazeroski can make it at 2B because of his defense then why not Nettles at third. Nettles had only 2 gold gloves (stuck behind Brooksie most of the time) but he was one of the best fielding 3B of all time. Almost 400 homers but his .248 batting average is hard to justify. Perhaps if he hit .260 like Maz he'd be in.

Don Mattingly - injuires kept him out. Numbers are very similar to Kirby Puckett.

George Van Haltren - Somebody most of you have never heard of. A pitcher turned outfielder who played around the turn of the century. A career .316 hitter with 40 wins as a pitcher.

Torre..he goes in as a manager and it's a no brainer.

Richie Allen, by age 35 his skills diminished so much that he was out of baseball, trying to train racehorses...I can't find anything to put him at HOF level..great hitter, did not play long enough to fulfil the minimum requirements.Comparing Allen to Albert Belle..excellent career numbers but short of acceptable level for HOf.

Grich..I read those graphs..the only thing they tell me is that neither one of them should be in the HOF...Robbie Alomar was much, much better and is considered a good chance for HOF despite character flaws.

Santo..I'm with you borderline..but a big lobby from Chicago and some sympathy votes because of the leg amputation..he may get in.

Trammel..career has already been scrutinised and decision was..close but not quite HOF level..unlucky I would agree.

Raines..yes, I do agree..he is one who flies under the radar.

Cedeno..on talent yes, on performance no..and he played in the Astrodome which was a big handicap.

Evans..hmmm...close but no, Winfield was better, even if it's marginal.

Blyleven...a total injustice..but he's about to get in next year. He deserved it long ago..paid the price for playing with small market teams.

Smith..his case was stronger 5 years ago.but he competed with Gossage and Eckersley..Eck had 200 wins and Gossage more than 100 wins to go with 320 saves. But the save criteria has changed..in a few years 500 saves will be a small number. Smith's numbers are outdated..not going in now or later.

Did I misread the question?

I hate NFL films for calling them that. They are TEXAS's team and its not for the rest of the bandwagoning losers too embarrassed to cheer for there own teams. I agree, take the name off I'm tired of hearing it. Most people shouldn't like the Cowboys why would you? I understand, I hate all 30 teams outside of Texas and of course there is always a microscope on America's Team not cool.

1B - Dick Allen

2B - Pete Rose

3B - Ron Santo

SS - Dave Concepcion

LF - Tim Raines

CF - Vada Pinson

RF - Roger Maris

C - Thurman Munson

LH - Tommy John

RH - Bert Byleven

RP - Lee Smith

M - Joe Torre

love the Bert Blyleven and Cesar Cedeno idea, but above them all has to be THURMAN MUNSON (and nobody hates the Yankees more than I do, but the Captain MUST be in there).

RF Dave Parker-70's Cobra not the 80's

I would have to say that I agree with ALL of your picks. I would add:

Roger Maris - held THE record longer than anyone. 2 time (consecutive) MVP.

Thurmon Munson - Did not choose to die, for god's sake. Only Fisk and Bench (both in the Hall) competed with him during his career.

Tommy John - had he not had to stop to have the surgery now named after him, he very easily would have won 300 games.

You make cogent arguments. Hope mine are, too.

1

Well that's nice and all, but eventually that would end up changing, I mean eventually there might be even greater baseball players so maybe that's the problem with your idea.

joe torre will go in as a manager even though i hate his guts.....

but why im really replying is where is PETE ROSE?!?!?!?!?!

all time hit leader got the snub, why can't they put him in after the indiscretions of the steroid era?!