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Vada Pinson had some amazing early years with Cincinnati. He had a long career but dropped off quite a bit by the time he got to St. Louis and then Cleveland.

sp25 wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 10:51 am Vada Pinson had some amazing early years with Cincinnati. He had a long career but dropped off quite a bit by the time he got to St. Louis and then Cleveland.

Pinson, like Al Oliver are borderline HOF.

Christian Yelich

First 7 seasons (up to age 27):

32 WAR, slashing .301/.383/.492/.874 with a 137 OPS+ (Two MVP seasons (one award))

Next 6 seasons:

13.1 WAR, .263 .362 .427 .789 with a 118 OPS+.

Christian looked like a sure HOFer in the middle of the 2019 season, but he hurt his back at the end of that year; and while serviceable when able to play since, Yelich has never made it back to peak form.

It's still possible that Yelich could make the HOF -- he needs a couple more big years; but that seems more unlikely each year.

OldRed wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 10:55 am

sp25 wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 10:51 am Vada Pinson had some amazing early years with Cincinnati. He had a long career but dropped off quite a bit by the time he got to St. Louis and then Cleveland.

Pinson, like Al Oliver are borderline HOF.

Agree, I like both these players. My point with Pinson, to answer the OP, was that if he continued to have production as he did in his first several years with the Reds that he wouldn't be borderline HOF, he would be in it.

The best I can think of is Andrew Jones, his career PLUMMETED at age 30

Age 19 - 29:

342 HR
1023 RBI
133 SB's
.267 .345 .505 .850
9 Gold Gloves
5 time all-star
58 bWAR

Slam dunk Hall of Fame start to a career!

But then.............

Age 30 - 35:

92 HR
266 RBI
19 SB's
.214 .314 .420 .734
1 Gold Glove
4.7 bWAR

Don Mattingly started off on fire his first several years, but unfortunately injuries played a huge part in him fizzling out before he could reach anything close to HOF requirements.

sp25 wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 11:29 am

OldRed wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 10:55 am

sp25 wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 10:51 am Vada Pinson had some amazing early years with Cincinnati. He had a long career but dropped off quite a bit by the time he got to St. Louis and then Cleveland.

Pinson, like Al Oliver are borderline HOF.

Agree, I like both these players. My point with Pinson, to answer the OP, was that if he continued to have production as he did in his first several years with the Reds that he wouldn't be borderline HOF, he would be in it.

that is very true, but Pinson should already be in.

Hal Trosky, Harlond Clift, Vada Pinson, Charlie Keller, Vern Stephens

nighthawk wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 15:32 pm Hal Trosky, Harlond Clift, Vada Pinson, Charlie Keller, Vern Stephens

Hal Trosky is good example. I had breakfast with in in Iowa and he had a very interesting career.

Eric Davis

rockondlouie wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 14:40 pm The best I can think of is Andrew Jones, his career PLUMMETED at age 30

Age 19 - 29:

342 HR
1023 RBI
133 SB's
.267 .345 .505 .850
9 Gold Gloves
5 time all-star
58 bWAR

Slam dunk Hall of Fame start to a career!

But then.............

Age 30 - 35:

92 HR
266 RBI
19 SB's
.214 .314 .420 .734
1 Gold Glove
4.7 bWAR

Jones made it to 66% in his eighth year of HOF eligibility and has upward momentum. And there's the Veterans Committee if he misses. Being possibly the best defensive CF ever with 434 HR make a strong case but not reaching 2000 hits hurts. His domestic violence incident might have cost him votes too. I think he barely makes it in his tenth year.

Eric Davis

Tony Conigliaro.
Hit his first MLB HR as a 19 year old teenager in his fist PA - after jumping from A ball directly to MLB.
24 HR is just 11 games in that first season.
32 more at age 20 in his first full year - leading the league in HR.
28 more at age 21.
Then 20 more through just the first 95 games of the 1967 season.
104 career HR at age 22 in just 2047 PA's.
Fastest rate to 100 HR in AL history - and 2nd youngest player in MLB history to reach that mark.
Accomplishing that during the time period when MLB pitching was the most dominant in history since the dead ball era.
40% more HR than Pujols at the same age.
Then hit in the face with a pitch in August of 1967.
Ruined his vision.
Had he remained healthy and played through his late 30's, he likely would have hit over 600 HR.

Mort Gage wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 17:13 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 14:40 pm The best I can think of is Andrew Jones, his career PLUMMETED at age 30

Age 19 - 29:

342 HR
1023 RBI
133 SB's
.267 .345 .505 .850
9 Gold Gloves
5 time all-star
58 bWAR

Slam dunk Hall of Fame start to a career!

But then.............

Age 30 - 35:

92 HR
266 RBI
19 SB's
.214 .314 .420 .734
1 Gold Glove
4.7 bWAR

Jones made it to 66% in his eighth year of HOF eligibility and has upward momentum. And there's the Veterans Committee if he misses. Being possibly the best defensive CF ever with 434 HR make a strong case but not reaching 2000 hits hurts. His domestic violence incident might have cost him votes too. I think he barely makes it in his tenth year.

Yep

OldRed wrote: ↑14 Nov 2025 06:30 am Darryl Strawberry
https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... da01.shtml


Dwight Gooden
https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... dw01.shtml

World Series Champion (2000), NL Cy Young Award/Pitching Triple Crown ('85), NL Rookie of the Year ('84), No-Hitter (5/14/96).
16 seasons/5 teams: 194-112, 3.51

Tim Lincecum definitely applies.