Gary Sheffield retires from baseball

There's some talk in here about Sheffield's HoF ambitions. Wanted to see what some of you thought. I've always liked him as a player. Career slash: 292/393/514. wOBA of .392. He's got the counting numbers. His defense wasn't good, but his UZR is all over the place. I wish we had UZR on his Marlins years because I think in his prime he was an average fielder.

over 1 year ago hawkinscm87 22 comments 0 recs |

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Oh, and just for fun...

I remember reading on the back of one of his baseball cards that his senior year of high school, he struck out once.

by hawkinscm87 on Feb 17, 2011 12:45 PM EST reply actions

I always liked him.

I heard a story once about how he and Bonds were so tight. Bonds wanted to learn about Sheff’s eating habits so he had him out to San Fran for a few days along with Sheff’s chef. Wow…Anyway when Sheffield left to go back to Atlanta, Bonds stole the chef from him. Kinda funny, but kinda shows that Bonds would even sell out most of his friends. I hear that they now hate each other.

I do think that later on he might be a hof. IMO if Andre Dawson is, then Sheff is too. There is the whole steroid issue that will inevitably come up at that time. The dude had the fastest hands swinging a bat that I’ve ever seen. I personally loved him as a player.

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Feb 17, 2011 12:52 PM EST reply actions

I've heard that story...

As far as I know, he still hates Bonds. That might work in his favor.

Also, his use of steroids is still in question. Besides that, as you said, he had some quick hands. His amazing bat speed was creating his power, and had been creating his power since the early 90s. So did steroids affect him? Only for the worse, if at all.

by hawkinscm87 on Feb 17, 2011 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

Gary Sheffield = Dick Allen

Tremendous power, good plate discipline, much better than his reputation suggested, moved around the diamond, moved from team to team, surly attitude.

Probably has the same outcome as Allen – no dice. Although both should probably be in.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 17, 2011 1:21 PM EST reply actions

Dave Cameron at FanGraphs makes good points

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/is-gary-sheffield-a-hall-of-famer/

by hawkinscm87 on Feb 17, 2011 1:32 PM EST reply actions

It's too bad he removed them, because his gold inlays on his teeth were HOF caliber!

And for the record, I do not concur with the “Bust” trophy that has been photoshopped into this.

by AxDxMx on Feb 17, 2011 2:16 PM EST reply actions

Wow

I have this card! Without the bust.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 17, 2011 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Me too!

I need to go through those things again!

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Feb 17, 2011 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

I have his "real" rookie card

Actually I have over 200 of his cards. Used to have an irrational obsession.

by hawkinscm87 on Feb 17, 2011 7:21 PM EST up reply actions

should be but won't be

Too bad he wasn’t a total class act like Kirby Puckett
/code

Making watching baseball as fun as doing your taxes.
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by Matt Klaassen on Feb 17, 2011 3:32 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Even without the steriods issue

Sheff would probably be consigned to being one of the guys who gets enough votes to stay on the ballot for 15 years but never quite cracks 50% like Dave Parker, Dale Murphy, Don Mattingly, Alan Trammell, and now probably Edgar Martinez, Larry Walker, and Fred McGriff (I think Raines gets eventually gets in, Blyleven-style, as he becomes the stathead favorite and as a leadoff type, he will be somewhat unique from most of the other holdover hitters on the ballot).

by Gopherballs on Feb 17, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

Making watching baseball as fun as doing your taxes.
My Twitter feed.

by Matt Klaassen on Feb 17, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

Print too small (Kirby Puckett is the only one I can make out)

Puckett is going to be “if he got in, so does X” guy for the next 20 years. He was a sentimental choice because of his goodwill and tragic end to his career . . . and his first scandal did not break until just after his induction. If the timing was different, or he gets some other type of injury, or if his public persona was more like Sheffield, he does not get inducted.

by Gopherballs on Feb 17, 2011 6:19 PM EST up reply actions

at least we know he totally never did steroids

I mean, it was the 80s, the cleanest decades ever (other than the 60s), and it’s not like he ever had a “suspicious” jump in power, like, say, hitting 30+ homers in a season after hitting 4 over his firste 1200+ major-league PA…

Making watching baseball as fun as doing your taxes.
My Twitter feed.

by Matt Klaassen on Feb 17, 2011 7:55 PM EST up reply actions