5 Hall of Fame Cards that Won't Be Snubbed

Even if their subjects can't punch their Cooperstown ticket

In case you didn’t notice, the Hall of Fame announced the results of their 2023 writers ballot this past week.

And, as always, some players who have a pretty darn good Cooperstown case were left on the outside looking in.

Some of those guys will eventually make the cut, but some will languish in the middle of the ballot until their ten years expire and then have to hope some incarnation of the Veterans Committee will usher them into baseball’s Valhalla.

For now, they join — or remain in — the ranks of the Hall of Fame snubs.

As we leave ballot season behind for another year, here is a nod to some of the long-standing Cooperstown snubs and their amazing baseball cards.

1975 Topps Dick Allen (#400)

I thought for sure Allen would get the call when the Golden Days Era Committee convened for the 2022 vote, but instead he fell short again. I was happy to see Gil Hodges get the call, but he was no match for Allen in the batter’s box.

As for this card, 1975 Topps was my first “favorite set,” and this card is one of the most colorful and artistic among the entire checklist.

1977 Topps Bobby Grich (#521)

Even among Hall of Fame snubs, Grich is underrated.

But he was one of the most consistently valuable and complete players in the game from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s. Put it all together, and he was a top-10 second baseman … ever.

And this card — well, if you were to recruit the local police artist to draft a composite of “1970s white male,” this shot of Grich would be part of every APB in the land.

1979 Topps Darrell Evans (#410)

Darrell Evans won the American League home run title with 40 dingers at age 38 for the 1985 Tigers, and I became an instant fan (well, if “instant” means developed over the course of 162 games).

Part of that admiration came about as I studied the man’s career and realized that he’d been a solid power hitter in some tough hitting climes for years.

Truthfully, though, Evans’ career numbers aren’t really strong enough to put him in the same class as most other snubs, but he remains way underrated.

And, standing there in the sunshine on his 1979 Topps card, Howdy Doody can hardly believe his anonymity.

1980 Topps Lou Whitaker (#358)

There’s no question Lou Whitaker is the best player not in the Hall of Fame, at least when you remove the pariah guys like Bonds, Rose, Clemens, et al.

It’s pretty much inexcusable that David Ortiz and Jim Kaat and even Alan Trammell are in and Sweet Lou is NOT.

He’ll fall off this list some day, I’m sure. He has to.

For now, though, we can appreciate this crisp, clean card featuring a young Whitaker looking pensive as plays catch with someone off camera (Trammell maybe?).

1994 Topps Kenny Lofton (#149)

Lofton was one of the most exciting players of his generation, and he ended up with career numbers that left him among the top 10-15 centerfielders in the history of the game.

That’s heady territory no matter how you look at it.

This card is all about that “excitement” factor, though, showing a young Lofton hustling all-out for the Indians, just as player and team were coming into their own.

—

So … who are your favorite Hall of Fame snubs? And which of their cards draw you in time and time again?

I’d love to hear your picks!

Until next time, have hope — Groundhog Day is just ahead, and that means … well, that pitchers and catchers report soon, if nothing else.

Consider that a bit of foreshadowing, and I’ll “see” you next week.

Thanks for reading.

—Adam