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3 Hall of Fame Infielders Who Aren't as Good as Lou Whitaker

By Steven Kubitza

Second baseman Lou Whitaker as a member of the Detroit Tigers
Second baseman Lou Whitaker as a member of the Detroit Tigers / Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Lou Whitaker still not being in the Hall of Fame is an increasingly sore point for Detroit Tigers fans who watched him throughout his impressive career. The second baseman was with the team from 1977-1995 and was part of the 1984 World Series champs.

Whitaker ranks 80th all-time with a WAR of 75.1. That puts him one spot ahead of the great Reggie Jackson. The five-time All-Star was consistent and racked up great numbers during his 19 seasons, adding three Gold Glove nods. When it comes to the Hall of Fame, there are three infielders already enshrined to whom Whitaker can point as evidence as to why he belongs at Cooperstown as well.

3. Pie Traynor

Pie Traynor spent his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pie Traynor spent his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. / Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Pie Traynor was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1948 after a career as both a player and a manger for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished his 17-year run with a WAR of 37.3 (dwarfed by Whitaker) and 2,416 career hits (ahead by just 47). Traynor also had 371 career doubles, compared to Whitaker's total of 420. Whitaker and Traynor do have similar numbers in terms of stolen bases, OPS, and longevity, but the longtime Pirate only made two All-Star teams.

2. Lou Boudreau

Lou Boudreau made the Hall of Fame in 1970.
Lou Boudreau made the Hall of Fame in 1970. / Photo File/Getty Images

Lou Boudreau served as a player for 15 season and also earned over 1,110 wins as a manger. The Cleveland Indians legend has a career WAR of 63.0 and was an eight-time All-Star, but Whitaker beats out the shortstop in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and is nearly identical in OPS. Both players are World Series champions and have similar career slash lines, but Whitaker's major edge in WAR -- Boudreau's total merely ties him for 153rd all-time -- and power numbers stand out.

1. Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio had a long career with the Houston Astros.
Craig Biggio had a long career with the Houston Astros. / Elsa/Getty Images

Craig Biggio spent 20 seasons in the majors, all with the Houston Astros. He played from 1988-2007 and reached the elusive 3,000-hit mark in his final season. The seven-time All-Star also won four Gold Gloves and made the Hall of Fame in 2015 on his third ballot. The hit total is what stands out the most, but his career WAR is 65.5, good for 139th all-time. Biggio getting in on his third ballot with a WAR total well below that of Whitaker shows how confusing it is as to why the Tigers great remains out of the Hall as a veterans' committee pick.