As Adrian Beltre joins 400 home run club, Hall of Fame debate heats up
Major League Baseball’s 400 home run club gained a new member on Friday night. Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre became only the 52nd player to achieve that lofty milestone with a first-inning home run off Cleveland Indians left-hander Bruce Chen.
The home run was the second of back-to-back shots. The first came from Prince Fielder, who himself is nearing 300 career homers. It helped the Ranges establish an early lead, which they were unable to hold in losing to Cleveland 8-3.
The fan who was able to wrestle the souvenir away on the berm in center field later returned it to Beltre. He received an Adrian Beltre signed bat and jersey for his kindness. The bat Beltre used and the helmet he wore were then authenticated.
Results and memorabilia aside though, the milestone adds some fuel to a debate that has burning for a couple years now. Is Adrian Beltre Hall of Fame worthy?
He’s one of the most interesting cases out there right now, especially considering his power numbers and his position. On Friday, he joined Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews, Chipper Jones, and Darrell Evans as the only players in the 400-homer club to spend at least fifty-percent of their career games playing third base.
Schmidt and Mathews are already in. Jones’ time could be coming as soon as 2018, which would leave Evans as the only man among that group on the outside looking in.
[Check out Big League Stew on Tumblr for even more baseball awesomeness.]
Reaching 400 homers is a big step, but as we’ve learned in wake of the steroid era, not even 500 homers guarantees a player induction into the Hall. Of course, many of those players still awaiting the call were at one time linked to steroids. To this point, Beltre has not been linked, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be undue suspicion or consideration given to the era he played in.
Defensively, he’s among the most respected at his position with four Gold Gloves over his 18-year career.
At 36, there appears to be enough left in the tank to get him to 3,000 hits. He’s at 2,641 right now. That might be the milestone that cements his legacy, but if he falls short the Hall of Fame debate will likely continue until he gets in or he’s off the ballot completely.
The question we ask now: If you had a vote, has Adrian Beltre done enough to earn a Hall of Fame induction? If not, will 3,000 hits be what puts him over the top?
You can tell us in the comments or on Twitter @bigleaguestew.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
