Why Bobby Grich Deserves To Be In The Hall of Fame

For a player that was among the best of his class for over a decade, and 40 years after his retirement, still ranks as one of the greatest at his position, Bobby Grich has not even gotten close to being inducted into the baseball hall of fame. Who is this player, and why should he be elected into Cooperstown?
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WalkoffStudios is a RUclips channel dedicated to creating original Major League Baseball content. All videos are written, edited, and produced by myself. This channel is sprouted from my love of the game. I want to educate and entertain as many people as I can on different events, stories, history, and tidbits relating to Major League Baseball.

[@donwhiteley3293]

Grich is one of the players that modern analytics has really helped shine a light on. Offensively he tended to put up good, but not great seasons unless you paid attention to his OBP, which most people didn't back then. Most of the people who saw him play appreciated his defense and realized he was one of the best at his position, but analytics has helped quantify exactly how good it was (defensive analytical stats, especially when retroactively applied to players and seasons pre 2000 or so can be misleading, but I think they ring true with Grich). The counting stats look a bit light for a HOFer, but you have to compare people to others at the same position. At his retirement, Grich ranked 4th all-time among 2B in HRs, 6th in BB, and even that seemingly pedestrian RBI total still ranked 17th. You have to remember that second basemen being middle-of-the-order hitters is mostly a very recent phenomenon. I think WAR/JAWS ranking him as the 7th to 9th best 2B in history is a bit high (I personally have him around 13-15), but considering there are currently 20 2B in the HOF (and most positions have 24+ in the Hall) being top-15 all time at your position should definitely get you in the HOF.

[@Kawhilight]

My grandpa was a Yankees fan, and I’ll never forget the stories he would tell me about Bobby grich, and how he was the most impressive player he saw play that day, for either team in the 1 Yankee game he went to and how Grich was the smoothest fielder he could remember at the position.

[@Byrrd51]

With this video and your Whitaker video, it's like you're reading my mind. Couldn't agree more. Thank you for posting.

[@BrandonJ33]

I too had Grich in mind recently as a guy it's puzzling why he's not in. I know little about him aside from his name and WAR total. Learning time.

[@DS-xp4jb]

I saw him. I lived nearby in anaheim. Clutch hitter and the flashiest fielder I ever saw.

[@clydemiller4776]

Love the JG9 reference at the beginning of the video! As you may know, he’s the one who introduced me to your content.
And while I wasn’t around for Grich’s career, I agree that he has been criminally underrated by the “traditional stats” crowd and he should be in the HoF.

[@walkoffstudios]

Thank you for your support.
The quote used here and by JG9 is actually from Phineas and Ferb! ruclips.net/video/e-Z_6IyUe4o/видео.html

[@tonyrichard7966]

I totally agree GRICH should be in the Hall.

[@kendallevans4079]

As a Angel fan, I mostly know the end of his career, and it wasn't pretty. He retired after a horrendous showing in the ALDS where he couldn't hit a barn wall.

[@nacoran]

Anyone with a WAR over 50 deserves consideration. Anyone over 60 WAR unless there is a serious issue with their morality (steroids, cheating) should be in.

[@tandemaxle1831]

Absolutely not. A player is not better or worse just because the player behind him is better or worse. WAR is the most useless metric in baseball. Grich's stats aren't even close to being HOF.

[@billybandyk0720]

Damn fuckin' right; Bobby Grich DESERVES 2 B @ COOPERSTOWN!!!!!! His 4 Gold Gloves ALONE clearly warrants consideration but his all-around performances r very comparable 2 his contemporaries whom r alrdy HOFers. W/that said; his predecessor w/the Angels (the L8 Jerry Remy) also deserves HOF consideration.

[@caarecengi]

Compare Grich's numbers to Ryne Sandberg and tell me why Grich is not in the HoF

[@haroldfinch8481]

Fine fine player. Not a HOF the stats you mention in the first two minutes don’t bear it out.

[@DS-xp4jb]

Uhh edgar martinez and grich have identical war.
I saw him. U didn't.

[@haroldfinch8481]

@@DS-xp4jb you sure about that?

[@anguslean4058]

I saw Grich
Good Ball Player
Not a Hall of FAMER.