Is Freddie Freeman already a Hall-of-Famer?
He's about to begin his 15th MLB season
The walk-off grand slam off Nestor Cortez of the Yankees was enough to put me over the edge when it comes to current Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman’s Hall-of-Fame candidacy. In my opinion he was going to get there anyway, but following the 2024 season, if Freddie were never to play another MLB game, he’s a HOFer in my book. I suspect the concept would face little opposition. Or so I hope. Yet in a historical sense it’s not the forgone conclusion it seems at first.
Albert Pujols is a no-brainer for the HOF. Miguel Cabrera played more games at 1B than he did anywhere else – nearly twice as many as he did at third base. He too is a slam dunk for the HOF. But it isn’t that first basemen are underrepresented in Cooperstown – there are 29 first sackers in the Hall-of-Fame, four of whom are in the 500-home run club – Willie McCovey, Harmon Killebrew, Eddie Murray, and Jimmie Foxx. By contrast there are only 16 third basemen enshrined. In that respect it may be harder for a first basemen to get in since so many good ones have already been inducted. Careful saying that to Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, and Mark Texieira!
Freddie Freeman is about to embark on his 16th MLB season, although his first season in 2010 only constituted 20 games. As an Atlanta Brave, Freeman tortured my favorite team the New York Mets for more than 10+ years. Much in the way that HOFer Chipper Jones used to do 20 years ago. Before the new MLB schedules were adopted in 2023, playing vs. Freddie and the Braves 19 times per season was no picnic.
Freeman built his reputation year by year, and with a 60.7 career bWAR, he has averaged more than 4 bWAR per season. At first base that is much more difficult to do than at a more premium position in the field. It just feels like Freddie Freeman is a Hall-of-Famer-to-be already.
How about the players I mentioned that aren’t yet in the Hall? Hernandez and Mattingly both have cases, Hernandez’ being a bit better. And then there’s the recently retired Joey Votto who will soon be on the ballot, as well as active players Paul Goldschmidt and outfielder turned first baseman Bryce Harper. Given that Harper will likely play the remainder of his career at first base, he’s included in the comparison below, and it should be noted that Harper has played more than 1,000 more games in the outfield than he has at first base. My sense is that by the end of Harper’s career, his career OF appearances and first base appearances will be similar.
To me, what looked to be a sure thing for Freddie Freeman, is maybe not as sure when comparing to the other great players in the above group. Votto seems a good bet to make it. Goldschmidt is close but needs a few more good years (a questionable prospect), and Harper, even though he’s about to play his 14th season, he still needs to do a bit more to make his candidacy a sure thing.
Here's what bugs me even if other things bug me so much more. If Freddie Freeman isn’t a HOFer already, then what are we doing? Freeman has both an MVP and a World Series MVP. He sports a career OPS+ of 143 along with eight All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, and three Silver Sluggers. He finished in the top five in the MVP race three times. Does that seem like a HOFer to you? It sure does to me! Certain players just feel like they are HOFers before their careers end. Clayton Kershaw and Mookie Betts come to mind. Is Shohei Ohtani already a HOFer? Incredibly he’s about to begin his eighth MLB season and needs this season and two more seasons to meet the 10-year requirement. Once he crosses that threshold it’s impossible for me to think he won’t be a HOFer even if he only plays 10 years and retires. Mike Trout with all the injuries is already a HOFer.
It's not getting any easier to gain entrance into the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. The debates on who’s worthy and who’s isn’t, should be about players who are truly debatable. I expect that Freddie Freeman will not be one of those debated. However, a few more ‘average’ Freddie Freeman seasons wouldn’t hurt either.
About the Author: Mark Kolier along with his son Gordon co-hosts a baseball podcast called ‘Almost Cooperstown’. He also has written baseball-related articles that can be accessed on Medium.com and Substack.com. Mark can be reached on x @almostcoop and almostcooperstown@gmail.com
No doubt that Freddie Freeman is a Hall of Famer
Good article. Remind me. Is Harold Baines a Hall of Famer thanks to a phony Era Committee loaded with his former pals? If so, then Freddie Freeman is safely in today.
Look. Freddie could retire right now, and if he weren't an HOFer in five years, then like you, I'd have to ask, "What are we doing?" There's no point in the Hall if a player like Freeman doesn't get in.
I've talked tons about my feelings on the Hall of Fame in the past and how much of a joke it has become when deciding on who gets in and who stays out, often based on personalities and politics as well. Everything should be about what they did and didn't do on the field. Forget the off-field stuff and whether or not you liked them as a human being. Keep it unbiased.
Now, that's not to say Freeman doesn't shine both on and off the field. I think anyone reading your article would agree that he is a beloved baseball player with a fantastic attitude toward the game, shows up every single day, and plays hard. Oh yeah, and he performs at an All-Star level every season. If last year's playoffs didn't tell people anything about his heart (playing hobbled), then they weren't paying attention.
If all three retire today, I'll put Freddie in, without thinking twice, over Trout and Ohtani, who couldn't even sniff the playoffs in any of the six seasons they were teammates while playing with the Angels. Ohtani's first taste of October was last year when he went to the Dodgers and joined Freeman.
Ohtani hasn't played long enough and, to be frank, wasn't much of an offensive threat early on. His bat didn't exactly strike fear in the opposition when he first joined the Angels. Check out his first three seasons. Obviously, he's become a much better hitter over the last four years and, arguably, the scariest bat in the game. But, as a whole, his counting stats offensively, and certainly on the mound, are not there yet. He's a .282 career hitter over seven seasons, while Freeman has a .300 batting average over 15. There's no comparison at this time.
Trout was on pace for what would have likely been one of the best careers in MLB history. No one's arguing that. But, to be honest, he didn't get there and has since faded into irrelevance. He gets hurt, rarely plays, and no matter how much MLB tries to make it easier for their predestined Golden Child to make the postseason by expanding the playoffs, he can never find a way to October, either. Remember, 16 teams qualified in 2020, and Trout still missed out. Except for one appearance way back in 2014 when Mike hit .083 against the Royals in a series his Angels were swept in, he has no idea what big game baseball feels like. What has been Trout's biggest on-field moment? I don't know either.
Compare Trout's counting stats with Freeman's, and it's not a contest. Freeman's had a better run and has been clutch in the biggest moments. If everyone was willing to put Trout in the Hall of Fame literally five years into his career, then Freddie's great 15-year run makes him a no-doubt HOFer if he never played another game.
Freddie's in. Nothing to worry about.