Braves Hall of Famer named one of the MLB’s biggest offseason winners

Earlier in the month, Braves first baseman Fred McGriff was officially voted into the Hall of Fame by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee. He was the only player who garnered the 75% vote needed to be elected from an eight-person group voted on by a 16-person committee. And he was recognized for the accomplishment by Jim Bowden, who dubbed the Crime Dog as one of the MLB’s biggest offseason winners.

McGriff, along with Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, was the best first baseman of his era. But for whatever reason, he’d been snubbed for all these years. However, the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee righted that wrong by electing McGriff to the Hall of Fame earlier this month. McGriff received unanimous support, all 16 possible votes, and was the only player elected by the committee. He finished his career with 493 home runs, a .377 on-base percentage and 52.6 WAR, according to Baseball Reference. The five-time All-Star also won three Silver Slugger awards and hit 20 or more home runs 15 times and 30 or more home runs 10 times. After a career spent with six different teams, McGriff’s final stop — Cooperstown — is where he belongs.

McGriff finished just seven home runs shy of 500 homers — a mark that very few have eclipsed. Over his career, he hit .284 with a .377 OBP and .509 slugging percentage, including a World Series championship as a member of the 1995 Atlanta Braves. During the ten years on the Hall of Fame ballot, he finished shy of the 75% vote needed to be inducted. And honestly, sniffing 500 homers almost certainly results in a Hall of Famer most of the time, but Fred McGriff is finally being recognized for his greatness. Congratulations from Braves Country!

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