Is 600 homeruns be the new 500?

[arod77]

It used to be that 500 HR's got you an automatic ticket to the hall of fame.

Is that still the case?

I mean if Frank Thomas retires right now, is he a a Hall of Famer? How about Thome (17 homers away)? Fred McGriff retired with 493 and I don't think he's getting in. Sosa hit almost 200 of his homeruns in 3 years. That's a third of his homeruns.

I really think that the new number is 550 or 600. Up to a few years ago, only 15-16 players had 500 homers.

This year 4 or 5 players will get there (F.Thomas soon to be joined by Arod, Thome, Manram, and Sheff) Bonds, Sosa and Griffey are there. That'll be 25 players with 8 Active players. Then you got Carlos Delgado (80 Hr's away and 35 years old). Vlad, A.Jones are over 350 in their early 30's.


A player like Thome and Delgado will need to hit 550+ to get in the Hall. So, is 500 an automatic ticket to the hall? I don't think it is anymore. Any opinions?

[JoshExley]

I think when most of us retire in another 30-40 years, there will be about 7-8 guys with 700. Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, ARod, Pujols, etc.

[arod77]

It's looking that way. Bonds, Griffey and Arod are going to the Hall but I'm not so sure that Frank Thomas, Gary Sheffield Manny Ramirez, or Jim Thome are. If they were to end up with less than 550, I don't thin any of those 4 make it. So, I guess that proves my point that 550 or 600 is the new 500 (Automatic Bid into the hall).

Biggio just got his ticket to the hall with his 3,000 hit and Glavin is soon to get his ticket when he gets win #300

[Red Sox Frizeak]

with the numbers manny has put up (avg, rbi's, obp, etc.) why would he need 550? i think if he only reached 500 that would even be enough for him. he has been a rbi machine throughout the mid to late 90's into this decade, and he definitely should go into the hall of fame when you throw in his high average for a power hitter. delgado and thome and more borderline, as well as sheffield, but manny i think is a no brainer almost.

[stevekahuda]

Frank Thomas is a no doubt HOFer (303 BA, 2500 hits, 500+ hr, 2MVPs). Manny should make it. Thome and Sheff will be borderline. Thome because all he does is hit homeruns, and Sheff because of the steroids. Its not just because of homeruns (although that will get you in) its typically the body of work. I think Thomas, Manny, and Thome will get the benefit of the doubt as they've avoided any hint that their homeruns were of the enhanced variety. Like it or not, the voters will be playing the guessing game for years with this generation. So, I don't think its going to be the number as much as it will be the perception of how they got to that number.

[J35J]

This has been talked about in a few different threads recently.

viewtopic.php?t=298336&hilit=play+hist%2A&start=20

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=304056&hilit=hist%2A


.... to answer you're question.... no, 600 homeruns isn't the new 500 homeruns. At least IMHO.

Thomas and Manny are shoe in HOFers and I think Thome and Delgado have real good chances to make it when all is said and done.