Sandy Jr.'s Legacy (split from Mets Honored)

[Edgy MD]

Sandy's in the Cleveland Hall of Fame?

I can't think of a modern player who parlayed such a mediocre career into such a high profile.

[Chad ochoseis]

An ex-Met and a Cleveland bicyclist. And he wasn't great overall, but he had a bunch of All-Star seasons with the Tribe. Still, he's probably the wrong Alomar for that particular HOF.

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The only other Metly player I can think of that would be in the Indians HOF is Carlos Baerga.

[Edgy MD]

I think his Rookie of the Year (debatable merit, but in a year of a generally weak crop) and his famous name got folks routinely and habitually punching ballots with the Alomar name as his brother kept the high profile alive.

He also held the advantage of playing for a team that was constantly selling out the ballpark, back when ballpark ballots were the big nut.

Let's take a look!

1990: AL All-Star, as starter, but ultimately was sixth in fWAR among AL catchers. AL Rookie of the Year, despite three pitchers (Kevin Tapani, Kevin Appier, and Dana Kiecker having garnered more fWAR.

1991: AL All-Star, as starter, despite an absolutely lost year (51 games, .219 batting average, no homers, seven RBI.

1992: AL All-Star, as starter, despite ultimately finishing 10th among AL catchers in fWAR.

1996: AL All-Star, but the voters have finally glommed on to somebody Ivan Rodriguez, so he doesn't start. Ultimately finishes 10th among AL catchers in fWAR.

1997: Good year! AL All-Star and fourteenth in MVP voting! Second best fWAR among AL catchers!

1998: AL All-Star, despite another miserable year, ultimately finishing with 0.0 fWAR, 23rd among AL catchers, including such luminaries as Mike DiFelice.

He had a nice little career, from the hang around for a while/help the team/occasionally play well/make a little money perspective, but I think the idea of Sandy Jr. far eclipsed the actuality, as much as any player in living memory.