The Philadelphia Phillies’ ‘Hall of Very Good’

The Hall of Fame ballot is always a hot topic of discussion, but this year’s ballot is going to burn down the house if the fire isn’t contained. It’s a ballot that could easily be the most memorable of all time, highlighted by two of the best hitters and pitchers, respectively, in history: Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. 

Of course, that brings up the actual hot-button issue. Should a player who has been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, in this case, steroids, be in the Hall of Fame? That’s a question for a different article, although it will have a long-lasting effect on this year’s ballot. 

But the question of whether a player belongs in the Hall of Fame got me to thinking: Throughout the history of the Philadelphia Phillies, which players would receive recognition, not for the Hall of Fame, but for that infamous “Hall of Very Good”? 

It’s a term that is tossed about lightly nowadays and has come to represent a designation for a player who put up very good numbers in his career, but just wasn’t considered Hall of Fame-worthy.

For this slideshow, I’m going to name those players, but do so in a “Phillies-related” fashion, meaning that any player on this list must have spent a noteworthy portion of his “Hall of Very Good” career as a member of the Phillies.

Also, for any active player, I will give a brief prediction whether they could wind up in the Hall of Fame when all is said and done. 

So without any further ado, I present the Phillies’ “Hall of Very Good.”

*Wins Above Replacement statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs.

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