Time is running out for Gary Sheffield to enter the Hall of Fame. This is Sheffield’s 10th and final year of eligibility. He will need 75% of the vote to enter the Hall of Fame. A huge reason why Sheffield has not been voted into the Hall of Fame is because of his connection with PEDs when he worked out with Barry Bonds.  in 2001.

Sheffield played in the majors for 22 years, he had a .907 career OPS and ranks 55th all-time. Sheffield just didn’t hit home runs; he could also hit for average. Sheffield hit over .300 in eight qualifying seasons, topped .400 in on-base percentage eight times, and was above .500 slugging ten times. Among right fielders, Sheffield ranks eighth in runs (1,636), 18th in hits (2,689), 20th in doubles (467), seventh in home runs (509), eighth in RBI (1,676) and fifth in walks (1,475).

The right-fielder made nine All-Start teams, and only 71 players in MLB history can top that. Sheffield won five Silver Slugger awards, starting in 1992 with the San Diego Padres at the age of 23 while playing third base. He secured another one in 1996 with the Florida Marlins. Sheffield won three straight Silver Sluggers from 2003-2005, one with the Atlanta Braves and two with the New York Yankees.

Also, in 1992, Sheffield won the batting title by batting .330. He never won an MVP award but finished in the top ten five times. His career slash line was .292/.393.514 in 10,947 plate appearances. You would think Sheffield was a free swinger, but he was very disciplined at the plate; his highest number of strikeouts for a season was 83. Sheffield’s 60.5 is below the average Hall of Fame right fielder (71.1) but better than Hall of Famers like Vladimir Guerrero, Enos Slaughter, “Wee” Willie Keeler, Sam Rice, Kiki Cuyler, and Chuck Klein.

To me, Sheffield is a Hall of Famer; he hit over 30 home runs per season eight times and was one of the most feared hitters of ERA. If it weren’t for his link to PEDS, Sheffield would probably already be in, but they let “Big Papi” David Ortiz in.