Players 30 or under who were destined to be HOFers, but faded away in their early 30s

[sportscardtheory]

In response to the Which Current Players Under 30 do you believe will be HOF'ers? thread, let's discuss which players who were destined for Hall immortality, but faded away in their early 30s.

 

[sportscardtheory]

I present to you, Darryl Strawberry

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/strawda01.shtml

 

[sportscardtheory]

Don Mattingly

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mattido01.shtml

 

[Frow]

On my phone so can't link but Andruw Jones. 30 was his last productive year and 5+ aweful years. Should be well over 500hr and 2000 hits by now so at least we would have the debate.

Sent from my LG-P925 using Sports Cards by Freedom Card Board.com

 

[sportscardtheory]

Andruw Jones

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesan01.shtml

 

[sportscardtheory]

Nomar Garciaparra (probably PED use related)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garcino01.shtml

 

[sportscardtheory]

Juan Gonzalez (although he had a good age-31 season, yet another probable victim of PED abuse)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzaju03.shtml

 

[sportscardtheory]

Troy Glaus (probably PED use related)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/glaustr01.shtml

 

[sportscardtheory]

Roger Maris

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marisro01.shtml

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Albert Belle.

 

[iconms]

Eric Chavez
Alfonso Soriano

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Dale Murphy.

 

[Musial Collector]

Ill throw Gooden into the mix, couldnt stay off the coke.
Half way to 300 wins by 28, had a respectable 3+ ERA up to that point, I think with another 10 years of 12-15 wins, Doc may have made the HOF.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goodedw01.shtml

 

[sportscardtheory]

Chavez and Gooden are really good examples, with Gooden being the best pitching example so far. Soriano has still been halfway decent in his 30s. Not sure about Dale Murphy. He had a fantastic age-31 season, but never had an OPS over .735 after that. Still was decent for a few seasons in his 30s though.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Too early to add Tim Lincecum to the mix? lol J/K Way too soon for that.

 

[DRav87]

Andruw Jones could still make the HOF.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Rocky Colavito and Roger Maris.

 

[UMich92]

Denny McLain. Two CYs and 114 wins by age 25.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Fernando Valenzuela

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/valenfe01.shtml

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

J.R. Richard