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Red Sox History: Analyzing the cases for all nine Hall of Fame hopefuls

By Daniel Fox

BOSTON, MA - MAY 20: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a Red Sox Hall of Fame Class of 2016 ceremony before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians on May 20, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 20: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a Red Sox Hall of Fame Class of 2016 ceremony before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians on May 20, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 27: A.J. Pierzynski #40 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 27, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 6-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 27: A.J. Pierzynski #40 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 27, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 6-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Red Sox C: A.J. Pierzynski

Career Stats: .280/319/.420, 94 OPS+, 2043 H, 188 HR, 909 RBI, 23.8 WAR

Years on Ballot: 1st

Current Percentage: 0

By far the least impressive resume on this list is former Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. About the best thing you can say about Pierzynski is that he was a durable and a comparatively good hitter for a catcher. Pierzynski had 12 straight years with over 125 games played, and his 2,043 hits are 12th all-time among catchers.

Yet unlike most good-hitting catchers, he was much more of a contact hitter than a power hitter. He hit more than 20 home runs just once and drove in more than 75 runs just twice. This lack of power and patience combined to give Pierzynski a mediocre 94 OPS+, 200th all-time among catchers.

While Pierzynski underwhelmed at the plate, he was not much better behind it. Fangraphs rates him 88.0 runs above average over his career, but his 6-3, 250-pound frame severely limited his mobility.

He never won a Gold Glove or was considered one of the premier defensive catchers in the league. Pierzynski’s resume is also light on accolades, as he made just two All-Star teams and never finished above 30th in MVP voting.

All told, Pierzynski doesn’t have a serious case for the Hall of Fame. His 23.8 career WAR and 20.9 JAWS are both nearly half of the standard for Hall of Fame catchers. Still, Pierzynski deserves praise for carving out a 19-year career and for being an integral part of the 2005 World Series Champion White Sox.

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