Posted February 17, 201114 yr Gary Sheffield has officially filed his retirement papers, according to George A. King III of the New York Post. After 22 seasons with the Marlins, Dodgers, Brewers, Yankees, Braves, Padres, Tigers and Mets, the 42-year-old is ready to retire. He says his numbers have earned him a shot a Cooperstown. "I am sure it will be mentioned and debated, but from my standpoint I know who is in the Hall of Fame," Sheffield said. "A lot of them don't belong in the Hall of Fame. If someone wants to debate me, check the stats." Sheffield posted a .292/.393/.514 line with 509 homers and 1676 RBI in the majors. The nine-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger recipient won a batting title and has a career OPS+ of 140. Sheffield came up as a shortstop before transitioning to third base and then the outfield. Sheffield, who earned about $168MM in his career, according to Baseball-Reference, ranks 24th all-time in career home runs. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/02/gary-sheffield-retires.html He'll probably be the first and only Florida Marlin to go into the HoF.
February 17, 201114 yr Author You think he'd go in as a Marlin? He spent six years here and hit .288/.426/.543/.970 with 122 homers. He could go in as a Dodger, too though. He was better for them (.312/.424/.573/.998, 129 HR) in 4 less ABs than he had here but he stole a hell of a lot more bases for us, walked a hell of a lot more and won his only WS. Plus I think they'd at least give the Florida Marlins one HoFer considering we won 2 WS, right? And why do you say only? Because we're going to be the Miami Marlins next year and there aren't really any other candidates to go in as Florida Marlins playing right now.
February 17, 201114 yr You think he'd go in as a Marlin? Most games played of any of his teams, and his only World Series appearance and victory. It's certainly possible. Let's hope!
February 17, 201114 yr And why do you say only? Because we're going to be the Miami Marlins next year and there aren't really any other candidates to go in as Florida Marlins playing right now. For that reason, I think he's going to go in as a Marlin (if he goes in.)
February 17, 201114 yr Author And why do you say only? Because we're going to be the Miami Marlins next year and there aren't really any other candidates to go in as Florida Marlins playing right now. For that reason, I think he's going to go in as a Marlin (if he goes in.) .292/.393/.514/.907 with 509 HR. He will definitely go in. I'm guessing he'll be first ballot, too. He also had his career best year here in 1996. .314/.465/.624/1.090, 42 HR, 120 RBI. Silly. Just silly.
February 17, 201114 yr Sheffield is one of those difficult to judge type of players. It's hard to say who you identify him with - I view him as a Marlin, but I don't know if fans in general view him as a member of any franchise .... even for me it's more related to the point in the franchises history that he played here, his roots to the community and he was the superstar face of the franchise for a while, won a WS in Florida and I still remember that HR he hit in the All Star game in the first ever plate appearance by a Marlin However, with his total #s it's harder to judge due to the length of the career ....... his average numbers are pretty good though ....... I think he should get in, looking at his stats I see 5-6 outstanding years, some more really good years and a few down years I think when all is said and done there will be bronzed teal in cooperstown
February 17, 201114 yr You think he'd go in as a Marlin? He spent six years here and hit .288/.426/.543/.970 with 122 homers. He could go in as a Dodger, too though. He was better for them (.312/.424/.573/.998, 129 HR) in 4 less ABs than he had here but he stole a hell of a lot more bases for us, walked a hell of a lot more and won his only WS. Plus I think they'd at least give the Florida Marlins one HoFer considering we won 2 WS, right? And why do you say only? Because we're going to be the Miami Marlins next year and there aren't really any other candidates to go in as Florida Marlins playing right now. I don't know, I could see Hanley going in if he keeps hitting well for at least another 10 years.
February 17, 201114 yr Sheff has been said if he gets into the Hall, he's going in with a Marlins cap.
February 17, 201114 yr Author Sheff has been said if he gets into the Hall, he's going in with a Marlins cap. He doesn't choose. You think he'd go in as a Marlin? He spent six years here and hit .288/.426/.543/.970 with 122 homers. He could go in as a Dodger, too though. He was better for them (.312/.424/.573/.998, 129 HR) in 4 less ABs than he had here but he stole a hell of a lot more bases for us, walked a hell of a lot more and won his only WS. Plus I think they'd at least give the Florida Marlins one HoFer considering we won 2 WS, right? And why do you say only? Because we're going to be the Miami Marlins next year and there aren't really any other candidates to go in as Florida Marlins playing right now. I don't know, I could see Hanley going in if he keeps hitting well for at least another 10 years. Any current Marlin with any shot would likely go in as a Miami Marlin considering they're all young and will have spent more time with the franchise while named Miami rather than Florida.
February 17, 201114 yr A bigger question than whether he'll go in the HOF as a Marlin is will he he go in at all? The admitted/suspected steriod users haven't faired too well on the ballots thus far.
February 17, 201114 yr Author A bigger question than whether he'll go in the HOF as a Marlin is will he he go in at all? The admitted/suspected steriod users haven't faired too well on the ballots thus far. All they really have on Sheffield is suspicion. Sure, he was mentioned in the Mitchell report but he never admitted to anything. The only proven case of him maybe using a substance that wasn't banned at the time but became banned later on was in 01 when he was seen putting a cream on his knee which he just had surgery on to heal the stitches. Not nearly enough to keep a career .900+ OPS and 500+ HRs out of the Hall. Personally, I feel that all of the guys that took substances that weren't banned at the time but became banned later on should be there. Why penalize the players for the league's laziness? But that's another story.
February 17, 201114 yr A bigger question than whether he'll go in the HOF as a Marlin is will he he go in at all? The admitted/suspected steriod users haven't faired too well on the ballots thus far. All they really have on Sheffield is suspicion. Sure, he was mentioned in the Mitchell report but he never admitted to anything. The only proven case of him maybe using a substance that wasn't banned at the time but became banned later on was in 01 when he was seen putting a cream on his knee which he just had surgery on to heal the stitches. Not nearly enough to keep a career .900+ OPS and 500+ HRs out of the Hall. Personally, I feel that all of the guys that took substances that weren't banned at the time but became banned later on should be there. Why penalize the players for the league's laziness? But that's another story. I agree to a point, but I'm not one of the ones voting. Just looking at Jeff Bagwell's vote total will tell you that Sheffield is facing an uphill battle.
February 17, 201114 yr I don't think Sheff will get into the Hall of Fame, at least not for a while. There's still a major steroids question, and nowadays all it takes is suspicion for you to lose votes. Also, his arrogance and god awful quotes might make some of the dumber media members turn on him. There's just a lot of things going against Sheffield. Still, I hope he gets in. God knows there needs to be a Marlin in the HOF at some point!
February 17, 201114 yr A bigger question than whether he'll go in the HOF as a Marlin is will he he go in at all? The admitted/suspected steriod users haven't faired too well on the ballots thus far. and he has admitted to using.......I don't think he goes in. I think many here will be surprised but I don't think he gets more than 40% vote next year. I hope I am wrong, but the steroid guys have been really shunned so far.
February 17, 201114 yr Author A bigger question than whether he'll go in the HOF as a Marlin is will he he go in at all? The admitted/suspected steriod users haven't faired too well on the ballots thus far. and he has admitted to using.......I don't think he goes in. I think many here will be surprised but I don't think he gets more than 40% vote next year. I hope I am wrong, but the steroid guys have been really shunned so far. When?
February 17, 201114 yr He admitted to using a cream when doing some training with Bonds, but stated it he had no idea what was in it and it was applied to help stitches heal after a recent knee surgery a lot of guys who did admit to using stuff admitted it in the scope of recovering from injury - i wouldn't be shocked if he had some idea what was in the stuff and how it would test he also claimed that his numbers before & after were equally strong and that it had no effect on his knee strength didn't get go 30/30 as a 38 yr old though? spikes like that along with being in the same room as "the cream" combined with being in the Mitchell Report will definitely raise some eyebrows throw in his sparkling personality I could see some voters very well saying no thanks
February 18, 201114 yr I've never understood why a cream would ever be banned? Did it give him magic powers? Honestly, what is it about creams? Is it because they share detected ingredients with banned substances?
February 18, 201114 yr A nice article talking about his retirement and comments about his time with the marlins the whole article is here http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_baseball_marlins/2011/02/gary-sheffield-not-opposed-to-going-in-as-florida-marlin-if-hall-calls.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+marlinsblog+%28Florida+Marlins+|+Sun-Sentinel+Blogs%29&utm_content=Twitter here is the section talking about the marlins Had a nice chat with Sheffield about his Marlins days and Hall of Fame hopes. He wouldn’t mind going in as a Marlin, but that day probably isn’t coming any time soon after he’s eligible in 2014. Sheffield has some compelling numbers, but being named in the Mitchell Report won’t aid his candidacy. Here are some excerpts from the interview: On his time with the Marlins: “I have nothing but great things to say about it. We did everything [in 1997] we set out to do. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get the stadium they’re so blessed to have right now. If we would have gotten the stadium, you would have seen great teams put out on the field on a year-to-year basis because South Florida is where most players want to come and play and raise their families. I was just glad to be a part of it as long as I was.� On the 1997 club: “Jim Leyland pulled us to the side and we had a conversation before we even suited up and that was the first thing he mentioned about treating spring training like it was the regular season and we were going to set the tone from day one. We were going to be a force to be reckoned with and were going to show people we were for real. Every day we suited up we came with a purpose and it started from day one.� On whether he would want a Marlins cap on his Hall of Fame plaque: “Absolutely. That’s the team I won a championship with. Most people since I played with the Yankees associate me with them, but before I got to the Yankees everybody knew me from my Marlin days. Every time they mentioned the Marlins they’d talk about me and what I’d done there, and so I’m always grateful for that. This is one of the teams that’s dear to me and it’s always going to be my first team.� On Mike Stanton possibly breaking his franchise single-season home run record: “Records are meant to be broken and there has to be somebody who sets them. I’m glad I’m the guy who set the record for home runs in a single season. That’s a high number. If anybody breaks it, that would be great. I wouldn’t be opposed to somebody breaking that record or feel any less about it. I enjoyed my time there. I put up great numbers. There are always going to be some young kids that come up and do better than you did.� On being included in the Marlins’ countdown to the new ballpark: “I always wanted to be a part of what they have there because we made history there — the first team to ever win a [Marlins] World Series and that means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to the fans. Whatever they want to do, I’m fine with it. If they want to include me, great. If not, that’s fine, too.� On whether his inclusion in the Mitchell Report will hurt his Hall of Fame candidacy: “My body of work for three decades speaks for itself. We changed the game. That’s how I look at it. We walked 140-some times a year. I look at all the walks that I have and if I didn’t have those walks the way they pitch to great hitters nowadays, what my numbers could have been. I look at that and that’s what makes me more appreciative of what I’ve done. They tried to take me out of the game a lot of times and I still wound up having Hall of Fame numbers.� On why he waited so long to announce retirement: “I was pretty much done last year. It was a matter of talking it over with my family and friends and they suggested I give it a year and really understand what it’s like to be at home during the summer spending time with your wife and kids, and then you can really look back and reflect on your career and it can be out of your system. That was the best advice I got. Anytime you do something for 25 years, you have the right to sit back and reflect on it. I did back and now that it’s out of my system I was able to go ahead and announce it and feel good about it.�
February 18, 201114 yr You think he'd go in as a Marlin? Most games played of any of his teams, and his only World Series appearance and victory. It's certainly possible. Let's hope! Amen brother!
February 18, 201114 yr I think it may take Shef awhile but he will find his place in Cooperstown...One of the best fastball hitters I have ever seen
February 18, 201114 yr Just had to add that he has my favorite batting stance of all time. I love how intimidating he looked to me. I'd love for Sheff to be the first Marlin in the Hall.
February 18, 201114 yr If he makes it... I wonder what he'll ask for as far as cap goes. I know the player no longer gets to choose, but the hall will at least listen to the player's preference. The reason I say *IF* is because Sheff was connected to the BALCO investigation, and thus Steroids/PEDs. While I, personally, understand that PEDs should not be a bar from the Hall of Fame, the candidacies of Rafael Palmiero and Mark McGwire seem to indicate a reluctance to allow such players in. Will that attitude change in the next 20 years? Perhaps. Enough to allow Sheff in? It's hard to say. The Marlins do seem like the obvious choice for Sheff, on grounds similar to those that have Andre Dawson and Gary Carter in the hall as Expos. If Sheff fails to make it (or is for some reason put in as a Dodger), then Hanley Ramirez or Josh Johnson will be our best prospects for "First Marlin Hall of Famer."
February 21, 201114 yr Just had to add that he has my favorite batting stance of all time. He did exactly what you're taught not to do and it worked for him. :lol Who chooses which team a player will go in as? And how? And why does the BHOF care so much that they don't let the player choose anymore? And when did that start?
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