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The "What Could Have Been" Hall of Fame

sportscardtheorysportscardtheory Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Give us some players that lost any part of their careers to injury (or death) that you are fairly certain would have made the Hall of Fame had they been able to fulfill a full healthy career. Any sport. Players that were injured in college or just out of college are allowed.

I will start with a bunch.

Bo Jackson
Terrell Davis
Sterling Sharpe
Albert Belle
Don Mattingly
Marcus Dupree
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  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,743 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ray Fosse.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • MithrilManMithrilMan Posts: 161
    Ellis Burks 162 game average over 18 years career works out to:

    3078 hits, 522 HR, 1764 RBI, 1818 R, 270 SB and good defensively. Guy was very good when healthy and proved he could play even in his late 30s - injured all the time though. 2107 hits even with all those injuries.

    My favorite ball players throughout the years: Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, Ellis Burks, Lance Berkman
  • hhmag70hhmag70 Posts: 2,107
    Len Bias
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭
    George HW Bush
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • onlyanumberonlyanumber Posts: 2,433
    I'll second Ray Fosse and add Thurman Munson and Tony Oliva

    Edit to add: I know Munson never was technically injured, but death did derail an almost certain HOF career.
    Next MONTH? So he's saying that if he wins, the best-case scenario is that he'll be paying for it two weeks after the auction ends?

    Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12



    image


    Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)
  • sportscardtheorysportscardtheory Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I'll second Ray Fosse and add Thurman Munson and Tony Oliva

    Edit to add: I know Munson never was technically injured, but death did derail an almost certain HOF career. >>



    I added death to the OP when I saw that you added Munson.
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  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    Will Clark. He missed a lot of time to injuries through out his career, but when he was on the field he raked.
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • Cokin75Cokin75 Posts: 243 ✭✭
    Two Tony's who started in the 60's.

    Tony Oliva
    Tony Conigliaro
  • WalterSobchakWalterSobchak Posts: 2,096
    Sandy Koufax should be the number one name on this list. Except he's in the HOF based on a dominant six-year period.

    I'm not sure if he was going to be quite HOF-caliber, but Grady Sizemore looked like he was going to be a fantastic player before the never-ending string of injuries.
    'Sir, I realize it's been difficult for you to sleep at night without your EX/MT 1977 Topps Tom Seaver, but I swear to you that you'll get it safe and sound.'
    -CDs Nuts, 1/20/14

    *1956 Topps baseball- 97.4% complete, 7.24 GPA
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  • sportscardtheorysportscardtheory Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭
    Oh man. How could I forget... Eric Lindros.
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  • DodgerfanjohnDodgerfanjohn Posts: 491 ✭✭✭
    Realize he made the HOF anyway, but Bill Walton.

    For baseball, Fred Lynn always struck me as a guy who was always hurt but put up monster numbers when he wasn't.
  • MithrilManMithrilMan Posts: 161
    Ralph Sampson

    Wahoowa!
    My favorite ball players throughout the years: Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, Ellis Burks, Lance Berkman
  • RookieWaxRookieWax Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭
    J.R. Richard. He was the best pitcher in baseball when he had a stroke.
  • sportscardtheorysportscardtheory Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭


    << <i>J.R. Richard. He was the best pitcher in baseball when he had a stroke. >>



    Oh wow. I had never heard of him before. He was amazing. Career over at 30. Yikes.
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  • CNoteCNote Posts: 2,070 ✭
    He'll be in the Hall regardless, but how does Griffey's career change if he plays a 154 per year while in Cincinatti?
  • EchoCanyonEchoCanyon Posts: 2,288 ✭✭✭
    Tommy John -- .5 more wins a year and he'd hit 300 wins
  • gemintgemint Posts: 6,126 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ted Kluszewski
    Rocky Colavito
    Ken Hubbs
    Lyman Bostock
    https://ebay.com/sch/gemint/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
  • onlyanumberonlyanumber Posts: 2,433
    Another one...


    Don Gullett

    109 wins and 6 world series teams by age 27. Four straight World Series with the Reds and then Yankees. Injuries derailed what could have been.
    Next MONTH? So he's saying that if he wins, the best-case scenario is that he'll be paying for it two weeks after the auction ends?

    Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12



    image


    Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)
  • Nascar360Nascar360 Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    Lloyd Seay!
  • mrpeanut39mrpeanut39 Posts: 841 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>J.R. Richard. He was the best pitcher in baseball when he had a stroke. >>



    Oh wow. I had never heard of him before. He was amazing. Career over at 30. Yikes. >>



    image

    I'm as surprised as George Costanza in that episode where Eric the Clown had never heard of Bozo.
    "I think the guy must be practicing voodoo or something. Check out his eyes. Rico's crazier than a peach orchard sow." -- Whitey Herzog, Spring Training 1973
  • calaban7calaban7 Posts: 3,013 ✭✭✭
    Herb Score comes to mind .

    If one goes to Retrosheet.org , there is tons and tons of useful stuff to those that look.---- Sonny
    " In a time of universal deceit , telling the truth is a revolutionary act " --- George Orwell
  • cincyredlegscincyredlegs Posts: 2,032 ✭✭✭
    A few that come to mind:

    Pat Tillman
    Billy Simms
    Grant Hill
    Eric Davis
    Davey Allison - for all the Nascar fans

    Mark
    Project:

    T206 Set - 300/524
  • TheCARDKidTheCARDKid Posts: 1,496 ✭
    For some reason, I almost feel sorry for Harold Baines. I think it's because the 3,000 hit club is still so special and exclusive (not as questionable/inflated as the 500 home run club has become).

    Baines was basically a year short of 3,000.
  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,148 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Tony Conigliaro


    Steve
  • verb1verb1 Posts: 102
    Not injured, but Josh Gibson.
  • select22select22 Posts: 14
    Dale Murphy
    Andruw Jones his career fell apart
    Braves Fan and Collector.
  • mygottamygotta Posts: 1,652
    Eric Davis. Maybe Daryl Strawberry. Dwight Gooden if not for nose candy.
  • gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
    I Hate to say it, but....

    Robert Griffin III.

    I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
    Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
  • gemintgemint Posts: 6,126 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I Hate to say it, but....

    Robert Griffin III. >>



    Manti Te'o
    https://ebay.com/sch/gemint/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    Barry Bonds. He was already on his way to being an all-time great when his pride got injured and turned him into the Hulk as a result.
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
    Drazen Petrovic
    I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
    Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I Hate to say it, but....

    Robert Griffin III. >>



    Manti Te'o >>



    image
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    Drazen Petrovic is already in the Hall of Fame.
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    For the record, Josh Gibson is in the HOF, class of 1972.

    My pick, Kevin Freer.


    Good for you.
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
    Chas. Ferguson.

    But for typhoid fever, he might have gone on to have a Babe Ruth type career in terms of Hall of Fame potential, a great hitting pitcher, a great pitcher, etc.
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • Scottiec2288Scottiec2288 Posts: 911 ✭✭✭
    Pelle Lindbergh
  • PSASAPPSASAP Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭
    I'd like to have seen the numbers that Yao Ming would have accumulated had he stayed healthy.
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    William Andrews Falcons RB knee injuries
    Billy Sims Lions RB knee injuries
    Terrell Davis Broncos RB knee injuries
    Rickey Williams Dolphins RB, too much weed smoking, missed a few years.
    Joe Delaney Chiefs RB, couldn't swim and drowned saving a kid from drowning. Total hero.

    Are we seeing a pattern here...?

    RB's have a short career lifespan.
  • otwcardsotwcards Posts: 5,291 ✭✭✭
    Lyman Bostock. How many players go 2 for 4 on the day they die? Gone way too early at 27.
  • gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
    I was thinking that Petrovic was a "What Could Have Been" HOFer, even though he was in the HOF. He made the Basketball HOF on the strength of his international exploits, but only had a few years to shine in the league and still died before the age of 30.
    I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
    Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
  • gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
    Magnum T.A.
    I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
    Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭
    Mike Sadek
    My cards on COMC
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    He was elected to the Hockey HOF last year, but I shudder to think what kind of numbers Pavel Bure could have put up on healthy knees.
  • dtkk49adtkk49a Posts: 2,489 ✭✭✭
    Derrick Thomas

    Also, who was that Yankee prospect who got into a fight and broke his hand? Never made it to the majors.
    Follow me - Cards_and_Coins on Instagram



    They call me "Pack the Ripper"
  • bkingbking Posts: 3,095 ✭✭


    << <i>Derrick Thomas

    Also, who was that Yankee prospect who got into a fight and broke his hand? Never made it to the majors. >>


    Brian Taylor, but I think he was a Mets prospect.
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  • dtkk49adtkk49a Posts: 2,489 ✭✭✭
    Did someone mention Reggie Lewis?
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    They call me "Pack the Ripper"
  • jrbolesjrboles Posts: 566 ✭✭
    + 1 for Lyman Bostock and Thurman Munson

    I heard stories about Pete Reiser being a could've been great

    I always thought Shawon Dunston was a couple shrink appointments away from greatness and heard the same about Ellis Valentine.

    Along the same lines as the previous post about Baines, Steve Larmer comes to mind. He could have broken the all time hockey consecutive games iron man record - which I think could have meant the HOF. But so much did he despise the old Wirtz regime that he sat out for a trade in '93 rather than break the record. He then went on to win a cup with the Rangers. Story is NYR begged him to come out of retirement the following year. He remains my all time fave.

  • sportscardtheorysportscardtheory Posts: 1,786 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Derrick Thomas

    Also, who was that Yankee prospect who got into a fight and broke his hand? Never made it to the majors. >>



    Derrick Thomas is in the Hall of Fame.
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  • miwlvrnmiwlvrn Posts: 4,266 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Did anyone mention Pelle Lindbergh yet?

    Also, here is an absolute stretch contribution, but who knows how great Alexei Cherepanov might have become?
  • miwlvrnmiwlvrn Posts: 4,266 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Oops, sorry, just noticed now that P.Lindbergh already made the list.
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