Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 10 - Harry Hooper

    Harry Hooper was a rightfielder for the Red Sox and White Sox from 1909 through 1925. He was a good bunter, a famous postseason hero, and a fine fielder, but he had a career slash line of .281/.368/.387, which was only good for an OPS 114% as good as that of the average hitter of the era. Hooper never led the AL in any offensive categories except for plate appearances and sacrifice hits in 1910. Furthermore, he batted .242 in his age 24 season and .235 at age 27. He should have been in his prime in those seasons. Those seasons are pretty tough to look past if you're trying to induct an outfielder. 

    Almost every one of Hooper's statistics is good, but none of them really stand out. For example, this Hall of Fame leadoff hitter only scored 100 or more runs in three seasons. 

    Hooper's Hall of Fame plaque reads, 

"Leadoff hitter and right fielder for of 1912-15-16-18 World Champion Red Sox. Noted for speed and strong arm. Collected 2,466 hits for .281 career average. Had 3,981 putouts and 344 assists. Lifetime fielding average .966." 

    Well, 2,466 hits isn't close to 3,000, and .281 isn't .300. His .966 fielding percentage was six points above the league average, when they had pretty weak gloves, but a .966 fielding percentage would be a terrible mark if recorded today. 

My opinion: Harry Hooper was too ordinary to be a Hall of Famer.