Lucky Hall Of Famer Number 56 - Kiki Cuyler

Kiki Cuyler was a Major League outfielder from 1921 through 1938, putting in his best work with the Pirates and the Cubs. A career .321 hitter known for his speed, Cuyler led the NL four times in stolen bases and twice in runs scored. He was elected to the Hall by the Veterans Committee in 1968. 

    While Cuyler was a fine player and a key contributor to some good teams, he was not an ideal choice for the Hall of Fame. While his .321 batting average looks shiny, it has to be taken with a grain of salt considering the era in which he played: for example, in 1930 (Cuyler's best season on paper), the entire National League maintained a batting average of .303, demonstrating a general boom in offense that needs to be accounted for. Even in a more statistically-balanced era, Cuyler's career statistics would be a little thin for a Hall of Fame outfielder, as he compiled 2,299 career hits, 128 home runs, and 1,065 RBI's, strong numbers but below the Hall of Fame average. While the Hall has certainly made worse selections, Cuyler missed out on his chance with the BBWAA and was scooped up by the VC, certainly making him a lucky Hall of Famer. 

My opinion: Kiki Cuyler wasn't an egregious Hall of Fame selection, but he is definitely near the weaker end.