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Phillies: Placido Polanco Deserving of the Wall of Fame?

By George Stockburger

Jun 25, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tiger former player Placido Polanco throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tiger former player Placido Polanco throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Polanco is rumored to be up for the Phillies Wall of Fame this year

While unlikely based on the more prestigious candidates on the ballot this year, Placido Polanco is expected to be on the ballot for the Phillies Wall of Fame this upcoming season.

While Pete Rose is all but guaranteed to be inducted this summer, seeing Polanco’s name appear on the potential ballot is intriguing. It ultimately leads to the question of whether or not Polanco is worthy of the Wall of Fame.

Let us first examine Polanco’s career in Philadelphia, which extended through seven seasons over two stints. Having played 688 games in the organization Polanco hit a respectable .289 with 776 hits and 281 RBI’s. He became the prototypical two-hole hitter in the Phillies lineup and brought Gold Glove caliber defense across the Phillies infield.

Now let’s compare Polanco’s career in Philadelphia to four of the most recent hitters inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame. I’ll pass on comparing him to Jim Thome, who will more than likely find himself in Cooperstown in the near future.

Mike Lieberthal, a teammate of Polanco’s for four seasons, spent 13 years with the Phillies during one of the franchise’s worst stretches in history. Lieberthal played in over 1,100 games and hit .275 while in Philadelphia. Longevity and fan appreciation got Lieberthal into the Phillies Wall of Fame, as does holding the title of one of the best catchers in the organization’s history. Polanco has neither longevity nor fan endearment.

John Kruk played six seasons with the Phillies hitting .309 with 790 hits over 744 games. A three-time All-Star in Philadelphia, Kruk was a beloved character on the 1993 National League Championship team that nearly went from worst-to-first. While Polanco beats Kruk in longevity the numbers and team success falls in favor of The Krukker.

Jul 31, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) hands a plaque to retired left fielder Pat Burrell as is honored as the 37th inductee into the Phillies Wall of Fame before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) hands a plaque to retired left fielder Pat Burrell as is honored as the 37th inductee into the Phillies Wall of Fame before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Darren Dalton was another beloved leader from the ’93 team who found his way onto the Wall of Fame. Dutch played 1109 of his 1161 career games in Philadelphia over 14 years, but the numbers are not particularly strong. Nearly 900 hits in 1109 games led to a .245 batting average, but the ’93 championship and triumphant battle against cancer found a soft spot in the hearts of Philadelphians, leading to Dalton’s induction.

Finally, Pat “The Bat” Burrell matches up against his old teammate Polanco. The numbers for Burrell are hard to challenge, especially since he sits fourth overall on the club’s home run list and 10th in RBI’s. Having played three additional seasons and winning a World Series, Burrell is leaps and bounds ahead of Polanco in the Phillies history books.

Next: Phillies 2017 Season Preview: Center Fielder Odubel Herrera

It will ultimately be unlikely for Polanco to find his large forehead etched in bronze on the Wall of Fame. Longevity is not particularly in his favor, and while the numbers are solid they do not warrant a spot in Ashburn Alley.

Considering the Phillies will soon have names such as Roy Halladay, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz, and Shane Victorino (among several others from 2008) to add to the wall Polanco will quickly be forgotten as a candidate.

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