Phillies: Examining Hall of Fame cases for the next four years

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22 July 2014: Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) congratulates Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (11) on the way into the dugout for his home run during a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Potential 2022 Hall of Fame Candidates

After a down year in 2021, the potential 2022 freshman class will feature some noteworthy former Phillies: Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Jeff Francour, Jonathan Papelbon, Kyle Loshe, and Marlon Byrd.

Aditionally, the class will involve Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Mark Teixeira, Prince Fielder, and Joe Nathan. Ortiz is a potential first ballot candidate, while Rodriguez’s chances are sullied by performance-enhancing drugs following the league’s ban.

Here’s a closer look at the former Phillies potentially on the ballot.

Ryan Howard

If you were projecting the career of Ryan Howard from looking at just his first five big league seasons, you’re looking at one of the greatest home run hitters of all-time. In his first five years, Howard averaged 44 home runs, 127 RBI, and a 143 OPS+.

Ryan Howard of Philadelphia Phillies hit a two-run hommer at the second top during the second match between Major League Baseball All-Stars and Japanese All-Stars at the Tokyo Dome Stadium 04 November 2006. MLB leads Japan 7-4 after the fifth inning. AFP PHOTO/JIJI PRESS (Photo by AFP / JIJI PRESS / AFP) / Japan OUT (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP via Getty Images) /

During that stretch Howard won the Rookie of the Year, and MVP, and had three additional years finishing in the top-five for the MVP award.

In the 2009-10 seasons Howard still hit at least 30 home runs with 100+ RBI and finished 10th in the MVP both years, but he tragically tore his Achilles in the playoffs and was never the same player.

With 382 home runs, 1,475 hits, and 1,194 RBI Howard’s career is more of a “what if” than Hall of Fame. His WAR numbers won’t help him either, although he should get at least some consideration given his historic start.

Jeff Francour

Jeff Francour was a solid outfielder who could play defense, picked up over 1,300 hits and was a great teammate, but a Hall of Famer he is not.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 04: Marlon Byrd #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts to a strike three call by C.B. Bucknor in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game at PNC Park on July 4, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Marlon Byrd

Hearing Marlon Byrd and Hall of Fame in the same sentence is a crime against baseball. Not only are his numbers nowhere near close, but he’s also connected to performance-enhancing drugs. He’ll get the Giambi treatment and fall off the ballot.

Kyle Loshe

Kyle Loshe was on the 2007 division-winning Phillies but didn’t have a career that screams Hall of Fame with only 147 wins.

Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon will have an interesting case for the Hall of Fame when his name is called. He’s the all-time saves leader for both the Phillies and Red Sox, two of baseball’s oldest franchises, and his 368 career saves are ninth all-time.

Compared to Rollie Fingers, Papelbon has some comparable numbers. Papelbon appeared in about 1,000 fewer innings and had about 500 fewer strikeouts than the A’s great, but saved 27 more games, has an ERA that’s 46 points lower (2.44), and a better WHIP.

Jimmy Rollins

The Phillies all-time hits leader Jimmy Rollins also has a case for the Hall of Fame with 2,455 hits and an MVP trophy on his shelf.

Rollins led the league in triples four times, stole 46 bags as a rookie, and was consistently healthy for most of his career, leading the league in plate appearances three times and at-bats four times.

June 14, 2014: Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (11) greeted at first base by Mike Schmidt (20) as Jimmy Rollins passes his career hit record during a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon SMI/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Rollins also won four Gold Gloves and made three All-Star games, although he should have won more of each.

Rollins has more doubles, triples and home runs than Barry Larkin, Ozzie Smith, and Alan Trammell. He has more hits and as many Gold Gloves as Larkin and Trammell, and is just five hits behind Smith.

Give Jimmy Rollins a couple of years, but comparatively, he’s right there with others in the Hall of Fame.