Six former Phillies eligible for 2021 Hall of Fame honors
By Matt Rappa
4. Bobby Abreu, 2nd year eligible
Bobby Abreu nearly became ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration, as he received only 5.5 percent of the baseball writers’ vote in 2020. Players must receive at least 5 percent to be considered in future years.
Nonetheless, writers continue to argue the case for the 18-year veteran to earn the nod; he would need a 69.5-percent-vote improvement to get there in 2021, however. Consider this stat from Ryan Spaeder: Abreu reached base safely 24 more times than Tony Gwynn did in his career — albeit having 151 fewer plate appearances.
Abreu played in parts of nine seasons with the Phillies from 1998 to 2006, and was invited for a 10th in 2014 spring training; he would eventually be released and play 78 games for the New York Mets that year, his last in the majors.
While donning red pinstripes, Abreu slashed .303/.416/.513 with 348 doubles, 42 triples, 195 home runs, 814 RBI, 254 stolen bases, and 947 walks, coupled with just 1,078 strikeouts across 5,885 plate appearances.
Two two-time All-Star, one-time Gold Glove Award winner, and one-time Silver Slugger Award winner also played for the New York Yankees (2006-08), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2009-12), and Los Angeles Dodgers (2012).
In 2019, the Phillies inducted Abreu into their Wall of Fame; his career highlights include becoming the first Phillie to win the Home Run Derby (2005), as well as the first player to hit a regular season home run in Citizens Bank Park history (April 12, 2014, against the Cincinnati Reds).