Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Adrian Beltre is a First Ballot Hall of Famer

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre has called it a career after 21 big league seasons.


There is absolutely no reason the BBWAA shouldn't induct him into Cooperstown in his first year of eligibility in 2024.


Third baseman are scarce in Cooperstown and Beltre's credentials are impeccable - 3,166 career hits, 477 career home runs, 1707 RBI including five 100 plus RBI seasons, four Silver Slugger Awards, five Gold Glove Awards, four AL All-Star appearances and a World Series appearance with the Texas Rangers in 2011.


The Dominican born Beltre made his big league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998 at the age of 19. As he retires, he is a few months shy of his 40th birthday. Baseball has been his life. Beltre would come of age in 2004 when he led the NL in home runs with 48. This led to a free agent contract with the Seattle Mariners where he would spend five seasons, but never approached the power he had in LA. After one season in Boston, he would join the Rangers in 2011 and would hit over .300 five times and have four of his five 100 plus RBI seasons. When he is inducted into Cooperstown, Beltre will be wearing a Rangers cap.



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