If Clayton Kershaw retires tomorrow, is he a Hall of Famer?

Giancarlo27 · 07-10-2017, 10:22 PM

I'm as big of a lover of Sandy Koufax as anyone, but what Kershaw has done since 2011 has surpassed Koufax as the most dominant 5-6 year stretch in pitching history. He is on pace to finish as a likely top 5 pitcher of all time. With that being said, is Kershaw already a hall of famer if he were to never throw another pitch?

ninjacookies · 07-10-2017, 10:26 PM

I'd say yes. Solely because of the lack of other dominant pitchers in this era. And Clay didn't really fall off...seemed to get better as he aged.

lauriontj · 07-10-2017, 10:28 PM

I think he has to wait 5 years for eligibility....after that, I'd say probably looks good

SirTommyWinAlot · 07-10-2017, 10:28 PM

yes, pedro like. 1st ballot hall of famer.

rman112 · 07-10-2017, 10:29 PM

I don't think he's retiring.

ThoseBackPages · 07-10-2017, 10:31 PM

1st ballot, no doubt.

preakness · 07-10-2017, 10:38 PM

Zero chance he gets in the day after retiring

ctbinvestments · 07-10-2017, 10:40 PM

Stop! Absolutely no chance at 1st ballot (if retired tomorrow). No starting pitcher in modern era has gotten in with 140 career wins. He has no championships and is 0-3 in playoffs. He needs a few more years to be 1st ballot for sure.

Devourment · 07-10-2017, 10:40 PM

He is 100% a first ballot HOFer.

All other impressive stats aside, he has a career WHIP of 1.00. That's insane.

Cavaliercards · 07-10-2017, 10:41 PM

If he had to walk away from the game tomorrow, he would get in eventually.

bwalter1 · 07-10-2017, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbinvestments

Stop! Absolutely no chance at 1st ballot (if retired tomorrow). No starting pitcher in modern era has gotten in with 140 career wins. He has no championships and is 0-3 in playoffs. He needs a few more years to be 1st ballot for sure.

I agree he needs more time for first ballot but think times are going to be changing where wins are not as important as other stats. He is awesome to watch so hope he sticks around for another ten years.

teosdesserts · 07-10-2017, 10:59 PM

He is the best pitcher of all time.....

Skipscards · 07-10-2017, 11:04 PM

Yes. And we had a thread on this exact topic a couple of months ago.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...hlight=Kershaw

centereacan06 · 07-10-2017, 11:10 PM

Koufax got in with 5 dominant seasons. Kershaw is going on 7. Koufax definitely has the better postseason track, but Kershaw has pitched in twice as many games keep in mind.

He gets in 1st ballot for sure.

ctbinvestments · 07-10-2017, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centereacan06

Koufax got in with 5 dominant seasons. Kershaw is going on 7. Koufax definitely has the better postseason track, but Kershaw has pitched in twice as many games keep in mind.

He gets in 1st ballot for sure.

Koufax won 4 titles. Kershaw 0. Case closed

centereacan06 · 07-10-2017, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbinvestments

Koufax won 4 titles. Kershaw 0. Case closed

Koufax won the World Series all by himself? Didn't know that.

The discussion isn't Kershaw vs Koufax. Who is better than whom could go either way. But if you're going to look at their stats and say one belongs in the hall and the other doesn't, you're crazy.

ctbinvestments · 07-10-2017, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centereacan06

Koufax won the World Series all by himself? Didn't know that.

Come on, you're smarter than that. Championships matter. Jeter didn't win them by himself.

centereacan06 · 07-10-2017, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbinvestments

Come on, you're smarter than that. Championships matter. Jeter didn't win them by himself.

In baseball? When comparing players? Absolutely not.

Playoff stats, sure. But championships won? No.

___

Also, you're last point is a one made in favor of my argument, no? Championships are a team stat - how can you use them when discussing who is the better player?

awz50 · 07-10-2017, 11:25 PM

1st ballot all the way

rats60 · 07-10-2017, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centereacan06

Koufax won the World Series all by himself? Didn't know that.

The discussion isn't Kershaw vs Koufax. Who is better than whom could go either way. But if you're going to look at their stats and say one belongs in the hall and the other doesn't, you're crazy.

Koufax was WS MVP twice, so pretty much 2 of them are because of Koufax. Kershaw has been one of the worst postseason pitchers ever. He needs to do more to be 1st ballot. He would get in after a few years on the ballot if he never pitched again.

centereacan06 · 07-10-2017, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rats60

Koufax was WS MVP twice, so pretty much 2 of them are because of Koufax. Kershaw has been one of the worst postseason pitchers ever. He needs to do more to be 1st ballot. He would get in after a few years on the ballot if he never pitched again.

Not even close to the worst ever.

stormshadow815 · 07-11-2017, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbinvestments

Koufax won 4 titles. Kershaw 0. Case closed

This isn't basketball, the greatness of a player isn't determined by only post season glory. He is a no doubt HOFer and has the hardware that makes that an easy decision.

Towsontiger1121 · 07-11-2017, 01:45 AM

He's in ,, 300 wins is no longer attainable in today's game and there is not another pitcher in league currently playing in this era more dominant.. he'd have to have. A Tim lincecom meltdown to not make it ..

oplum29 · 07-11-2017, 02:00 AM

I still don't understand how Curt Schilling is not a HOFer but his sock is.

That's the question people should be asking. He was like the Theo Epstein of pitchers.

rats60 · 07-11-2017, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormshadow815

This isn't basketball, the greatness of a player isn't determined by only post season glory. He is a no doubt HOFer and has the hardware that makes that an easy decision.

Tell that to Catfish Hunter and Herb Pennock and their sub 45 WAR. They were elected by the BBWAA, not the Veterans Committee, with their weak resumes. It is because of their postseason glory.

Greatness in basketball isn't determined by only postseason glory either. Otherwise, Robert Horry would be in.

07-10-2017, 10:22 PM	#1
Giancarlo27 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NYC Posts: 11,169	If Clayton Kershaw retires tomorrow, is he a Hall of Famer? I'm as big of a lover of Sandy Koufax as anyone, but what Kershaw has done since 2011 has surpassed Koufax as the most dominant 5-6 year stretch in pitching history. He is on pace to finish as a likely top 5 pitcher of all time. With that being said, is Kershaw already a hall of famer if he were to never throw another pitch? __________________ Collecting: Giancarlo Stanton, Sandy Koufax, Hideki Matsui, Topps Archives Autographs

07-10-2017, 10:28 PM	#3
lauriontj Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PA Posts: 6,262	I think he has to wait 5 years for eligibility....after that, I'd say probably looks good __________________ Insta: tjssportscards24 PC: Griffey/Soto and like the Washington Nationals! My dad taught me to hate the Yankees. Now that I’m an adult, I realize I was raised correctly.

07-10-2017, 10:31 PM	#6
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 89,690 ThoseBackPages	1st ballot, no doubt. __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

07-10-2017, 10:40 PM	#8
ctbinvestments Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 6,504 ctbinvestments	Stop! Absolutely no chance at 1st ballot (if retired tomorrow). No starting pitcher in modern era has gotten in with 140 career wins. He has no championships and is 0-3 in playoffs. He needs a few more years to be 1st ballot for sure. __________________ My basics about prospecting: "The higher draft pick isn't always the best player" & "Don't buy the hype, buy the results"

07-10-2017, 10:41 PM	#10
Cavaliercards Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 30,889 cavaliercards	If he had to walk away from the game tomorrow, he would get in eventually. __________________ Always Buying: Vintage and Tobacco Cards Follow us on Twitter AND Instagram: @Cavaliercards

07-10-2017, 10:26 PM	#2
ninjacookies Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: All the girls see the (boi)/ Look at his flips / Look at his kards / All they say is (oh boi). Posts: 56,683	I'd say yes. Solely because of the lack of other dominant pitchers in this era. And Clay didn't really fall off...seemed to get better as he aged.

07-10-2017, 10:28 PM	#4
SirTommyWinAlot Banned Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Gillette Stadium/Foxboro Posts: 6,545	yes, pedro like. 1st ballot hall of famer.

07-10-2017, 10:29 PM	#5
rman112 Banned Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Freedom is Free Again Posts: 40,946	I don't think he's retiring.

07-10-2017, 10:38 PM	#7
preakness Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: In Johnny Ryno's soul Posts: 21,077	Zero chance he gets in the day after retiring

07-10-2017, 10:40 PM	#9
Devourment Banned - PBM Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 89	He is 100% a first ballot HOFer. All other impressive stats aside, he has a career WHIP of 1.00. That's insane.

07-10-2017, 10:59 PM	#12
teosdesserts Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,641 eosdesserts teosdesserts	He is the best pitcher of all time.....

07-10-2017, 11:04 PM	#13
Skipscards Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: In Tribute To The Great Ryno Posts: 30,013 jlankf2 jmp4	Yes. And we had a thread on this exact topic a couple of months ago. https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...hlight=Kershaw __________________ Go Royals!! #RoyalsIn2015 <---It Happened!! #TEAMZinck Sometimes it is astounding that we are able to persist in a world so full of morons.

07-10-2017, 11:10 PM	#14
centereacan06 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Long Island Posts: 19,501 centereacan06 centereacan06	Koufax got in with 5 dominant seasons. Kershaw is going on 7. Koufax definitely has the better postseason track, but Kershaw has pitched in twice as many games keep in mind. He gets in 1st ballot for sure.

07-10-2017, 11:25 PM	#19
awz50 Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: New Hampshire>>>Arizona>>>>Florida Posts: 33,248 awz50	1st ballot all the way __________________ Collecting Baseball Hof Autographs 248/351 Blowouts Official Red Sox face of the franchise Eduardo Rodriguez Super Collector

07-11-2017, 01:45 AM	#23
Towsontiger1121 Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 423	He's in ,, 300 wins is no longer attainable in today's game and there is not another pitcher in league currently playing in this era more dominant.. he'd have to have. A Tim lincecom meltdown to not make it ..

07-11-2017, 02:00 AM	#24
oplum29 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 10,405	I still don't understand how Curt Schilling is not a HOFer but his sock is. That's the question people should be asking. He was like the Theo Epstein of pitchers. __________________ "got em, got em, need em, got em, got em, need em, got em" - Little Monsters