Cincinnati Reds have former players ready for Cooperstown

The Cincinnati Reds have three retired players that should get the call from Cooperstown.

The Cincinnati Reds rank ninth among franchises for the number of players inducted into the baseball hall of fame.  They are two players behind Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.  There are three players that could help the Reds catch that pair before the Boston World Series teams push the Red Sox higher on the list.

The obvious former Red that should be in the Hall of Fame is Pete Rose.  It is a farce that he is not there already.  Unfortunately, he won’t get that call.

One of his teammates is long overdue for the call, though.  Fellow Cincinnati native Dave Parker should be in the baseball hall of fame.  He is often considered the best eligible modern position player not among the busts.

Dave Parker played for nineteen season, winning the National League MVP in 1978 for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He led the NL in total bases three times and made seven All-Star teams.  Ironically, he did not make the team in ’78.

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Parker also won three Gold Gloves with the Pirates and a total of three Silver Slugger awards.  He also received MVP votes nine times.  Much like current Red Joey Votto, Parker finished in the top three in MVP voting four other times.

Two less heralded names for the Cincinnati Reds deserve strong consideration.

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In many eras, Scott Rolen would have been the best third baseman.  In his era a contemporary named Chipper Jones was the best.  Unfortunately for Rolen, Jones was also a transformational force for an Atlanta Braves franchise that needed a leader.

Rolen won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1997.  He also won seven Gold Glove awards.  Additionally, he made seven All-Star teams.

Rolen’s offensive stats were always good, but rarely spectacular.  The lack of an MVP may hold him back.

His glove work, though, should get him into Cooperstown.

A nearly opposite case from Rolen, is former left fielder Adam Dunn.  He is a new age hall of fame candidate.  Twice he led MLB in walks, while hitting 462 homers in 14 seasons.

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The Cincinnati Reds have a long storied history.  The careers of Parker, Rolen, and Dunn show how the history keeps progressing.  Each in turn deserves a chance an induction at the baseball hall of fame based on his career on the field, regardless of how the team played while they were there.