15 Best MLB Players Who Never Made the Hall of Fame

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is the hardest to get into of any sport, which means plenty of great players are left out. These 15 players, who are no longer eligible on the writer’s ballot, had great careers, but will never end up in the Hall.

15. SP Hideo Nomo

SP Hideo Nomo Getty Images
Career Stats: 123-109, 4.24 ERA, 1,918 strikeouts. Nomo had a short-lived prime, but during his prime, he was lights out. In fact, he became the first Japanese-born player to ever throw a no-hitter, which gives him a special place in baseball history. That, of course, still wasn't enough to get him into the Hall of Fame.

Career Stats: 123-109, 4.24 ERA, 1,918 strikeouts. Nomo had a short-lived prime, but during his prime, he was lights out. In fact, he became the first Japanese-born player to ever throw a no-hitter, which gives him a special place in baseball history. That, of course, still wasn't enough to get him into the Hall of Fame.

14. OF Jim Edmonds

OF Jim Edmonds Getty Images
Career Stats: .284 batting average, .376 OBP, 393 home runs, 1,199 RBI. Edmonds' stats don't even tell the full story of his career. Not only was he an above-average hitter for an extended period of time, he was one of the best defensive centerfielders in the game for his entire career. Those taken together still weren't enough to get him enough votes on his first ballot in 2016.

Career Stats: .284 batting average, .376 OBP, 393 home runs, 1,199 RBI. Edmonds' stats don't even tell the full story of his career. Not only was he an above-average hitter for an extended period of time, he was one of the best defensive centerfielders in the game for his entire career. Those taken together still weren't enough to get him enough votes on his first ballot in 2016.

13. SP David Wells

SP David Wells Getty Images
Career Stats: 239-157, 4.13 ERA, 2,201 strikeouts. Wells never quite stuck with one team, but he was one of the best pitchers on each team he played for. His perfect game with the Yankees is one for the record books and he enjoyed a long, successful career. Playing a lot of his career in the American League during the steroid era inflated his ERA and made him look less Hall of Fame-worthy.

Career Stats: 239-157, 4.13 ERA, 2,201 strikeouts. Wells never quite stuck with one team, but he was one of the best pitchers on each team he played for. His perfect game with the Yankees is one for the record books and he enjoyed a long, successful career. Playing a lot of his career in the American League during the steroid era inflated his ERA and made him look less Hall of Fame-worthy.

12. OF Darryl Strawberry

OF Darryl Strawberry Getty Images
Career Stats: .259 batting average, .357 OBP, 335 home runs, 1,000 RBI. Strawberry was a controversial figure in his time in the major leagues, but during his prime, there were few in the game that were better. Playing in some of baseball's best cities, he was in the spotlight for his entire career, which perhaps made him appear a little better than he was.

Career Stats: .259 batting average, .357 OBP, 335 home runs, 1,000 RBI. Strawberry was a controversial figure in his time in the major leagues, but during his prime, there were few in the game that were better. Playing in some of baseball's best cities, he was in the spotlight for his entire career, which perhaps made him appear a little better than he was.

11. OF Luis Gonzalez

OF Luis Gonzalez Getty Images
Career Stats: .283 batting average, .367 OBP, 354 home runs, 1,439 RBI. Luis Gonzalez was at the center of one of baseball history's most dramatic moments as his little blooper fell into the shallow outfield in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, winning the Diamondbacks the Fall Classic. Beyond that, Gonzalez was one of the best all-around hitters of his time, but he didn't hit enough career milestones to get into the Hall.

Career Stats: .283 batting average, .367 OBP, 354 home runs, 1,439 RBI. Luis Gonzalez was at the center of one of baseball history's most dramatic moments as his little blooper fell into the shallow outfield in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, winning the Diamondbacks the Fall Classic. Beyond that, Gonzalez was one of the best all-around hitters of his time, but he didn't hit enough career milestones to get into the Hall.

10. 1B Will Clark

1B Will Clark Getty Images
Career Stats: .303 batting average, .384 OBP, 284 home runs, 1,205 RBI. Clark was one of the best hitters of his time, even though he never grew into his power potential. Still, his nearly .400 career on-base percentage shows just how valuable he was throughout his career.

Career Stats: .303 batting average, .384 OBP, 284 home runs, 1,205 RBI. Clark was one of the best hitters of his time, even though he never grew into his power potential. Still, his nearly .400 career on-base percentage shows just how valuable he was throughout his career.

9. SP Orel Hershiser

SP Orel Hershiser Getty Images
Career Stats: 204-150, 3.48 ERA, 2,014 RBI. Hershiser's entire body of work doesn't look as impressive as he actually was, but he had stretches as dominant as any pitcher in the history of the game. In fact, his 59 straight scoreless innings streak is the longest in big-league history. Writers weren't impressed enough by that, though.

Career Stats: 204-150, 3.48 ERA, 2,014 RBI. Hershiser's entire body of work doesn't look as impressive as he actually was, but he had stretches as dominant as any pitcher in the history of the game. In fact, his 59 straight scoreless innings streak is the longest in big-league history. Writers weren't impressed enough by that, though.

8. 1B/OF Joe Carter

1B/OF Joe Carter Getty Images
Career Stats: .259 batting average, .306, 396 home runs, 1,445 RBI. Carter could have hit for a better average and gotten on base more, but his power overshadowed that. Of course, his biggest show of power was when he hit a walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series to win the Fall Classic for the Blue Jays. It continues to live on as one of the classic moments in baseball history.

Career Stats: .259 batting average, .306, 396 home runs, 1,445 RBI. Carter could have hit for a better average and gotten on base more, but his power overshadowed that. Of course, his biggest show of power was when he hit a walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series to win the Fall Classic for the Blue Jays. It continues to live on as one of the classic moments in baseball history.

7. 1B/OF Rafael Palmeiro

1B/OF Rafael Palmeiro Getty Images
Career Stats: .288 batting average, .371 OBP, 569 home runs, 1,835 RBI. If Palmeiro weren't a steroid user, he would certainly be in the Hall of Fame, but writers aren't interested in putting him in and he's no longer eligible on their ballot. His combative nature during the uncovering of the steroid era probably contributed to that.

Career Stats: .288 batting average, .371 OBP, 569 home runs, 1,835 RBI. If Palmeiro weren't a steroid user, he would certainly be in the Hall of Fame, but writers aren't interested in putting him in and he's no longer eligible on their ballot. His combative nature during the uncovering of the steroid era probably contributed to that.

6. DH Harold Baines

DH Harold Baines Kevin Jairaj, USA Today Sports
Career Stats: .289 batting average, .356 OBP, 384 home runs, 1,628 RBI. The biggest knock on Baines is that he played a "specialty" position at DH. Writers have frowned upon players who played that position for most of their careers and despite his impressive career statistics, he will never get into the Hall of Fame.

Career Stats: .289 batting average, .356 OBP, 384 home runs, 1,628 RBI. The biggest knock on Baines is that he played a "specialty" position at DH. Writers have frowned upon players who played that position for most of their careers and despite his impressive career statistics, he will never get into the Hall of Fame.

5. SS Alan Trammel

SS Alan Trammel Getty Images
Career Stats: .285 batting average, .352 OBP, 185 home runs, 1,003 RBI, 236 steals. Trammel's numbers aren't overly impressive, but he was one of the best fielders in the history of the game. He still teaches young players the tools of the craft in the middle infield. Really, he's one of the most underrated players in the game's history.

Career Stats: .285 batting average, .352 OBP, 185 home runs, 1,003 RBI, 236 steals. Trammel's numbers aren't overly impressive, but he was one of the best fielders in the history of the game. He still teaches young players the tools of the craft in the middle infield. Really, he's one of the most underrated players in the game's history.

4. 1B Mark McGwire

1B Mark McGwire Getty Images
Career Stats: .263 batting average, .394 OBP, 583 home runs, 1,414 RBI. McGwire admitted to steroid use and has been forgiven largely by the baseball community. Still, that hasn't been enough for the writers to vote him in. In addition, his prime was relatively short lived. Those things have added up to keeping him out of the Hall of Fame.

Career Stats: .263 batting average, .394 OBP, 583 home runs, 1,414 RBI. McGwire admitted to steroid use and has been forgiven largely by the baseball community. Still, that hasn't been enough for the writers to vote him in. In addition, his prime was relatively short lived. Those things have added up to keeping him out of the Hall of Fame.

3. SP Dwight Gooden

SP Dwight Gooden Getty Images
Career Stats: 194-112, 3.51 ERA, 2,293 strikeouts. Gooden didn't have the long, sustained career that most Hall of Famers do, but he was one of the best hurlers in the game for several years. At times, he was nearly unhittable. His most memorable season, of course, was in 1985 when he was just 20 years old and posted a 24-4 record and 1.53 ERA and won the Cy Young award.

Career Stats: 194-112, 3.51 ERA, 2,293 strikeouts. Gooden didn't have the long, sustained career that most Hall of Famers do, but he was one of the best hurlers in the game for several years. At times, he was nearly unhittable. His most memorable season, of course, was in 1985 when he was just 20 years old and posted a 24-4 record and 1.53 ERA and won the Cy Young award.

2. 1B Mark Grace

1B Mark Grace Getty Images
Career Stats: .303 batting average, .383 OBP, 173 home runs, 1,146 RBI. The most striking thing about Mark Grace is that he led the major leagues in total hits for the decade of the 1990s. That's extremely impressive, even if he didn't hit many home runs. Tony Gwynn was a hit machine and so was Grace, but Grace doesn't get nearly as much credit.

Career Stats: .303 batting average, .383 OBP, 173 home runs, 1,146 RBI. The most striking thing about Mark Grace is that he led the major leagues in total hits for the decade of the 1990s. That's extremely impressive, even if he didn't hit many home runs. Tony Gwynn was a hit machine and so was Grace, but Grace doesn't get nearly as much credit.

1. IF/OF Pete Rose

IF/OF Pete Rose Getty Images
Career Stats: .303 batting average, 4,256 hits, 198 steals. Rose's circumstances, of course, are largely different than the rest of the players on this list. If given the chance to make it to the Hall of Fame, the all-time Hit King should make it. Some writers still are perturbed by his gambling behavior during his coaching and potentially playing career, but there is no doubt he's worthy of the Hall of Fame based on his statistics.

Career Stats: .303 batting average, 4,256 hits, 198 steals. Rose's circumstances, of course, are largely different than the rest of the players on this list. If given the chance to make it to the Hall of Fame, the all-time Hit King should make it. Some writers still are perturbed by his gambling behavior during his coaching and potentially playing career, but there is no doubt he's worthy of the Hall of Fame based on his statistics.

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