John Olerud: Champion, Slugger, Survivor

255 HR, 2,200 hits, two World Series...and no Hall?

Okay, shoot me. Yes, John Olerud is another Blue Jay. So many of these players on this blog seem to have put in time with the Blue Jays, don't they? Furthermore, quite a bit of West Coast collegiate experience. I certainly don't think the Blue Jays are a favorite team (Go Cubs!), and I'm not a huge fan of Canadian baseball (or what's left of it), but it certainly does seem that the guys who play up in the Frozen Tundra seem to be forgotten about, while guys from the States end up legends. Unless, of course, you're World Series hero Joe Carter, but that's a different story. Not everyone can hit a Series-clinching home run, alright, Joe? Show off.

Go Cougars!

What is really surprising, however, is how forgotten John Olerud seems to have become. The guy played on two All-Star teams (1993 with the Jays and 2001 with the Seattle Mariners). He won two World Championships (1992 and 1993, both with the Jays) and he notched himself three Gold Gloves (2000, 2002, and 2003, all with the Mariners). While playing with the Washington State Cougars, he split time as a pitcher and a first baseman, playing his 1989 season while, get this, recovering from a brain aneurysm. His collegiate career completed with a .412 batting average, 33 home runs, 131 RBI and a 26-4 pitching record.

His professional career was no less impressive. He played in the Show as soon as he was drafted, putting in time as soon as the September call-up arrived. (No pressure, Bryce Harper...) 1993 was not only the year of his second World Championship, it was universally seen as his breakout season. He led the American League in average (.363), on-base percentage (.473), on-base-plus-slugging (1.072) and doubles (54, a career high), while notching career bests in home runs (24), RBI (107), runs (109) and hits (200). He finished third in MVP voting, losing to White Sox slugger Frank Thomas. Jays teammate Paul Molitor finished second.

However, as is often unfortunately the case, expectations were astronomical. Despite another stellar season in 1998 with the New York Mets in which he hit .354 with 22 home runs, 93 RBI and a .998 OPS, Olerud never nabbed the important hardware. He won rings, sure, but never won an MVP award. (Shockingly, his 1998 season had him finishing twelfth in MVP voting) He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 1989 (losing to Indians catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr) despite the amazingly quick call-up. Although he finished his career with 255 home runs, 2,239 hits, 1,230 RBI and a .295 batting average, talk is minimal of the Hall of Fame. Why? Well, playing for multiple teams never helps someone's case, although five in seventeen seasons (Jays, Mets, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox) is certainly not terrible, especially with eight years spent with the original team. While a .295 average and 2,200 hits are certainly impressive, the lack of an MVP award is tough if you don't have what are seen as the surefire numbers: a .300 average and either 2,500 hits or 500 home runs. The HOF voters are a stubborn group of guys, and the assumption is that with 40 men on a roster anyone can win a World Series, but not everyone can win Most Valuable Player. However, in the court of public opinion, Olerud is a near-legend. Message boards threads have been written about whether Olerud is a Hall of Fame guy. A blog run by a Jays fan lists Olerud as the tenth-best Toronto player of all-time. Sports Illustrated listed him as part of the “Greatest Infield Ever” while with the Mets, playing with Edgardo Alfonso (third base), Rey Ordóñez (short stop), and Robin Ventura (second base). He comes from a baseball family, being the cousin of former journeyman infielder Dale Sveum, who played for seven teams between 1986 and 1999, now serving as a hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers. Also, I feel it should be reiterated, he played after surviving a brain aneurysm. Hall of Fame resumè be damned, Olerud's career was almost over before it began.

Hopefully time will favor Johnny O's Hall of Fame campaign, but until then, he can be proud of two World Series rings and a set of numbers and accomplishments that are impressive and, if there was any justice in the baseball world, would have been deserving of more prolific awards.