Luis Gonzalez nearing eligibility for National Baseball Hall Of Fame
As the National Baseball Hall of Fame prepares to host its annual induction ceremonies this weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y., Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez is just a few months from his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility. Gonzalez, who retired following the 2009 season, is among several marquee names that will be on the ballot in December when the Baseball Writers Association of America vote on the 2014 class.
Gonzalez is one of only 19 players in Major League history to collect at least 2,500 hits, 500 doubles, 350 home runs and 1,000 RBI, joining Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Andre Dawson, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Stan Musial, Tony Perez, Cal Ripken, Jr., Frank Robinson, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Dave Winfield and Carl Yastrzemski, as well as Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey, Jr., Chipper Jones, Rafael Palmeiro and Manny Ramirez.
Among those eligible for the first time with Gonzalez will be Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Jeff Kent and Frank Thomas.
Gonzalez played 19 years in the big leagues, compiling 596 career doubles, the 15th-highest total in baseball history. He posted a .283 batting average, 2,591 hits, 354 home runs and 1,439 RBI during his career with the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins and D-backs.
The five-time All-Star retired as the D-backs' all-time leader in games played (1,194), hits (1,337), doubles (310), home runs (224), walks (650), runs (780), RBI (774), at-bats (4,488), total bases (2,373), slugging percentage (.529) and on-base percentage (.391).
For his contributions as a player and a member in the community, Gonzalez became the first former player to have his number retired by the D-backs during a pregame ceremony on Aug. 7, 2010.
One of the most popular figures in D-backs history because of the way he interacted with fans and his game-winning single in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series to give the organization its first World Championship, Gonzalez is in his fourth full season as a Special Assistant to D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall.