Braves Report

After receiving word he’d been cut from the major league camp, Javy Lopez retired Saturday. This closes the book on an odd end to a career that makes it easy to forget just how good a player Lopez was during his prime. I think it’s easy to agree that Mike Piazza was the premier offensive catcher of the era, and his ticket to Cooperstown is essentially already punched. Ivan Rodriguez’ all-around play will get him there as well. However, what about one of the other stars of the era, Atlanta’s own Lopez? Let’s put Javy Lopez to Bill James’ Keltner Test and see how his HOF case stacks up.

1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in baseball? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in baseball?

   No. No one ever suggested it, and despite coming close in 2003 to earning that nod, Lopez was never really seen as numero uno.
   
   

2. Was he the best player on his team?

   No. In Atlanta, he was generally overshadowed by better offensive players or elite pitchers. In Baltimore, he was still pretty good, but Miguel Tejada was the best player in town.
   
   

3. Was he the best player in baseball at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position?

   In 2003, Lopez was the best catcher in baseball. In 2004, Lopez was better than anything the NL had to offer. For the rest of his career, he was usually among the best in the game, but always trailed Mike Piazza.
   
   

4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races?

   Yes. Lopez played in 7 Division Series, 6 Championship Series, and 2 World Series. In 1996, he batted .542/.607/1.000 with 5 doubles, 2 HR, and 6 RBI against St. Louis to win NLCS MVP honors. Lopez hit 10 postseason HR over the course of his career, likely none bigger than his 6^th inning, tie-breaking two run shot in Game Two of the 1995 World Series.
   
   

5. Was he a good enough player that he could continue to play regularly after passing his prime?

   That depends on the nature of the question. Lopez could’ve kept playing, but injuries sapped him of his strength and thus his offensive value. So, the answer is no, but with some qualification.
   
   

6. Is he the very best player in baseball history who is not in the Hall of Fame?

   No. I give that nod to Pete Rose and then Bert Blyleven.
   
   

7. Are most players who have comparable career statistics in the Hall of Fame?

   Roy Campanella is in the HOF, and his numbers are similar. During his prime, he had a career similar to HOF player Gabby Hartnett and HOFer Carlton Fisk.
   
   

8. Do the player’s numbers meet Hall of Fame standards?

   Not really, but he did have a better peak than Roger Bresnahan, Rick Ferrell, or Ernie Lombardi – all three of whom are in the Hall. So, while Lopez doesn’t really stack up against some of the best HOFers, he wouldn’t likely be in the bottom 3.
   
   

9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics?

   No. Lopez never played in extreme ballparks, and injuries didn’t cut into his stats enough to make a big deal about them.
   
   

10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in?

    No. Deacon White and Joe Torre are more deserving as catchers. Besides, Lopez isn’t eligible.
    
    

11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close?

    As good as Javy’s 2003 season was, I don’t think it was an MVP caliber year, simply because at that point his defense had eroded so badly he was a liability behind the plate despite being a star at it. He never won an MVP but did come close in ’03, finishing 5^th. He also received MVP votes in 1998.
    
    

12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the other players who played in this many go to the Hall of Fame?

    I think Lopez had 3 solid All-Star seasons: 1998, 2003, and 2004. Lopez played in the 1997, 1998, and 2003 AS games. Many players have appeared in 3 AS games, and most do not go to the Hall.
    
    

13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant?

    No. Lopez was a great cog in a fantastic Atlanta dynasty, but was never relied on to be the top producer in the lineup.
    
    

14. What impact did the player have on baseball history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way?

    In 2003, Lopez did set the MLB record for HR by a catcher with 43. Also, he hit .287/.337/.491 with 260 HR in his career, and that’s not bad. He batted .300 4 times. He slugged .500 5 times. As a catcher, those are impressive totals.
    
    

15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?

    Yes. Lopez was never involved in any off-the-field troubles, as far as I know.

With that said, does Javy Lopez look like a Hall of Famer? No. Sure, he outdistances a few, but there are many more deserving catchers that missed the cut, and for some reason, the voters are much tougher on catchers than other positions. Lopez likely won’t get in the Hall despite a very solid career, but he almost certainly will be remembered for his record-setting 2003 season, an out-with-a-bang finish to a decade spent making himself into the best catcher in Braves history.

For that, Javy, we thank you. Wear that ring with pride, because you certainly earned it, and look forward to the new part of your career - working with the organization as either a coach or a scout.