Not a HOF player, true, but finished second in Rookie of the year in 1956, batted .368 in 1959 (but was a few at bats short of being eligible for the batting title which went to Harvey Kuenn at .353) and made the All Star team in 1961 (hit .301 that year). He had a 15 year big league career (six with the Indians). Those six years were the years I was 6 to 12 years old.
Agree with you 100% Stu, growing up at that age some of my favorite players were good players who had some great years but were never going to make the HOF. I think of guys like Johnny Podres, Pee Wee Reese, and Carl Furillo...all favorite players of mine. Of course as a young Dodger fan there were a lot of potential hero's. I wasn't a big American League guy back then, but I did like guys like Rocky Colovito, and a bunch of the Tigers of the day.
:idea: Pee Wee Reese entered the HOF in 1984. Tito Francona was a better hitter than several players in the HOF. He was a good one.