With 3,319 career hits, Paul Molitor merits Hall of Fame status

Baseball Digest, Feb, 2004 by John Kuenster

SHORTLY AFTER BEING NAMED BATTING COACH FOR THE SEATTLE MARINERS following the 2003 season, Paul Molitor was looking back on his major league career as an active player.

"If I had to pick one, highlight year, it probably would be 1993, my first season in Toronto," he said.

"I had been with the Brewers for 15 years (1978-1992), and thought maybe I'd finish my career in Milwaukee, but the transition worked out all right and it was nice to be able to put on my resume that I played on a world championship team (1993 Blue Jays)."

He didn't mention it, but Molitor was instrumental in the Jays beating the Phillies in the 1993 World Series, hitting an even .500 (12-for-24), playing first base, third base and as a DH, in addition to being named the classic's MVP award winner.

During his 21-year tour of duty in the majors, Molitor also played three seasons for the Twins (1996-1998). He finished with a .306 lifetime batting average, 605 doubles, 504 stolen bases, and a 39-game hiring streak that he put together in 1987, while leading the American League in hits three times, and in runs scored three times.

He posted a .300 or better batting average 12 times, with highs of .353 with the Brewers in 1987, .341 with the Jays in 1994, and .341 with the Twins in 1996.

A tough out as a line-drive hitter, he was a team player to the core, and at one time or another, he performed at every position in the infield and outfield, in addition to establishing himself as one of the most efficient designated hitters in history.

His chief career achievement, however, has to be his total of 3,319 hits.

This column was written before the baseball writers' votes were counted in order to certify which candidates will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next summer.

Molitor's name was among the newly eligible candidates who also included reliever Dennis Eckersley, along with such holdover names as those of outfielders Andre Dawson and Jim Rice, first baseman Don Mattingly, second baseman Ryne Sandberg and pitchers Bruce Sutter, Bert Blyleven and Goose Gossage.

With regard to Molitor's qualifications, it should be noted the one career achievement that virtually assures eventual election to the Hall of Fame is the amassing of 3,000 lifetime hits by a batter.

When these words were being assembled, 20 players with 3,000 career hits had, been inducted into the Cooperstown shrine. Another five players in the 25-member 3,000-hit club as of last December included the leader Pete Rose (4,256 hits), who remains ineligible; Rickey Henderson, still active in 2003, Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs and Molitor.

Before the 2004 Hall of Fame ballots were tabulated, Molitor expressed one concern about his chances of being elected.

"The fact I spent so much of my playing time as a DH (1,174 games) might work against me," he admitted, "but a lot of that was due to my being on the disabled list in nine different seasons.

"The worst was 1984 when I was out from May 2 until the end of the season. I underwent surgery to have my right elbow reconstructed. They replaced a ligament in the elbow with a tendon they took from my left forearm.

"That was the lowest point in my career which I thought was in jeopardy because of the fear I'd be labeled as an injury-prone player."

It has been estimated that the various injuries he suffered, including a ribcage muscle pull in 1980, torn ligaments in his ankle in 1981, the elbow damage in 1984, a strained hamstring in 1987, and two broken fingers in 1990, cost him nearly 500 games.

Although he was on the disabled list for periods of time in six of his remaining 14 seasons, he still managed to finish in eighth place on the all-time hit list with a total that exceeds such notable Hall of Fame members as Eddie Collins (3,309 hits), Willie Mays (3,283), Eddie Murray (3,255), Nap Lajoie (3,252) and George Brett (3,154).

Reaching that level of accomplishment capped a few other special feats by Molitor, including his 39-game hitting streak, a five-hit performance in his first World Series game with the Brewers against the Cardinals in 1982, and his being named to six All-Star teams.

The hitting streak, seventh longest in major league history, focused considerable attention on Molitor in 1987.

"I still remember the game that ended the streak," Molitor said. "It was against the Indians (on August 26) at County Stadium. I'd gone hitless in my first four times at bat. The score was 0-0 in the bottom of the 10th inning, and I was in the on-deck circle walling for another turn at bat when Rick Manning singled to drive in the winning run for us.

"The streak was over. I guess it was meant to be 39, not 40 or any other number.

"When I headed for the dugout, the crowd got on its feet and gave me an ovation. That was probably the most emotional moment of the streak for me.

"The fact that the streak is one of the longest in the history of the game makes me realize how fortunate I am to have it."

As the Mariners gather for spring training in Peoria, Arizona, their young hitters might absorb some worthwhile tips by listening to their new batting instructor.