The Hall of Fame Case for doubles-machine Mark Grudza ... Mark Grudzo ... Mark Grudzielanek

Sure, there will be plenty who vote for the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell on their National Baseball Hall of Fame player ballots, but there are players on the ballot that require a little more voter-cajoling. Players that may not have the on-field resume, but deserve an impassioned Hall of Fame case nonetheless. Players like …

Mark James Grudzielanek. Sure, it's a name that traditional metrics may suggest falls short of enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. He has just a smidge over 2,000 hits, just under 100 home runs and an OPS+ a little bit below 100. He also managed to top 200 hits in a season, reach an All-Star Game and pick up a Gold Glove, all in separate seasons -- so throw out Jay Jaffe's WAR that says he's the 76th best second baseman in history.

Number 4, 16, 30, 8, etc etc etc in your programs, but number one in my heart

That's right, I'm appealing to you on the basis of a first person anecdote. After all, why would a single Topps baseball card stand out in my memory if he didn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? Despite the roughly eight million baseball cards that threaten to collapse atop of me, there are just three that stand out in my memory: 

1. Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card

2. Tim Wakefield metal universe card (seriously, what happened to these? They were the most '90s thing ever)

3. Mark Grudzielanek's 1998 Topps baseball card

An otherwise totally nondescript card, but these are the things that hook into a young baseball fan's mind and never lets go.

The doubles machine

As noted on the card, Grudzielanek broke a 65-year-old National League record for doubles by a shortstop with 54, topping Dick Bartell's 48 in 1932. That's an absurd number! And even though Nomar Garciaparra would reach a higher total with 56 in 2002, no one has done better in the National League. Grudzy is still on top. 

Is one obscure doubles record enough to reach the Hall of Fame? I would say, sure, but I also think 700 players every year should be elected to the Hall of Fame, with the plaque room closely resembling the final scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." 

But Grudzielanek was a contact machine. Wherever he went, hits followed.  

Of course, as I also memorized from the card, Grudzielanek got into a 35 second rundown that season. While the moment is likely lost to time or perhaps one person's videocassette that is interrupted in the middle for a Dharma and Greg rerun, it's a moment that is almost too fun to imagine. 

What's in a name? 

He also would provide a much needed service to the Hall of Fame: A difficult name. After all, most players in the Majors have fairly easy names to pronounce, with very few players even at the level of a Red Schoendienst or Carl Yastrzemski. Add a Grudzielanek in there for good measure. Preferably with this clip of Harry Caray struggling to say his name on repeat through the entire museum: 

Expos Pride

Finally, there are only two players in the Hall with Expos caps on: Gary Carter and Andre Dawson. Wouldn't Grudzielanek make a perfect third? 

I mean, if one person's memory of a nearly-20-year-old baseball card isn't enough to warrant election into the Hall, what is?