The Hall of Fame Case: Troy Glaus

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 …

Troy Glaus. Gloss. All-Star, Silver Slugger, World Series champ. He was with us from the dawn of a new millennium to the dawn of our current decade. We don't know for sure that the 2004 movie "Troy" starring Brad Pitt wasn't inspired by Glaus' seven years with the Angels, but we do know for sure that a movie about Glaus' career would be just as action-packed. For 13 seasons, we got to delight in his surname wordplay and his power at the plate. But if you need five more reasons why Glaus belongs in the Hall of Fame, here are the facts (opinions). 

He's a postseason hero

In 2002, the Angels had brand new uniforms and reached the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Glaus opened things with not one but two dingers in Game 1, but the Halos fell to the Giants, 4-3. They won the next two but lost Games 4 (which featured another Glaus homer) and 5, and faced elimination in Game 6 at home.

Glaus came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning with runners on second and third and the Angels down by one run. Then, with a bases-clearing double, he gave the thundersticks a whole new purpose.

The Angels won that game, Game 7 and the Series, and Glaus took home MVP honors. Saving his team's season and leading the franchise to its only world championship? That's what a hero does. 

Do you like homers?

I like homers, so I like Troy Glaus. In 2000, just his second full MLB season, Glaus led the American League with 47 long balls -- more than Jason Giambi, Frank Thomas, Jim Thome, etc. (he was also seventh in MLB in WAR that year). He followed that with 41 in '01, fourth in the AL. He hit at least 30 homers five times in his career, along with nine in the postseason. That's just good dingering. 

He taught me about baseball

Do you remember the Backyard Baseball games, with Major Leaguers as children playing on the sandlot? In 2003, Glaus was one of those children. He did not have the best ratings, but his catchphrases were fantastic:

"You know what I like about baseball? EVERYTHING."

"GLAUS, that's G-L-A-U-S. You know, like Santa Claus? 'Cept mine's with a G."

So I picked him for every team. And I specifically remember the "He's especially dangerous against left-handed pitchers" line from his bio taught me what splits were. Personally, I think that alone is HOF-worthy. 

He's an Olympic medalist 

Look at baby 19-year-old Troy (he turned 20 a day before the closing ceremony) playing third base for the U.S. Olympic team during the 1996 summer games. There aren't a whole lot of people who've medaled in baseball, but Glaus is one of them. And, true to form, Glaus even homered in those games. #America.

He was a HOF model

Look how tiny he makes this bat look:

And how many players could pull off the not tucked-in look? Not many, no sir.

Just think about that smoldering stare on a HOF plaque. Don't you want to see it happen?