Commentary

Eddie Murray versus Jim Thome

The numbers compare well, but one is a Hall of Famer. Will the other someday join him?

Originally Published: February 11, 2010
By Rob Neyer | ESPN.com

Editor's note: Hot Stove U. is a six-week course devoted to higher learning, a series consisting of 30 need-to-know topics for 2010.

The setup

Well before he turned 30, Eddie Murray was considered a future Hall of Famer. And that prophecy came true. In 2003, Murray's first year of eligibility, he was swept into the shrine with the support of 85 percent of the electorate, far ahead of future Hall of Famers Bruce Sutter, Jim Rice, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg and Rich Gossage. For many years there was no doubt about Murray's greatness.

The same has rarely been thought about Jim Thome. While it's not easy to predict what Hall of Fame voters will do seven or eight (or more) years from now, it's probably safe to say that few of them have recently referred to Thome as a future Hall of Famer. For a variety of reasons, he's just not been considered in Eddie Murray's class.

Which doesn't mean he's not.


To read why Jim Thome is as good as Eddie Murray was, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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