Philly Front Office

UPDATE: Completely forgot about Fletcher Cox!

MLB makes its Hall of Fame inductions on Sunday, the NFL and NBA are up in August, and the NHL is in November. None of our guys are up for enshrinement this year (and no, we are obviously not counting Doc Rivers). That has me thinking, who are the next wave of athletes we get to celebrate? Let’s go through it…

FLYERS

The Flyers have 16 former players and managers in the Hall, but only 6 players who you’d consider real long-term Flyers. The last to get in was Mark Recchi in 2017 and Eric Lindros in 2016. Who is next?

Locks: None

There’s a Chance:

• Claude Giroux – I wouldn’t hold your breath, but of all the current and recent former Flyers, Giroux was the biggest star. His resume includes 7 All Star games, a 3rd place Hart Trophy finish, and one 100-point season. He was the Captain of the Flyers for many years though and did lead the team to a Stanley Cup Finals.
• Rod Brind’Amour – At this point he is rightfully more affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes, but for 9 years he played the front line for the Flyers. Rod the Bod hasn’t played for 16 years now, but as his coaching resume builds, there will be a push to induct him as a player. He’ll go in as a Hurricane though.

SIXERS

The Basketball Hall of Fame is probably the easiest Hall to get into considering Amare Stoudamire is about to be inducted. This also explains why Chris Webber was the last Sixers player inducted (not that his time as a Sixer was anything special). There is also a heavy emphasis on inducting legends players long past the ends of their careers like Bobby Jones, Maurice Cheeks, and George McGinnis. The most recent real induction though was Allen Iverson in 2016.

Locks:

• Joel Embiid – Despite his narrative being stained by injuries, Embiid has almost quietly built up a Hall of Fame resume with three Top-2 MVP finishes (including a win), 5x All-NBA, 3x All-Defense, 2x scoring leader, an Olympic gold medal, and currently the 4th highest scoring average of all time.
• James Harden – There’s no chance he goes in as a Sixer, but Harden is already on the 75th Anniversary team, has scoring titles, assist titles, All-NBAs, and an MVP. It will be interesting to see if he even picks a team to be inducted with because at his last 4 stops including Philadelphia, he’s just a guy who was there.
• Jimmy Butler and Paul George – Though their stays were brief and they will not go in as Sixers, both fit the NBA’s easy path to the Hall but would have a much tougher time getting in had they played other sports. Included just because.

There’s a Chance:

• Tyrese Maxey – In just his 6 years, Maxey has 3 seasons averaging 25+ points and is getting better every year. He only has two All-Star appearances and one All-NBA team so far, but it’s not hard to see those getting to 7 and 6 (see what I did there?) after the next 5 years.
• Jaylen Brown – He hasn’t played a game as a Sixer yet, but Brown already has 5 All-Star appearances, two All-NBA teams, and a Finals MVP. After 10 seasons with the Celtics, a good run with the Sixers over the next 5 years should clinch it.
• Jrue Holiday – Only in the NBA, but two titles, 6 All-Defense, and being loved by all makes Jrue a possibility down the line.

PHILLIES

Dick Allen was finally inducted posthumously last year and the team has had several team legends go in with other teams like Scott Rolen, Roy Halladay, and Jim Thome, but it’s been since Mike Schmidt in 1995 that a Phillie has gone in as a Phillie right after his playing career ended. That’s about to change.

Locks:

• Chase Utley – In his 3rd year of voting, Utley received 59% of the vote. Getting to 75% may happen as soon as this next cycle, but what started as a possible borderline case has turned into a lock.
• Bryce Harper – Harper has now played more than half his career in Philadelphia and probably has more than 5 years to go. He has 2 MVPs and will have all the counting stats anyone could want by the end including 500 HRs and will get close to 3000 hits (that will be tough)
• Zack Wheeler – I’ve heard people discount Wheeler’s Hall chances, but if Cole Hamels is getting a 23.8% first showing, Wheeler is getting in. He has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball since joining the Phillies 7 years ago and has received Cy votes in 5 of them (including 2 runner ups). Not to mention his 2.18 ERA in 12 post season appearances.

There’s a Chance:

• Cole Hamels – A 23.8% showing in his first round of voting was a shocker and bodes well for his eventual induction. Cole has a World Series MVP but only received Cy Young votes 4x. He could be the first in a recalibration for what it means to be a Hall of Fame pitcher in the modern world
• Jimmy Rollins – 25.4% after 5 years isn’t great, but Jimmy will benefit from Chase Utley’s induction. Jimmy is one of the strangest cases in that he has a World Series ring and an MVP but doesn’t have nearly the counting stats of other shortstops, both good and bad. His average and hits aren’t great but has a ton of stolen bases, doubles, triples, and HRs (Jimmy, Trea Turner, and Derek Jeter are the only shortstops in MLB history with 200 HRs, 300 2Bs, and 300 SBs). Fingers crossed for Jimmy.
• Kyle Schwarber – The HR tear he has been on since joining the Phillies has changed everything. 500 bombs looks like a lock now and 600 isn’t crazy. Even if you think his poor average and tons of Ks should cancel out hitting 500 HRs, you forget that Kyle is also incredibly likeable. Give the writers a reason (like 500 HRs) and Kyle will get the votes.
• Trea Turner – I thought all night about Trea Turner and he’s essentially the same case as Jimmy Rollins but a better hitter and worse defender. Considering his odyssey among teams in getting to Philadelphia, he probably would go in as a Phillie even if his best days were in Washington

EAGLES

Eric Allen and Harold Carmichael finally made the Hall after consideration from the Senior Committee, but it’s been since Brian Dawkins and Terrell Owens were inducted in 2018 that any of our recent players were voted in.

Locks:

• Lane Johnson – Johnson has two 1st Team All Pro selections, two Super Bowl rings, and is considered by most to be the best right tackle of his generation. Maybe an outsider doesn’t see him as a lock, but as an Eagles fan I can’t see it any other way.
• Jason Kelce – There has only been one center inducted to the Hall who has played in the last 25 years (Kevin Mawae). Kelce will change that thanks to six 1st Team All Pro selections and being the most memorable center in NFL history.
• Fletcher Cox – Four All Pro Teams, 6 Pro Bowls, and was the consensus second best DT in football for nearly a decade behind Aaron Donald. That Super Bowl was the icing on the cake.

There’s a Chance:

• Jason Peters – I had Peters as a lock but knocked him down a peg only because the NFL Hall is so tough to get into. The Bodyguard was the best tackle in football for years and made the 2010s All-Decade Team. Now I want to move him back up.
• LeSean McCoy – The shelf life of a running back has become notoriously low which makes McCoy’s 11,000 rushing yards, 4000 receiving yards, and 89 total TDs more impressive than at first blush. He’s also a 2x 1st Team All Pro and All-Decade Team member
• Jalen Hurts – People don’t want to believe it, but two Super Bowl appearances and one win in his first 5 years is very much on a Hall of Fame track. One more should clinch it. Oh yeah, and he’s not going to be going anywhere any time soon.
• Jordan Mailata – Mailata does not have the awards necessary yet, but he has been an analytics darling since he entered the league. He needs more official accolades but his story is going to be something that will be really pushed if he is close.
• Saquon Barkley – Maybe he should be a lock, especially because that 2000 yard season and Super Bowl ring are going to break any ties that anyone has when all is said and done. He is now at the point in his career where the record books come into play. 8356 yards isn’t getting it done, but if he gets to 13,000, that’s All-Time talk. He needs to stay healthy.

Photo: (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)