Jeff Kent Retires

LOS ANGELES – from baseballhistorian.com news wires

Jeff Kent announced his retirement from the Dodgers on Thursday, 1/22/2009.  

Jeff Kent was a standout middle-of-the-order power hitter, rare for a second baseman.  His 560 doubles rank 20th all time.  He drove in more than 200 runs eight times and finishes with 1,518 RBIs, 47th all time.  He hit 26 home runs at other positions for a career total of 377, ranking 62nd all time.  His lifetime batting average is .290.

He makes a compelling case for baseball’s Hall of Fame as an offensive player. Kent’s 351 career home runs as a second baseman are 74 more than previous record-holder Ryne Sandberg, and Sandberg entered the Hall in 2005, his third year of eligibility. 

Ryne Sandberg had a decided edge as a fielder, with nine Gold Gloves to Kent’s none, and as a baserunner, with 344 steals to Kent’s 94.

Jeff Kent’s retirement leaves an interesting blog in the future:  Is the 40-year-old second baseman a Hall of Famer?

“Hall of Famer for sure,” said Dusty Baker, Kent’s manager in San Francisco, where he enjoyed an MVP year in 2000.  “Jeff Kent was a great clutch hitter, and very consistent.  He was a tough, no-nonsense guy, but he was consistent in his personality as well.  He played to win.”

Jeff Kent originally signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a third baseman and played for the Mets, Indians and Astros, as well as the Giants and Dodgers.

Click here to view some Jeff Kent trades

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Compare Kent to Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski

Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski rates as one of the best fielding second basemen of all-time. He was a seven-time All-Star, captured eight Gold Gloves and took part in a record 1,706 double plays. 'Maz' collected 2,016 hits in his long 17-year major league career, and helped the Pirates make the playoffs in 1972 and the World Series in 1960 and 1971. Mazeroski, who played his entire career with the Pirates, and was a career .260 hitter, is well remembered for hitting a ninth inning, game winning homer that won Game 7 of the 1960 World Series to pace the Pirates over the Yankees.

His best offense year, 1958, 'Maz' lined 19 homers, a Pirate record for second baseman, and had 68 RBIs, while hitting .275.

Mazeroski was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.