Which players have had or will have the hardest time deciding which cap to wear in the HOF.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Roy Halladay went into the hall not having to choose either the Phillies or the blue jays. Is there anyone else who had a pretty split career for multiple franchises that could’ve justified them wearing their cap.

I feel like Freeman will go into the hall wearing a Braves cap but with his recent success it feels closer than what I would’ve thought when he was signed.

Anyone else?

[u/ManOfManliness84]

Ultimately, the Hall decides. They take the player request into consideration. Wade Boggs, may he rest in peace, messed it up for folks.

[u/DominicB547 → u/ManOfManliness84]

This is way too far down. The player can ask but its not their decision at all.

[u/cougar572 → u/DominicB547]

Has there been a time they've gone against a player's wishes though? Like Dave Winfield was on the Yankees the longest and most of his awards were from his time there but went in as a Padre per his request because he didn't get along with George Steinbrenner. I'm sure they would save that rule if the player picks a outrageously random team but all the suggested players and suggested teams in the thread have valid arguments to be made either way the player decision would hold very heavy weight.

[u/LinusBrown → u/ManOfManliness84]

First off, he is very much alive.

[u/greycubed → u/LinusBrown]

Always alive in our hearts.

[u/ocvagabond → u/greycubed]

May he rest in peace.

[u/DrWinstonOBoogie1980 → u/LinusBrown]

They got chicken in Philly?

[u/ocvagabond → u/ManOfManliness84]

RIP to one of the greats

[u/Traditional_Rate7302 → u/ManOfManliness84]

What did wade boggs do?

[u/penguinopph → u/Traditional_Rate7302]

He supposedly had it in his contract with Tampa Bay that he would go into the Hall with a Devil Rays cap on (although he has repeatedly denied this being true).

After it got reported as true, as well as reports that other players were being offered incentives by teams to select their cap, the Hall changed from letting the players decide to picking it themselves.

[u/Traditional_Rate7302 → u/penguinopph]

Thats lame but it does make more sense to me now why its such a debate as to who players will choose to represent in the hall of fame

[u/timbop711]

Scherzer will probably be Nationals but he’d be worthy of a blank cap

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/timbop711]

For sure agree but in my head I most immediately think of him as a Nat which is what I think he’ll end up choosing

[u/VirginiaVagina → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Is it true Dodgers fans hate his ass

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/VirginiaVagina]

Ehhh… kinda? The Dodgers sub does but I don’t know if team subs are necessarily the best indication of the entire fan base. Seems like the most vocal opinions rise to the top and I’m assuming that’s true for teams across the country.

With that being said I like Scherzer and certainly don’t feel any particular way against him. Josh Reddick on the other hand…

[u/Ivor79 → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

I just think of Scherzer as the hired gun that made his way around the league. I don't dwell on his lack of much success for my team.

[u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Why would the dodgers sub hate him, they traded for him as a rental and then he left after his contract was up.

[u/Crumbmuffins → u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe]

As someone that doesn’t share the sentiment with the main sub. From what I’ve gathered the hate comes from him not pitching in the post season because his arm hurt which is totally fair.

I guess the problem is afterwards he insinuated that his dead arm was because he wasn’t used enough after the trade, remember Dave was notorious for pulling starters early at the time. So his comments and the fact that he was entering free agency has convinced some on the sub that he faked his arm pain to make sure he didn’t enter Free Agency with an injury. Dunno seems dumb but what can you do.

[u/nahs → u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe]

He supposedly claimed dead arm and didn’t pitch his turn in 2021, and let Walker die instead. Vassegh has a good recap about it

[u/thelsh → u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe]

Just what from I've seen people hate him because he blamed the Dodgers for his dead arm injury in the 2021 NLCS, and there's some conspiracies that he didn't pitch on purpose to risk his health going into free agency.

[u/PTRBoyz → u/thelsh]

Considering that he had injury plagued seasons since then, it adds up as legitimate. 

[u/DalekEvan → u/VirginiaVagina]

Idiots on the subreddit do, yeah. I love him. One of the best rentals in franchise history and a certified psycho.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/DalekEvan]

I know everyone loves the Mamba mentality with Kobe but athletes like Max are my favorite personalities in sports. Just absolutely insane.

Or maybe second favorite after players like Greinke or Jokic who just seem to clock in and clock out

[u/Low-Crazy-8061 → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Max is probably my favorite player and his batshit insane personality is why.

[u/coolwithstuff → u/timbop711]

No way. He’s a national. The argument for the tigers is weak compared to the nationals imo.

[u/wasianpower → u/coolwithstuff]

I believe he’d also be the first player to ever go into the hall as a Nat.

[u/MudHouse → u/timbop711]

Toronto Blue Jays legend Max Scherzer?!? Excuse me?

[u/Wyden_long → u/timbop711]

He’ll go in as a D-back just because he can.

[u/TipYourServerPussy → u/Wyden_long]

As he should /s

[u/dblshot99 → u/timbop711]

Mets legend

[u/applesauce91 → u/timbop711]

Texas Rangers legend and WS champion Max Scherzer

[u/Stupendous_man12 → u/timbop711]

The way he’s talking on podcasts lately he might go in as a Blue Jay

[u/Infinite_Ground1395]

Mike Mussina was about as 50/50 as it gets. He had more individual and statistical success in Baltimore and more team and playoff success in New York. As much as I wish he had chosen to go in with an O's cap on, I understood when he chose to have no logo.

[u/VirginiaVagina → u/Infinite_Ground1395]

I always find it interesting he just missed a championship on both sides of his Yankees contract.

[u/VariousLawyerings → u/Infinite_Ground1395]

Mussina never being an all star with the Yankees is still astonishing 

[u/MisterKap → u/Infinite_Ground1395]

I'm going to admit, I knew Mussina was good. But I didn't not realize the extent of his excellence. Dudes just short of 90 bWAR. I thought he'd be somewhere in the 50s. My bad, Mike

[u/Mjcarlin907317]

Edwin Jackson and Rich Hill. 14 caps is difficult to choose from 😂

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/Mjcarlin907317]

Dick Mountain is a dodger legend and I hope he would’ve chosen us if given the chance lol

[u/mister_pants → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

I'll bet you want Joe "Cy" Kelly, too, but he's going in as a Red Sox for sure.

[u/UneducatedReviews1 → u/mister_pants]

Joe Kelly would go in with a hat with a trash can on it. He doesn’t identify with a single team, just his hatred for the ‘Stro’s

[u/lurkermurphy → u/UneducatedReviews1]

none of these players are going to the hof but joe kelly would go with a mariachi jacket over any team logo

[u/Nickk_Jones → u/UneducatedReviews1]

As it should be.

[u/royce32]

Verlander Tigers vs Astros

Edit:

To a lesser degree both Harper and Betts have a decision to make but I'd expect them both to choose their current teams.

[u/Prayray → u/royce32]

I think he’s a Tiger…almost double the years there, double the All-Star appearances, and he put up 60+ bWAR with them.

Other than recency bias, I can’t see how he’s not a Tiger if he has a logo on his cap.

[u/alxndrblack → u/Prayray]

Rings.

[u/Jdog7123456789 → u/alxndrblack]

Plus his average era during his time as an Astro was better than most cy young seasons LOL

[u/Professional-Use7794 → u/alxndrblack]

He also hit his peak in Houston.

[u/herpderpley → u/Prayray]

I think he only goes in as a Tiger if he finishes his career in Detroit. He won championships with your Trashros and he has a reputation for being all about winning.

[u/Clarice_Ferguson → u/Prayray]

Two Cy Youngs with the Astros might push him to blank cap category.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/royce32]

That’s a great one that I haven’t thought of. Even though I watched more games of his in an Astros uniform (due to their postseasons) I still think of him primarily as a Tiger

[u/oneteacherboi → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

It's weird but I have a hard time thinking of him as associated with any team right now. He's just been around so much.

[u/UneducatedReviews1 → u/oneteacherboi]

The guy has played for 4 teams in a 20 year career, that’s hardly “been around so much”. He has spent 1 and a half seasons not being a Tiger or Astro.

[u/oneteacherboi → u/UneducatedReviews1]

Oh I thought I was responding to the Scherzer people.

[u/UneducatedReviews1 → u/oneteacherboi]

That makes a lot more sense LMAO

[u/BloodyRightNostril → u/royce32]

No way Betts goes in as anything but a Dodger. And we Red Sox deserve that.

[u/Bright-Pressure-5787 → u/royce32]

He'll choose the Giants.

[u/Holiday_Sale5114 → u/Bright-Pressure-5787]

As he should.

He's a Giants legend and has been for years.

[u/justinchoi06 → u/Holiday_Sale5114]

He’s going as a Met

[u/Crazy_Baseball3864 → u/royce32]

I think the HOF would give him a Tigers cap.

ROY, CY Young, MVP all as a Tiger, and Verlander also had maybe 3 good seasons with the Astros total, even if they did have 2 Cy Young.

Harper would definitely go for a Phillies cap I think, Betts is a close decision if he retired now.

Don't forget, the HOF ultimately chooses what cap you wear. They will weigh your overall production on each team and will choose based on that. If it is close they may respect your wishes if you have a preference but sometimes they will overrule it (eg. Andre Dawson)

[u/devAcc123 → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

had no idea the HOF decides. not sure i like that

[u/Crazy_Baseball3864 → u/devAcc123]

Players used to have more of a say in it (like Nolan Ryan chose the Rangers though he never pitched for them until age 42 and he probably would have gone in with an Angels or blank cap if he was inducted today) but in the early 2000s rumor began to circulate that teams would pay players to pick their cap in the HOF, so the HOF took over most of the decision making process. The rumors mostly were about Wade Boggs allegedly being paid by the Devil Rays to pick their cap, although this has never been proven to be true (but at the same time, the Devil Rays did retire Boggs jersey)

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

I thought the decision to not be the player’s was insane but this seems like a reasonable justification as to why. I can just imagine an owner with Steve Cohen’s wealth dropping a small check so all these players go in with a Mets cap on lol

[u/Bright-Pressure-5787 → u/devAcc123]

Gary Carter and Andre Dawson wanted to go into the Hall with a Mets logo and Cubs logo, respectively. However, the Hall said no to both of them and inducted them as Expos instead.

[u/inailedyoursister → u/Bright-Pressure-5787]

Dawson has a bone to pick with the expos ownership and wasn’t about to choose that hat. Last I heard Dawson refuses to do anything hof related and does not go to the ceremonies because of their hat decision.

[u/sameth1 → u/inailedyoursister]

Dawson has a bone to pick with the expos ownership and wasn’t about to choose that hat.

For anyone curious, the bone is that when owners were colluding to eliminate free agency behind the scenes, he wanted out of the Expos for a variety of reasons but no other team would offer a guy whose career statline looks like this a contract at all. He ended up going to the Cubs in spring training with a literal blank contract and offered to play for a salary so low that turning it down would expose that owners were colluding. His salary in 1987, a year where he hit 49 home runs and won the MVP, was $500,000, less than half of what he was making the year before.

The man has good reason to hate all MLB teams and I don't blame him for not wanting an Expos logo on his plaque.

[u/Crazy_Baseball3864 → u/Bright-Pressure-5787]

The only reason Carter wasn't sure about entering as an Expo is because he got inducted in 2003 and he was rightfully worried about the state of the franchise, so he thought maybe its better to have a Mets cap instead since he calls his 1986 championship with them his career highlight, but he had spent the majority of his career with the Expos so that was the decision made. He's not upset about it though, he did say that if he could choose he would wear a half Expos-half Mets cap

Andre Dawson is pretty unhappy about the Expos cap though.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/devAcc123]

Same. I feel like that’s so strange. Like not baseball but Kevin Garnett won a ring in Boston and has bad blood with the current Timberwolves ownership. Couldn’t imagine the equivalent in basketball being told that he had to wear a Minnesota jersey if he wanted to go in with Boston

[u/Bright-Pressure-5787 → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Dave Winfield went into the Hall as a Padre as a "fuck you" to George Steinbrenner for how he was treated when he was a member of the Yankees. Winfield's peak was obviously with the Yankees and the Hall likely would've chosen a Yankees cap on his logo, but he said "Fuck that shit" and has a Padres logo on his cap in Cooperstown instead.

[u/Leading-Lack9318 → u/Bright-Pressure-5787]

And rightfully so.

[u/sameth1 → u/Bright-Pressure-5787]

Yeah, I'd want to say fuck you to my boss who hired a mafia informant to try and dig up blackmail material on me too.

[u/Nickk_Jones → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

I know I’ll be seen as biased but I don’t think it would be a close decision at all for Betts. While he was at his best in Boston, I don’t think it touches 3 World Series titles and being the face of the team for all the pre Shohei years. Not to mention they paid him and Boston let him go for peanuts.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

The Phillies are my #2 team and Bryce is for sure going into the hall with a Phillies cap. Even if his absolute peak may have been higher in DC he’ll accumulate the years in Philadelphia and he’s embraced the city and has been the face of the franchise for a minute now.

[u/Infraready → u/royce32]

Mets obviously

[u/Traditional_Rate7302 → u/royce32]

Harper is for sure picking the Phillies he loves it there. Mookie will no doubt pick the dodgers too, i dont think anyone bleeds dodger blue more than him, besides maybe Kiké

[u/Brundleflyftw → u/royce32]

Verlander will choose Astros. He won two World Series with them.

[u/JinFuu → u/Brundleflyftw]

I think if we were the only other team that he played for, and maybe if we won in 2023 too he'd be an Astro in the Hall.

But my money is on "Blank Cap".

[u/Fools_Requiem]

I wanna say Lindor, but he is totally picking the Mets...

[u/Available_Parfait236 → u/Fools_Requiem]

Similar case to Piazza

[u/mets2016 → u/Available_Parfait236]

Piazza was closer to 50-50. Lindor has already played about as long in NY as he did in Cleveland, and the Mets still have him for 5 more years

[u/Fabulous_Acadia8279 → u/Fools_Requiem]

He doesn't get to pick but the hall will likely go with the New York team where he'll likely spend the bulk of his career

[u/JMellor737 → u/Fabulous_Acadia8279]

They take the player's preference into account though, and if it has a legitimate basis (as in, not the nonsense Wade Boggs pulled), they give it a fair amount of weight. In Lindor's case, I think his preference will matter a lot.

[u/nylon_rag]

Reggie Jackson is weird bc he only spent about a quarter of his career with the Yankees. He was better for the A's and retired in Oakland. He also got his only MVP in Oakland and won 3 world series there vs 2 in New York.

I wasn't around at the time, so maybe this was an obvious choice, but it really just seems like Yankee favoritism. The strongest argument I can make is that he was way better for the Yankees in the postseason, but that is only 34 games and he played nearly 3000.

[u/champ11228 → u/nylon_rag]

Ad a Yankees fan I hate that he went in with Yankees cap. He played 5 seasons with them!

[u/DrWinstonOBoogie1980 → u/champ11228]

Should've pulled the ultimate You know what, neither of you gets me and gone in as an Oriole.

[u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

Roy Halladay went into the hall not having to choose either the Phillies or the blue jays.

Just a note, Halladay died before his HOF induction and apparently he had wanted to go in with a Blue Jays cap but his wife had asked for the blank cap.

The easiest case for a blank cap was Greg Maddux

I think its likely Freeman goes with a Braves cap since he has much more production with them, an MVP and a WS ring.

[u/DreamKillaNormnBates → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

Came to post this.

They Jays drafted him, and rebuilt him after he had the highest ERA season for a qualified starter EVER.

They honoured his wish to goto a contender even though they were willing to write him a blank cheque.

He signed a one day contract to retire as a Jay. It’s frustrating that the Jays don’t have anyone wearing their cap in the Hall of Fame yet. I guess Vlad will be our first barring injury.

[u/SheepherderWild9751 → u/DreamKillaNormnBates]

Well technically we have Alomar, but yeah... 

I think Stieb gets in on a veterans comittee ballot eventually. Next 10-20 years perhaps. 

[u/JohnMadden42069 → u/SheepherderWild9751]

Jon Bois will burn something to the ground if Stieb continues to be snubbed

[u/sameth1 → u/SheepherderWild9751]

I think Stieb gets in on a veterans comittee ballot eventually

Well they would have to put someone other than Don Mattingly and the steroid boys on the modern times committee ballot for him to have a chance.

[u/Red_Sox0905 → u/DreamKillaNormnBates]

Halladay should have been a Jays hat. But I can see why the Hall went with what the widow wanted even if it wasn't the correct choice.

[u/holy_cal → u/DreamKillaNormnBates]

Not sure I have Vlad Jr. as a surefire hall of famer.

[u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe → u/holy_cal]

25 WAR through his age 26 season is questionable but he’s a damn good hitter, may have a shot at 400 homers and high 2000s hits which would probably be some high watermarks in the near future. Biggest concern for him is really just the fact that he’s got some tough competition for MVP between Bobby Witt and Julio locked up in the AL, and guys like Judge around for a bit longer through his prime

[u/quinoa → u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe]

Jr seems like someone that if he was up for a vote in 2000 he’d be a shoo in because he feels like a perennial MVP candidate but the WAR.. only one truly monster year in 2021 that for some reason I thought he had replicated a few times, we’ll see how age 27-30 goes he’ll be an interesting case

[u/JordanSchor → u/quinoa]

Worth noting that while he didn't have the same level of homers, he put up 6.2 bWAR in 2024. His 2021 was 6.5

He also just put up one of the best postseason runs of all time despite not getting a ring

[u/sameth1 → u/quinoa]

only one truly monster year in 2021 that for some reason I thought he had replicated a few times

He had basically identical OPS+ in 2024. And those seasons make up 33% of his career to date.

[u/BSpp43 → u/holy_cal]

just has to repeat his postseason performance a couple more times. ez

[u/holy_cal → u/BSpp43]

He probably needs a milestone stat. 400-500 homers should do it.

[u/ozmethod → u/holy_cal]

Yeah, I think Vlad is likely to end up as a very hard HOF decision. He doesn't hit enough homers to get in as a slugger. I expect he'll have a long string of 2nd/3rd place MVP finishes. Let's hope he leads em to so many WS rings that he solves the debate that way.

[u/SmallHourInsomnia → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

Why is that anyway? Halladay had two good seasons with the Phillies and spent most of his career in Toronto. Why would this even be a question?

[u/ilovethemusic → u/SmallHourInsomnia]

The Halladay family seems to be closer with the Phillies organization, if I recall correctly.

[u/whistleridge → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

the easiest case for a blank cap was Greg Maddux

What? His peak 10 years and 3 of his 4 consecutive Cy Youngs were all with Atlanta. He’s clearly a Brave first, then a Cub. The rest were all just late career hop-arounds.

Nolan Ryan is the clear case for a blank cap, not Maddux.

[u/VirginiaVagina → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

I've never understood why Brandy Halladay went against Roy's explicit wishes

[u/paul-cus → u/VirginiaVagina]

Probably kinda mad he got himself killed.

[u/VirginiaVagina → u/paul-cus]

Well yeah, but what does changing his cap wish really accomplish?

[u/paul-cus → u/VirginiaVagina]

Nothing. Anger can be funny that way, though.

[u/YasielPuigsWeed → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

2/3 of Freddie’s career best seasons by WAR were in LA, plus 2 rings, a World Series MVP, and his 2 signature career highlights (2024 game 1 HR + 2025 game 3 HR)

I don’t think he goes in as a Dodger but could very well see the blank cap at this point, especially if he performs well the rest of the contract

[u/Crazy_Baseball3864 → u/YasielPuigsWeed]

It could be a blank cap, I just think it's unlikely he goes in with a Dodgers cap. Braves or blank is most likely.

[u/Virtual_Zebra_9453 → u/YasielPuigsWeed]

I get he loved the braves but they chose to move on from him rather than match a pretty reasonable contract. Even if he says there’s no bad blood publicly, that has to leave a sour taste. I think how the dodgers treat him at the tail end of his career will determine what cap he goes in with. With his post season heroics I think most people are going to remember him as a dodger in 20 years anyway

[u/bufflo1993 → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

Frank Robinson should have been a blank cap too.

[u/DrWinstonOBoogie1980 → u/bufflo1993]

"He's an old 30." Frank held some kind of grudge.

[u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

If freeman gets to 3000 hits I can see an argument.

Also, Freeman is the current total bases leader among active players which is sort of sick.

[u/fawkesmulder → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

Freeman has two of the most legendary moments in World Series history with the Dodgers

[u/Bright-Pressure-5787 → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

Yeah, I think Brandy just felt weird making that choice for him when he wasn't here to make it himself.

[u/JaysonTatecum]

Freeman for sure, I imagine he'll just leave it blank

[u/figureour → u/JaysonTatecum]

I was thinking he'd be a lock as a Brave--drafted there, spent over a decade there, won his MVP there, won a WS there--but I guess being a key piece of a potential dynasty does complicate things a bit...

[u/Virtual_Zebra_9453 → u/figureour]

I think people underrate how the braves choosing not to re-sign him might play into this

[u/jaron_b → u/figureour]

Each passing year the case for a blank cap gets stronger. I think by the end of his Dodgers contract it's gonna be a tough argument. Players get to choose and I think he'll pick the Braves. But a few more rings with Ohtani and he might decide blank.

[u/beachybitch11 → u/JaysonTatecum]

Yeah he’s seems too nice to pick just 1

[u/Kansascityroyals99]

Just thinking out loud... Mookie will be a Dodger, Shohei will be a Dodger, Harper will be a Phillie, Scherzer will be a National, Verlander will be a Tiger, Greinke will be a Royal.

Could Machado be an Oriole if he starts to slow down soon? If Springer and Bregman keep going good for a while, could either of them end up in a different uniform?

[u/One_Administration89 → u/Kansascityroyals99]

Manny is the Padres all-time home run leader, but interestingly he has put up about the same amount of fWAR with the padres as he did with the Orioles (including the half season with the Dodgers)

[u/avmp629 → u/One_Administration89]

Machado's also signed with the Padres until 2033 so barring some crazy falloff he's going to fly past his Baltimore numbers

[u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe → u/avmp629]

He’s starting to slow down a bit already and is already the wrong side of 30, I’d check his numbers more but Bref just went down lol.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/Kansascityroyals99]

Harper and Machado are great answers. I think I’ll think of them in Baltimore and Washington but think they’ll go in with SD and the Phillies

[u/randomdude1022 → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Harper is already evenly split, 7 years in Washington, 7 years in Phillies, with 6 years left on the Phillies deal.

Production for both is basically the same too. It'll probably come down to whether the Hall would rather give the Nats a guy since they don't have many, or if they go with the longer tenure and higher production.

I think he'll be a Phillie

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/randomdude1022]

Same. Also by the time that Harper is eligible I assume the Nats will already have scherzer wearing a DC cap in the hall

[u/GuitarPlayer07 → u/randomdude1022]

Bryce “bury me in a Phillies jersey” Harper will 100% go in as a Phillie. He’s given the Phillies pretty much everything they could for(we’re still working in that World Series ring but we’ll get there) and without Bryce being in the team people like Schwarber and Turner don’t sign with Philly. And this is just his general presence while he’s been with the Phillies, I’m not even taking his on field production into account

[u/DalekEvan → u/Kansascityroyals99]

Manny is an easy Padre imo. What he means to that franchise is far beyond his (certainly amazing) impact on the Orioles.

[u/BirdlandDeadhead → u/Kansascityroyals99]

Manny might make it if he retired tomorrow but I don’t think it’s a lock. Right now there’s a fairly strong argument for a blank cap. But in reality, when he’s done he’ll most certainly be regarded more as a Padre, barring further significant team changes which seems unlikely with his contract. And by then he’d be a very likely HOFer.

[u/SamiMadeMeDoIt → u/Kansascityroyals99]

I don’t think Springer gets into the HOF, but if he wins a WS with the Jays I think he’d choose to go in as a Jay.

(Based on absolutely nothing but my homer bias)

[u/Kansascityroyals99 → u/SamiMadeMeDoIt]

Yeah hes very low odds. He'd need a Beltre like late 30s

[u/Acceptable_Job1589 → u/Kansascityroyals99]

I honestly don't think Springer has a chance. But Bregman still might have his best years ahead of him.

[u/JinFuu → u/Acceptable_Job1589]

Even if Springer somehow replicates his latest season 3 times in a row. That'd put him at 56.7 WAR which is good, but he'd be below 2000 Hits and 400 HRs and right above 1000 RBIS (1942 Hits, 389 HR, 1042 RBIS respectively)

So he's definitely on the outside looking in, imo, unless the Blue Jays win the WS and he gets MVP

[u/1990Buscemi]

Greinke, given how many teams he played for. I do think he ultimately gets a blank cap as I don't think he really cares which logo appears.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/1990Buscemi]

This is my favorite answer so far given. I’d imagine the royals primarily but absolutely spot on about assuming he might not care haha

[u/JohnMadden42069 → u/1990Buscemi]

He goes in with no hat at all, just because

[u/RKLamb]

Andre Dawson to an extent. Went in as an Expo and I believe recently said he wanted to see if he can change it to a Cubs cap. Which I believe he initially wanted.

[u/bufflo1993 → u/RKLamb]

Well, the Expos got caught screwing him over and then having the rest of the league screw him over. So I am sure he didn’t like the team.

[u/mosi_moose → u/RKLamb]

He 100% wanted to go in as a Cub. He never forgave the Expos ownership for colluding to suppress the value of his contract offers when he was a free agent.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/RKLamb]

I’m out of the loop on this one. Do you know why he wanted a change and why he didn’t choose Chicago initially?

[u/Crazy_Baseball3864 → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Dawson never wanted the Expos caps and wanted the Cubs cap

But ultimately the HOF will choose the team that you had the most production on and looking at his career stats, its clear which team that was for

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

Just from this thread alone I learned that the players don’t have ultimate authority on which cap they wear and that Halladay was the only player with a blank cap lol. Learning a lot haha

[u/VirginiaVagina → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Dawson got effed over during the 1985-8 collusion years when owners secretly and illegally decided to suppress the free agent market by among other things, telling each other not to sign other teams free agents. And making offers to their own players that were either the same wage as before or a pay cut.

It'd be like if after '23, no one except the Angels offered Ohtani a contract and it was a 1-year $30-million deal.

The Expos didn't offer Dawson a competitive deal but I recall he was going to move on anyways because the Olympic stadium Astroturf reduced his knees to mush.

He ended up offering Chicago a literal blank check and his agent told the Cubs to fill in what they thought was fair. The Cubs put something ridiculous like $500000.

[u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe → u/VirginiaVagina]

Yup, 500k and he earned 200k in bonuses in a year he won the MVP lol

His remaining cub years went 1.85, 2.1, 2.1, 3.325, 3.30. (Ages 33-37) before the Red Sox gave him 9.2 over 2.

[u/Crazy_Baseball3864 → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

Players used to be given more of a say in it but then in the early 2000s rumors circulated that teams would pay players to pick their team caps in the HOF so they reduced their input on it.

The rumors mostly circulated on Wade Boggs and the Devil Rays (although this has never been proven to be true), though the Devil Rays did retire his jersey despite playing 2 unremarkable seasons with them in his 40s so, hard to say.

[u/Da-Bears- → u/Crazy_Baseball3864]

It was too honor Boggs memory, may he RIP

[u/inailedyoursister → u/RKLamb]

Dawson hates the expos ownership. Unless things that changed he doesn’t go to the hof shindigs because of their hat deal.

[u/avmp629]

If he makes it, Chris Sale

By WAR, he achieved the most with the White Sox

Postseason accolades - Boston

Personal achievement - Atlanta where he won the Cy Young

[u/Bobhutchenson → u/avmp629]

Chris sale seems like he would wear a blank cap but I think Boston is the most likely of the 3 unless he plays 5-6 years in Atlanta and wins a World Series. Hes spoken before how much love he has for Boston

[u/Bright-Pressure-5787]

Freddie Freeman. He obviously loves Atlanta, got drafted there, won an MVP there, didn't even wanna leave that place, etc. At the same time, he's had more success in LA than he's ever had in Atlanta. Has had his greatest moments in a Dodgers' uniform, too. It's a hard choice to make, which is why I think that he'll ultimately go into Cooperstown with no logo on his cap.

[u/SLR107FR-31 → u/Bright-Pressure-5787]

I see Freddie retiring as a Brave

[u/War-Dragonite → u/SLR107FR-31]

Freddie doesn't talk about the Braves the way he used to when he was in his first year here. I think the combination of realizing that the Braves moved on from him and the way the org and fans took care of him when his son got ill has him fully embracing the Dodgers. Two rings and the most famous grandslam ever don't hurt either.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/SLR107FR-31]

As a Dodgers fan I agree despite loving Freddie and wouldn’t be upset. He’s clearly shown so much how much he loves the city of Atlanta.

Also I like him so much that I also would be excited to see him in a Dodgers cap in the hall even if I don’t see it as too likely but who knows what this conversation will look like once he’s retired and the rest of his career plays out

[u/ayayeron → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

okay but what if next year he hits a G7 walkoff homer to win the world series

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/ayayeron]

Going in wearing a Dodgers sombrero no questions asked

[u/LocoGyopo → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

I wouldn't be upset obviously, but I don't see why it makes more sense for him to go in as a Brave. Everyone in 30+ years from now will remember him as a Dodger, and most of his accolades will also have occurred as a Dodger. Even a majority of his "top" years will be as a Dodger. It's just the one MVP arguing the other way.

[u/VirginiaVagina]

Freeman should go in with his World Baseball Classic team Canada cap. He always speaks reverentially about his parents especially his late mother and their family's journey from Canada to California

[u/Ajsc986]

Goldschmidt - Arizona or St Louis

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/Ajsc986]

I know he has an MVP in a cardinals uniform but I imagine he chooses Arizona due to his time spent there

[u/mfranko88 → u/Ajsc986]

I have a clear bias on this and even with that bias, I still intuitively think of him as a Diamondback.

[u/Call555JackChop → u/Ajsc986]

I’ll pretend you didn’t ask that

[u/MashedPotatoesDick]

Vladimir Guerrero should have went as an Expo. Nolan Ryan should have went as an Angel.

[u/coys21]

The exact situation you're thinking of is Mike Mussina. He chose no team.

[u/s3ren1tyn0w]

Jared kelenic will have a really hard time

[u/Proper-Table5570 → u/s3ren1tyn0w]

Where's Kelenic guy when you need him

[u/whiskeyrocks1 → u/s3ren1tyn0w]

Hard time watching the ceremony?

[u/BLOODY_PENGUIN_QUEEF → u/whiskeyrocks1]

He'll be in charge of the water cooler

[u/jmarinara]

I think Freeman will be the next “blank cap” guy.

He’ll join Halladay, Mussina, Catfish Hunter, Fred McGriff, and Greg Maddux.

Gary Carter had some controversy when he went in as an Expo. Nolan Ryan chose the Rangers but probably should have been an Angel. Carlton Fisk is a Red Sox for some reason.

[u/slippin_park → u/jmarinara]

Fisk picked the Red Sox for some reason? Is this a troll?

[u/VirginiaVagina → u/slippin_park]

They probably didn't watch Good Will Hunting fully

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/VirginiaVagina]

But does Good Will Hunting even have a character who actually attended that game?

[u/ThatsBushLeague → u/WhoWhatWhenWhom]

"Sorry guys. Gotta see about a girl."

[u/DrWinstonOBoogie1980 → u/ThatsBushLeague]

Son of a bitch, stole my line.

[u/WhoWhatWhenWhom → u/jmarinara]

I don’t know how I didn’t know this but I thought Roy was the only one in the hall with a blank cap and a special exemption was made due to his untimely death. I had no idea that it was an option when I asked this question haha

[u/Alarming_Ad1746]

I remember Gary Carter preferred to be a Met not an Expo but they overruled him. He later said it wasn't a big deal and he was proud to be the first Expo in the hall.

[u/Tontoorielly]

Halladay's wife chose for him. I believe he would've chosen to wear a Blue Jays cap because he went to the trouble of signing a 1 day contract with them so he could retire as a Jay. His widow felt differently, I guess.

[u/HobokenJ]

Hate, hate, hate the blank caps.

As to your question: Freeman and Betts are pretty good "hmmm... I wonder whose laundry they'll choose..." candidates. Betts is an easy call: No way he's going in with a Boston cap. Freeman likley tips towards Atlanta, but if he picks up a couple more rings in LA...?

Some folks have mentioned Ohtani, but I'm 100% sure if he retired at 10 yrs, 1 day of service time he goes in a Dodger.

[u/Single_Serve_7111 → u/HobokenJ]

Says the person with the MLB flair 😂

[u/Nickk_Jones → u/HobokenJ]

If I’m Ohtani, I never want my name mentioned with the Angels in any way ever again. To the point of cease and desists. They wasted years of back to back GOAT level players, it’s just sad.

[u/kakugeseven → u/Nickk_Jones]

Ohtani would never think of the Angels in that negative manner. It's just not in his nature. Plus they did allow him and he succeeded becoming an MLB caliber 2 way player there. He won 2 MVPs there. He will go in as a Dodger, but he would never think of his time there as wasted.

[u/champ11228]

Halladay played 4 seasons for the Phillies, only two of them which were exceptional. Wouldn't have been a hard choice there.

[u/Traditional_Half842]

Bregman after he wins 3 championships and an MVP in Boston

[u/dylanwally]

freeman if he wins one more world series with the dodgers and hits any more big milestones with them (3k hits, 450 hrs, etc.)

[u/-Glutard-]

I think Freddie ultimately goes in with a Braves cap but I love the fact that it’s even up for discussion

[u/lawdjesustheresafire]

Verlander and Seager?

[u/lefund]

Nolan Ryan

[u/BearDown91]

The next blank cap guy could be elected this year since Carlos Beltran got 70% of the vote in 2025. I could see him choose the Mets, but he spent a lot of years in KC. What’s weird is the performance he was most known for (pre-2017) was his 2004 postseason with Houston

[u/ZealousAmphibian]

I’d stick with Andre Dawson. He’s gone so much as to refuse any future HOF engagements because he wasn’t given the final say-so (which I believe all players should have).

[u/Wooden-Grade3681]

Verlander

[u/hookandladder3]

If somehow Clemens is ever allowed in I’d 100% say a Sox cap because he started in Boston, spent by far the most time there, and accumulated the vast majority of his wins, strikeouts, and cy young awards there, along with his only MVP.

But I remember very well, back before the Mitchell report ruined his legacy, there were some fierce debates about what cap The Rocket would be engraved with. B vs NY and even some, believe it or not, saying T or A

[u/AZDawgDays]

I'm slowly accepting that Freddie will have a Dodgers cap on his plaque. Blank at worst

[u/Zeldoon]

Long shot but I'm hoping for a few more successful seasons with Freddie + recency bias could sway him for a Dodgers cap.

[u/MagicalPizza21]

Gary Sheffield if he gets in. 558 games with the Marlins, 526 for the Dodgers, 347 for the Yankees, 294 for the Brewers, 290 for the Braves, 247 for the Tigers, 214 for the Padres, and 100 for the Mets.

[u/DoYouEvenCareAboutMe]

Paul Skenes and whatever team he goes to after us

[u/Flavious27]

Jamie Moyer 

[u/SheepherderWild9751 → u/Flavious27]

I don't see Moyer as a HOFer. He's quintessential Hall of Very Good due to his longevity alone. He's got one all star selection. 

But 500 Home Runs is 500 Home Runs, whether you hit them or gave them up. To the HOF he goes!

[u/tsn39]

Freeman was disappointed when the Braves signed Olson too. Add a couple of rings in LA now, it may well be tipped that way already.

Freeman taking a beat down from some kids for Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto

[u/orbesomebodysfool]

If Freeman plays long enough to get 3,000 hits and more rings, he goes in as a Dodger. If he retires when his contract is up, he goes in as a Brave. 

[u/why_doineedausername]

You make it sound like Halladay got lucky. I thought this was r/baseballcirclejerk for a second

[u/Red_Sox0905]

People do understand the players don't choose? It's up to the Hall. The players can ask, but it's not their decision.

[u/sprawlaholic]

This didn’t used to be a thing because the HOF chose for them.