If we’re to judge a book by its proverbial cover, at first glance, four batting titles and a World Series ring would be a Harvard worthy resume for a Cooperstown spot. Maddog has that exact resume.
So why isn’t he in?
You read that right by the way, four batting titles. Which makes him the only player ever with four or more batting titles not in the HOF (Miguel Cabrera is sitting on four as well but let’s be real, he’s already got his spot reserved next to Clemente). Making his debut for Texas on September 7th, 1973, the third baseman picked up two hits in his first MLB game, leave Texas to the northside of Chicago and follow up with a 3rd place RoY campaign for the Cubs, slashing .313/.374/.442 in 128 games, which would become an example for the kind of player he would become. He would live up to his top tier pure hitter potential, by messin’ around and winning the next two batting titles in 1975 & ’76. Despite the Cubs lackluster 75-87 record, Madlock was the lone shining star in 1975, hitting a whopping .354, a fat .402 OBP, and an impressive .479 slug, considering he only hit 7 home runs, taking home a much-deserved batting title at age 24.
As forementioned, he would follow that up with yet another batting title winning season, dropping a .339 average, .412 OBP, and a slug of .500 on the dot, finishing 6th in MVP. The Cubs would finish with another 75-87 record, with Madlock being the only star in a less than stellar lineup, and interestingly enough, Madlock wasn’t even an All-Star selection that year despite his 6th place MVP finish. A second straight batting title on a team with little support and success, brought instant acclaim from around the league for Madlock, who at the age of 25, has already established himself as one of the best hitters of the 1970s. Interest from other teams, as well as Madlock wanting to play winning baseball as well, was too much for Chicago to stave off and was traded to San Francisco. Shortly after the trade, the two-time batting champ was offered a 5 year, 1.3$ million deal from the Giants to be their top of the order catalyst. Madlock’s first two years in San Francisco produced no batting titles like the previous two, but he earned his new contract with two .300 seasons, hitting .302 in ’77, and .309 in ’78, proving his top tier pure hitting status. Unfortunately for Madlock, 1977 it became the 3rd straight season he produced top notch quality play on a team that recorded a 75-87 record, and although the Giants put up an improved 89-73, they just missed out on the playoffs.
1979 would see a monumental change for Maddog, as San Francisco would trade Madlock to Pittsburgh mid-season, giving one of the best teams in the NL another star hitter. He was hitting an uncharacteristic .261 average at the time of the trade, but all things considered, San Francisco trading their best hitter, with half of his contract still yet to be played out, with no major slip in on field performance, is a head scratching decision to say the least, especially trading him to top NL competition. Famously enough, Pittsburgh would go on to win the 1979 World Series. The trade would seemingly revitalize Madlock, hitting .328 the rest of the year for the Pirates (102 hits in 85 games, 21 SBs), a hitting coaches dream. His postseason performance that year is also something to note, amassing 9 hits against Baltimore in the World Series, and striking out just once in 36 ABs. Pittsburgh’s World Title win gave arguably the best pure hitter of the 70’s his much-deserved ring.
Now, as you may have noticed, we’ve only mentioned two of his four batting titles, in what has already been a phenomenal career already to date.1980 was healthy 137 game season for Madlock, though hitting below his usual standards with .277 average that year, this would not be his 3rd. The following shortened 1981 season would be where he would earn his 3rd, and though no one played more than 109 games that year, he would, perhaps controversially, win the title in just 82 games. He did drop an attractive .341, though there were, and still are some that contest it by arguing that 82 games, strike shortened season or not, isn’t lengthy enough to qualify for a batting title. Not necessarily a scoff at his fat .341 AVG, but it is an understandable argument to make, nonetheless. Pete Rose would finish 2nd to Madlock in the NL batting title race in 1981 with a .325 AVG, while playing 25 more games than him, and lead the NL in hits with 140 to Madlock’s 95. Regardless, Maddog would win an incredible 3rd batting title, cementing him in elite status in hitting, all at the age of just 30. Maddog would just keep on putting on a hitting display, raking .319 in 1982, setting career highs in games played in a season (154), runs scored (92), home runs (19) and RBIs (95), with a nice .856 OPS cherry on top. No 4th batting title in ’82, but a wonderful year to say the least.
How do you follow up that year? By winning your 4th batting title of course! 1983 would be the record year for Madlock, as he would slash .323 in 130 games with 153 hits, winning his 4th batting title in 11 years. The list of people, at that time, he joined to win 4 or more batting titles is as follows:
- Cobb (12)
- Honus (8)
- Carew (7)
- Musial (7)
- Hornsby (7)
- Williams (6)
- Brouthers (5)
- Clemente (4)
- Heilmann (4)
- Anson (4)
All of those listed, eventually became Hall of Famers.
So why did Bill Madlock never get inducted into Cooperstown? the most obvious argument would be that his career category stats fall short of Hall of Fame standards. 2008 hits, .305/.365/.442 career slash line, 348 2Bs, 163 HRs and 860 RBIs is quite an impressive resume. Although, it is again understandable that those numbers wouldn’t generally be thought of instantly as Cooperstown material. His trophy room and accolades however, are impossible to deny. Four batting titles and a WS ring as the main catalyst of every team he’s been a part of, should and would be the main statement on his Cooperstown plaque. Hall of Fame or not, Bill Madlock will forever go down as not only one of the best hitters on the 1970s, but one of the best pure hitters of all time.
