Seemingly overlooked, Pinson's career stacks up with current numbers

This isn’t a debate on who should be elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, but rather can one sure-fire Hall of Famer drag another former fellow franchise player across the finish line with him.

The two players are former Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto and former Reds centerfielder Vada Pinson. A debate has been making the rounds online as Pinson’s son Vada III is pushing for his father to be enshrined.

I’ve seen both players during their careers. I saw Pinson when I was a young boy. In fact, Pinson was in center field for my first Reds’ game in 1965 at Crosley Field against the Philadelphia Phillies. I got to follow him until the Reds traded him to St. Louis after the 1968 season.

Votto — who retired after the 2023 season — played 17 season in the major leagues, all with the Reds.

Votto finished with 356 home runs and 1,144 runs batted in. He 2,135 career hits, 459 doubles, 22 triples, 80 stolen bases and had a career batting average of .294.

Votto was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2008 but was voted the National League Most Valuable Player two years later when he batted .324 with 36 home runs and 113 RBI.

He followed that the next year with 40 home runs, 103 RBI and a .309 batting average.

Votto was a six-time All-star and was the NL MVP runner-up in 2017 when he hit .320 with 36 home runs and 100 RBI. He also walked 124 times. He batted better than .300 nine times in his career.

Now take a look at Pinson’s statistics. They may not be quit as impressive as Votto in some respect, but they are impressive just the same.

Pinson was a two-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove. He was third in the voting for the 1961 National Most Valuable Player award, mainly because the winner of the MVP award was teammate Frank Robinson.

Pinson played 18 seasons — 11 with the Reds — and had a career .286 batting average with 256 home runs, 1,169 runs batted in, 485 doubles, 127 triples, 305 stolen bases, and 2,757 hits.

With Cincinnati, Pinson batted .297 with 186 home runs, 814 RBI, 342 doubles, 96 triples, 221 stolen bases and 1,881 total hits.

Pinson was born in Memphis, TN, but moved to California when he was a child. He went to McClymonds High School in Oakland and was a teammate of Frank Robinson, both in high school and with the Reds.

Also attending the same school were future MLB outfielder Curt Flood and Boston Celtics great and Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell.

An outstanding trumpet player, Pinson considered a musical career. The Reds and baseball are glad he chose to play the sport.

When you look at Votto’s statistics, he looks like he should be elected on a first-time ballot.

Pinson never got much attention in the voting, but he was always playing in someone else’s shadow. While Votto is expected to get into the Hall of Fame with 2,135 hits, Pinson was denied the Hall of Fame because his 2,757 total didn’t reach the 3,000-hit benchmark.

Pinson is one of the many cases throughout the history of the game who gets caught up in a numbers game and going up against some really talented players.

Just like him.