team record hypothetical Hall of Fame streaks

The following table shows the longest 'hypothetical Hall of Fame streak' for each current Major League franchise. You may want to look at an explanation of the analysis.
The last column, labeled 'active', indicates whether the respective streak is active, i.e. the last year of the streak is the current year.

team from through years active
Boston Red Sox 1933 2001 69 yes
Oakland Athletics 1979 1999 21 no
Chicago White Sox 1904 1943 40 no
Detroit Tigers 1903 1974 72 no
Cleveland Indians 1916 1958 43 no
Minnesota Twins 1907 1935 29 no
New York Yankees 1913 1968 56 no
Baltimore Orioles 1955 2001 47 yes
Texas Rangers 1986 2001 16 yes
Anaheim Angels 1972 1991 20 no
Kansas City Royals 1973 1994 22 no
Seattle Mariners 1987 2001 15 yes
Toronto Blue Jays 1985 1998 14 no
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1998 2001 4 yes
Atlanta Braves 1945 1983 39 no
Chicago Cubs 1876 1916 41 no
Cincinnati Reds 1956 2001 46 yes
Philadelphia Phillies 1970 1989 20 no
San Francisco Giants 1883 1973 91 no
Pittsburg Pirates 1899 1953 55 no
Los Angeles Dodgers 1909 1980 72 no
St. Louis Cardinals 1909 1979 71 no
Houston Astros 1980 2001 22 yes
New York Mets 1965 1977 13 no
Milwaukee Brewers 1974 1993 20 no
San Diego Padres 1973 2001 29 yes
Montreal Expos 1976 1997 22 no
Colorado Rockies 1993 2001 9 yes
Florida Marlins 1995 1998 4 no
Arizona Diamondbacks 1999 2001 3 yes

team	from	through	years	active
Boston Red Sox	1933	2001	69	yes
Oakland Athletics	1979	1999	21	no
Chicago White Sox	1904	1943	40	no
Detroit Tigers	1903	1974	72	no
Cleveland Indians	1916	1958	43	no
Minnesota Twins	1907	1935	29	no
New York Yankees	1913	1968	56	no
Baltimore Orioles	1955	2001	47	yes
Texas Rangers	1986	2001	16	yes
Anaheim Angels	1972	1991	20	no
Kansas City Royals	1973	1994	22	no
Seattle Mariners	1987	2001	15	yes
Toronto Blue Jays	1985	1998	14	no
Tampa Bay Devil Rays	1998	2001	4	yes
Atlanta Braves	1945	1983	39	no
Chicago Cubs	1876	1916	41	no
Cincinnati Reds	1956	2001	46	yes
Philadelphia Phillies	1970	1989	20	no
San Francisco Giants	1883	1973	91	no
Pittsburg Pirates	1899	1953	55	no
Los Angeles Dodgers	1909	1980	72	no
St. Louis Cardinals	1909	1979	71	no
Houston Astros	1980	2001	22	yes
New York Mets	1965	1977	13	no
Milwaukee Brewers	1974	1993	20	no
San Diego Padres	1973	2001	29	yes
Montreal Expos	1976	1997	22	no
Colorado Rockies	1993	2001	9	yes
Florida Marlins	1995	1998	4	no
Arizona Diamondbacks	1999	2001	3	yes

From that data we get the longest HoF streaks in the Majors like this:

rank team league years from through active
1 San Francisco Giants NL 91 1883 1973 no
2 Detroit Tigers AL 72 1903 1974 no
Los Angeles Dodgers NL 72 1909 1980 no
4 St. Louis Cardinals NL 71 1909 1979 no
5 Boston Red Sox AL 69 1933 2001 yes
6 New York Yankees AL 56 1913 1968 no
7 Pittsburg Pirates NL 55 1899 1953 no
8 Baltimore Orioles AL 47 1955 2001 yes
9 Cincinnati Reds NL 46 1956 2001 yes
10 Cleveland Indians AL 43 1916 1958 no

rank	team	league	years	from	through	active
1	San Francisco Giants	NL	91	1883	1973	no
2	Detroit Tigers	AL	72	1903	1974	no
	Los Angeles Dodgers	NL	72	1909	1980	no
4	St. Louis Cardinals	NL	71	1909	1979	no
5	Boston Red Sox	AL	69	1933	2001	yes
6	New York Yankees	AL	56	1913	1968	no
7	Pittsburg Pirates	NL	55	1899	1953	no
8	Baltimore Orioles	AL	47	1955	2001	yes
9	Cincinnati Reds	NL	46	1956	2001	yes
10	Cleveland Indians	AL	43	1916	1958	no

Comparing this 'hypothetical' top ten with the 'real' top HoF streaks one draws the following conclusions:

The Red Sox move up from 7th to 5th and have an active streak going which may put them into second place by 2004. Note that Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra are all signed through 2001.
The Orioles crack the top ten, thanks to Cal Ripken Jr's long career. However, Ripken will retire after the 2001 season, so this streak is in danger of being broken next year.
The Reds also crack the top ten with an active streak. This one may well last much longer if Ken Griffey Jr continues to play in Cinci.

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Author:Peter Uelkes

Last modified: Mon Feb 14 17:01:32 CET 2011