A Call to the Hall: Support Dwight Evans for The National Baseball Hall of Fame

This petition calls for Jeff Idelson, President of The National Baseball Hall of Fame and the BBWAA Historical Overview Committee, to please select Dwight Evans as 1 of 12 finalists for the Expansion Era Ballot scheduled for the fall of 2016.

Dwight Evans is the only player in history to win eight Gold Gloves in his career, while also leading his league (American) for a decade (80s) in home runs (256) and all of Major League Baseball in runs created (1067) and extra base hits (605).

During his 20-year major league career (’72-’91), no other player reached base more than Dwight Evans (3890). In that time period, ONLY Reggie Jackson hit more home runs in the American League.

When Evans retired in 1991 (pre-PED era), he ranked in the Top 10 as an American League right-handed hitter in HR (385, 4th), extra base hits (941, 4th), base on balls (1391, 4th), times on base (3890, 4th), runs created (1612, 4th), total bases (4230, 6th), runs produced (2469, 7th) and RBI (1384, 9th).

From the inception of the American League in 1901, until Evans retired in 1991, Dwight Evans ranks with Hall of Fame legends Jimmie Foxx, Al Kaline and Harmon Killebrew, as the four best right–handed hitters in league history.

Among all hitters, Dwight Evans finished 20th All-Time in base on balls, 27th in extra base hits, 29th in HR, 29th in times on base, 33rd in runs created, 40th in total bases, 47th in RBI, 55th in runs produced and 78th in base hits.

Selected to the ’80s All-Decade Team, Dwight Evans finished as a three-time All Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, won eight Gold Gloves in 10 seasons, (including five straight ’81-’85), and was selected by the MLB Network as having one of the nine greatest outfield arms.

Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski said it best: “Dewey was a great offensive player and one of the greatest right fielders to play the game; there’s no doubt in my mind that he belongs in the Hall of Fame.”

Dwight Evans played in the shadow of Hall of Fame teammates Jim Rice, Carl Yastrzemski and Wade Boggs. Despite being considered the greatest right fielder of his era, Evans still went underrated, and his offensive skills were often overshadowed by his own defensive exploits.

Bill James wrote, “Dwight Evans is also one of the most underrated players in baseball history, because he did many things well, rather than having one central skill that people could use to explain his excellence.”

Dwight Evans led all of Major League Baseball during the ’80s in runs created (1067), ahead of HOFers Ricky Henderson, Eddie Murray, Robin Yount and Mike Schmidt. He was first in extra base hits (605) ahead of Yount, Murray, Schmidt and Brett. He hit more HR (256) than any other American League player, and was the only player to hit 20 or more HR in nine consecutive seasons (’81-89).

Since the turn of the century, all the players listed below, who led their respective decade in extra base hits, have been inducted in Cooperstown, aside from Dwight Evans.

Extra Base Hit Leaders by Decade

1900s – Honus Wagner
1910s – Tris Speaker
1920s – Babe Ruth
1930s – Jimmie Foxx
1940s – Stan Musial
1950s – Stan Musial
1960s – Hank Aaron
1970s – Reggie Jackson
1980s – Dwight Evans

Dwight Evans led all of Major League Baseball right fielders during the ’80s in HR, RBI, walks, runs, runs created, extra base hits, times on base, runs produced, OPS and doubles, as well as four top 10 finishes in the MVP voting.

Dwight Evans also led all major league outfielders during the ‘80s in runs produced, extra base hits, OPS, and runs created, ahead of HOF’ers Henderson, Winfield and Dawson.

Compared to the Average Hall of Fame hitter, Evans averages higher in runs, hits, doubles, HR, RBI, base on balls, slugging and OPS.

Among the top 10 most games played in right field, Dwight Evans ties for highest fielding percentage at .987, ranks 2nd All-Time in Gold Gloves with eight, 3rd All-Time in putouts, 6th All-Time in games played and 10th All-Time in assists.

From 1970-1989, no right fielder in MLB won more Gold Gloves than Dwight Evans.

Evans was clutch in the post-season as well. In 14 World Series games (two series, ‘75, ‘86) Evans hit .300, 15 hits, three HR, 14 RBI, seven walks, seven runs, .397 OBP, .580 SLG, .977 OPS and 29 total bases.

"I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame, and that's just the offense, and then you got the eight Gold Gloves. I think he belongs in there, I truly do." - Former Red Sox Hitting Coach, Walt Hriniak.

SOURCES: Baseball-reference, Baseballcube, Whatever Happened to The Hall of Fame, by Bill James, Red Sox Magazine, First Edition 2010. 2012 NESN - Dwight Evans Biography

We, the undersigned, feel that Dwight Evans should be recognized for his Major League Baseball accomplishments and selected as 1 of 12 finalists for the Expansion Era ballot scheduled for the fall of 2016.

Sincerely,
The Fans of Dwight "Dewey" Evans