Chase Utley Emerges as the Best Shot for Hall of Fame’s Overlooked Second Baseman
Baseball’s Hall of Fame faces a rare test for second basemen, with Utley and Pedroia emerging as the strongest candidates on this year’s ballot, while Kendrick and Murphy appear unlikely to gain traction. Since 1962, writers have inducted only five second basemen, underscoring the position’s historical challenge. Utley’s peak era and lifetime 64.6 WAR, plus Pedroia’s MVP-caliber resume (51.8 WAR), anchor their cases, though neither matches the trophy hauls of past inductees. JAWS ranks Utley 12th and Pedroia 20th at the position; Kendrick and Murphy sit outside the top 50. Current voting trackers show Utley around 69% support and Pedroia about 26%, with Kendrick and Murphy far behind. If the pattern holds, Utley currently has the best chance to become the next second baseman enshrined—a milestone for the position’s Hall of Fame narrative.
