Kenny Lofton
| Birthdate | 5/31/1967 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1991 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Astros, Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Indians, Phillies, Pirates, Rangers, White Sox, Yankees |
| Position | Center Field |
Six-time All Star and four-time Gold Glover Kenny Lofton has a higher WAR (68.3) than 97 position players already inducted into Cooperstown.
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Kenny Lofton was a guard for Arizona's 1988 Final Four team before becoming a big league baseball player
Kenny Lofton was a guard for Arizona's 1988 Final Four team before becoming a big league baseball player
Before Kenny Lofton was a professional baseball player, he was a collegiate basketball player for Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at the University of Arizona. A guard for the Wildcats’ 1988 Final Four squad, Lofton joined the school’s baseball team in his junior year.
Showing promise on the diamond because of his athleticism, Lofton was drafted in the 17th round by the Astros. He played minor-league baseball during the summer then completed his final year of basketball with the Wildcats, earning his degree in Studio Production.
Lofton made his big league debut in 1991 with 20 games for Houston. In the off season the Astros shipped him to Cleveland.
It was with the Indians that Lofton blossomed, leading the league in stolen bases in his first five full seasons. In his 10 years with the Tribe, Lofton made six All Star teams and earned four Gold Gloves. With Lofton in the lineup, Cleveland won 6 divisional titles.
Over the course of his 17-year Major League career, Lofton appeared in the playoffs 11 times. He holds the MLB record for stolen bases in the post season. In 2010 he was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame.
Though he finished with a 68.3 career WAR – higher than 97 Hall of Fame position players – the writers relegated him to one-and-done on the ballot, affording him a mere 3.2% of the vote in 2013. His lifetime WAR of 68.4 ranks ahead of fellow center fielders Duke Snider (66), Andre Dawson (64.8), Richie Ashburn (64.4), Billy Hamilton (63.3), Max Carey (54.5), Earl Averill (51.1), and Kirby Puckett (51.1).
Many see Lofton as a strong Veterans Committee candidate. As the baseball community continues to more accurately measure the success of a player’s career, Kenny Lofton may someday gain a plaque in Cooperstown.
In the collection is this contract with Topps Chewing Gum signed by Lofton on February 25, 2005.
He should be in the hall even the catch I was great the hand s backwards
He was on Sports Center a lot. Among centerfielders, only nine players rate ahead of him in WAR and JAWS. Seven are in the Hall and the other two are Mike Trout, a gimme, and Carlos Beltran who might have to wait an extra year. Then it’s Lofton. He deserves a plaque on the wall.