Former Miami Dade College star Plácido Polanco was nominated to the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2019 class, and his college coach, Steve Hertz, believes it is a well-deserved honor. “This guy has Hall of Fame numbers,” said Hertz, who is retired from MDC. “Talk to his (Major League) managers such as Tony LaRussa and Jim Leyland and ask them if he isn’t a Hall of Famer.”
You can also ask Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, who recently wrote about why he voted for Polanco for the Hall of Fame. The MDC alumnus:
- Is the only player in major league history to win Gold Glove awards at multiple positions. He won the Gold Glove – given to the league’s best fielder at each position – in 2007 and 2009 at second base, and in 2011 at third base.
- Is the only player in major league history to hold the lifetime fielding percentage at two different positions – second base (.993) and third base (.983).
- Holds the major league records for 186 consecutive games at second base without an error, and for 911 consecutive fielding chances at second base without committing an error.
- Offensively, has a career batting average of .297 with more than 2,000 hits and 1,000 runs scored.
- In 2007, won the Silver Slugger award as the best-hitting second baseman in the league. He hit a career-best .341 that season, finishing third in the American League batting race.
- Was a two-time All-Star (2007 and 2011).
- In 2006, was named the Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series after hitting .529 (9-for-17). “I never thought I would be nominated for the Hall of Fame,” said Polanco, 43, now retired and living in Miami. “But I really worked hard in my career, and hard work pays off.”