ROCKY COLAVITO’S 10 YEAR TRIPLE CROWN OF POWER - ONLY ONE OTHER MAJOR LEAGUER IN HISTORY HAS ACHIEVED THIS SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT

Over a ten-year period (1957–1966) of his 13-year career, no player in the American League had more home runs, extra-base hits, or runs batted in than Rocky Colavito. Not Mantle or Killebrew! No one!

No one in MLB history has achieved this feat other than the Great Lou Gehrig. This shows amazing consistency that only Rocky and one other Major Leaguer in history has achieved. We believe this in itself is enough reason to enshrine Rocky, but below there are many other reasons to enshrine Rocky for you to consider.

His career was only 13 years and for 10 years he was the premier slugger in the American League. How can anyone doubt Rocky’s entry into the HOF.

Please sign and add any comments (comments optional) on this petition at the right ➡️

Many other reasons are listed below on why Rocky should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame….

ROCKY’S 13-YEAR CAREER AT A GLANCE

1. Rookie Excellence: Rocky finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 1956, despite having only 322 at-bats (hitting 21 HRs).

2. Major League Leader: Over a five-year period (1958–1962), no one in the Major Leagues hit more home runs than Rocky Colavito. Not Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew, Ernie Banks, or Eddie Mathews. All are Hall of Famers, yet Rocky is not—despite out-slugging them all. During this five year period Rocky was also 2nd in RBIs and 3rd ln XBHs .

3. The American League King: Over the ten-year period of 1957–1966, no one in the American League had more Home Runs, Runs Batted In, or Extra-Base Hits than Rocky Colavito. This is Rocky’s Triple Crown Of Power. Rocky Colavito and the great Lou Gehrig are the only players in Major League history to achieve the ten year Triple Crown of Power.

4. The Decade Leaderboard (1957–1966): Rocky’s dominance over Hall of Fame legends during this 10-year prime is undeniable:

• Home Runs: Colavito (337), Killebrew (327), Mantle (323).

• Runs Batted In: Colavito (1020), Killebrew (832), Mantle (825).

• Extra Base Hits: Colavito (603), Mantle (528), Killebrew (495).

5. In 1959 he tied Hall of Fame member Killebrew as the HR king (42). In 1958 he hit one less HR than the great Mickey Mantle (41).

6. In 1965 he led the American League in Runs Batted In.

7. The Elite "45/140/.400" Club: Rocky is one of only 23 players in MLB history to record a season with 45+ HRs, 140+ RBIs, and an OBP over .400. Out of these players, almost every single one is either in the Hall of Fame or has stats that would be there if not for other controversial (drugs-steroids-gambling etc) reasons.

8. Four HR Game: Rocky hit four consecutive home runs in a single game on June 10, 1959—a feat rarer than pitching a perfect game.

9. Historical Standing: When Rocky retired in 1968, his 374 home runs ranked 15th on the all-time list. Every other player in the top 20 at that time is currently in the Hall of Fame.

10. Consistency: Rocky finished in the Top 10 for AL home runs in 9 of his 13 seasons (69%) and in the Top 5 seven times.

11. American League Power Ranking: At the end of his 13 year career, he ranked third in total AL home runs and first in total RBIs.

12. Advanced Metrics: Rocky’s career OPS+ of 132 exceeds the average of current Hall of Fame outfielders (128).

13. MVP Candidate: He finished in the Top 5 in MVP voting three separate times.

14. Total Bases: He led the AL twice in Total Bases and surpassed 300 Total Bases four times in his career.

15. All-Star Status: Rocky was a 6-time All-Star, selected to 9 All-Star games.

16. WAR Rating: His average WAR using the "WAR 5/7 method" is 5.7, a "Superstar" level rating for HOF candidates.

17. Fielding Perfection: In 1965, he became the first outfielder in AL history to play a perfect season (1.000 fielding percentage).

18. Defensive Leader: He led the league in putouts five times, range factor four times, and assists twice.

19. The "Cannon" Arm: Rocky recorded 123 career assists from the outfield and was widely considered the most feared arm of his generation.

20. Fan Popularity: Rocky was one of the most beloved players in the history of the game; his trade from Cleveland in 1960 is still cited as one of the most impactful moves in sports history.

21. Attendance Driver: In a single year, Rocky’s popularity was credited with increasing the Cleveland Indians' attendance by over 800,000 fans.

22. Ambassador of the Game: Rocky lived a life of immense integrity and sportsmanship, serving as a pillar of the baseball community for over 50 years after his retirement.

We believe Rocky’s career results, as stated above, are more than necessary to enshrine Rocky into Baseball’s Hall Of Fame.

A LEGENDARY LEGACY

Rocky Colavito passed away on December 10, 2024, at the age of 91. He remains a household name in Ohio and Michigan—a Detroit and Cleveland legend. "The Rock" was loved by all, and his career totals speak for themselves. We believe that upon closer examination, the Classic ERA Committee will agree that Rocky Colavito’s rightful place is in Cooperstown. The Classic Era Committee now has the opportunity to right a historical oversight."

Thank you,

The Rocky Colavito Fan Base

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Formal Proposal Letter for the Induction of Rocky Colavito

To: The Historical Overview Committee & The National Baseball Hall of Fame

Subject: Candidacy of Rocky Colavito for the 2028 Classic Baseball Era Ballot

Executive Summary

Following the passing of Rocky Colavito on December 10, 2024, there has been a significant resurgence in the appreciation of his impact on Major League Baseball. As the premier American League slugger of the 1950s and 60s, Colavito’s statistical profile—specifically his decade-long dominance from 1957–1966—aligns with the highest standards of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Only Lou Gehrig and Rocky Colavito in the history of baseball have achieved this feat. The 10 year Triple Crown of Power. We, the undersigned fans and historians, formally request his inclusion on the next Classic Baseball Era ballot.

The Case for Induction

1. A Decade of Unrivaled Dominance and power

Over the ten-season span of 1957 to 1966, Rocky Colavito led the entire American League in:

• Total Home Runs (337)

• Total RBIs (1020)

• Total Extra-Base Hits (603)

During this decade, he outperformed first-ballot Hall of Famers like Mickey Mantle and Harmon Killebrew in these core categories. A player who leads his league in the primary power metrics for a full decade is, by definition, a Hall of Famer. Only Rocky Colavito and the great Lou Gehrig in baseball history have achieved the 10 year Triple Crown of Power title of baseball.

2. Historical Standing at Retirement

When Rocky retired in 1968, his 374 career home runs ranked 15th on the all-time list. At that time, every eligible player in the top 20 was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame. With the 2022 induction of Gil Hodges, Colavito remains the only eligible player from that elite list still waiting for enshrinement.

3. Defensive Excellence & Innovation

Colavito was not a one-dimensional slugger. He possessed arguably the most feared outfield arm of his generation, leading the AL in assists three times. In 1965, he became the first outfielder in American League history to play a complete 162-game season with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

4. The "Efficiency" Metric

His career 132 OPS+ (adjusted on-base plus slugging) is superior to the average Hall of Fame outfielder and matches or exceeds the career marks of icons like Tony Oliva (131) and Andre Dawson (119).

Conclusion

Rocky Colavito was more than a statistical giant; he was a cultural icon whose trade from Cleveland in 1960 is still cited as one of the most impactful transactions in baseball history. We ask the Committee to recognize that his absence from Cooperstown is a historical oversight that should be corrected.

Respectfully submitted,

The Rocky Colavito Fan Base

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If you wish to contact the Historical Committee yourself

NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
ATTN: The Historical Overview Committee
25 Main Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326

Email address: registrar@baseballhall.org.

TOLL FREE # 888-425-5633
LOCAL # 607-547-7200