Tony Pérez Marquee Hall of Fame 2000

He came out of Camagüey, Cuba, and gave Cincinnati thirteen seasons before it traded him. From 1967 through 1977 he never drove in fewer than 90 runs, and 1970 was the peak: 40 home runs, 129 runs batted in, 107 runs scored. He finished with 2,732 hits, 379 home runs and 1,652 runs batted in.

He played 1,776 games at first base and 761 at third, moving whenever the club needed the other corner covered. The Reds won pennants in 1970, 1972, 1975 and 1976 and the World Series in the last two. Only Johnny Bench has driven in more runs for the franchise.

Montreal, Boston and Philadelphia had him next, and the 1983 Phillies won a pennant with him at 41. He returned to Cincinnati in 1984 and finished there at 44. Election took nine ballots, from 215 votes of 430 in 1992 to 385 of 499 in 2000, for a hitter who never once led the National League in home runs or runs batted in.