A .256 lifetime batting average might look mediocre, but much of that was earned during the pitcher's era at the peak of Killebrew's career. Mike Schmidt managed a whole .011 points better after they lowered the pitcher's mound and ended the pitcher's era. Their lifetime on base percentages were .004 points different.
Sandy Koufax was exceptional at one aspect of the game only: superb pitching. He was only an average fielder and a terrible hitter. But he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame too.
I don't know what knotted that other guy's panties about Killebrew, but looking up his stats on baseball-reference.com was a real eye-opener. When you start looking at things that matter and take all offense into account - not just batting average like Bud-Selig-Is-Making-Bad-Logos Boy did, you really see Killebrew's place among the immortals. Not first string, not second string. But to be one of the hundred best hitters in a game that has been around for more than a century, that ain't too shabby.
I wonder if he was the last Senator. Old Walter Johnson-legacy Senators I mean - not the ones who became the Rangers.
BTW, Mike Schmidt was a better all-around third baseman than Killebrew, because, although both hit a ton of home runs, Schmidt could field and run better.
And who said that pitchers have to anything more than pitch superbly to get into the Hall of Fame? Of course pitchers who were also decent hitters helped themselves win more games (and still can do so, if the powers that be would let them bat, despite the designated hitter rule).
Hey, why can't baseball baseball fans have differences of opinion without the name calling?
NOBODY hit more homeruns in the 1960s.