A cursory glance at Nomar Garciaparra’s lifetime statistics say his career totals fall short of Cooperstown. His 1,747 hits, 229 homers, 936 runs batted in don’t exactly scream Hall of Fame.

Those numbers don’t tell the whole story.

At his peak, Nomar was one of the greatest shortstops the game has ever known. The question of whether that peak was long enough will be debated by the Veterans Committee in years to come.

The 1997 Rookie of the Year, Garciaparra led the AL in hits (209) and triples (11) while slashing 44 doubles and swatting 30 home runs. No victim of the sophomore jinx in ’98, Garciaparra scored 111 runs, slammed 35 homers, and drove in 122. He finished second in MVP balloting.

Then he put together a two-year run for the ages.

On May 10, 1999, he became the 11th player in big league history to hit two grand slams in the same game. To the delight of the 26,660 fans at Boston’s Fenway Park, Nomar was the first to accomplish the feat at home.

By season’s end, Garciaparra was the AL’s leading hitter with a .357 average. He tallied 103 runs, 190 hits, 42 doubles, 27 homers, 104 RBI and a 1.022 OPS.

The following season he was even better, posting a career-high 7.4 WAR. He hit .372, the highest average by a right-handed hitter in the post WWII era. Nomar’s consecutive batting championships were the first by a righty since Joe DiMaggio wore the crown in 1939 and ’40.

In his first four full seasons Garciaparra was dominant, hitting .337 with a .577 slugging percentage and a 142 OPS+. During that run Nomar averaged 28 homers, 105 RBI, 110 runs scored and 339 total bases.

After a split tendon in his wrist limited him to 21 games in 2001, Nomar roared back in ’02. His 56 doubles led the American League. The shortstop hit .310, adding 24 dingers, and 120 RBI.

Nomar’s last great year came in 2003. It was his 6th campaign of at least 190 hits, 100 runs scored, 20 homers, 100 RBI, a .300 average, and 6.0 WAR. The six seasons with 6+ WAR put him in elite company. The only other men at his position to reach that peak are Honus Wagner, Cal Ripken Jr., and Alex Rodriguez.

Injuries slowed Garciaparra who never again played more than 122 games after 2003. He did enjoy a resurgence or sorts with the Dodgers in 2006. Playing first base, Nomar made the All Star team for the last time. He hit .303 with a .505 slugging percentage, 31 doubles, 20 homers, and 93 RBI.

Garciaparra played three more years before retiring at the end of the 2009 season.

Hall of Fame voters love hardware. Nomar’s trophy case is filled with a Rookie of the Year plaque, six All Star rings, a Silver Slugger Award, the two batting crowns. A stellar performer in postseason play, Nomar hit .321 with 7 homers and 24 RBI in 32 playoff games. Mix in his five top-10 MVP finishes, and it’s easy to see why many believe his peak warrants Cooperstown consideration.