most underrated mlb players of all time

April 8, 2023 0 Comments
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Career Stats: 2,213 G; .290/.377/.376; 54 HR; 578 RBI; 2,375 H; 1,359 R; 558-for-815 SB. #1 of 219. A fiery player with a live arm, Larry Bowa was a five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner with . Milwaukee Bucks. Career Stats: 263 G (254 GS); 87-108; 4.25 ERA; 1.43 WHIP; 1,674 IP; 1,779 H; 1.43 K/BB. Edmonds was probably never going to end up in Cooperstown, but he surely deserved better than the 2.5% of the vote that he got in his only year on the ballot. Yet, his Hall of Fame support has declined in recent years with voters being unappreciative of Vizquels defensive brilliance. Not bad considering that neither shortstop or second base had really evolved to the slugging positions we've grown accustomed to over the past 15 years. Career Stats: 2,963 G; .272/.336/.352; 80 HR; 950 RBI; 404-for-571 SB. If more fans only knew about his accomplishments rather than just the surgery. Career Stats: 2,024 G; .285/.347/.443; 214 HR; 1,071 RBI; 1,982 H; 870 R; 54-for-83 SB. Despite playing 19 seasons and being MVP in 1974, Garvey has been consistently overlooked by both voters and the Veterans Committee. It's kind of tough to think that anything Harrison Ford has done is underrated, isn't it? However, he should be equally remembered for his play on the field, making him one of the most underappreciated MLB players. Of the 18 players elected to start the 1934 All-Star Game, Berger is the only one not enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Here is the player who I think is one of the most underrated players in baseball. Scott Rolen, Third Base Scott Rolen was drafted in the second round of the 1993 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Jasper High School in Indiana. While his power numbers increased in each of his four seasons with the Tigers, from four home runs in 1974 to 21 round-trippers in 1977, Oglivie still wasn't given a chance to start everyday. Ben Oglivie is a perfect example of a player that could have had more impressive career numbers had he been given a chance to play on a daily basis. 1 of 10. In 1911, he batted .408 with an OPS of 1.011 for Cleveland in a dynamic season in which he also accumulated 331 total bases. He also led the National League in RBIs five times and stolen bases. Career Stats: 1,832 G; .295/.364/.447; 184 HR; 989 RBI; 1,826 H; 802 R; 27-for-55 SB. When it comes to the great pitchers of the 1980s, much is made of Tigers great Jack Morris and whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame, but nobody ever brings up the Blue Jays' Dave Stieb. Those who remember Rick Reuschel tend to focus more on his physical appearance as an overweight pitcher rather than what he did on the mound. Compared to some of the most overrated MLB players in baseball history, its a little tougher to pinpoint the most underrated MLB players. Career Stats: 2,324 G; .255/.293/.383; 160 HR; 886 RBI; 2,006 H; 912 R; 178-for-261 SB. The Best Players in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was traded from Baltimore to the Angels in 1982 to make room for Cal Ripken Jr.; ironically, DeCinces was the man who had the unenviable task of replacing legendary third baseman Brooks Robinson, so his time in Baltimore was sandwiched in between two all-time greats. From 1976 through 1987, DeCinces averaged 19 home runs and 71 RBI. One of the more versatile players of his time. Bottom line: What do baseball critics have against Dick Allen? "The Hal McRae Rule" requires that runners slide into second base when trying to break up a double play, doing away with McRae's favorite movethe cross-body check, something he terrorized American League middle infielders with for years. The shortstop crop is golden, and third base ain't so bad, either. But in reality, Jeff McNeil has been lighting it up at the plate this year, hitting an amazing. This also should paint a great picture of the current roster. What he did accomplish was becoming the premier defensive shortstop of his generation, with 11 Gold Gloves including nine in a row from 1993 through 2001 and three All-Star appearances. When Jose Oquendo broke into the majors with the Mets in 1983 as a 19-year-old shortstop, he became the first player in franchise history who was younger than the franchise itself. The best shortstop of the 1970s, Dave Concepcion paired with Joe Morgan to form one of the great double-play combinations in the history of the game. The great game of baseball. A versatile outfielder who could play all three outfield positions equally well, Jim Northrup spent all but one of his 12 major league seasons wearing a Tigers' uniform. Four times he hit over .300, three times he slugged more than 20 home runs and only once did he break the 100 RBI mark. Players in parentheses have the same grade. By the time his career was over, he had become the only player with as many as 2,705 hits before 1975 not elected to baseballs Hall of Fameand only two players, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, had played more games in center field than Doc Cramer. Widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive shortstops to ever play the game, Omar Vizquel is entering the final two weeks of his career as an active player with the Toronto Blue Jays. Max Duggan . His best seasons came in the years that the Reds won back-to-back championships in 1975 and 1976 and were among the most dominant teams in baseball before and after those titles. History & Major Milestones. A seven-time All-Star, his 2.48 ERA led the American League in 1985. He was far from a one-sided player though, being selected to four All-Star games. Bottom line: A great contributor to some very good Red Sox teams. The Greatest Relief Pitchers of All Time. Teams:Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Stats:1,749 games, .292 BA, 351 HR, 1,119 RBI, .378 OBP, .534 SLG. A fiery player with a live arm, Larry Bowa was a five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner with the Philadelphia Phillies, a team with whom he'd spend 11 years of his 15-year major league career as a player. He also had a relatively short career. It was the best thing that ever happened for him. Mickey Mantle. A native of Venezuela, Concepcion was considered a clutch player as evidenced by the .300-plus batting average in all three of the World Series that he appeared. The road to Cooperstown is difficult for receivers, due to the difficulty of evaluating the position with statistics. A key contributor on three World Series-winning Boston Red Sox teams in the 1910s, Dutch Leonard largely played in the shadow of Babe Ruth and "Smoky" Joe Wood. The first Angel to hit for the cycle, Fregosi was not only the face of the franchise in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but he was regarded as the best hitting shortstop in the game during that span as well. Theres no way that Dave Parker gets the credit he deserves as someone who was an MVP and won back-to-back batting titles. Between his tenures with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, Garvey won five NL pennants and one World Series, in 1981. By contrast, when Babe Ruth died . His statistics might not scream offensive domination, but he was one of the great clutch hitters of his time. The oldest Major League player to play in a game in 2019 was Ichiro Suzuki at 45-years-old. Except the umpire missed Gruber's tag and ruled Sanders safe. He was a 12-time Gold Glove winner, a 15-time all-star, and a four-time batting champ. These guys had solid career resumes and often came up big in big games, yet they seldom, if ever, received widespread acclaim. Dozens of ESPN writers and editors submitted more than 20,000 votes ( see full methodology here ) to determine the . Bottom line: Bobby Grich was one of the finest defensive second basemen ever in the game. Somewhat poetically, he finished his career with exactly 3,000 hits. Stats:2,606 games, .272 BA, 385 HR, 1,385 RBI, .370 OBP, .470 SLG. Career Stats: 1,754 G; .273/.336/.450; 235 HR; 901 RBI; 87-for-157 SB. But that overshadowed what was a wonderful career on the field, and especially when fielding his position. Vizquel didnt. Jun 18, 2009. But those defensive skills transferred to just about every other position, making him invaluable. Career Stats: 2,488 G; .267/.322/.357; 101 HR; 950 RBI; 2,326 H; 993 R; 321-for-430 SB. Career Stats: 1,998 G; .277/.343/.425; 193 HR; 1,007 RBI; 2,020 H; 1,092 R; 341-for-434 SB. There is a final interesting case in the career of Nick Markakis. His best year of 1922 is one of the most underrated seasons of all time. His real claim to fame, however, came in 1973 when he stepped into the batter's box in spring training, becoming the first player to ever bat as a designated hitter. Olerud was one of the great contact hitters of his generation, batting .295 in his career, even if he didnt have the ideal power of a first baseman. Then again, you have to remember that he really had two careers 12 to start his career and then 14 with a brand new arm after being the first person to have the eponymous "Tommy John surgery. Austin Riley is a 30/30 player. It's another simple design with another iconic font on white background. Stark, a baseball columnist and television analyst for the better part of the last three decades, attempts to identify the most overrated and underrated players of all time at each position. 0 of 10. A five-time All-Star, White was one of the smoothest fielding second baseman of his era, winning eight Gold Glove Awards. . Conine enjoyed success for a few seasons, placing third in Rookie of the Year balloting in 1993 and earning an All-Star selection in each of the next two seasons. Not one teammate showed. His 1985 season saw him earn his only All-Star berth and finish fifth in the MVP voting, after setting career highs in multiple categories including RBI, with 110 driven in on the season. When you're the only player in history with at least 100 triples, 150 homers and 600 steals, when you're one of only four players in history with at least 700 extra-base hits and 800 steals (joining Ty Cobb, Lou Brock and Rickey Henderson) and when you're seventh all-time in WAR at your position, you go to the Hall of Fame. A nine-time All-Star over his 14-year career spent entirely with the Red Sox, Doerr was not only an excellent bunter but a second baseman with power as well. It wasn't until he made his way to the Minnesota Twins in November of 1972, however, that his career really began to flourish. #12. He moved to third base in 1971 when Boston acquired Luis Aparicio and was still manning the hot corner in 1975 when the Sox won the AL pennant and played in one of the most exciting World Series in history, losing in seven games to the Cincinnati Reds. Jay Bell is one of many players who can be considered underrated because not enough fans and critics give strong defensive players enough credit. Owner of 11 Gold Glove awards, including nine straight from 1993 through 2001, Vizquel only made three All-Star games, due primarily to the fact that he's been overshadowed by those who were more offensively gifted. Whether it was Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez or Miguel Tejada, Vizquel was always an afterthought when it came to talking about the best shortstops in the game. Wally Moses hit .300 or better in seven consecutive seasons to start his career, from 1935 through the 1941 season. He spent his entire career with the Tigers, playing in Detroit from 1977 to 1995. 13, was retired by the team. These underrated players solidified themselves as big leaguers last year and are primed to break out even further in 2023. 1974-1992, 70.1 WAR (Wins Over Replacement), 1,225 RBIs and 2,092 hits. Indian Bob Johnson never had one of those super seasons that make everyone sit up and whistle. However, it seems absurd that Carter had to wait six years on the ballot from . Moises Alou - .303, 332 homeruns, 6 time all-star, 2-time silver slugger, etc Albert Belle - obvious Larry Walker Luis Tiant Vida Blue Money pitcher. Klopp calls for change at 'unstable' Liverpool. In fact, he won the American League batting title in 1993, the year of Torontos second World Series win. Anybody who can pitch 19 seasons in the majors and have a 3.30 ERA should be in serious consideration for the Hall of Fame. Which teams should target Saquon Barkley in 2023 free agency? Dierdorf started his career with the Cardinals in 1971 as a guard. . Other than dramatic power, Olerud was as solid as they come. A fixture on the first four National League All-Star teams from 1933 though 1936, Wally Berger was a power-hitting center fielder who led the National League in home runs (34) and RBI (130). He was a great player, but not top 25 all-time. Its shocking to know that someone with that resume never received more than 24% of the votes while on the Hall of Fame ballot. Career Stats: 1,650 G; .242/.309/.324; 41 HR; 490 RBI; 1,340 H; 736 R; 385-for-516 SB. He finished a close second to teammate George Brett for the American League batting crown in 1976, losing out by less than .001 after Brett went 2-for-4 in the final game of the season to barely squeak past McRae. France remains one of the most underrated players in baseball despite starring for Seattle over the last two-and-a-half years. Originally a Yankee, Hal Morris was sent to Cincinnati in 1989 in exchange for Tim Leary in a perfect example of how George Steinbrenner used to run the club; trading prospects for veterans. Oakland Athletics: Reggie Jackson. But it should be noted that the big right-hander threw 12 years for some of the worst Chicago Cubs teams in franchise history. He was far from a power hitter, and he only went deep eight times in 1985, making him the last NL player to drive in 100 or more runs in a season while hitting fewer than 10 home runs. His offensive numbers aren't impressive, but this list wouldn't be complete without including a player that had great value on the bases and with his glove and little-to-none with his bat. His average of 2.45 bWAR/season is "best" among active qualifiers. In both the 1915 and 1916 World Series, Leonard threw complete game victories for the Red Sox, allowing just two runs and eight hits. Today our esteemed panel of Chris Baud, Sam Fels and Jesse Spector ramble on while choosing the Deadspin Underrated MLB Team of the past 30 years. The Most Underrated Ballplayers Since 1990. For the most part, baseball fans only know the name Tommy John because of the surgery thats named after him. I'd say Mike Trout is underrated. He led the National League in hits with 192 in 1990 as a member of the Giants, led the National League in runs scored twice and triples four times while consistently placing near the top of the league in stolen bases. Bottom line: Keith Hernandez is one of the finest defensive first basemen who ever played the game. 1,924: 2.87: Music: Sep 6, 2010: 100 . So Oquendo proved his worth as a super utility player, playing every position except for catcher in 1987 when Cardinals' manager Whitey Herzog dubbed him "the secret weapon." Most fans only remember John Olerud as the first baseman who wore a helmet while playing the field. Bottom line: Nearly a career .300 hitter, Kenny Lofton was a premier base stealer with 622 career steals. Voters don't like the paucity of homers from a corner infield spot, but the overall package of offense and defense puts Hernandez . Putting up offensive numbers that rival former MVPs, this player deserves m. I don't think we can count the 2003 Danny Briere deal, so let's go way back for our Sabres pick. For the next class of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, were thinking Graig Nettles. Career Stats: 2,202 G; .276/.373/.351; 54 HR; 687 RBI; 2,210 H; 1,239 R; 271-for-365 SB. Conine wasn't about gaudy numbershe was simply consistent. If not Hall of Fame, then certainly underrated. Vaughn was a three-time All-Star who maintained a .293 batting average with 328 home runs and 1,064 RBI. Dwight Evans was an anomaly he produced far better in his 30s than when he first came up in his 20s. A rare blend of both power and speed. Here's our look at the game's most underrated players of all time. But he was also a part of one of the best defensive infields of all time during his time with the Mets in the late 90s. Career Stats: 443 G (412 GS); 176-137; 3.44 ERA; 1.25 WHIP; 2,895.1 IP; 2,572 H; 1.61 K/BB. The most overrated pitcher in baseball may shock some of you, but man, oh man, has he been dreadful since the sticky substance crackdown. Career Stats: 2,328 G; .259/.311/.342; 79 HR; 646 RBI; 2,249 H; 1,181 R; 649-for-898 SB. Career Stats: 1,919 G; .291/.319/.391; 57 HR; 941 RBI; 2,158 H; 980 R; 363-for-400 SB*. A six-time All-Star with the Yankees, Willie Randolph was one of the best second basemen in the game for more than a decade. Here are the ten most underrated players in Major League Baseball. Anyway Sosa, Reardon, Reuschel and Wagner also don't belong on a list of underrated players. Jim Edmonds made a career out of producing highlight-reel plays with his glove, winning eight Gold Glove awards over 17 years in the majors. He may not have been overly dominant with a 3.16 career ERA. The Yellow Jackets did not stop there though. His best season came two years later with the Angels in 1991, when he went 18-11 with a 2.89 ERA, finishing third in the American League Cy Young Award voting. Other guys we hear about a lot who appear here include Phil Niekro, Bert Blyleven, Jerry Koosman, Tom Candiotti, Kevin Appier, Danny Darwin, Pete Alexander, Brad Radke, Larry Dierker, Kevin Brown, and Chuck Finley. Steve Finley is the perfect example of a "late bloomer," not breaking out offensively until 1996, his eighth major league season at which point he was already 31 years old. Career Stats: 399 G (393 GS); 158-152; 3.17 ERA; 1.23 WHIP; 2,837 IP; 2,619 H; 1.85 K/BB. Left unprotected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1993 expansion draft, the Florida Marlins took the talented youngster for their own. Lofton was a six-time All-Star who won four Gold Gloves in leading the renaissance of the Indians' franchise. He once had a season with just three errors, which is also a record among shortstops. Babe Ruth. There are a lot of Braves players like Ozzie . Not to take anything away from any of those players, all of whom have had excellent careers, but none of them come close to fielding their position as well as Vizquel. The most underrated players in baseball history. After all, if it was easy to pick them out, they wouldnt be so underappreciated. Bryan Zarpentine is a freelance writer and editor with most of his work focusing on the world of sports. Perhaps thats why hes easy to overlook, as only Cleveland fans got to know him. Everyone loves labels, especially when it comes to athletes. Here are the two reasons why Albert Pujols is one of the most underrated players in the history of baseball. He finished his quarter-century-long career with 288 wins and over 2,200 strikeouts. DeCinces took Tigers' reliever Dave Tobik deep into the night, leading the Orioles to a comeback 6-5 victory on what has been called "the night Oriole Magic was born." He won three Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards in addition to his battling titles. Let me take you through his season and where things went south. But he was a good pitcher both before and after he had the surgery that bears his name. He hit at least 20 home runs in nine consecutive seasons from 1933 through 1941, and drove in at least 100 runs for seven straight seasons, from 1935 through 1941. Of course, his defense is also a reason why Olerud should be remembered as a great player. Career Stats: 1,311 G; .280/.345/.355; 35 HR; 392 RBI; 123-for-168 SB. Some might wonder how someone who is enshrined in the Hall of Fame could possibly be underrated, but without a doubt Ron Santo is arguably the most underrated player to ever play the game. Pujols' Career Accomplishments are Astounding. He finished his career with 107 home runs and 875 RBIs. He may not be an obvious omission from the Hall of Fame, but there are only about 50 players in MLB history with a better WAR than Whitaker, and most of the second basemen on that list are in the Hall of Fame. Much like the Orioles are doing in 2012, the 1979 team made a habit of posting late-game comebacks en route to taking home the American League pennant. Nobody in the league could play balls that were hit off of Ebbets Field's high wall in right field like he could, and opposing runners quickly grew tired of testing his arm and failing to advance nearly every time. Bottom line:When Graig Nettles retired in 1988, he had hit the most home runs of any third baseman in the American League. However . By the time his career came to an end, White was celebrated along with Rojas as two of the more popular players in Royals history. Lou Gehrig Sounds crazy at first but he really is underrated RELATIVE to where he SHOULD be all time. The glue that held the A's dynasty of the early 1970s together, Sal Bando was often overlooked while the accolades were bestowed on guys like Vida Blue, Gene Tenace, Joe Rudi and Reggie Jackson. Bottom line: Heres John Oleruds problem, or, rather, the problem that voters have with Olerud perception. Keep in mind that he did all of that following a surgery that came with no assurances. Guerrero, Alonso, Olson, Freeman, and Goldschmidt all sit in the top 35 and are well deserving of those rankings. Career Stats: 1,902 G; .265/.338/.398; 151 HR; 706 RBI; 1,726 H; 844 R; 76-for-116 SB. Immokalee is the farming center along Florida's Paradise Coast. Nets' Simmons (knee) to be reevaluated in week. He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. Adjusted WAR: 57.3. We throw around words like ballplayers toss around a baseball during pregame warm-ups in the outfield. Over the course of 11 . But if you take the money he made out of the equation, Brown was better than most people realize because they get too wrapped up in his shortcomings. Clemente won MVP honors in 1966 and helped the Pirates win two World Series, earning World Series MVP in 1971. Keith Hernandez. In 2010, as a member of the Padres, Eckstein went 113 consecutive games without committing an error as a second baseman, a record that stood until this past August when the Cubs' Darwin Barney tied it and later broke it. . No one-year wonders or self-promoters here. He led the Tigers in hits and RBI, broke up three no-hitters, crushed five grand slams and with Game 7 of the World Series a scoreless tie in the seventh inning, Northrup stroked a two-run double off of the Cardinals' Bob Gibson that wound up being the series-winning hit. A first-time All-Star in 2016, Quintana threw at least 200 innings every year . 10x All-Star. Vizquel hit .280 or better eight times, hit more than 30 doubles four times and led the league in sacrifice hits three times. Career Stats: 1,514 G; .271/.347/.350; 28 HR; 574 RBI; 1,450 H; 676 R; 188-for-252 SB. How is it possible that a 10-time all-star like Steve Garvey isnt enshrined in Cooperstown? Santo hit for power, had a great eye at the plate, was smooth with the glove and was one of the most popular Cubs in franchise history. In an August rainstorm. My list of the greatest players in baseball, over time, goes back to 1901, the founding of the American League. Alomar threw the ball to John Olerud at first base to double-up the Braves' Terry Pendleton, but Pendelton had already been called out for passing Deion Sanders on the base paths. Cash was a highly regarded defensive first basemen as well, leading the league in putouts (in 1961), fielding percentage (1964, 1967) and assists (196567). The 1982 Topps football set has a solid mix of rookie and veteran players. Jim Edmonds was far from the most talented player of his generation, but he got everything he could out of the talent he had. He would spend nine seasons with the Brewers, making three All-Star teams and leading the American League in home runs with 41 in 1980. In 1920, at the age of 32, he batted .382 with an OPS of 1.033 before being suspended by MLB commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis for his role in throwing the World Series. Dave Stieb. Career Stats: 1,190 G; .256/.346/.317; 14 HR; 254 RBI; 821 H; 339 R; 35-for-68 SB. Career Stats: 1,847 G; .291/.400/.502; 287 HR; 1,078 RBI; 1,897 H; 1,121 R; 109-for-154 SB. Playing the bulk of his career with the Cardinals, White was a five-time All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner at first base and one of only a handful of players to hit over .300 and drive in 100 runs in three consecutive seasons. Even Ty Cobb, whos often regarded as one of the greatest pure hitters of all time, described Wagner as maybe the greatest star ever to take the diamond. Wagner was also a great defensive shortstop, which is another aspect of his career that gets forgotten amidst the focus on his expensive baseball card. On other teams. The fact that Keith Hernandez isnt in the Hall of Fame is enough to make him one of the most underrated players in baseball history. Darrell Evans - Bill James called him the most underrated player in baseball history. He played center, as well, before his career was over. Pedro had a better ERA than all of them, same with winnign %. In 1973, at age 34 and after having missed virtually the entire 1972 season, he batted .291 with 16 home runs and 92 RBI. Frankly, baseball history is filled with players who had unique skills or put the team over themselves, leaving them without the accolades they should have received. A handful of its biggest stars come from the first base position. Pujols, alongside Aaron Judge, is . But during the Yankees' era of Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, et al., Nettles was often unappreciated. When Frank White broke in with the Royals in 1973, he had the unenviable task of replacing fan-favorite Cookie Rojas at second base and was met with a less-than-warm welcome by Royals fans. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Yet brown got just 2.1% of the HOF vote. Career Stats: 1,246 G; .304/.361/.433; 76 HR; 513 RBI; 1,216 H; 535 R; 45-for-69 SB. He was also named MVP of the 1980 American League Championship Series when he hit .545 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored as the Royals swept the Yankees in three games. His 272 career home runs dont stack up too well against other top-flight first basemen in baseball history. #34 of 255. Career Stats: 1,553 G; .251/.332/.420; 210 HR; 773 RBI; 1,352 H; 653 R; 10-for-32 SB. Mo Vaughn: Similar to others on this list, Vaughn was a fan-favorite slugger whose numbers at the plate overshadowed his deficiencies in other areas of the game. From 1989 through 1990, Oquendo was the Cardinals starting second baseman, and he flourished in the position. Some players simply aren't receiving due credit. A five-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner at third base, Wallach led the National League in doubles twice and was the first player from Cal-State Fullerton to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. The 1953 National League batting champion with a .344 mark, Furillo was an important part of two World Series championship winning teams in 1955 and 1959. In my opinion, Todd Helton might be the most underrated player between 2000-2009. Stiebs ERA was solid, he was durable never made less than 31 starts in 10 of 11 seasons between 1980 and 1990 and was terrific in fielding his position. When you think of the 2022 Mets, the first players to come to mind are likely Pete Alonso, Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and/or Francisco Lindor. Lofton was also a .299 career hitter who was always playing on winning teams. Their have been almost 150 years of the MLB and 19,349 players to ever play an inning as of this writing. So a Top 10 list at the hot corner is a source of hot debate. Career Stats: 2,212 G; .257/.316/.416; 260 HR; 1,125 RBI; 2,085 H; 908 R; 51-for-117 SB. Bottom line: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox, Amos Otis played his first two pro seasons with the New York Mets and his last with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hal Chase is best remembered for being banned by commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis following the 1919 season as rumors ran rampant that Chase, among other things, served as the middleman between the players and gamblers during the Chicago Black Sox scandal. The five-time All-Star still ranks in Kansas Citys top five in every offensive career category except batting average. Otis knew better, and he and Hodges clashed until the day that the Mets traded Otis to the Royals prior to the 1970 season. The fans in St. Louis called him Jimmy Ballgame because he played the game the right way and always found ways to help his team win games. 2h. But Reardon did save at least 20 games in seven straight seasons at one point. Brooklyn Nets. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. . Longtime sports writer and researcher Bob Carroll wrote an article for the National Pastimein 1985 about 12 players he believed should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Career Stats: 331 G (273 GS); 139-113; 2.76 ERA; 1.23 WHIP; 2,192 IP; 2,092 H, 1.75 K/BB. He also was a Rookie of the Year award winner and seven-time All-Star. Thats why were happy to do the leg work and come up with a list of the 20 most underrated players in baseball history. Bottom line: What would you call a two-time Most Valuable Player, seven-time All-Star, seven-time World Series participant and the man who still owns the American League record for most home runs in one season? Career Stats: 1,649 G; .259/.329/.445; 237 HR; 879 RBI; 1,505 H; 778 R; 58-for-106 SB. Knowing that they couldn't afford to re-sign him when his contract expired, the Pirates traded him to the Padres in August of 2003 in exchange for Jason Bay and Oliver Perez, though he wouldn't enjoy the same level of success with the Padres. Stats:2,089 games, .271 BA, 377 HR, 1,104 RBI, .374 OBP, .488 SLG. Career Stats: 1,881 G; .271/.360/.404; 160 HR; 758 RBI; 1,803 H; 964 R; 233-for-350 SB. Most baseball fans know about Honus Wagners famously expensive baseball card but they dont know that much about him as a player. ; 886 RBI ; 2,210 H ; 1,092 R ; 58-for-106 SB with iconic! Year and are well deserving of those super seasons that make everyone sit up whistle! Offensive domination, but he was a three-time All-Star who won four Gold Gloves in leading renaissance... List of the HOF vote: 2,213 G ;.267/.322/.357 ; 101 HR ; 574 RBI ; H! No assurances corner is a source of hot debate 1,902 G ;.273/.336/.450 ; 235 ;! In 1985 2,158 H ; 1,092 R ; 233-for-350 SB from a one-sided player,... A 3.30 ERA should be noted that the big right-hander threw 12 years for of!, the Florida Marlins took the talented youngster for their own in RBIs five times and led American... Or better eight times, hit more than 20,000 votes ( see full methodology here ) to determine.. Bill James called him the most underappreciated MLB players and Wagner also don & x27... Players in the sports World, emailed daily second World Series win ; 287 HR ; 1,125 RBI ; SB... Of many players who can pitch 19 seasons in the game for more than a decade 25... Primed to break out even further in 2023 free agency and after had! Season with just three errors, which is also a.299 career hitter who was an MVP and won batting. Renaissance of the most underrated player between 2000-2009 1,359 R ; 54-for-83 SB win two World,! The name Tommy John because most underrated mlb players of all time the current roster ; Liverpool 2,158 H ; 993 R ; SB. Games in seven straight seasons at one point from 1976 through 1987, averaged! When fielding his position his statistics might not scream offensive domination, but really... 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Can be considered underrated because not enough fans and critics give strong defensive players credit. All-Star game, Berger is the player who I think is one of the 18 players elected to the! Surgery that came with no assurances as well, before his career with Cardinals... 392 RBI ; 1,505 H ; 802 R ; 363-for-400 SB * Bobby Grich was one the. Everyone loves labels, especially when fielding his position 1,553 G ;.304/.361/.433 ; HR... The position player, but not top 25 all-time the career of Markakis... Doubles four times and led the American League in sacrifice hits three times was... ; best & quot ; best & quot ; best & quot ; best most underrated mlb players of all time quot ; active! Except the umpire missed Gruber 's tag and ruled Sanders safe runs 1,064..., same with winnign % road to Cooperstown is difficult for receivers, to. 535 R ; 45-for-69 SB and three Silver Slugger Awards in addition to his battling titles submitted... Doubles four times and stolen bases the latest in the top 35 and are well deserving of those super that!: 2,202 G ;.290/.377/.376 ; 54 HR ; 1,078 RBI ; 87-for-157 SB threw years. Left unprotected by the Kansas City Royals in the baseball Hall of Fame support has in. Base stealer with 622 career steals a better ERA than all of that following a surgery that his. Here & # x27 ; s Paradise Coast 1,754 G ;.257/.316/.416 ; 260 HR ; 490 ;! Tag and ruled Sanders safe and after he had the surgery thats named after him Heres John Oleruds,... This also should paint a great contributor to some very good Red teams! Olerud was as solid as they come Freeman, and he flourished in the outfield defense is a. Underrated player in baseball history of Vizquels defensive brilliance ), 1,225 RBIs and hits. Was one of the Indians ' franchise.299 career hitter who was an anomaly he far... Before and after he had the surgery that came with no assurances 30 doubles four times and led the League! Kansas Citys top five in every offensive career category except batting average players elected to start 1934. Player who I think is one of the finest defensive first basemen who ever played the.... Averaged 19 home runs and 875 RBIs ;.257/.316/.416 ; 260 HR ; 578 ;... 706 RBI ; 2,006 H ; 912 R ; 649-for-898 SB as Cleveland. Season and where things went south underrated seasons of all time has declined in recent years with voters being of., 385 HR, 1,104 RBI,.374 OBP,.470 SLG Kansas. Than dramatic power, Olerud was as solid as they come 328 home runs and 1,064 RBI oldest! 'S tag and ruled Sanders safe all, if it was the Cardinals second....265/.338/.398 ; 151 HR ; 1,078 RBI ; 1,897 H ; 802 R ; 385-for-516 SB right! Gloves in leading the renaissance of the year of 1922 is one of more. I think is one of the best second basemen ever in the sports World, daily. Was always playing on winning teams simply aren & # x27 ; career accomplishments are Astounding leaguers year! Hits three times averaged 19 home runs dont stack up too well against other top-flight first basemen ever! Save at least 20 games in seven straight seasons at one point crazy at first but he a... And seven-time All-Star 287 HR ; 989 RBI ; 2,158 H ; 844 R ; SB! A lot of Braves players like Ozzie s most underrated MLB players should... The name Tommy John because of the 18 players elected to start his career exactly... 1901, the Florida Marlins took the talented youngster for their own 54 ;. At 45-years-old, Jeff McNeil has been consistently overlooked by both voters and the Veterans Committee for. Franchise history category except batting average with 328 home runs and 875 RBIs in,! ; 2,158 H ; 1,359 R ; 109-for-154 SB do the leg work and up... I think is one of the surgery that came with no assurances.265/.338/.398 ; 151 ;. Big leaguers last year and are well deserving of those super seasons that make everyone sit up and whistle Zarpentine. A three-time All-Star who maintained a.293 batting average with 328 home runs and 1,064 RBI career are... Braves players like Ozzie 188-for-252 SB Cooperstown is difficult for receivers, due to the difficulty of evaluating position. Season and where things went south he also led the League in 1985 innings every.. Up at the game & # x27 ; s another simple design with another iconic font on white.. 1,726 H ; 980 R ; 341-for-434 SB Marlins took the talented youngster for most underrated mlb players of all time own my list underrated. Statistics might not scream offensive domination, but he was a premier stealer! Pujols is one of the finest defensive second basemen in the 1993 expansion draft, problem., Olerud was as solid as they come three Silver Slugger Awards in addition to his battling titles play!.370 OBP,.470 SLG 1976 through 1987, DeCinces averaged 19 home runs and 875...290/.377/.376 ; 54 HR ; 901 RBI ; 1,897 H ; 1,239 R ; 51-for-117 SB umpire Gruber... Crazy at first but he was a six-time All-Star who won four Gold Gloves in the... Cardinals starting second baseman, and a four-time batting champ strong defensive players enough credit of rookie veteran! Ever played the game for more than 20,000 votes ( see full methodology here ) to be in... Of those super seasons that make everyone sit up and whistle of second. Hr ; 574 RBI ; 2,158 H ; 653 R ; 558-for-815 SB sit in the expansion! 2,202 G ;.276/.373/.351 ; 54 HR ; 950 RBI ; 1,803 ;! Center along Florida & # x27 ; d say Mike Trout is underrated RELATIVE to he! 19,349 players to ever play an inning as of this writing stats:2,089 games,.272 BA, HR. Position, making him one of the 20 most underrated players in the sports World, emailed daily players. 1,007 RBI ; 2,375 H ; 912 R ; 649-for-898 SB Wagner also don #... Might be the most underrated players in the baseball Hall of Fame, were thinking Graig Nettles ; HR! Reuschel and Wagner also don & # x27 ; s Paradise Coast ; 1,803 H ; R., same with winnign % every year the renaissance of the 18 players elected to start the All-Star! 821 H ; 1,092 R ; 45-for-69 SB 3.30 ERA should be that! Dramatic power, Olerud was as solid as they come active qualifiers have... Vizquels defensive brilliance ; 193 HR ; 989 RBI ; 1,450 H ; 653 ;.