October 3, 2010
|
Brooks Robinson (1) against
|
Today’s Winner
|
|
|
Chipper Jones (2) against
|
Buddy Bell (1)
|
Today
|
Chipper Jones 88, Buddy Bell 69
Buddy Bell’s Gold Glove defense prevented Sunday night’s contest from degenerating into a complete rout. Bell took the “Fielding” category 24 to 5, but lost the rest of the game by the embarrassing score of 83 to 45.
|
|
Jones
|
Bell
|
|
Power
|
21
|
6
|
|
Speed
|
7
|
4
|
|
Hitting For Average
|
16
|
12
|
|
Plate Discipline
|
15
|
7
|
|
Career Length
|
11
|
12
|
|
Defense
|
5
|
24
|
|
Awards
|
3
|
3
|
|
Team Success
|
10
|
1
|
|
Total
|
88
|
69
|
Buddy Bell, to those of us who remember him well, seemed entirely too bland to be thought of as a great player. He was. . .nice. He was a nice player. He hit for a good average. He had some power. He actually walked more than he struck out. There used to be players who did that. He was an extremely good defensive third baseman, with a strong arm that enabled him to play deep and cover the cone.
But then there was the losing, and then there was the speed. Among all the good players in this tournament, Bell played for by far the worst teams. In an 18-year-career playing for 20 teams, he played for one team having a really good year, and two teams that slightly exceeded expectations. Joe Bfstplk played for more good teams than Buddy Bell. The one team with which he had a good year was the 1985 Cincinnati Reds, and he joined the team in mid-July.
He had the worst stolen base percentage ever for a player with 100 or more attempts. It’s hard to see this as a great player, a slow guy who played for bad teams his whole career and didn’t do anything really well except play third. I’m not saying that he was a great player, but when you count the positives and the negatives there are more of the former than the latter. I have two standards of a Hall of Fame player: 300 Win Shares, and 100 more Win Shares than Loss Shares. Buddy Bell is the first player we have encountered in this tournament who meets both of those standards.
|
YEAR
|
Team
|
Age
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
BW
|
BL
|
FW
|
FL
|
Won
|
Lost
|
WPct
|
Value
|
|
1972
|
Cle
|
20
|
9
|
36
|
.255
|
.363
|
.310
|
.672
|
10
|
10
|
5
|
2
|
14
|
12
|
.552
|
16
|
|
1973
|
Cle
|
21
|
14
|
59
|
.268
|
.393
|
.325
|
.718
|
12
|
15
|
5
|
3
|
17
|
17
|
.499
|
17
|
|
1974
|
Cle
|
22
|
7
|
46
|
.262
|
.352
|
.322
|
.674
|
8
|
10
|
5
|
2
|
13
|
12
|
.509
|
13
|
|
1975
|
Cle
|
23
|
10
|
59
|
.271
|
.376
|
.332
|
.708
|
12
|
12
|
4
|
3
|
16
|
15
|
.525
|
17
|
|
1976
|
Cle
|
24
|
7
|
60
|
.281
|
.366
|
.329
|
.695
|
14
|
12
|
7
|
2
|
21
|
14
|
.596
|
24
|
|
1977
|
Cle
|
25
|
11
|
64
|
.292
|
.426
|
.351
|
.777
|
12
|
9
|
5
|
2
|
16
|
11
|
.607
|
19
|
|
1978
|
Cle
|
26
|
6
|
62
|
.282
|
.392
|
.328
|
.720
|
13
|
12
|
6
|
2
|
19
|
13
|
.583
|
21
|
|
1979
|
Tex
|
27
|
18
|
101
|
.299
|
.451
|
.327
|
.778
|
16
|
13
|
8
|
1
|
24
|
13
|
.642
|
29
|
|
1980
|
Tex
|
28
|
17
|
83
|
.329
|
.498
|
.379
|
.877
|
15
|
4
|
6
|
1
|
21
|
5
|
.822
|
29
|
|
1981
|
Tex
|
29
|
10
|
64
|
.294
|
.428
|
.364
|
.792
|
13
|
2
|
6
|
0
|
19
|
2
|
.914
|
27
|
|
1982
|
Tex
|
30
|
13
|
67
|
.296
|
.426
|
.376
|
.803
|
17
|
5
|
7
|
1
|
24
|
6
|
.791
|
32
|
|
1983
|
Tex
|
31
|
14
|
66
|
.277
|
.411
|
.332
|
.743
|
13
|
13
|
7
|
2
|
20
|
15
|
.576
|
23
|
|
1984
|
Tex
|
32
|
11
|
83
|
.315
|
.458
|
.382
|
.840
|
17
|
6
|
6
|
1
|
23
|
7
|
.779
|
31
|
|
1985
|
Tex
|
33
|
4
|
32
|
.236
|
.335
|
.308
|
.643
|
4
|
11
|
3
|
1
|
7
|
11
|
.398
|
5
|
|
1985
|
Cin
|
33
|
6
|
36
|
.219
|
.368
|
.311
|
.679
|
4
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
10
|
.358
|
3
|
|
1986
|
Cin
|
34
|
20
|
75
|
.278
|
.445
|
.362
|
.807
|
15
|
9
|
5
|
3
|
20
|
12
|
.622
|
24
|
|
1987
|
Cin
|
35
|
17
|
70
|
.284
|
.425
|
.369
|
.794
|
13
|
9
|
3
|
3
|
16
|
12
|
.574
|
18
|
|
1988
|
Cin
|
36
|
0
|
3
|
.185
|
.185
|
.270
|
.455
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
.165
|
0
|
|
1988
|
Hou
|
36
|
7
|
37
|
.253
|
.375
|
.301
|
.677
|
6
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
8
|
.439
|
6
|
|
1989
|
Tex
|
37
|
0
|
3
|
.183
|
.232
|
.247
|
.479
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
.090
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
201
|
1106
|
.279
|
.406
|
.341
|
.747
|
214
|
170
|
89
|
31
|
303
|
202
|
.601
|
354
|
As we have completed the tournament now except for the top two players, we are ready to put the players in order 1 through 66. . .actually 3 through 66, but whatev’.
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
BW
|
BL
|
W Pct
|
|
FW
|
FL
|
W Pct
|
|
Won
|
Lost
|
W Pct.
|
WS V
|
|
3
|
Graig
|
Nettles
|
225
|
170
|
.569
|
|
97
|
31
|
.757
|
|
322
|
201
|
.615
|
382
|
|
4
|
Ron
|
Santo
|
224
|
123
|
.646
|
|
75
|
38
|
.661
|
|
299
|
161
|
.650
|
368
|
|
5
|
Buddy
|
Bell
|
214
|
170
|
.556
|
|
89
|
31
|
.742
|
|
303
|
202
|
.601
|
354
|
Players of this caliber, historically, have almost always been selected to the Hall of Fame. Second group:
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
BW
|
BL
|
W Pct
|
|
FW
|
FL
|
W Pct
|
|
Won
|
Lost
|
W Pct.
|
WS V
|
|
6
|
Scott
|
Rolen
|
200
|
85
|
.701
|
|
60
|
13
|
.817
|
|
260
|
99
|
.725
|
346
|
|
7
|
Ron
|
Cey
|
204
|
106
|
.658
|
|
70
|
35
|
.664
|
|
274
|
142
|
.659
|
340
|
|
8
|
Jimmy
|
Collins
|
160
|
120
|
.570
|
|
103
|
23
|
.818
|
|
263
|
143
|
.647
|
322
|
|
9
|
Sal
|
Bando
|
209
|
101
|
.673
|
|
55
|
47
|
.539
|
|
263
|
148
|
.640
|
321
|
|
10
|
Bob
|
Elliott
|
205
|
92
|
.690
|
|
63
|
53
|
.543
|
|
268
|
145
|
.649
|
319
|
|
11
|
Ken
|
Boyer
|
189
|
124
|
.603
|
|
66
|
31
|
.681
|
|
255
|
155
|
.621
|
304
|
Players of this caliber, historically, are presumptive Hall of Famers at most positions. I don’t have exact data, but I am quite confident that, at most positions, the clear majority of players with career Win Value of 300 to 350 are in the Hall of Fame.
Since only one of the 9 players listed above is in the Hall of Fame (Collins), this implicitly argues that there are 8 more who should be or could be. Many of you will be uncomfortable with this argument. That’s fine; I’m not actually arguing that these 8 players should all be in the Hall of Fame. The only one I’m actually arguing for is Santo.
However, I will observe that if all 8 of these players were selected to the Hall of Fame, this would merely bring the number of third basemen in the Hall up to level with some other positions.
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
BW
|
BL
|
W Pct
|
|
FW
|
FL
|
W Pct
|
|
Won
|
Lost
|
W Pct.
|
WS V
|
|
12
|
Toby
|
Harrah
|
204
|
119
|
.631
|
|
50
|
55
|
.478
|
|
254
|
174
|
.593
|
294
|
|
13
|
Tim
|
Wallach
|
173
|
177
|
.495
|
|
79
|
30
|
.724
|
|
252
|
207
|
.549
|
274
|
|
14
|
Gary
|
Gaetti
|
174
|
223
|
.439
|
|
79
|
31
|
.720
|
|
253
|
254
|
.499
|
253
|
|
15
|
Carney
|
Lansford
|
183
|
123
|
.598
|
|
41
|
48
|
.460
|
|
224
|
171
|
.566
|
250
|
Players in this range are presumptively NOT Hall of Famers. However, there are many, many players in this range who have been selected to the Hall of Fame. There are at least 20 players in the Hall of Fame who were no better than Carney Lansford.
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
BW
|
BL
|
W Pct
|
|
FW
|
FL
|
W Pct
|
|
Won
|
Lost
|
W Pct.
|
WS V
|
|
16
|
Matt
|
Williams
|
165
|
135
|
.549
|
|
55
|
26
|
.675
|
|
220
|
162
|
.576
|
249
|
|
17
|
Billy
|
Nash
|
127
|
115
|
.526
|
|
86
|
30
|
.739
|
|
213
|
145
|
.595
|
247
|
|
18
|
Harry
|
Steinfeldt
|
138
|
124
|
.525
|
|
82
|
39
|
.677
|
|
219
|
163
|
.573
|
247
|
|
19
|
Harlond
|
Clift
|
145
|
95
|
.604
|
|
54
|
34
|
.614
|
|
199
|
129
|
.606
|
234
|
|
20
|
Heinie
|
Zimmerman
|
143
|
83
|
.633
|
|
54
|
44
|
.548
|
|
196
|
127
|
.608
|
231
|
|
21
|
Ken
|
Keltner
|
138
|
105
|
.567
|
|
59
|
30
|
.664
|
|
197
|
135
|
.593
|
227
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
Doug
|
DeCinces
|
145
|
111
|
.566
|
|
53
|
29
|
.642
|
|
198
|
141
|
.584
|
226
|
|
23
|
Todd
|
Zeile
|
173
|
158
|
.524
|
|
46
|
46
|
.501
|
|
219
|
205
|
.517
|
226
|
|
24
|
Jimmy
|
Dykes
|
143
|
141
|
.502
|
|
69
|
43
|
.618
|
|
212
|
184
|
.535
|
226
|
|
25
|
Willie
|
Kamm
|
127
|
133
|
.488
|
|
76
|
34
|
.690
|
|
202
|
167
|
.548
|
220
|
|
26
|
Adrian
|
Beltre
|
157
|
134
|
.540
|
|
43
|
30
|
.587
|
|
201
|
164
|
.550
|
219
|
|
27
|
Willie
|
Jones
|
137
|
120
|
.533
|
|
54
|
33
|
.618
|
|
190
|
153
|
.554
|
216*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
Bill
|
Bradley
|
128
|
111
|
.536
|
|
69
|
41
|
.632
|
|
198
|
152
|
.566
|
215*
|
|
29
|
Don
|
Money
|
147
|
124
|
.543
|
|
46
|
39
|
.543
|
|
193
|
163
|
.543
|
209
|
|
30
|
Troy
|
Glaus
|
144
|
93
|
.607
|
|
33
|
28
|
.533
|
|
176
|
122
|
.592
|
204
|
|
31
|
Mike
|
Lowell
|
138
|
111
|
.553
|
|
42
|
22
|
.659
|
|
180
|
133
|
.575
|
203
|
|
32
|
Freddy
|
Lindstrom
|
134
|
98
|
.577
|
|
48
|
44
|
.520
|
|
182
|
142
|
.561
|
202
|
|
33
|
Kevin
|
Seitzer
|
137
|
86
|
.615
|
|
35
|
29
|
.550
|
|
172
|
115
|
.601
|
201
|
*Subjectively adjusted.
In this range of value there is a strong presumption against the Hall of Fame. Nonetheless, quite a few players from this range of value have slipped into the Hall while people who know what they’re talking about weren’t watching.
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
BW
|
BL
|
W Pct
|
|
FW
|
FL
|
W Pct
|
|
Won
|
Lost
|
W Pct.
|
WS V
|
|
34
|
Howard
|
Johnson
|
140
|
77
|
.645
|
|
27
|
40
|
.402
|
|
167
|
117
|
.588
|
192
|
|
35
|
Edgardo
|
Alfonzo
|
135
|
92
|
.595
|
|
33
|
27
|
.547
|
|
168
|
119
|
.585
|
192
|
|
36
|
Aramis
|
Ramirez
|
138
|
101
|
.577
|
|
30
|
28
|
.517
|
|
168
|
129
|
.565
|
187
|
|
37
|
Travis
|
Fryman
|
142
|
137
|
.510
|
|
39
|
32
|
.552
|
|
181
|
168
|
.518
|
187
|
|
38
|
Larry
|
Parrish
|
149
|
145
|
.508
|
|
34
|
48
|
.416
|
|
184
|
193
|
.487
|
179
|
|
39
|
Ray
|
Boone
|
119
|
77
|
.607
|
|
33
|
30
|
.524
|
|
153
|
108
|
.587
|
175
|
|
40
|
Doug
|
Rader
|
118
|
110
|
.517
|
|
45
|
29
|
.609
|
|
162
|
139
|
.539
|
174
|
|
41
|
Jeff
|
Cirillo
|
119
|
111
|
.518
|
|
39
|
17
|
.701
|
|
158
|
127
|
.554
|
173
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
Clete
|
Boyer
|
103
|
153
|
.402
|
|
66
|
15
|
.812
|
|
169
|
169
|
.501
|
170
|
|
43
|
Melvin
|
Mora
|
125
|
100
|
.555
|
|
29
|
24
|
.546
|
|
154
|
124
|
.553
|
169
|
|
44
|
Ken
|
McMullen
|
118
|
106
|
.526
|
|
39
|
29
|
.568
|
|
157
|
136
|
.536
|
167
|
|
45
|
Jerry
|
Denny
|
95
|
110
|
.461
|
|
62
|
38
|
.621
|
|
156
|
149
|
.511
|
160
|
|
46
|
Vinny
|
Castilla
|
120
|
176
|
.406
|
|
48
|
26
|
.643
|
|
168
|
202
|
.453
|
150
|
|
47
|
Hubie
|
Brooks
|
121
|
136
|
.471
|
|
37
|
41
|
.473
|
|
158
|
177
|
.471
|
148
|
|
48
|
Pinky
|
Whitney
|
106
|
136
|
.440
|
|
47
|
44
|
.519
|
|
154
|
180
|
.461
|
141
|
|
49
|
Phil
|
Nevin
|
109
|
70
|
.611
|
|
15
|
26
|
.372
|
|
124
|
95
|
.566
|
139
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
Bill
|
Melton
|
99
|
75
|
.569
|
|
28
|
27
|
.508
|
|
127
|
102
|
.555
|
139
|
|
51
|
Don
|
Hoak
|
91
|
99
|
.480
|
|
41
|
21
|
.664
|
|
132
|
119
|
.525
|
138
|
|
52
|
Joe
|
Randa
|
108
|
122
|
.470
|
|
32
|
25
|
.561
|
|
140
|
147
|
.488
|
137
|
|
53
|
Frank
|
Malzone
|
98
|
135
|
.420
|
|
44
|
24
|
.645
|
|
142
|
159
|
.471
|
133
|
|
54
|
Ray
|
Knight
|
100
|
111
|
.473
|
|
34
|
32
|
.517
|
|
134
|
143
|
.484
|
129
|
|
55
|
Brook
|
Jacoby
|
97
|
98
|
.498
|
|
30
|
30
|
.500
|
|
127
|
128
|
.498
|
127
|
|
56
|
David
|
Bell
|
88
|
125
|
.414
|
|
37
|
17
|
.683
|
|
126
|
143
|
.469
|
117
|
|
57
|
Charlie
|
Hayes
|
96
|
133
|
.419
|
|
35
|
26
|
.573
|
|
131
|
159
|
.452
|
117
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58
|
Dean
|
Palmer
|
109
|
106
|
.508
|
|
16
|
37
|
.308
|
|
125
|
142
|
.468
|
117
|
|
59
|
Steve
|
Buechele
|
83
|
107
|
.435
|
|
36
|
19
|
.655
|
|
118
|
126
|
.484
|
115
|
|
60
|
Jim
|
Davenport
|
86
|
111
|
.437
|
|
35
|
26
|
.579
|
|
121
|
136
|
.471
|
114
|
|
61
|
Tony
|
Batista
|
85
|
115
|
.425
|
|
30
|
18
|
.632
|
|
115
|
133
|
.465
|
107
|
|
62
|
Luis
|
Salazar
|
75
|
103
|
.421
|
|
28
|
26
|
.514
|
|
103
|
130
|
.442
|
89
|
|
63
|
Bob
|
Aspromonte
|
77
|
115
|
.402
|
|
31
|
32
|
.495
|
|
108
|
146
|
.425
|
89
|
|
64
|
Tom
|
Brookens
|
65
|
110
|
.371
|
|
34
|
19
|
.642
|
|
99
|
129
|
.434
|
83
|
|
65
|
Ed
|
Sprague
|
75
|
106
|
.413
|
|
22
|
23
|
.484
|
|
96
|
129
|
.427
|
80
|
|
66
|
Ken
|
Reitz
|
70
|
138
|
.337
|
|
39
|
32
|
.549
|
|
110
|
171
|
.392
|
79
|
Below 200, players should not be thought of as Hall of Fame candidates.