9. Mark Teixeira
Teixeira, of course, is only half-way through his career, and this is stiff competition, a list of really good players. We could give him an extra game or two on the theory that his defense is actually better than the way we have evaluated it, but that wouldn’t change where he ranks on this list as of right now.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
2003
|
Rangers
|
23
|
146
|
529
|
26
|
84
|
.259
|
.480
|
.331
|
.811
|
11
|
12
|
1
|
4
|
12
|
16
|
.430
|
2004
|
Rangers
|
24
|
145
|
545
|
38
|
112
|
.281
|
.560
|
.370
|
.929
|
15
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
19
|
10
|
.653
|
2005
|
Rangers
|
25
|
162
|
644
|
43
|
144
|
.301
|
.575
|
.379
|
.954
|
21
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
25
|
9
|
.738
|
2006
|
Rangers
|
26
|
162
|
628
|
33
|
110
|
.282
|
.514
|
.371
|
.885
|
17
|
9
|
4
|
4
|
21
|
13
|
.615
|
2007
|
Rangers
|
27
|
78
|
286
|
13
|
49
|
.297
|
.524
|
.397
|
.921
|
8
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
9
|
6
|
.605
|
2007
|
Braves
|
27
|
54
|
208
|
17
|
56
|
.317
|
.515
|
.404
|
1.019
|
8
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
1
|
.938
|
2008
|
Braves
|
28
|
103
|
381
|
20
|
78
|
.283
|
.512
|
.390
|
.902
|
12
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
14
|
7
|
.681
|
2008
|
Angels
|
28
|
54
|
193
|
13
|
43
|
.358
|
.632
|
.449
|
1.081
|
9
|
-2
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
-1
|
1.078
|
2009
|
Yankees
|
29
|
156
|
609
|
39
|
122
|
.292
|
.585
|
.383
|
.968
|
21
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
24
|
7
|
.773
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
123
|
43
|
19
|
23
|
143
|
67
|
.681
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.739
|
|
.454
|
|
.681
|
|
8. Lee May
As a hitter Lee May was very comparable to Dick Stuart—a player who hit in the mid-.260s with a terrible strikeout/walk ratio, but real power. He ranks higher than Stuart because, while his abilities in the field were limited, his effort was much better than Stuart’s, and he was more consistent with the bat. He hung around a long time because he was a respected player, but from 1974 on he really wasn’t helping his team a lot.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
1965
|
Reds
|
22
|
5
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
.000
|
.000
|
.000
|
.000
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
.000
|
1966
|
Reds
|
23
|
25
|
75
|
2
|
10
|
.333
|
.507
|
.333
|
.840
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
.516
|
1967
|
Reds
|
24
|
127
|
438
|
12
|
57
|
.265
|
.422
|
.308
|
.730
|
8
|
11
|
3
|
3
|
12
|
13
|
.471
|
1968
|
Reds
|
25
|
146
|
559
|
22
|
80
|
.290
|
.469
|
.337
|
.805
|
14
|
9
|
3
|
4
|
17
|
14
|
.552
|
1969
|
Reds
|
26
|
158
|
607
|
38
|
110
|
.278
|
.529
|
.331
|
.860
|
18
|
7
|
2
|
5
|
21
|
13
|
.622
|
1970
|
Reds
|
27
|
153
|
605
|
34
|
94
|
.253
|
.484
|
.297
|
.782
|
12
|
15
|
4
|
5
|
16
|
20
|
.442
|
1971
|
Reds
|
28
|
147
|
553
|
39
|
98
|
.278
|
.532
|
.332
|
.864
|
19
|
4
|
3
|
5
|
22
|
9
|
.715
|
1972
|
Astros
|
29
|
148
|
592
|
29
|
98
|
.284
|
.490
|
.343
|
.833
|
17
|
8
|
3
|
5
|
19
|
12
|
.613
|
1973
|
Astros
|
30
|
148
|
545
|
28
|
105
|
.270
|
.479
|
.310
|
.789
|
14
|
9
|
3
|
4
|
17
|
13
|
.561
|
1974
|
Astros
|
31
|
152
|
556
|
24
|
85
|
.268
|
.444
|
.294
|
.738
|
13
|
11
|
3
|
5
|
16
|
16
|
.491
|
1975
|
Orioles
|
32
|
146
|
580
|
20
|
99
|
.262
|
.424
|
.308
|
.732
|
13
|
12
|
3
|
5
|
17
|
17
|
.504
|
1976
|
Orioles
|
33
|
148
|
530
|
25
|
109
|
.258
|
.447
|
.312
|
.759
|
15
|
8
|
2
|
4
|
17
|
12
|
.584
|
1977
|
Orioles
|
34
|
150
|
585
|
27
|
99
|
.253
|
.426
|
.296
|
.722
|
12
|
14
|
3
|
4
|
15
|
18
|
.452
|
1978
|
Orioles
|
35
|
148
|
556
|
25
|
80
|
.246
|
.414
|
.286
|
.700
|
12
|
13
|
0
|
4
|
12
|
17
|
.420
|
1979
|
Orioles
|
36
|
124
|
456
|
19
|
69
|
.254
|
.412
|
.297
|
.709
|
8
|
13
|
0
|
3
|
8
|
16
|
.332
|
1980
|
Orioles
|
37
|
78
|
222
|
7
|
31
|
.243
|
.401
|
.289
|
.690
|
4
|
7
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
8
|
.309
|
1981
|
Royals
|
38
|
26
|
55
|
0
|
8
|
.291
|
.345
|
.328
|
.673
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
.399
|
1982
|
Royals
|
39
|
42
|
91
|
3
|
12
|
.308
|
.505
|
.393
|
.898
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
.822
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
184
|
143
|
34
|
59
|
218
|
202
|
.519
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.564
|
|
.363
|
|
.519
|
|
7. Mo Vaughn
In the same way that Richie Sexson at home plate brought back powerful memories of Dave Kingman, Mo Vaughn at first base in a Red Sox uniform looked for all the world like George Scott. However, while Scott was always regarded as a glove wonder, Vaughn was awkward and mistake prone. He could hit, though. ..won an MVP Award in 1996, and actually got better (with the bat) after that. Reportedly he is now doing good work restoring and refurbishing inner-city housing.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
1991
|
Red Sox
|
23
|
74
|
219
|
4
|
32
|
.260
|
.370
|
.339
|
.709
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
.416
|
1992
|
Red Sox
|
24
|
113
|
355
|
13
|
57
|
.234
|
.400
|
.326
|
.726
|
7
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
9
|
12
|
.431
|
1993
|
Red Sox
|
25
|
152
|
539
|
29
|
101
|
.297
|
.525
|
.390
|
.915
|
16
|
6
|
3
|
4
|
19
|
10
|
.642
|
1994
|
Red Sox
|
26
|
111
|
394
|
26
|
82
|
.310
|
.576
|
.408
|
.984
|
13
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
14
|
6
|
.684
|
1995
|
Red Sox
|
27
|
140
|
550
|
39
|
126
|
.300
|
.575
|
.388
|
.963
|
18
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
21
|
9
|
.700
|
1996
|
Red Sox
|
28
|
161
|
635
|
44
|
143
|
.326
|
.583
|
.420
|
1.003
|
21
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
22
|
9
|
.717
|
1997
|
Red Sox
|
29
|
141
|
527
|
35
|
96
|
.315
|
.560
|
.420
|
.980
|
20
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
21
|
6
|
.773
|
1998
|
Red Sox
|
30
|
154
|
609
|
40
|
115
|
.337
|
.591
|
.402
|
.993
|
22
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
25
|
5
|
.819
|
1999
|
Angels
|
31
|
139
|
524
|
33
|
108
|
.281
|
.508
|
.358
|
.866
|
14
|
8
|
1
|
3
|
15
|
11
|
.586
|
2000
|
Angels
|
32
|
161
|
614
|
36
|
117
|
.272
|
.498
|
.365
|
.864
|
16
|
10
|
1
|
5
|
17
|
15
|
.522
|
2002
|
Mets
|
34
|
139
|
487
|
26
|
72
|
.259
|
.456
|
.349
|
.805
|
13
|
8
|
1
|
4
|
14
|
12
|
.531
|
2003
|
Mets
|
35
|
27
|
79
|
3
|
15
|
.190
|
.329
|
.323
|
.652
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
.286
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
164
|
65
|
17
|
41
|
181
|
106
|
.630
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.717
|
|
.290
|
|
.630
|
|
6. Steve Garvey
Working our way up the list, Garvey is the first player we come to who could be regarded as a viable Hall of Fame candidate. The standards I use are 300 Win Shares or 100 more Win Shares than Loss Shares. Garvey just misses on both tests, with 291 Win Shares and +92.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
1969
|
Dodgers
|
20
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
.333
|
.333
|
.333
|
.667
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
.521
|
1970
|
Dodgers
|
21
|
34
|
93
|
1
|
6
|
.269
|
.355
|
.310
|
.665
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
.516
|
1971
|
Dodgers
|
22
|
81
|
225
|
7
|
26
|
.227
|
.382
|
.290
|
.673
|
4
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
7
|
7
|
.516
|
1972
|
Dodgers
|
23
|
96
|
294
|
9
|
30
|
.269
|
.422
|
.312
|
.734
|
7
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
10
|
7
|
.588
|
1973
|
Dodgers
|
24
|
114
|
349
|
8
|
50
|
.304
|
.438
|
.328
|
.766
|
8
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
11
|
7
|
.590
|
1974
|
Dodgers
|
25
|
156
|
642
|
21
|
111
|
.312
|
.469
|
.342
|
.811
|
21
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
26
|
9
|
.748
|
1975
|
Dodgers
|
26
|
160
|
659
|
18
|
95
|
.319
|
.476
|
.351
|
.827
|
21
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
26
|
9
|
.750
|
1976
|
Dodgers
|
27
|
162
|
631
|
13
|
80
|
.317
|
.450
|
.363
|
.813
|
19
|
7
|
6
|
3
|
25
|
10
|
.715
|
1977
|
Dodgers
|
28
|
162
|
646
|
33
|
115
|
.297
|
.498
|
.335
|
.834
|
17
|
9
|
5
|
4
|
23
|
13
|
.638
|
1978
|
Dodgers
|
29
|
162
|
639
|
21
|
113
|
.316
|
.499
|
.353
|
.852
|
21
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
26
|
10
|
.719
|
1979
|
Dodgers
|
30
|
162
|
648
|
28
|
110
|
.315
|
.497
|
.351
|
.848
|
18
|
9
|
4
|
5
|
21
|
14
|
.597
|
1980
|
Dodgers
|
31
|
163
|
658
|
26
|
106
|
.304
|
.467
|
.341
|
.808
|
19
|
8
|
4
|
5
|
23
|
14
|
.624
|
1981
|
Dodgers
|
32
|
110
|
431
|
10
|
64
|
.283
|
.411
|
.322
|
.732
|
11
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
14
|
10
|
.572
|
1982
|
Dodgers
|
33
|
162
|
625
|
16
|
86
|
.282
|
.418
|
.301
|
.718
|
14
|
12
|
5
|
4
|
19
|
16
|
.535
|
1983
|
Padres
|
34
|
100
|
388
|
14
|
59
|
.294
|
.459
|
.344
|
.802
|
10
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
12
|
9
|
.571
|
1984
|
Padres
|
35
|
161
|
617
|
8
|
86
|
.284
|
.373
|
.307
|
.680
|
11
|
15
|
4
|
4
|
15
|
20
|
.435
|
1985
|
Padres
|
36
|
162
|
654
|
17
|
81
|
.281
|
.430
|
.318
|
.748
|
14
|
14
|
5
|
5
|
19
|
18
|
.506
|
1986
|
Padres
|
37
|
155
|
557
|
21
|
81
|
.255
|
.408
|
.284
|
.692
|
10
|
14
|
2
|
5
|
11
|
19
|
.372
|
1987
|
Padres
|
38
|
27
|
76
|
1
|
9
|
.211
|
.276
|
.231
|
.507
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
.132
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
228
|
141
|
63
|
58
|
291
|
199
|
.594
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.617
|
|
.522
|
|
.594
|
|
5. Carlos Delgado
If judged by the standards of history, Carlos Delgado appears to have done enough to make him a Hall of Fame Player. I am choosing my words carefully. The standards of history, when it comes to the Hall of Fame, are almost certainly going to have to change, due to the lag effects of expansion. As you have more players, you have more players who dominate. We have twice as many teams now as we did in the 1950s, thus twice as many dominant players. We are only just now reaching the point at which this matters. Delgado has certainly been as dominant a player as Orlando Cepeda, for example, and has had as many dominant years than Willie McCovey—even if you adjust the numbers for the offensive context. If you apply the Cepeda/McCovey/Bill Terry/Jim Bottomley standard to Delgado, Delgado certainly goes in.
But then, so would some other players, and then, too, there is the issue of steroids; Delgado’s big, big numbers were compiled in the era of big, big players. I think ultimately that doesn’t matter, but it matters for the next 25 or 30 years. I don’t expect to live long enough to see Carlos Delgado go into the Hall of Fame—but you might.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
1993
|
Blue Jays
|
21
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
.000
|
.000
|
.500
|
.500
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
.651
|
1994
|
Blue Jays
|
22
|
43
|
130
|
9
|
24
|
.215
|
.438
|
.352
|
.791
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
.420
|
1995
|
Blue Jays
|
23
|
37
|
91
|
3
|
11
|
.165
|
.297
|
.212
|
.509
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
.116
|
1996
|
Blue Jays
|
24
|
138
|
488
|
25
|
92
|
.270
|
.490
|
.353
|
.843
|
11
|
10
|
0
|
3
|
12
|
12
|
.484
|
1997
|
Blue Jays
|
25
|
153
|
519
|
30
|
91
|
.262
|
.528
|
.350
|
.878
|
15
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
17
|
11
|
.615
|
1998
|
Blue Jays
|
26
|
142
|
530
|
38
|
115
|
.292
|
.592
|
.385
|
.978
|
18
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
21
|
6
|
.773
|
1999
|
Blue Jays
|
27
|
152
|
573
|
44
|
134
|
.272
|
.571
|
.377
|
.948
|
18
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
20
|
10
|
.664
|
2000
|
Blue Jays
|
28
|
162
|
569
|
41
|
137
|
.344
|
.664
|
.470
|
1.134
|
25
|
-3
|
2
|
4
|
27
|
1
|
.968
|
2001
|
Blue Jays
|
29
|
162
|
574
|
39
|
102
|
.279
|
.540
|
.408
|
.948
|
19
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
22
|
8
|
.737
|
2002
|
Blue Jays
|
30
|
143
|
505
|
33
|
108
|
.277
|
.549
|
.406
|
.955
|
19
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
21
|
6
|
.786
|
2003
|
Blue Jays
|
31
|
161
|
570
|
42
|
145
|
.302
|
.593
|
.426
|
1.019
|
22
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
25
|
5
|
.840
|
2004
|
Blue Jays
|
32
|
128
|
458
|
32
|
99
|
.269
|
.535
|
.372
|
.907
|
13
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
16
|
9
|
.635
|
2005
|
Marlins
|
33
|
144
|
521
|
33
|
115
|
.301
|
.582
|
.399
|
.981
|
21
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
23
|
5
|
.807
|
2006
|
Mets
|
34
|
144
|
524
|
38
|
114
|
.261
|
.548
|
.361
|
.909
|
16
|
7
|
2
|
4
|
18
|
10
|
.638
|
2007
|
Mets
|
35
|
139
|
538
|
24
|
87
|
.258
|
.448
|
.333
|
.781
|
12
|
11
|
3
|
3
|
16
|
13
|
.538
|
2008
|
Mets
|
36
|
159
|
598
|
38
|
115
|
.271
|
.518
|
.353
|
.871
|
17
|
8
|
3
|
3
|
20
|
11
|
.645
|
2009
|
Mets
|
37
|
26
|
94
|
4
|
23
|
.298
|
.521
|
.393
|
.914
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
.747
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
234
|
73
|
31
|
45
|
265
|
118
|
.692
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.762
|
|
.411
|
|
.692
|
|
4. Jason Giambi
Like Delgado, a Hall of Fame player if judged by historic norms. At his prime, ten years ago, Giambi was so good that we estimate his “effective winning percentage”, as a player, at greater than 1.000. There aren’t many of those guys.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
1995
|
A's
|
24
|
54
|
176
|
6
|
25
|
.256
|
.398
|
.364
|
.761
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
4
|
.551
|
1996
|
A's
|
25
|
140
|
536
|
20
|
79
|
.291
|
.481
|
.355
|
.836
|
12
|
10
|
2
|
3
|
14
|
13
|
.515
|
1997
|
A's
|
26
|
142
|
519
|
20
|
81
|
.293
|
.495
|
.362
|
.857
|
13
|
8
|
0
|
4
|
14
|
12
|
.528
|
1998
|
A's
|
27
|
153
|
562
|
27
|
110
|
.295
|
.489
|
.384
|
.873
|
18
|
6
|
2
|
5
|
19
|
11
|
.642
|
1999
|
A's
|
28
|
158
|
575
|
33
|
123
|
.315
|
.553
|
.422
|
.975
|
21
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
23
|
6
|
.791
|
2000
|
A's
|
29
|
152
|
510
|
43
|
137
|
.333
|
.647
|
.476
|
1.123
|
26
|
-6
|
2
|
3
|
28
|
-3
|
1.098
|
2001
|
A's
|
30
|
154
|
520
|
38
|
120
|
.342
|
.660
|
.477
|
1.137
|
27
|
-7
|
4
|
3
|
31
|
-4
|
1.164
|
2002
|
Yankees
|
31
|
155
|
560
|
41
|
122
|
.314
|
.598
|
.435
|
1.034
|
24
|
-1
|
2
|
3
|
27
|
2
|
.943
|
2003
|
Yankees
|
32
|
156
|
535
|
41
|
107
|
.250
|
.527
|
.412
|
.939
|
21
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
23
|
6
|
.799
|
2004
|
Yankees
|
33
|
80
|
264
|
12
|
40
|
.208
|
.379
|
.342
|
.720
|
6
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
.437
|
2005
|
Yankees
|
34
|
139
|
417
|
32
|
87
|
.271
|
.535
|
.440
|
.975
|
17
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
18
|
3
|
.859
|
2006
|
Yankees
|
35
|
139
|
446
|
37
|
113
|
.253
|
.558
|
.413
|
.971
|
18
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
18
|
5
|
.773
|
2007
|
Yankees
|
36
|
83
|
254
|
14
|
39
|
.236
|
.433
|
.356
|
.789
|
6
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
6
|
7
|
.486
|
2008
|
Yankees
|
37
|
145
|
458
|
32
|
96
|
.247
|
.502
|
.373
|
.875
|
14
|
6
|
1
|
4
|
16
|
10
|
.617
|
2009
|
A's
|
38
|
83
|
269
|
11
|
40
|
.193
|
.364
|
.332
|
.696
|
5
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
9
|
.390
|
2009
|
Rockies
|
38
|
19
|
24
|
2
|
11
|
.292
|
.583
|
.452
|
1.035
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
.967
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
235
|
45
|
22
|
45
|
257
|
90
|
.741
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.839
|
|
.328
|
|
.741
|
|
3. Norm Cash
Norm Cash is one of those players, like Gene Tenace and Dwight Evans and Darrell Evans, who scores by modern analytical methods as a much better player than anyone ever thought he was while he was active. He had the one monster season, which cast the rest of his career into a shadow. After 1962 he became a platoon player, usually sitting out against left-handers, and Retrosheet reveals that this was not a whim; he really couldn’t hit lefties. He did so much damage against right-handers, however—and in an era when runs were scarce—that he was actually a better player than many who are in the Hall of Fame. Our new defensive measures show that his defense is like his offense: he was better than people thought he was. He was a farm boy, funny and quotable, but he was always in the shadow of players like Rocky Colavito, Roger Maris and Jackie Jensen, although in reality he may have been a better player than any of those. He was always perceived as an up-and-down player, although, from 1959 through 1973, he had only one season with an effective winning percentage under .600, and that was .594. So I guess that is what I will say, when people ask me whether Jason Giambi should be in the Hall of Fame. If Norm Cash isn’t in, Jason Giambi shouldn’t be in.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
1958
|
White Sox
|
23
|
13
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
.250
|
.250
|
.250
|
.500
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
.279
|
1959
|
White Sox
|
24
|
58
|
104
|
4
|
16
|
.240
|
.375
|
.372
|
.747
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
.609
|
1960
|
Tigers
|
25
|
121
|
353
|
18
|
63
|
.286
|
.501
|
.402
|
.903
|
13
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
15
|
3
|
.827
|
1961
|
Tigers
|
26
|
159
|
535
|
41
|
132
|
.361
|
.662
|
.487
|
1.148
|
30
|
-9
|
4
|
3
|
34
|
-6
|
1.236
|
1962
|
Tigers
|
27
|
148
|
507
|
39
|
89
|
.243
|
.513
|
.382
|
.894
|
15
|
8
|
4
|
2
|
19
|
10
|
.650
|
1963
|
Tigers
|
28
|
147
|
493
|
26
|
79
|
.270
|
.471
|
.386
|
.856
|
16
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
19
|
8
|
.717
|
1964
|
Tigers
|
29
|
144
|
479
|
23
|
83
|
.257
|
.453
|
.351
|
.804
|
15
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
18
|
9
|
.668
|
1965
|
Tigers
|
30
|
142
|
467
|
30
|
82
|
.266
|
.512
|
.371
|
.883
|
16
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
19
|
7
|
.731
|
1966
|
Tigers
|
31
|
160
|
603
|
32
|
93
|
.279
|
.478
|
.351
|
.829
|
18
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
21
|
11
|
.663
|
1967
|
Tigers
|
32
|
152
|
488
|
22
|
72
|
.242
|
.430
|
.352
|
.783
|
16
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
19
|
9
|
.678
|
1968
|
Tigers
|
33
|
127
|
411
|
25
|
63
|
.263
|
.487
|
.329
|
.816
|
13
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
16
|
7
|
.713
|
1969
|
Tigers
|
34
|
142
|
483
|
22
|
74
|
.280
|
.464
|
.368
|
.831
|
15
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
18
|
8
|
.688
|
1970
|
Tigers
|
35
|
130
|
370
|
15
|
53
|
.259
|
.441
|
.383
|
.823
|
10
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
12
|
8
|
.594
|
1971
|
Tigers
|
36
|
135
|
452
|
32
|
91
|
.283
|
.531
|
.372
|
.903
|
19
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
21
|
3
|
.856
|
1972
|
Tigers
|
37
|
137
|
440
|
22
|
61
|
.259
|
.445
|
.338
|
.783
|
12
|
7
|
4
|
2
|
16
|
9
|
.637
|
1973
|
Tigers
|
38
|
121
|
363
|
19
|
40
|
.262
|
.471
|
.357
|
.828
|
11
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
14
|
6
|
.691
|
1974
|
Tigers
|
39
|
53
|
149
|
7
|
12
|
.228
|
.416
|
.327
|
.744
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
.501
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
226
|
59
|
44
|
40
|
269
|
99
|
.732
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.793
|
|
.522
|
|
.732
|
|
2. Keith Hernandez
At the end of our study there are two players who appear to be clearly qualified for the Hall of Fame, by the standards of the past or the realistic standards of the future. Keith Hernandez was a .300 hitter (.296 career), a .400 on-base guy (.384 career), and the best defensive first baseman of his era. He didn’t last long enough to get 3,000 hits; he didn’t hit enough homers to drive in 100 runs every year, although he would usually drive in 90. It is my view that he did enough to be listed somewhere among the greatest first basemen of all time.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
1974
|
Cardinals
|
20
|
14
|
34
|
0
|
2
|
.294
|
.441
|
.415
|
.856
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
.720
|
1975
|
Cardinals
|
21
|
64
|
188
|
3
|
20
|
.250
|
.362
|
.309
|
.671
|
3
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
6
|
.431
|
1976
|
Cardinals
|
22
|
129
|
374
|
7
|
46
|
.289
|
.428
|
.376
|
.803
|
11
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
14
|
7
|
.654
|
1977
|
Cardinals
|
23
|
161
|
560
|
15
|
91
|
.291
|
.459
|
.379
|
.837
|
17
|
7
|
4
|
4
|
21
|
11
|
.659
|
1978
|
Cardinals
|
24
|
159
|
542
|
11
|
64
|
.255
|
.389
|
.351
|
.741
|
15
|
9
|
3
|
5
|
18
|
14
|
.571
|
1979
|
Cardinals
|
25
|
161
|
610
|
11
|
105
|
.344
|
.513
|
.417
|
.930
|
22
|
1
|
5
|
3
|
27
|
4
|
.862
|
1980
|
Cardinals
|
26
|
159
|
595
|
16
|
99
|
.321
|
.494
|
.408
|
.902
|
22
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
27
|
6
|
.816
|
1981
|
Cardinals
|
27
|
103
|
376
|
8
|
48
|
.306
|
.463
|
.401
|
.864
|
14
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
18
|
4
|
.832
|
1982
|
Cardinals
|
28
|
160
|
579
|
7
|
94
|
.299
|
.413
|
.397
|
.810
|
18
|
6
|
6
|
3
|
24
|
10
|
.716
|
1983
|
Cardinals
|
29
|
55
|
218
|
3
|
26
|
.284
|
.431
|
.352
|
.784
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
5
|
.618
|
|
Mets
|
29
|
95
|
320
|
9
|
37
|
.306
|
.434
|
.424
|
.858
|
12
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
14
|
4
|
.781
|
|
TOTALS
|
|
150
|
538
|
12
|
63
|
.297
|
.433
|
.396
|
.829
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1984
|
Mets
|
30
|
154
|
550
|
15
|
94
|
.311
|
.449
|
.409
|
.859
|
20
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
25
|
5
|
.821
|
1985
|
Mets
|
31
|
158
|
593
|
10
|
91
|
.309
|
.430
|
.384
|
.814
|
20
|
4
|
5
|
3
|
25
|
7
|
.778
|
1986
|
Mets
|
32
|
149
|
551
|
13
|
83
|
.310
|
.446
|
.413
|
.859
|
21
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
25
|
5
|
.845
|
1987
|
Mets
|
33
|
154
|
587
|
18
|
89
|
.290
|
.436
|
.377
|
.813
|
16
|
8
|
4
|
4
|
20
|
12
|
.626
|
1988
|
Mets
|
34
|
95
|
348
|
11
|
55
|
.276
|
.417
|
.333
|
.750
|
10
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
12
|
8
|
.622
|
1989
|
Mets
|
35
|
75
|
215
|
4
|
19
|
.233
|
.326
|
.324
|
.649
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
.422
|
1990
|
Indians
|
36
|
43
|
130
|
1
|
8
|
.200
|
.238
|
.283
|
.521
|
1
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
.266
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
234
|
71
|
56
|
49
|
289
|
120
|
.707
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.767
|
|
.534
|
|
.707
|
|
1. Fred McGriff
As Richie Sexson resembled Dave Kingman and Mo Vaughn evoked the memory of George Scott, Fred McGriff was regarded, as a young player, as the second coming of Willie McCovey. McCovey battled through years of foot problems to emerge with an MVP season. McGriff never had that MVP season, and, as the steroid era arrived, his numbers stayed the same, and he got pushed back in the line behind the guys who were hitting 47 homers and driving in 145 runs. Although he played everywhere, he never got to play in Colorado, where he could have hit 50 homers, or even in Fenway or Arizona, where his numbers might have been bigger than they were.
But while he never had the big seasons that McCovey had in ’69 and ’70, McGriff was more consistent. He outhit McCovey by 14 points; their on base and slugging percentages were essentially the same. He pulled up a little short of 500 homers, and well short of 3,000 hits, although he had a long career. But there are two standards I use: 300 Win Shares, and 100 more Win Shares than Loss Shares. If you clear both of those standards, eventually, you’re going to Cooperstown. McGriff is the only player in this group who cleared them both.
Year
|
Team
|
Age
|
G
|
AB
|
HR
|
RBI
|
AVG
|
SLG
|
OBA
|
OPS
|
B WS
|
B LS
|
F WS
|
F LS
|
T WS
|
T LS
|
Pct
|
1986
|
Blue Jays
|
22
|
3
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
.200
|
.200
|
.200
|
.400
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
.024
|
1987
|
Blue Jays
|
23
|
107
|
295
|
20
|
43
|
.247
|
.505
|
.376
|
.881
|
9
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
9
|
5
|
.645
|
1988
|
Blue Jays
|
24
|
154
|
536
|
34
|
82
|
.282
|
.552
|
.376
|
.928
|
20
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
24
|
6
|
.793
|
1989
|
Blue Jays
|
25
|
161
|
551
|
36
|
92
|
.269
|
.525
|
.399
|
.924
|
23
|
0
|
4
|
5
|
27
|
5
|
.847
|
1990
|
Blue Jays
|
26
|
153
|
557
|
35
|
88
|
.300
|
.530
|
.400
|
.930
|
22
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
26
|
3
|
.886
|
1991
|
Padres
|
27
|
153
|
528
|
31
|
106
|
.278
|
.494
|
.396
|
.890
|
19
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
23
|
7
|
.762
|
1992
|
Padres
|
28
|
152
|
531
|
35
|
104
|
.286
|
.556
|
.394
|
.950
|
20
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
23
|
7
|
.766
|
1993
|
Padres
|
29
|
83
|
302
|
18
|
46
|
.275
|
.497
|
.361
|
.858
|
9
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
9
|
8
|
.550
|
|
Braves
|
29
|
68
|
255
|
19
|
55
|
.310
|
.612
|
.392
|
1.004
|
10
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
12
|
2
|
.866
|
|
TOTALS
|
|
151
|
557
|
37
|
101
|
.291
|
.549
|
.375
|
.924
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1994
|
Braves
|
30
|
113
|
424
|
34
|
94
|
.318
|
.623
|
.389
|
1.012
|
17
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
19
|
3
|
.861
|
1995
|
Braves
|
31
|
144
|
528
|
27
|
93
|
.280
|
.489
|
.361
|
.850
|
13
|
10
|
5
|
2
|
18
|
12
|
.612
|
1996
|
Braves
|
32
|
159
|
617
|
28
|
107
|
.295
|
.494
|
.365
|
.859
|
16
|
10
|
5
|
3
|
20
|
13
|
.614
|
1997
|
Braves
|
33
|
152
|
564
|
22
|
97
|
.277
|
.441
|
.356
|
.797
|
14
|
11
|
3
|
4
|
17
|
15
|
.533
|
1998
|
Devil Rays
|
34
|
151
|
564
|
19
|
81
|
.284
|
.443
|
.371
|
.815
|
13
|
10
|
2
|
4
|
15
|
14
|
.531
|
1999
|
Devil Rays
|
35
|
144
|
529
|
32
|
104
|
.310
|
.552
|
.405
|
.957
|
17
|
4
|
1
|
4
|
18
|
8
|
.694
|
2000
|
Devil Rays
|
36
|
158
|
566
|
27
|
106
|
.277
|
.452
|
.373
|
.826
|
14
|
10
|
1
|
5
|
15
|
15
|
.510
|
2001
|
Devil Rays
|
37
|
97
|
343
|
19
|
61
|
.318
|
.536
|
.387
|
.923
|
11
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
12
|
5
|
.711
|
|
Cubs
|
37
|
49
|
170
|
12
|
41
|
.282
|
.559
|
.383
|
.942
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
3
|
.677
|
|
TOTALS
|
|
146
|
513
|
31
|
102
|
.306
|
.544
|
.386
|
.930
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2002
|
Cubs
|
38
|
146
|
523
|
30
|
103
|
.273
|
.505
|
.353
|
.858
|
15
|
7
|
1
|
4
|
16
|
11
|
.595
|
2003
|
Dodgers
|
39
|
86
|
297
|
13
|
40
|
.249
|
.428
|
.322
|
.750
|
6
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
8
|
8
|
.478
|
2004
|
Devil Rays
|
40
|
27
|
72
|
2
|
7
|
.181
|
.306
|
.272
|
.577
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
.204
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
275
|
92
|
44
|
60
|
319
|
152
|
.677
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.750
|
|
.420
|
|
.677
|
|