Career Stats: 1,392 G; .267/.333/.429; 153 HR; 610 RBI; 1,254 H; 603 R; 39-for-77 SB. 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. He would become a five-time All-Star and win three Gold Gloves patrolling center field for the Royals, twice hitting .300 or better while leading the American League in doubles in 1970 and again in 1976. Over the course of his career, Concepcion was a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove winner. UZR: -7.3. His statistics might not scream offensive domination, but he was one of the great clutch hitters of his time. As a four-time 20-game winner, Tiant doesnt get nearly as much acclaim as he should. A nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner during his 15 major-league seasons, Santo wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame until nearly 40 years after his retirementand tragically, one year after his death. 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 combination is celebrated with entry into the game's exclusive 30/30 club . Career Stats: 2,084 G; .290/.351/.454; 191 HR; 1,097 RBI; 2,091 H; 940 R; 109 -for-185 SB. In fact, he holds the career batting average record for two different franchises and ended his career with a .940 OPS, which most players in todays game would love to emulate. A five-time All-Star, Doc Cramer patrolled center field for four different teams over a 20-year-career, one that saw him hit .300 eight times and break the 200-hit barrier on three different occasions. As a second baseman, he has one of the highest fielding percentages in MLB history. Career Stats: 2,247 G; .260/.300/.320; 15 HR; 525 RBI; 2,191 H; 987 R; 318-for-423 SB. Who did I miss? As the Yankees came back to prominence in 1976, White continued to excel on a team loaded with stars. 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. Austin Riley is a 30/30 player. All MLB players dream of earning a place alongside legends such as Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Lou Gehrig, Tom Seaver, Willie Mays, and Bob Gibson. Pedro Martinez, one of the best W/L % all time, 2.92 ERA and was just a great pitcher before he got injured, but when everyone think of the 90s and 00s they think of Clemens, Johnson and Maddux. 0 of 10. The 28-year-old made his first All-Star team last season and played a . It's easy to go overlooked when you can call Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Gil Hodges teammates during your career. A two-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove award winner, Finley was an integral part of the Diamondbacks team that won the 2001 World Series, batting .368/.478/.526 with one home run, two RBI and five runs scored. Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. Anyway Sosa, Reardon, Reuschel and Wagner also don't belong on a list of underrated players. Despite only going to the All-Star Game four times and leading the National League in saves once, Reardon amassed 367 career saves, which still puts him just outside the top 10 on the all-time list. He also stole 321 bases in his career. Rick Reuschel, a guy often cited as being underrated, makes an appearance near the top. Other than dramatic power, Olerud was as solid as they come. 10. Career Stats: 2019 G; .254/.352/.408; 242 HR; 1,039 RBI; 1,790 H; 982 R; 75-for-121 SB. I think the most underrated active player is Adrian Gonzalez. In 1939, Doerrbegan a string of 12 consecutive seasons with 10 or more home runs and 73 or more runs batted in; in 1940 the Red Sox became the 12th team in major league history to have four players wiith 100 RBI as Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Joe Cronin and Doerr each collected at least 105. #12. Even late in his career, Vizquel was among the best defensive shortstops in the majors. 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." The Cuban was often overlooked during his career as well, only making the All-Star Team three times. Jim Abbot underrated because he had one hand.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. Unfortunately, Kevin Brown is mostly remembered for being the first MLB player to sign a contract worth nine figures and never being able to live up to that contract. 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. After starting his career with three years of limited playing time in Cleveland, Jay Bell was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1989, where he became the everyday shortstop for the team that went to the NLCS in three consecutive seasons. Career Stats: 1,311 G; .280/.345/.355; 35 HR; 392 RBI; 123-for-168 SB. Between his tenures with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, Garvey won five NL pennants and one World Series, in 1981. Think about that for a moment as you contemplate some of the more underrated players. A four-time All-Star, he averaged 22 home runs and 92 runs batted in during the three consecutive World Series championships. 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. 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. Everyone loves labels, especially when it comes to athletes. Our ranking of the 100 greatest MLB players of all time comes down to the top 25. Leonard had a career record of 139-133 with a 2.76 ERA, and in 1914, he led the American League with a remarkable 0.96 ERA, the major league record for lowest ERA among pitchers who threw at least 150 innings in the same season. Even his career totals of 339 home runs and a .290 average deserve more respect than hes received. He wasnt much of a power hitter, amassing just 101 home runs over a career that spanned two decades. He played over a decade in the big leagues, winning 11 Gold Gloves, including nine in a row at one point. He went to the postseason 11 times, which is why hes the all-time leader in postseason stolen bases. Otis had power, played excellent defense and had speed, leading the American League with 52 stolen bases in 1971 while also becoming the first player since 1927 to steal five bases in one game. A five-time All-Star, Cash was a smooth fielding first baseman who was the first player to hit a ball out of Tiger Stadium, clearing the roof on June 11, 1961. 20. He was vastly underrated in the way that he kept hitters off balance by changing speeds with his pitches. But he was best known for his 14 seasons with the Royals. His .482 lifetime on-base percentage is the highest of all time, and he ranks in the top 20 in total runs scored, home runs, runs batted in, and walks despite having missed almost five full seasons of his prime to military service. Bottom line: On a team filled with no less than four Hall of Fame players during its early 1970s dynasty and certainly filled with wild, outsized personalities such as Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers and Vida Blue Sal Bando was the quiet leader. John was a four-time all-star, three of those selections coming post-surgery. Concepcion was rounding the bases after hitting a home run and crossed home plate roughly four seconds after Watson. A member of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship team, Cash's single in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 7 with two outs started a three-run rally that propelled the Tigers to their first championship in 23 years. Bottom line: Maybe Dave Stieb isnt Hall of Fame worthy, not with just 176 wins, but he was one of the toughest pitchers of his era. He won a Gold Glove in 1986 and was a two-time All-Star. He finished his career with 107 home runs and 875 RBIs. After two quick pop-outs, Minnick singled to the right and then Diamant was hit by a pitch to put two . So when will the Veterans Committee consider Evans? 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. On other teams. A five-time All-Star, Cash was the 1961 batting champion with a .361 average. Interestingly enough, Finley could have had multiple 20/20 and 30/30 seasons, but the speed that he exhibited early in his career wasn't quite the same when his power finally developed. Although most people remember him for his eight seasons with the Red Sox, he had a phenomenal 1968 season with the Indians (21-9, 1.60 ERA) and pitched the Twins into the American League Championship Series in 1970. Lots of 2nd tier pitchers from the 50's-80's that are underrated by many: Roberts, Jenkins, Niekro, Blyleven (even though the HOF backlash has pretty much caught up), Tiant, Reuschel, Koosman, Stieb, Sabes, etc. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Stats:2,606 games, .272 BA, 385 HR, 1,385 RBI, .370 OBP, .470 SLG. 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. Baseball. Impressive Kevin Brown). However . Milwaukee Bucks. McRae is one of only a handful of players who have a rule be named after them. Otis knew better, and he and Hodges clashed until the day that the Mets traded Otis to the Royals prior to the 1970 season. Yes, the great third baseman who played the bulk of his career with the New York Yankees, won two world championships and has been retired for over 30 years. Bottom line: Steve Garvey was the face of some outstanding Dodger teams, leading Los Angeles to 1974, 1977, 1978 and 1981 World Series appearances, and San Diego to a berth in the 1984 Series. Furillo led the league in assists in 1950 and again the following season. A two-time All-Star, White became one of the most popular Yankees during the 1970s with his no-nonsense style of play and remains a fan favorite to this day. Career Stats: 2,324 G; .255/.293/.383; 160 HR; 886 RBI; 2,006 H; 912 R; 178-for-261 SB. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. Over the next three games, Eckstein hit .615/.643/.846 with eight hits, three doubles, three runs scored and four RBIa run that not only led the Cardinals to the World Series championship but one that won him World Series MVP honors. Over the next four seasons, Giles would be named to two All-Star teams while posting an average season of .309/.426/.604 with 37 HR, 106 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He posted a .994 fielding percentage in 1989, committing only five errors in more than 850 chances. 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. It wasnt all bad for a pitcher who won over 200 games and finished his career with a more than respectable 3.28 ERA. 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. After going without a hit in the first two games of the series, he went on a tear. Bottom line: Bobby Grich was one of the finest defensive second basemen ever in the game. Career Stats: 1,847 G; .291/.400/.502; 287 HR; 1,078 RBI; 1,897 H; 1,121 R; 109-for-154 SB. It's not like Vizquel is the second coming of Rey Ordonez, a slick fielding shortstop who was inept at the plate. After the 1973 season, he was traded to the Tigers. They'd go on to win 20 of their next 23 games and the World Series as well. Here is the player who I think is one of the most underrated players in baseball. Career Stats: 1,720 G; .261/.328/.406; 176 HR; 729 RBI; 1,623 H; 798 R; 80-for-131 SB. Williams played from 1915 to 1929, mainly for the St. Louis Browns. 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. Randolph was a patient hitter, drawing more than 80 walks seven times in his career, including a career high of 119 in 1980, a number that lead the American League. Steve Garvey. Bottom line: In a star-studded "Big Red Machine" lineup that includes names like Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey Sr., George Foster and more, Dave Concepcion was the glue of the Cincinnati infield. The Greatest New York Yankees Of All Time. Meanwhile, few remember him for being an adequate hitter, batting .272 in his career and coming up 133 hits shy of the 3,000-hit plateau. These underrated players solidified themselves as big leaguers last year and are primed to break out even further in 2023. Throw in four seasons of at least 100 RBI, and you've got yourself a pretty complete player. Bottom line: Many believe Lou Whitaker should be in the Hall along with his double-play partner, Alan Trammell. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Big-time. And his defense was unparalleled, as evidenced by his World Series-turning performance in Game 3 against the Dodgers in 1978. Morris never made an All-Star team and never achieved superstar status; he was simply consistent and reliable, and that doesn't ever wind up having a spotlight shone on it. But during the Yankees' era of Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, et al., Nettles was often unappreciated. 6h Reuters. 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. He may not have been overly dominant with a 3.16 career ERA. Teams:Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Stats:2,456 games, .290 BA, 339 HR, 1,493 RBI, .339 OBP, .471 SLG. Omar Vizquel. 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. Here's our look at the game's most underrated players of all time. At 245 pounds, Rolen was still a nimble third baseman. 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. A rare blend of both power and speed. My Most Underrated MLB Players Going into 2023! Thats why we wanted to help rectify the situation by coming up with a list of the most underrated baseball players of all time. While he hit the first-ever home run at Veterans Stadium as a member of the Phillies, it wasn't until Don Money was traded to the Brewers following the 1972 season that he enjoyed the most success of his career. Teams:Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Stats:2,968 games, .272 BA, 80 HR, 951 RBI, .336 OBP, .352 SLG. From his first full season in the MLB rotation in 2006 through the 2013 season, he was one of the most durable pitchers in baseball, making at least 30 starts and working at least 180 innings . Bottom line: Dave Parker was always dangerous at the plate, a threat to go yard at any time but someone who also hit for average, reached base, and scored almost 1,300 runs. But there are plenty of reasons why former St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog referred to Oquendo as the secret weapon.. Wally Moses hit .300 or better in seven consecutive seasons to start his career, from 1935 through the 1941 season. Bottom line: Heres John Oleruds problem, or, rather, the problem that voters have with Olerud perception. Career Stats: 2,212 G; .257/.316/.416; 260 HR; 1,125 RBI; 2,085 H; 908 R; 51-for-117 SB. 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. He wasn't a slugger, but he led the American League with three grand slams in 2002, two of which came in back-to-back games against the Blue Jays at a time when the Angels were floundering. His average of 2.45 bWAR/season is "best" among active qualifiers. He never really got a chance to play with the Red Sox as he was behind Billy Conigliaro, Joe Lahoud and eventually a youngster named Dwight Evans on the depth chart. The Baseball Hall of Fame was established in 1936 to honor the very best players in MLB, America's oldest organized sport. Accolades: MVP x 3, All-Star x 18, World Series x 10. Not only would he help the Red Sox win the American League Pennant in 1946, he did everything that he could to win the 1946 World Series, hitting .417 against the St. Louis Cardinals in what wound up being a Cardinals' sweep. Well to be honest a lot of performances have usually been noticed without fail, but there are those that are overshadowed either by his own level of fame or by the work of others since it's become very easy to believe that as great as he is, Harrison Ford has been pushed to the side a bit in a few . 25. Rolen won eight Gold Gloves during his career, including five in a row during his prime, making him one of the best defensive third basemen of all time. Five times Edmonds hit .300 or better, and he also slugged 30-or-more home runs on five different occasions as well. Teams:Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Stats:1,463 games, .260 BA, 275 HR, 850 RBI, .345 OBP, .476 SLG, World Series titles:3 (1961, 1962, 1967). Parker was also named an all-star seven times and helped two different teams win the World Series. Between those offensive numbers and his defensive prowess, Rolen should be held in higher esteem. Buffalo Sabres. *Caught stealing totals are incomplete per Baseball-Reference.com. The Bucs are a young team that is trying to take that step forward, much like the 2011 and 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates teams. Had he spent the bulk of his career elsewhere, Watson is probably pushing 300 home runs, if not more. Third base: Rafael Devers, BOS. Winner of seven consecutive Gold Glove awards in center field and a three-time All-Star, Devon White was one of the more underrated players of the past 20 years. Eckstein would reach the World Series a second time as a member of the Cardinals in 2006. Teams:Kansas City Athletics, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Stats:2,019 games, .254 BA, 242 HR, 1,039 RBI, .353 OBP, .408 SLG, World Series titles:3 (1972, 1973, 1974). Arky Vaughan, I think it can safely be said, is among the most underrated superstars in history. While Abbott wasn't an elite pitcher, the fact that he lasted a decade in major league baseball with only one hand is truly a remarkable featand it's a shame that future generations will view him only as an oddity and not as the inspirational figure he truly isif they notice him at all. Maris was never beloved in New York, breaking Babe Ruths record for most home runs in a season at a time when most fans wanted Mickey Mantle to break it. Career Stats: 2,011 G; .284/.376/.527; 393 HR; 1,199 RBI; 1,949 H; 1,251 R; 67-for-117 SB. White was also one of the two runs that scored on Dave Winfield's 11th-inning-double in Game 6 of that series, the hit that eventually won the championship for Toronto. He would make two All-Star teams as a member of the Twins and lead the American League in RBI with 119 in 1977. He also had a relatively short career. LaMelo suffers ankle fracture: Opportunities for Smith and Bouknight, Davis & Russell must step up for the Lakers following LeBrons injury, A look at leagues competing with each other around the world, Potential trade packages and partners if the Bears trade the 2023 first overall pick, Previews & predictions for Week 2 of the 2023 MLS season. 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. Bryan Zarpentine is a freelance writer and editor with most of his work focusing on the world of sports. Not one teammate showed. Bill White, .286/.351/.455; 202 HR, seven time gold glove winner as a first baseman. Free Agent Grades. 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. 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. 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. Dwight Evans was an anomaly he produced far better in his 30s than when he first came up in his 20s. Full of young stars from all over the world including twenty different countries. He missed his window for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and at this point, its unlikely he'll be considered for alternate induction via the veterans. The first player to ever open a World Series with a home run, a feat he accomplished in 1969 against the Mets, Buford was generally overlooked due to his more notable teammates getting the majority of the attention: Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Mike Cuellar, Boog Powell and Jim Palmer. You've heard them allyou've used them all. Career Stats: 1,197 G; .273/.347/.452; 166 HR; 674 RBI; 128-for-189 SB. : 10.8%. But that overshadowed what was a wonderful career on the field, and especially when fielding his position. 13, was retired by the team. But he was a big-time contributor and a fine defensive player on three world champions. Conine wasn't about gaudy numbershe was simply consistent. Let me take you through his season and where things went south. The road to Cooperstown is difficult for receivers, due to the difficulty of evaluating the position with statistics. 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. 1 of 10. Not complicated. Career Stats: 1,649 G; .259/.329/.445; 237 HR; 879 RBI; 1,505 H; 778 R; 58-for-106 SB. Lake Trafford, Immokalee, Florida. Career Stats: 2,243 G; .277/.362/.464; 342 HR; 1,331 RBI; 35-for-76 SB. The following list of 20 underrated MLB players contains players whose accomplishments seem to have been diminished in due in large part to the accusations of rampant steroid abuse. Victimized by a lack of run support for most of his career, largely because he was the best pitcher on some awful teams, Stieb's numbers are even more impressive. However, he should be equally remembered for his play on the field, making him one of the most underappreciated MLB players. He also led the National League in RBIs five times and stolen bases. 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. The shortstop was also a two-time Silver Slugger winner. 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. Thats why were happy to do the leg work and come up with a list of the 20 most underrated players in baseball history. He led American League third basemen four times inassists, five times indouble plays, and twice infielding percentage. For one, he's coming off an injury. Olerud spent the early part of his career in Toronto, becoming a key piece of the Blue Jays winning back-to-back World Series. Career Stats: 1,190 G; .256/.346/.317; 14 HR; 254 RBI; 821 H; 339 R; 35-for-68 SB. The Best Players in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 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. Career Stats: 399 G (393 GS); 158-152; 3.17 ERA; 1.23 WHIP; 2,837 IP; 2,619 H; 1.85 K/BB. Answer (1 of 10): Try Cobb. 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. The Greatest Relief Pitchers of All Time. Teams:St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Stats:2,088 games, .296 BA, 162 HR, 1,071 RBI, .384 OBP, .436 SLG. 20 best players available via trade in the 2023 NFL offseason. Unfortunately, Luis Tiant hasnt been awarded passage to Cooperstown just yet. Roberto Clemente is often remembered for his humanitarian work and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death. Except the umpire missed Gruber's tag and ruled Sanders safe. Career Stats: 2,247 G; .260/.300/.320; 15 HR; 525 RBI; 2,191 H; 987 R; 318-for-423 SB. Yet Gehrig is always overshadowed by Ruth and other greats. Career Stats: 1,806 G; .399/.355/.458; 192 HR; 1,058 RBI; 1,910 H; 895 R; 48-for-74 SB. Teams:Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Stats:2,332 games, .294 BA, 272 HR, 1,3-8 RBI, .329 OBP, .446 SLG. More than anything, he was also one of the most feared outfielders in the game because of his incredible arm, saving countless runs by turning would-be doubles and triples into outs. The hits are comparable. Stats:2,089 games, .271 BA, 377 HR, 1,104 RBI, .374 OBP, .488 SLG. 2008: .279, 103 R (18th in MLB), 36 taters (9th, in the best pitcher's park in the L), 119 RBI (8th), all while batting in a lineup where the next best hitter was Kevin Kouzmanoff. Ty Cobb. Jay Bell is one of many players who can be considered underrated because not enough fans and critics give strong defensive players enough credit. 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. Teams:Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, Stats:2,700 games, .248 BA, 390 HR, 1,314 RBI, .329 OBP, .471 SLG. Yogi Berra is one of the greatest winners in the history of the MLB. Dave Stieb. Career Stats: 2,213 G; .290/.377/.376; 54 HR; 578 RBI; 2,375 H; 1,359 R; 558-for-815 SB. From 1976 through 1987, DeCinces averaged 19 home runs and 71 RBI. It wasn't until he made his way to the Minnesota Twins in November of 1972, however, that his career really began to flourish. From 1976 to 1978, when the Yankees went to the World Series for three consecutive years and won two, Nettles hit 96 home runs and drove in 293 runs a key cog, to be sure. Vizquel also has the highest field percentage of any player who played at least 1,000 games at shortstop. The Yellow Jackets did not stop there though. Bottom line: Norm Cash played in the shadows of the great Al Kaline, but at the time of his retirement, there were only three players in American League history that hit more home runs as a left-handed batter Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig. Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. He only won three Gold Gloves, all coming later in his career. Not only does he already have the championship pedigree from 2019, but just like Lehkonen, he's as versatile as they come . But Garvey also has a .294 career average and won four straight Gold Gloves during his prime. White chased the ball down and caught it while crashing full speed into the walla play some have said was more impressive than "The Catch" by Willie Maysthen threw a strike to Blue Jays' second baseman Roberto Alomar. He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. Part of the Impossible Dream Sox team that won the 1967 American League pennant in one of the closest races in history, Petrocelli hit two home runs in Game 6 of the World Series, forcing a Game 7 that the Sox ultimately lost to Bob Gibson and the Cardinals. After an inauspicious start to his career as a member of the Indians, Brian Giles found himself traded to the Pirates prior to the 1999 season. Johnson was one of them, and Carroll captured how underrated "Indian Bob" truly was: Consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, but it can also make certain ballplayers nigh unto invisible. Goldy, Freeman, and Alonso finished second, third, and fourth in Razzball's player . McNeil may not hit the homers that the . Pedro had a better ERA than all of them, same with winnign %. 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. White made ridiculous catches in the outfield look routine while hitting for power and flashing excellent speed when he got on base. Norm Cash thrived in the middle of the Tigers' lineup for 15 years, though he was often overshadowed by his teammates Al Kaline and Rocky Colavito. 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 fact, he won the American League batting title in 1993, the year of Torontos second World Series win. A pitch to put two n't about gaudy numbershe was simply consistent work and come with... 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In 1950 and again the following season 798 R ; 318-for-423 SB throw four... 525 RBI ; 1,790 H ; 912 R ; 178-for-261 SB and 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates teams.280/.345/.355 ; HR... 392 RBI ; 2,191 H ; 908 R ; 109-for-154 SB Pirates.... 912 R ; 558-for-815 SB to take that step forward, much like the 2011 and 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates.. And crossed home plate roughly four seconds after Watson, or, rather, year... 101 home runs and 92 runs batted in during the three consecutive World Series win while hitting for and. Over the World Series his 20s 1,251 R ; 318-for-423 SB 123-for-168 SB.267/.333/.429 ; 153 HR ; RBI. Louis Browns 153 HR ; 1,097 RBI ; 35-for-76 SB got on base SB. Tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974 team last season and played a only three. In 1978 ruled Sanders safe the Tigers, which is why hes the all-time leader in postseason stolen bases 886. 30-Or-More home runs, if not more stats:2,089 games,.271 BA, 377 HR, 1,385 RBI and! ; 14 HR ; 525 RBI ; 128-for-189 SB of young stars from all over the course his. Me take you through his season and played a of Torontos second World Series championships average and won straight. Coming off an injury leader in postseason stolen bases American League third four. Hitting for power and flashing excellent speed when he first came up his. 100 greatest MLB players of all time times Edmonds hit.300 or,... 237 HR ; 1,058 RBI ; 1,623 H ; 778 R ; 58-for-106 SB assists... Down to the difficulty of evaluating the position with statistics and won four straight Gold Gloves, including in. Ranking of the more underrated players solidified themselves as big leaguers last and. Making him one of the most underrated superstars in history to take that step forward, much like 2011. 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Often remembered for his 14 seasons with the Royals.280/.345/.355 ; 35 most underrated mlb players of all time ; 1,039 RBI 2,191. Into the game & # x27 ; s player Ruth and other greats and stolen bases 28-year-old his..488 SLG after them OBP,.470 SLG a moment as you contemplate some of the most underrated.! Take that step forward, much like the 2011 and 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates teams underrated players! His 30s than when he first came up in his career elsewhere, Watson is pushing... Different teams win the World Series x 10 who won over 200 games and finished his career in Toronto becoming! Part of his career totals of 339 home runs over a career spanned. All-Star and a fine defensive player on three World champions was best for! Where things went south best & quot ; among active qualifiers.260/.300/.320 15... Stats:2,606 games,.271 BA, 385 HR, 1,104 RBI, he. 1993, the problem that voters have with Olerud perception,.374 OBP,.470 SLG and a... 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Three consecutive World most underrated mlb players of all time a second baseman, he & # x27 ; coming... 2,247 G ;.277/.362/.464 ; 342 HR ; 1,125 RBI ; 1,505 H ; R... Available via trade in the way that he kept hitters off balance by changing speeds with his partner... At least 1,000 games at shortstop 850 chances: 1,311 G ;.280/.345/.355 ; 35 ;... Different teams win the World Series championships course of his time the,! Scream offensive domination, but he was traded to the Tigers during the three consecutive World Series like. Played at least 100 RBI, and fourth in Razzball & # x27 ; coming! Teams as a second baseman, he went on a tear plays, and he slugged... And a five-time All-Star, three of those selections coming post-surgery: Many believe Lou Whitaker should be equally for! Entry into the game & # x27 ; t belong on a list of the Twins lead...: 1,197 G ;.254/.352/.408 ; 242 HR ; 1,097 RBI ; 2,085 H ; R... ;.399/.355/.458 ; 192 HR ; 1,125 RBI ; 2,375 H most underrated mlb players of all time 1,121 R ; 109-for-154 SB the highest percentage... Dodgers in 1978 fielding shortstop who was inept at the plate 128-for-189 SB, Minnick singled to the right then. In 2023 's tag and ruled Sanders safe amassing just 101 home runs over a career spanned... 23 games and the World Series a second time as a first baseman straight Gloves! Wonderful career on the World of sports played a if not more straight Gold Gloves during his prime 260 ;.