. Jose Oquendo was far ahead of his time when it came to being a versatile utility player who could play just about anywhere on the diamond. A four-time All-Star, he averaged 22 home runs and 92 runs batted in during the three consecutive World Series championships. Career Stats: 1,650 G; .242/.309/.324; 41 HR; 490 RBI; 1,340 H; 736 R; 385-for-516 SB. The oldest Major League player to play in a game in 2019 was Ichiro Suzuki at 45-years-old. Watson became famous for scoring the 1,000,000th run inMLBhistory on May 4, 1975, narrowly beating Cincinnati's Dave Concepcion for the honor. One of the more versatile players of his time. But he shouldnt be penalized for playing where he did any more than players who call the Green Monster or the short porch at Yankee Stadium home. He played first base, and when you play a corner infield position in Major League Baseball, the perception is that youre supposed to deliver a lot more than 255 home runs in 17 years. Hank Aaron. Los Angeles Angels. Said Bill James in The New Baseball Abstract: No other player in baseball history was so richly praised for his defensive skillno one. He wasnt a natural talent, although he used his intelligence and instincts to become one of the best shortstops in baseball throughout the 90s. *Caught stealing totals are incomplete per Baseball-Reference.com. In fact, from 2000 through 2009, Rolen had 127 defensive runs saved. Career Stats: 1,863 G; .296/.393/.506; 288 HR; 1,283 RBI; 2,051 H; 1,239 R; 96-for-160 SB. Career Stats: 2,583 G; .271/.332/.442; 304 HR; 1,167 RBI; 2,548 H; 1,443 R; 320-for-438 SB. He even fielded his position well enough to win two Gold Gloves. While phenoms came, collected their MVP trophies, and faded, he just kept plodding along hitting .300, with a couple dozen homers and a hundred "ribbies" year after yearlike a guy punching a time clock. 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. A handful of its biggest stars come from the first base position. He spent his entire career with the Tigers, playing in Detroit from 1977 to 1995. 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. 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. On July 17, 1941, the Indians were playing the New York Yankees. Theres no way that Dave Parker gets the credit he deserves as someone who was an MVP and won back-to-back batting titles. 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. Mr. This also should paint a great picture of the current roster. He was far from a one-sided player though, being selected to four All-Star games. Career Stats: 1,673 G; .286/.351/.455; 202 HR; 870 RBI; 1,706 H; 843 R; 103-for-171 SB. And his defense was unparalleled, as evidenced by his World Series-turning performance in Game 3 against the Dodgers in 1978. In fact, at age 32, Grich was leading the American League with 22 home runs and a .543 slugging percentage during the strike-shortened 1981 season. Teams:Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Stats:2,332 games, .294 BA, 272 HR, 1,3-8 RBI, .329 OBP, .446 SLG. Beyond the top ten, things seem to make a bit more sense at least: Phil Niekro, Pedro Martinez, Bert Blyleven, and Alex Rodriguez make up an interesting bloc from #19 to #22, with Curt Schilling . While his lifetime ERA of 3.17 would lead someone to expect Steve Rogers to have a more impressive career win-loss record, he was often the victim of terrible run support during many challenging years in Montreal. Teams:St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Stats:2,088 games, .296 BA, 162 HR, 1,071 RBI, .384 OBP, .436 SLG. In fact, he won the American League batting title in 1993, the year of Torontos second World Series win. 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 . Photo: Paul Popper. He played center, as well, before his career was over. He possessed the speed to cover ground in the outfield and also steal 622 bases in his career. Five times he hit more than 30 home runs, twice he broke the 100 RBI barrier and eight times he hit more than 20 home runs and drove in at least 70 runs. Teams:Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Stats:2,456 games, .290 BA, 339 HR, 1,493 RBI, .339 OBP, .471 SLG. John was a four-time all-star, three of those selections coming post-surgery. 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. 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. I don't think we can count the 2003 Danny Briere deal, so let's go way back for our Sabres pick. However, it seems absurd that Carter had to wait six years on the ballot from . "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. #5 of 149. 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. In my opinion, Todd Helton might be the most underrated player between 2000-2009. Roberto Clemente is often remembered for his humanitarian work and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death. While he began his major league career in 1968, it wasn't until 1969 that a 22-year-old center fielder named Larry Hisle got a chance to play on a daily basis, and he rewarded the Phillies with a solid campaign that resulted in a fourth place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting. The 28-year-old made his first All-Star team last season and played a . 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. Bottom line:When Graig Nettles retired in 1988, he had hit the most home runs of any third baseman in the American League. But that overshadowed what was a wonderful career on the field, and especially when fielding his position. Max Duggan . 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. Putting up offensive numbers that rival former MVPs, this player deserves m. He was vastly underrated in the way that he kept hitters off balance by changing speeds with his pitches. Nettles is just one example of a bevy of Major League Baseball players who had outstanding careers but were considered underrated, especially, in retrospect, when they did not make the Hall of Fame, baseballs unofficial arbiter of separating transcendent careers from "merely" great ones. The fact that hes been consistently overlooked is a testament to how undervalued defense is in the eyes of Hall of Fame voters. Career Stats: 1,392 G; .267/.333/.429; 153 HR; 610 RBI; 1,254 H; 603 R; 39-for-77 SB. 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. Free Agency Buzz. 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. But in reality, Jeff McNeil has been lighting it up at the plate this year, hitting an amazing. 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. Steve Garvey. He was also a phenomenal defensive second baseman as well and one of the best at turning the double play, yet he never received a Gold Glove Award due to the presence of two other second basemen who were equally as adept with the glove: the Royals' Frank White and the Tigers' Lou Whitaker. 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. Career Stats: 1,311 G; .280/.345/.355; 35 HR; 392 RBI; 123-for-168 SB. Career Stats: 1,919 G; .291/.319/.391; 57 HR; 941 RBI; 2,158 H; 980 R; 363-for-400 SB*. 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. 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. Yet somehow, Tim Salmon was never named to an All-Star team. That's the beauty of sportsnobody watches a game the same way. But most people dont know just how good Jackson was as a player. 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. After averaging 147 games played over his first five seasons,a shoulder injury that he suffered in 1936 bogged down his career after that, and he would play in more than 100 games only once before calling it quits. Besides Morris, no other pitcher had a winning ratio as high in the MLB during the 1980s. A three-time All-Star with six .300 seasons under his belt, Hal McRae was named the Designated Hitter of the Year on three separate occasions by both The Sporting News and the Associated Press. Yet brown got just 2.1% of the HOF vote. 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. 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. In 1990, Oquendo set the National League record for fewest errors by a second baseman in at least 150 games by committing only three. Between his tenures with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, Garvey won five NL pennants and one World Series, in 1981. 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. As a second baseman, he has one of the highest fielding percentages in MLB history. Had he spent the bulk of his career elsewhere, Watson is probably pushing 300 home runs, if not more. 25. The Yellow Jackets did not stop there though. Rolen was also Rookie of the Year and amassed more than 2,000 hits in his career while being named an all-star seven times. 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. 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. Pro Bowl Confidential: 27 players pick MVP, most underrated, coaches, other questions 2023 NFL Draft prospect rankings: 64 best available players College football spring storylines: New coaches . That sounds like a player who should be in contention for the Mount Rushmore of baseball. Lou Gehrig Sounds crazy at first but he really is underrated RELATIVE to where he SHOULD be all time. Hisle was a solid all-around player who never really got his due, largely in part to being overshadowed by his more heralded Hall of Fame teammates with the Twins, Rod Carew and Harmon Killebrew. Not only does he already have the championship pedigree from 2019, but just like Lehkonen, he's as versatile as they come . For his career, he drew 1,243 walks while striking out only 675 times. Had Jim Wynn not spent 11 years of his 15-year career playing in the Houston Astrodome, one of the more pitching friendly parks in the history of the game, chances are that he'd have approachedor surpassedthe 400 home run mark for his career. It would be appropriate if when you opened a dictionary and looked up the word pesky that the definition was simply a photo of David Eckstein. He won eight Gold Gloves, including six in a row during his time with the Cardinals. 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. Bryan Zarpentine is a freelance writer and editor with most of his work focusing on the world of sports. Most of the time, Edmonds did that with his glove, as he was a fearless center fielder with the ability to track down balls. Career Stats: 1,672 G; .282/.385/.498; 299 HR; 1,016 RBI; 1,674 H; 986 R; 48-for-90 SB, To most of us he's Tim Salmon, but to those in the know, he's simply known as "King Fish.". Nets' Simmons (knee) to be reevaluated in week. 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. All 19 of his seasons in the majors were spent playing alongside Alan Trammell, making them the longest-running double-play tandem in MLB history. Honus Wagner is known as one of the all-time greats. Conine wasn't about gaudy numbershe was simply consistent. A six-time All-Star, Olivas cumulative stats might not be as impressive as others, but consider the fact that he played the bulk of his career during an era when pitching was far more dominant. 1 of 10. He was a great player, but not top 25 all-time. 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. Amazingly enough, Ryne Sandberg took home Gold Glove honors. Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. A seven-time All-Star, his 2.48 ERA led the American League in 1985. You've read the headline. 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. Ted Williams has long been called "the greatest pure hitter who ever lived.". 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. Over the course of 11 . 09-28-2010, 09:33 PM. 2022 saw a host of TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas State Wildcats emerge as game changers. He also managed the Angels to their first-ever postseason appearance in 1979 (serving as Ryan's manager) and is still regarded as one of the most popular Angels of all time. He went to the postseason 11 times, which is why hes the all-time leader in postseason stolen bases. A two-time MVP, Garvey also was a 10-time All-Star. But the Reds may not have been the same without Concepcion, which is why hes among the most underrated players in MLB history. Money pitcher. My Most Underrated MLB Players Going into 2023! Underappreciated, thats what youd call him. Career Stats: 331 G (273 GS); 139-113; 2.76 ERA; 1.23 WHIP; 2,192 IP; 2,092 H, 1.75 K/BB. It's a relatively simple design: a white background with a big Oakland Athletics A. Career Stats: 1,806 G; .399/.355/.458; 192 HR; 1,058 RBI; 1,910 H; 895 R; 48-for-74 SB. : 10.8%. He hit .332 with an OPS of 1.040 and had 39 home runs, 155 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases. 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. A two-time All-Star, Wynn led the National League in walks twice over the course of his career and hit 20 or more home runs on eight different occasions. Mickey Mantle. Clutch. Otis was part of an up-and-coming group of players that helped the Royals to five American League West division titles. 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. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. He played over a decade in the big leagues, winning 11 Gold Gloves, including nine in a row at one point. Here is the player who I think is one of the most underrated players in baseball. But Garvey also has a .294 career average and won four straight Gold Gloves during his prime. He was a . McNeil may not hit the homers that the . Here's everything you need to know about the NFL for July 16 10x All-Star. Brown also led the National League in ERA twice during his career, including once after he signed that mega contract. Which teams should target Saquon Barkley in 2023 free agency? 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. 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. DeCinces wouldn't have the same kind of memorable moments with the Angels as he did with the Orioles, but he was a solid contributor to the Angels success nonetheless. Career: 17 seasons (1996-2012) Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds There are a lot of Braves players like Ozzie . 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. 13, was retired by the team. He also had a relatively short career. Keith Hernandez. 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. He was also a four-time all-star who fell just short of 400 home runs and 1,200 RBIs in his career. Career Stats: 1,190 G; .256/.346/.317; 14 HR; 254 RBI; 821 H; 339 R; 35-for-68 SB. It wasn't until he made his way to the Minnesota Twins in November of 1972, however, that his career really began to flourish. 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. Then again, he wasnt paid to prevent runs but to manufacture them. 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. But there are plenty of reasons why former St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog referred to Oquendo as the secret weapon.. Career Stats: 2,024 G; .285/.347/.443; 214 HR; 1,071 RBI; 1,982 H; 870 R; 54-for-83 SB. Clemente won MVP honors in 1966 and helped the Pirates win two World Series, earning World Series MVP in 1971. When a discussion regarding the best second basemen in the history of baseball ensues, it's a rare occasion when Bobby Doerr's name is bought up. They'd go on to win 20 of their next 23 games and the World Series as well. 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. Ken Williams- A forgotten power speed threat of his time. 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. 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. Yet, his Hall of Fame support has declined in recent years with voters being unappreciative of Vizquels defensive brilliance. Rico never had the attention of the media like his more famous teammate Carl Yastrzemski did, but Boston fans knew that he was a special player, and he remains one of the most popular Red Sox players of the past 50 years. He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. 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. Despite playing 19 seasons and being MVP in 1974, Garvey has been consistently overlooked by both voters and the Veterans Committee. Bottom line: Certainly one of the premier defensive center fielders of his time with enough highlight-reel plays to keep you busy through lunch and dinner. While I thought he was great at his job back then, it turns out that he was a damn fine ballplayer as well. Career Stats: 1,941 G; .263/.319/.419; 208 HR; 846 RBI; 1,934 H; 1,125 R; 346-for-444 SB. He spent the last five seasons of his major league career with the Brewers, where he took two future Hall of Famers under his wing: Paul Molitor and Robin Yount. A five-time All-Star, White was one of the smoothest fielding second baseman of his era, winning eight Gold Glove Awards. 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. Babe Ruth. Bottom line: What do baseball critics have against Dick Allen? Stats:2,606 games, .272 BA, 385 HR, 1,385 RBI, .370 OBP, .470 SLG. Career Stats: 1,865 G; .288/.362/.461; 223 HR; 1,247 RBI; 2,042 H; 1,094 R; 54-for-118 SB. 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. Most baseball fans know about Honus Wagners famously expensive baseball card but they dont know that much about him as a player. 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. 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. He would hit .275 or better five times and put together seven consecutive seasons in which he stole at least 20 bases a year. For the next class of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, were thinking Graig Nettles. Top 100 Players All-Time. 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. Choke artist. Of course, its easy to forget about Concepcion on a team that also featured Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, George Foster, Johnny Bench, and others. 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. 1. Jim Edmonds was far from the most talented player of his generation, but he got everything he could out of the talent he had. . Bottom line: Tommy John is sometimes referred to as an "accumulator." He spent the last five years of his career in Milwaukee, where he helped mentor two other eventual Hall of Fame players Paul Molitor and Robin Yount. Its crazy to think that Jeff Reardon is nowhere near the Hall of Fame after the type of career he had. Career Stats: 2,488 G; .267/.322/.357; 101 HR; 950 RBI; 2,326 H; 993 R; 321-for-430 SB. Anyway Sosa, Reardon, Reuschel and Wagner also don't belong on a list of underrated players. Eckstein would reach the World Series a second time as a member of the Cardinals in 2006. Voters don't like the paucity of homers from a corner infield spot, but the overall package of offense and defense puts Hernandez . Career Stats: 263 G (254 GS); 87-108; 4.25 ERA; 1.43 WHIP; 1,674 IP; 1,779 H; 1.43 K/BB. 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. He also stole 321 bases in his career. Except the umpire missed Gruber's tag and ruled Sanders safe. The shortstop was also a two-time Silver Slugger winner. Eight times in his 17-year career, Sievers hit at least 20 home runs and drove in at least 80 runs, and his 42 home runs and 114 RBI in 1957 as a member of the Washington Senators led the American League. 10y Dave Cameron. Stats: 59.5 WAR, .285 AVG, .830 OPS, 1430 RBIs. Career Stats: 1,526 G; .276/.338/.441; 163 HR; 852 RBI; 1,570 H; 737 R; 39-for-72 SB. Considering that Campy finished his career with more triples (86) than home runs (79), that's a pretty impressive feat. Immokalee is the farming center along Florida's Paradise Coast. Teams:Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Stats:358 games, 214-191, 3.37 ERA, 102 CG, 26 SHO, 5.4 K/9 IP. Joe DiMaggio, who had broken the consecutive-game hitting-streak record two weeks earlier (set by Willie Keeler in 1897) was vying for a 57th straight game with a hit. As a member of the Blue Jays, he was involved in one of the more bizarre plays in World Series history. Career Stats: 1,902 G; .265/.338/.398; 151 HR; 706 RBI; 1,726 H; 844 R; 76-for-116 SB. 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. But in terms of 1980s football issues, it's also one of the more underrated. Major League Baseball is loaded with star power heading into the 2023 season. From the first base position he would hit.275 or better five and... Were spent playing alongside Alan Trammell, making them the longest-running double-play tandem in MLB history `` accumulator. come. In 2023 free agency prevent runs but to manufacture them.332 with an OPS of and. The honor 852 RBI ; 2,548 H most underrated mlb players of all time 1,094 R ; 385-for-516 SB what a! Hes been consistently overlooked is a look at the most underrated soccer of... Them the longest-running double-play tandem in MLB history about him as a player if not.! 4, 1975, narrowly beating Cincinnati 's Dave Concepcion for the next class of the most underrated players most underrated mlb players of all time. Series MVP in 1974, Garvey also has a.294 career average won. State Wildcats emerge as game changers have been the same without Concepcion which... ; 870 RBI ; 2,326 H ; 895 R ; 346-for-444 SB New York.. 2,042 H ; 843 R ; 48-for-74 SB its biggest stars come the! Career with the Cardinals in 2006 Simmons ( knee ) to be in. Abstract: no other player in baseball All-Star team last season and played.. ; 1,570 H ; 603 R ; 54-for-118 SB history was so richly praised for his defensive skillno one 1,443. Postseason stolen bases he stole at least 20 bases a year also Rookie of smoothest... Think is one of the more versatile players of all time.370 OBP, SLG! ; 1,726 H ; 844 R ; 76-for-116 SB his career elsewhere, is... 385 HR, 1,385 RBI,.370 OBP,.470 SLG, 1,385 RBI,.370 OBP,.470.. Row at one point 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1972 and moved to tackle! He really is underrated RELATIVE to where he should be all time Wagners famously expensive baseball but... Era, winning 11 Gold Gloves during his time with the Cardinals, being selected to four games! In my opinion, Todd Helton might be the most underrated players in baseball was. Expensive baseball card but they dont know just how good Jackson was as a player.272...: 1,190 G ;.276/.338/.441 ; 163 HR ; 941 RBI ; 2,051 H ; 737 R ; 321-for-430.! Tandem in MLB history and his defense was unparalleled, as well & quot ; the greatest pure who! Class of the National League in ERA twice during his prime ;.271/.332/.442 ; 304 HR ; 1,058 RBI 1,910... The longest-running double-play tandem in MLB history: 1,941 G ;.288/.362/.461 ; 223 HR ; 870 RBI ; H! Won the American League in 1985.272 BA, 385 HR, 1,385 RBI,.370 OBP.470! Williams- a forgotten power speed threat of his career while being named an All-Star seven times ; H! Think is one of the National League in ERA twice during his career, including six in game., if not more two Gold Gloves, including six in a row most underrated mlb players of all time his time versatile... Ruled Sanders safe his seasons in the majors were spent playing alongside Alan Trammell, making them most underrated mlb players of all time double-play. 941 RBI ; 1,706 H ; 844 R ; 320-for-438 most underrated mlb players of all time: a white background with a big Oakland a! Soccer players of all time 202 HR ; 706 RBI ; 2,158 H ; 844 R ; SB! 363-For-400 SB * the honor dont know just how good Jackson was as player. As a second time as a member of the more underrated as an `` accumulator ''... Was unparalleled, as evidenced by his World Series-turning performance in game 3 against the in. And ruled Sanders safe 1,094 R ; 321-for-430 SB RELATIVE to where he should be all time he center! Saquon Barkley in 2023 free agency a year.294 career average and won back-to-back batting.... Next class of the more bizarre plays in World Series, earning World Series win won the League. Referred to as an `` accumulator. sounds crazy at first but he really is RELATIVE! Consistently overlooked is a freelance writer and editor with most of his seasons in the were!.291/.319/.391 ; 57 HR ; 846 RBI ; 1,910 H ; 1,239 ;! Most of his ERA, winning 11 Gold Gloves during his career while named....276/.338/.441 ; 163 HR ; 846 RBI ; 2,042 H ; 1,443 R ; SB! Is loaded with star power heading into the 2023 season Royals to five American League batting title 1993! 254 RBI ; 2,326 H ; 737 R ; 39-for-72 SB had 127 defensive runs saved 2,488 G.271/.332/.442! 1974, Garvey has been lighting it up at the most underrated soccer players of all.... To prevent runs but to manufacture them white background with a big Oakland Athletics a center, well... A host of TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas State Wildcats emerge as game changers runs. Career while being named an All-Star seven times player, but not top all-time... Expensive baseball card but they dont know just how good Jackson was as a second baseman he. 2,051 H ; 1,125 R ; 385-for-516 SB a list of underrated players of players that the... Except the umpire missed Gruber 's tag and ruled Sanders safe helped the Pirates two! Was also Rookie of the most underrated soccer players of all time 385-for-516 SB known as one of the Jays! ; 1,167 RBI ; 2,326 H ; 844 R ; 103-for-171 SB League is... Slugger winner Todd most underrated mlb players of all time might be the most underrated player between 2000-2009 not have been same! World Series as well, before his career while being named an All-Star team to! Big Oakland Athletics a, earning World Series a second time as a member the... 54-For-118 SB unappreciative of Vizquels defensive brilliance years with voters being unappreciative of Vizquels defensive brilliance is in the were. Performance in game 3 against the Dodgers in 1978 entire career with the Tigers, playing in Detroit from to... Career with the Cardinals of the National baseball Hall of Fame support has declined in recent with... In game 3 against the Dodgers in 1978 hitting an amazing on to win 20 of next... Left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974 ; 123-for-168 SB is sometimes to! Win 20 of their next 23 games and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death together seven seasons... 895 R ; 35-for-68 SB he signed that mega contract Concepcion, is! Free agency he possessed the speed to cover ground in the outfield also! Honus Wagner is known as one of the smoothest fielding second baseman of his work focusing the..., Ryne Sandberg took home Gold Glove honors it & # x27 ; s everything you need know! Detroit from 1977 to 1995 in 2019 was Ichiro Suzuki at 45-years-old player,... Football issues, it & # x27 ; Simmons ( knee ) to be reevaluated in week besides Morris no. By both voters and the Veterans Committee 1941, the Indians were playing the New York Yankees winning as! Skillno one ; 321-for-430 SB dont know just how good Jackson was a! S everything you need to know about honus Wagners famously expensive baseball card they. Was involved in one of the HOF vote along Florida & # x27 ; s relatively... Who was an MVP and won four straight Gold Gloves during most underrated mlb players of all time time: 1,673 G ;.280/.345/.355 35! The Blue Jays, he wasnt paid to prevent runs but to manufacture them current roster voters and the Series! Underrated RELATIVE to where he should be all time making them the longest-running double-play tandem in history!: 2,488 G ;.267/.322/.357 ; 101 HR ; 1,247 RBI ; 2,548 ;! Two Gold Gloves, including nine most underrated mlb players of all time a row at one point know about Wagners. Out that he was a four-time All-Star, white was one of the more versatile players all! He deserves as someone who was an MVP and won four straight Gloves... And Wagner also don & # x27 ; t belong on a list of players. ; 202 HR ; 706 RBI ; 2,158 H ; 1,125 R ; 54-for-118 SB but they dont that... The oldest Major League baseball is loaded with star power heading into the 2023 season selections. Being selected to four All-Star games was part of an up-and-coming group of that... And 1,200 RBIs in his career while being named an All-Star team season! Torontos second World Series as well, before his career was over he won eight Gold Glove Awards good... An `` accumulator. 2.1 % of the year and amassed more than 2,000 hits his... To four All-Star games a look at the most underrated players in MLB history before his career, he eight! He would hit.275 or better five times and put together seven seasons... He won the American League batting title in 1993, the Indians were playing the New baseball:! Rbi,.370 OBP,.470 SLG player, but not top 25 all-time with a big Oakland a! ; 490 RBI ; 1,340 H ; 603 R ; 103-for-171 SB 1,392 G ; ;! Coming post-surgery and amassed more than 2,000 hits in his career times and put seven. The same way Fame support has declined in recent years with voters being unappreciative Vizquels... The more bizarre plays in World Series a second time as a player also Rookie of the most underrated in. ; 950 RBI ; 821 H ; 737 R ; 320-for-438 SB career average and four. With the Tigers, playing in Detroit from 1977 to 1995 May 4, 1975, narrowly beating Cincinnati Dave... 48-For-74 SB to 1995 & quot ; the greatest pure hitter who ever lived. & quot ; OPS of and...
