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On top of that, he was a great leader throughout his career, especially on the two teams that he helped lead to a World Series title. In 1978, he finished third in the AL MVP voting behind the Yankees' Ron Guidry and the eventual winner, Boston's Jim Rice. Third base: Rafael Devers, BOS. Not only does he already have the championship pedigree from 2019, but just like Lehkonen, he's as versatile as they come . 2009: .269, 44 R (21st), 22 HR (2nd), 43 RBI (25th), again . He was far from a one-sided player though, being selected to four All-Star games. In the span of 12 years, he won eight batting titles, including a stretch of four in a row from 1906 to 1909. 2h. Career Stats: 2,212 G; .257/.316/.416; 260 HR; 1,125 RBI; 2,085 H; 908 R; 51-for-117 SB. : 10.8%. 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. Teams:Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Stats:443 games, 176-137, 3.44 ERA, 103 CG, 30 SHO, 5 K/9 IP. Even his career totals of 339 home runs and a .290 average deserve more respect than hes received. 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. An MVP, Parker was a seven-time All-Star and two-time World Series champ. Here are some of the most underrated players in baseball history. Stats:2,606 games, .272 BA, 385 HR, 1,385 RBI, .370 OBP, .470 SLG. At minimum, Lofton should have bee a borderline Hall of Famer, although he was off the ballot after just two seasons, which is a disgrace for a six-time all-star, four-time Gold Glove winner, and a player who led the American League in stolen bases in five straight seasons. Four times he hit over .300, three times he slugged more than 20 home runs and only once did he break the 100 RBI mark. . Lake Trafford, Immokalee, Florida. Most baseball fans know about Honus Wagners famously expensive baseball card but they dont know that much about him as a player. As the Yankees came back to prominence in 1976, White continued to excel on a team loaded with stars. This also should paint a great picture of the current roster. Goldy, Freeman, and Alonso finished second, third, and fourth in Razzball's player . A first-time All-Star in 2016, Quintana threw at least 200 innings every year . I think the most underrated active player is Adrian Gonzalez. My Most Underrated MLB Players Going into 2023! That is, he got to an impressive number of wins by hanging around for 26 seasons. He won a Gold Glove in 1986 and was a two-time All-Star. But Garvey also has a .294 career average and won four straight Gold Gloves during his prime. Career Stats: 263 G (254 GS); 87-108; 4.25 ERA; 1.43 WHIP; 1,674 IP; 1,779 H; 1.43 K/BB. Here are the two reasons why Albert Pujols is one of the most underrated players in the history of baseball. A rare blend of both power and speed. A four-time All-Star, he averaged 22 home runs and 92 runs batted in during the three consecutive World Series championships. As a member of the Blue Jays, he was involved in one of the more bizarre plays in World Series history. 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. You've read the headline. A six-time All-Star and one of the most important pieces on the A's teams that won three consecutive World Series championships from 1972 through 1974, Campaneris was one of the great stolen base artists of his era, leading the league in steals six times. The oldest Major League player to play in a game in 2019 was Ichiro Suzuki at 45-years-old. Jim Edmonds made a career out of producing highlight-reel plays with his glove, winning eight Gold Glove awards over 17 years in the majors. Vizquel also has the highest field percentage of any player who played at least 1,000 games at shortstop. 4. Money pitcher. Jay Bell is one of many players who can be considered underrated because not enough fans and critics give strong defensive players enough credit. He was a great player, but not top 25 all-time. I don't think we can count the 2003 Danny Briere deal, so let's go way back for our Sabres pick. In 1973, at age 34 and after having missed virtually the entire 1972 season, he batted .291 with 16 home runs and 92 RBI. Bottom line: What do baseball critics have against Dick Allen? Another inductee to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, Stieb is one of the most underrated MLB players of all time. Anybody who can pitch 19 seasons in the majors and have a 3.30 ERA should be in serious consideration for the Hall of Fame. 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. 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. Otis knew better, and he and Hodges clashed until the day that the Mets traded Otis to the Royals prior to the 1970 season. The fact that Keith Hernandez isnt in the Hall of Fame is enough to make him one of the most underrated players in baseball history. 25 Greatest Action Movies of All Time. Vizquel didnt. 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. Let's take a look at the 50 most underrated baseball players in the history of the game. Career Stats: 1,392 G; .267/.333/.429; 153 HR; 610 RBI; 1,254 H; 603 R; 39-for-77 SB. He would hit .275 or better five times and put together seven consecutive seasons in which he stole at least 20 bases a year. It wasn't until he was traded to the Brewers prior to the 1978 season that a then 29-year-old Oglivie got a chance to play on an everyday basis. Not one teammate showed. 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. Ronald Koeman of the Netherlands lines up before the UEFA Euro 88 Group 2 match between England and the Netherlands at the Rheinstadion on June 15, 1988 in Dsseldorf, West Germany. 20 most underrated baseball players of all-time, overrated MLB players in baseball history, MLB player rankings ahead of 2023 season: Relievers & closers, Outlining the controversial rule changes being introduced for the 2023 MLB season, MLB player rankings ahead of 2023 season: Second basemen, 10 best sleepers to consider for 2023 fantasy baseball drafts, 10 players to watch at 2023 Spring Training, featuring top prospects & injury-hit veterans, MLB player rankings ahead of 2023 season: Starting pitchers, MLB player rankings ahead of 2023 season: Third basemen. He went to the postseason 11 times, which is why hes the all-time leader in postseason stolen bases. In both the 1915 and 1916 World Series, Leonard threw complete game victories for the Red Sox, allowing just two runs and eight hits. Bottom line: What would you call a two-time Most Valuable Player, seven-time All-Star, seven-time World Series participant and the man who still owns the American League record for most home runs in one season? 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. Brooklyn Nets. The most overrated pitcher in baseball may shock some of you, but man, oh man, has he been dreadful since the sticky substance crackdown. There is a final interesting case in the career of Nick Markakis. 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. Thats why we wanted to help rectify the situation by coming up with a list of the most underrated baseball players of all time. 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. Vaughn was a three-time All-Star who maintained a .293 batting average with 328 home runs and 1,064 RBI. 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 . 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. 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. The Yellow Jackets did not stop there though. Some players simply aren't receiving due credit. If it wasnt for Ozzie Smith, he would have won more than just one Gold Glove and would be remembered far more than he is. Wally Moses hit .300 or better in seven consecutive seasons to start his career, from 1935 through the 1941 season. Career Stats: 1,514 G; .271/.347/.350; 28 HR; 574 RBI; 1,450 H; 676 R; 188-for-252 SB. He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. 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. When Jose Oquendo broke into the majors with the Mets in 1983 as a 19-year-old shortstop, he became the first player in franchise history who was younger than the franchise itself. the first player to ever bat as a designated hitter. For his career, he drew 1,243 walks while striking out only 675 times. 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. Yogi has . Just . Playing the bulk of his career with the Cardinals, White was a five-time All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner at first base and one of only a handful of players to hit over .300 and drive in 100 runs in three consecutive seasons. Whether it was Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez or Miguel Tejada, Vizquel was always an afterthought when it came to talking about the best shortstops in the game. Nets' Simmons (knee) to be reevaluated in week. 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. Ted Williams has long been called "the greatest pure hitter who ever lived.". Bottom line: Many believe Lou Whitaker should be in the Hall along with his double-play partner, Alan Trammell. Our ranking of the 100 greatest MLB players of all time comes down to the top 25. He may not have been overly dominant with a 3.16 career ERA. McNeil may not hit the homers that the . Reuschel pitched well enough to earn over 200 wins and three all-star selections during his career. 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. Although none of these players were proven to be completely clean, their accomplishments are quite substantial and too significant to overlook, leaving them . He also led the National League in RBIs five times and stolen bases. If more fans only knew about his accomplishments rather than just the surgery. Go ask the Los Angeles Dodgers if they thought Nettles was unappreciated or underrated in Game 3 of the 1978 World Series. He would have accomplished even more on the field if he hadnt died unexpectedly and should be remembered a little more for his brilliant career rather than his tragic death. 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. An eight-time All-Star, Robert "Indian Bob" Johnson spent 10 of his 13 major league seasons patrolling left field for thePhiladelphia As and was a consistent performer year-after-year, but most people have never heard of him. A handful of its biggest stars come from the first base position. Bottom line: Bit of a mystery how Larry Walker hasnt garnered more support for the Hall. KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 25: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals bats against the Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. 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. But that overshadowed what was a wonderful career on the field, and especially when fielding his position. Career Stats: 2,213 G; .290/.377/.376; 54 HR; 578 RBI; 2,375 H; 1,359 R; 558-for-815 SB. Adrian Beltre is probably going to make the Hall of Fame on his first ballot next season - the former Texas Ranger is one of 12 players in MLB history to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs. World Series Champion (went to the World Series 4X as one of the main cogs that got them there). 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. 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. Olerud was one of the great contact hitters of his generation, batting .295 in his career, even if he didnt have the ideal power of a first baseman. More than 20,000 votes were cast to put together these rankings, from representatives from . Bryan Zarpentine is a freelance writer and editor with most of his work focusing on the world of sports. Clemente won MVP honors in 1966 and helped the Pirates win two World Series, earning World Series MVP in 1971. It was the best thing that ever happened for him. So disliked by his teammates, that when he died, the funeral home had to hire six pall bearers. Career Stats: 1,806 G; .399/.355/.458; 192 HR; 1,058 RBI; 1,910 H; 895 R; 48-for-74 SB. Harry Heilmann. 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. 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. For comparisons sake, he hit more home runs than fellow teammate and Hall of Famer Jim Rice, and his OBP is 18 points higher than Rice. Two, he's playing with a two-way player who everybody goo-goo and ga-gas about. 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. 10x All-Star. The shortstop was also a two-time Silver Slugger winner. It wasn't until he made his way to the Minnesota Twins in November of 1972, however, that his career really began to flourish. 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. Ty Cobb. 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. 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: 2,202 G; .276/.373/.351; 54 HR; 687 RBI; 2,210 H; 1,239 R; 271-for-365 SB. 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. The Cuban was often overlooked during his career as well, only making the All-Star Team three times. But Wagner excelled at just about everything else. He finished a close second to teammate George Brett for the American League batting crown in 1976, losing out by less than .001 after Brett went 2-for-4 in the final game of the season to barely squeak past McRae. His ability to play anywhere and everywhere on the field made him one of the more valuable players that Whitey Herzog ever had at his disposal. Of his 184 home runs, only 50 came at the Astrodome. Part of the excellent Baltimore Orioles teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Don Buford was a relatively unknown leadoff hitter who holds the record for grounding into the fewest double plays per at-bat than anyone else, one every 138 at-bats. Six times over his 13-year career, Morris would hit over .300, though he did so with little powerhis 16-home-run season of 1996 was the most he'd ever hit. The Most Underrated MLB Players of All Time. Left unprotected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1993 expansion draft, the Florida Marlins took the talented youngster for their own. Career Stats: 1,350 G; .300/.359/.522; 242 HR; 898 RBI; 1,550 H; 809 R; SB Data Not Known. But he was a big-time contributor and a fine defensive player on three world champions. He was vastly underrated in the way that he kept hitters off balance by changing speeds with his pitches. Career Stats: 2,084 G; .290/.351/.454; 191 HR; 1,097 RBI; 2,091 H; 940 R; 109 -for-185 SB. 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. By the time his career came to an end, White was celebrated along with Rojas as two of the more popular players in Royals history. After two quick pop-outs, Minnick singled to the right and then Diamant was hit by a pitch to put two . Conine wasn't about gaudy numbershe was simply consistent. 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. . White made ridiculous catches in the outfield look routine while hitting for power and flashing excellent speed when he got on base. 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. 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