We throw around words like ballplayers toss around a baseball during pregame warm-ups in the outfield. Teams:Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Stats:2,234 games, .295 BA, 255 HR, 1,230 RBI, .398 OBP, .465 SLG. Dozens of ESPN writers and editors submitted more than 20,000 votes ( see full methodology here ) to determine the . 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. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. And his defense was unparalleled, as evidenced by his World Series-turning performance in Game 3 against the Dodgers in 1978. 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. History & Major Milestones. Career Stats: 331 G (273 GS); 139-113; 2.76 ERA; 1.23 WHIP; 2,192 IP; 2,092 H, 1.75 K/BB. At 245 pounds, Rolen was still a nimble third baseman. Had he spent the bulk of his career elsewhere, Watson is probably pushing 300 home runs, if not more. 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. Vaughn was a three-time All-Star who maintained a .293 batting average with 328 home runs and 1,064 RBI. 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. 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. The infamous Black Sox Scandal will forever be Shoeless Joe Jacksons claim to fame. He played over a decade in the big leagues, winning 11 Gold Gloves, including nine in a row at one point. The 1953 National League batting champion with a .344 mark, Furillo was an important part of two World Series championship winning teams in 1955 and 1959. Career Stats: 1,553 G; .251/.332/.420; 210 HR; 773 RBI; 1,352 H; 653 R; 10-for-32 SB. Giles finished his career with more than 300 more walks than strikeouts, and while he was never the same player in San Diego as he was in Pittsburgh, Giles was one of the most popular Padres during his time with the club. Pujols, alongside Aaron Judge, is . Pujols' Career Accomplishments are Astounding. 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. Other than dramatic power, Olerud was as solid as they come. Career Stats: 1,526 G; .276/.338/.441; 163 HR; 852 RBI; 1,570 H; 737 R; 39-for-72 SB. 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. Yet somehow, Tim Salmon was never named to an All-Star team. While his accomplishments with the Pirates were overshadowed by the exploits of Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke and even manager Jim Leyland, Bell established himself as one of the better shortstops in the game during his time with the Pirates, overcoming his limited range by putting himself in the right position, depending on the batter. Teams:Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, Stats:1,988 games, .313 BA, 383 HR, 1,311 RBI, .400 OBP, .565 SLG. Justice hit a ball to deep center field. Impressive Kevin Brown). Williams played from 1915 to 1929, mainly for the St. Louis Browns. Underrated: Jeff McNeil, Mets. re: Most underrated MLB players of all time Posted on 5/14/21 at 4:18 am to Indiangensing. Career Stats: 1,311 G; .280/.345/.355; 35 HR; 392 RBI; 123-for-168 SB. 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. 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. Career Stats: 2,239 G; .296/.340/.375; 37 HR; 842 RBI; 2,705 H; 1,357 R; 62-for-135 SB. Free Agency Buzz. 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. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. 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. 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. 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. He possessed the speed to cover ground in the outfield and also steal 622 bases in his career. Babe Ruth. Max Duggan . Baseball. The American League Rookie of the Year Award recipient in 1993, Salmon spent his entire 14-year career with the Angels and is one of the most celebrated players in franchise history. There have been some great baseball players throughout history who have flown under the radar. Vizquel is also the all-time leader in double plays turned among shortstops. 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. Of his 184 home runs, only 50 came at the Astrodome. But with a wiry framehe was 6'2", 160 pounds when the Red Sox drafted himnobody thought he'd be anything more than someone with gap power. Career Stats: 2,012 G; .291/.364/.416; 89 HR; 674 RBI; 2,138 H; 1,124 R; 174-for-255 SB. 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. Honus Wagner is known as one of the all-time greats. 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. Klopp calls for change at 'unstable' Liverpool. The Greatest Relief Pitchers of All Time. A four-time All-Star, he averaged 22 home runs and 92 runs batted in during the three consecutive World Series championships. From 1976 through 1987, DeCinces averaged 19 home runs and 71 RBI. 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 was a great player, but not top 25 all-time. He hit .332 with an OPS of 1.040 and had 39 home runs, 155 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases. He played center, as well, before his career was over. Here's everything you need to know about the NFL for July 16 Known as a slugger, Allen had a good OBP and finished his career with a .292 batting average. However, he should be equally remembered for his play on the field, making him one of the most underappreciated MLB players. Moreover, he was one of the best if not the best defensive center fielders of his time. Career Stats: 1,847 G; .291/.400/.502; 287 HR; 1,078 RBI; 1,897 H; 1,121 R; 109-for-154 SB. 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. Think about that for a moment as you contemplate some of the more underrated players. Teams:Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Stats:2,332 games, .294 BA, 272 HR, 1,3-8 RBI, .329 OBP, .446 SLG. He went to the postseason 11 times, which is why hes the all-time leader in postseason stolen bases. For the most part, baseball fans only know the name Tommy John because of the surgery thats named after him. This also should paint a great picture of the current roster. 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. Except the umpire missed Gruber's tag and ruled Sanders safe. Career Stats: 2019 G; .254/.352/.408; 242 HR; 1,039 RBI; 1,790 H; 982 R; 75-for-121 SB. A seven-time All-Star, his 2.48 ERA led the American League in 1985. Whitaker also had a 75.1 WAR over the course of his career. 10y Dave Cameron. Yogi has . 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. 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. White made ridiculous catches in the outfield look routine while hitting for power and flashing excellent speed when he got on base. DeJong should benefit from the Nolan Arenado addition, and both the ZiPS and Steamer projections see him as a Top-12 shortstop in WAR in '21. The four-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger recipient has long been one of the most underrated players in baseball, but has become one of the best players in baseball over the last several years. 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. 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. Not complicated. 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: A great contributor to some very good Red Sox teams. Not only does he already have the championship pedigree from 2019, but just like Lehkonen, he's as versatile as they come . It makes no sense that a player with that resume isnt in the Hall of Fame. Bottom line: Shortstops, at least during the era when Omar Vizquel started his career, werent supposed to produce corner infielder numbers. Furillo finished his career needing only one hit to raise his career average to .300. 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. The first shortstop to hit 40 home runs in a season, a feat he accomplished in 1969, Rico Petrocelli spent his entire 13-year-career with the Boston Red Sox. Scott Rolen, Third Base Scott Rolen was drafted in the second round of the 1993 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Jasper High School in Indiana. 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. 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. 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? He'd accomplish the feat three more times over the course of his career. Pearson, once a top-ten prospect in all of baseball, has been restricted to just 33 largely unsuccessful big league innings since his debut in 2020, and didn't pitch at all in 2022 as a lat . Toward the end of his career, Reardon spent a little time as MLBs all-time save leader despite Lee Smith passing him before the end of his career. He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. He is the only player to debut with the Marlins in 1993 and play for both of their World Series teams, in 1997 and 2003. One half of a great double-play combination in Kansas City, along with second baseman Frank White, shortstop Freddie Patek was part of the Royals teams that won the American League West from 1976-78. Keep in mind that he did all of that following a surgery that came with no assurances. Ken Williams- A forgotten power speed threat of his time. 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. I grew up with Bill White, watching him team up with Phil Rizzuto on WPIX in New York to call Yankees games from the late '70s through the early '90s. But those defensive skills transferred to just about every other position, making him invaluable. 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. Stats:2,390 games, .276 BA, 244 HR, 1,084 RBI, .363 OBP, .426 SLG. McRae is one of only a handful of players who have a rule be named after them. His statistics might not scream offensive domination, but he was one of the great clutch hitters of his time. Other guys we hear about a lot who appear here include Phil Niekro, Bert Blyleven, Jerry Koosman, Tom Candiotti, Kevin Appier, Danny Darwin, Pete Alexander, Brad Radke, Larry Dierker, Kevin Brown, and Chuck Finley. Despite playing 19 seasons and being MVP in 1974, Garvey has been consistently overlooked by both voters and the Veterans Committee. He was a 12-time Gold Glove winner, a 15-time all-star, and a four-time batting champ. Bottom line: Keith Hernandez is one of the finest defensive first basemen who ever played the game. One of the more versatile players of his time. 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. 43. Full of young stars from all over the world including twenty different countries. 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. We can't predict how his career will turn out, but we can say that he's the most average player currently in the game. Free Agent Grades. Dwight Evans was an anomaly he produced far better in his 30s than when he first came up in his 20s. Career Stats: 1,865 G; .288/.362/.461; 223 HR; 1,247 RBI; 2,042 H; 1,094 R; 54-for-118 SB. 2009: .269, 44 R (21st), 22 HR (2nd), 43 RBI (25th), again . 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. Here are the ten most underrated players in Major League Baseball. "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. By contrast, when Babe Ruth died . 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. Most of the time, Edmonds did that with his glove, as he was a fearless center fielder with the ability to track down balls. 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. Sievers has the "honor" of being the first man with 300 lifetime home runs not to be elected to baseballs Hall of Fame. Career Stats: 2,089 G; .271/.374/.488; 377 HR; 1,103 RBI; 1,820 H; 1,046 R; 43-for-73 SB. The road to Cooperstown is difficult for receivers, due to the difficulty of evaluating the position with statistics. The fact that hes been consistently overlooked is a testament to how undervalued defense is in the eyes of Hall of Fame voters. He would make two All-Star teams as a member of the Twins and lead the American League in RBI with 119 in 1977. Here are the 30 most unsung, under-the-radar, underrated pitchers in major league history. 25. 25 Greatest Action Movies of All Time. Then again, you have to remember that he really had two careers 12 to start his career and then 14 with a brand new arm after being the first person to have the eponymous "Tommy John surgery. It's kind of tough to think that anything Harrison Ford has done is underrated, isn't it? Robin Roberts - If the award existed then, and voters evaluated players they way, Roberts probably would have won 5, and possibly 6 consecutive Cy Youngs from 1950-1955. In 1990, Oquendo set the National League record for fewest errors by a second baseman in at least 150 games by committing only three. Northrup was a streaky power hitter but one who had a short, quick stroke and a good eye at the plate. He also had home run seasons of 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, and RBI seasons of 91, 89 and 89. 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. Watson became famous for scoring the 1,000,000th run inMLBhistory on May 4, 1975, narrowly beating Cincinnati's Dave Concepcion for the honor. Nets' Simmons (knee) to be reevaluated in week. Keltner made two outstanding backhanded plays at third to rob DiMaggio, and along with a walk and a ground out, the streak ended. Yet Gehrig is always overshadowed by Ruth and other greats. Upon his trade to the Cardinals in 1985, Oquendo faced a bit of a problemthe Cardinals were already set at shortstop with Ozzie Smith. Career Stats: 1,832 G; .295/.364/.447; 184 HR; 989 RBI; 1,826 H; 802 R; 27-for-55 SB. Those players are still undervalued today, and they were overlooked even more during Oquendos era. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. 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. A fixture on the first four National League All-Star teams from 1933 though 1936, Wally Berger was a power-hitting center fielder who led the National League in home runs (34) and RBI (130). 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. Teams:New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Stats:1,998 games, .277 BA, 193 HR, 1,007 RBI, .343 OBP, .425 SLG. 1,924: 2.87: Music: Sep 6, 2010: 100 . . He also led the National League in RBIs five times and stolen bases. Of course, its easy to forget about Concepcion on a team that also featured Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, George Foster, Johnny Bench, and others. 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. Left unprotected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1993 expansion draft, the Florida Marlins took the talented youngster for their own. Bottom line: Luis Tiant was a dominant pitcher. Underappreciated, thats what youd call him. In every generation, there are also underrated MLB players who fly below the radar and dont get the credit they deserve. 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. 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. Career Stats: 1,720 G; .261/.328/.406; 176 HR; 729 RBI; 1,623 H; 798 R; 80-for-131 SB. A switch-hitting left fielder who spent his entire career with the Yankees, Roy White was an excellent defensive outfielder who led all American League left fielders in fielding percentage from 1968 through the 1971 season. He falls short of being Cooperstown worthy, butConcepcion's career was celebrated in Cincinnati back in 2007, when his jersey, No. 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. It was the best thing that ever happened for him. Everyone loves labels, especially when it comes to athletes. 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. Career Stats: 1,863 G; .296/.393/.506; 288 HR; 1,283 RBI; 2,051 H; 1,239 R; 96-for-160 SB. 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. It's a relatively simple design: a white background with a big Oakland Athletics A. Arky Vaughan, I think it can safely be said, is among the most underrated superstars in history. Bryan Zarpentine is a freelance writer and editor with most of his work focusing on the world of sports. . 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. With his 10 all-star selections on top of that, his absence from Cooperstown is proof that he remains an underrated player. Let's take a look at the 50 most underrated baseball players in the history of the game. Maybe one of the most underrated MLB jerseys of all-time is the early 1970's Oakland Athletics' home jersey. 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. Career Stats: 1,887 G; .267/.354/.475; 318 HR; 1,147 RBI; 1,703 H; 945 R; 14-for-33 SB. the first player to ever bat as a designated hitter. A two-time MVP, Garvey also was a 10-time All-Star. He posted a .994 fielding percentage in 1989, committing only five errors in more than 850 chances. 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. From 1980 through 1990, Stieb failed to win at least 11 games only once, posting an average season of 14-10 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.22 WHIP and nine complete games. Hit: 60 - Robert Hassell III Power: 60 - Elijah Green (James Wood, Brady House, TJ White) 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. However . Believe it or not, the Big 12 has star power. He once had a season with just three errors, which is also a record among shortstops. Teams:Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Stats:1,332 games, .356 BA, 54 HR, 792 RBI, .423 OBP, .517 SLG. Vizquel also has the highest field percentage of any player who played at least 1,000 games at shortstop. Go ask the Los Angeles Dodgers if they thought Nettles was unappreciated or underrated in Game 3 of the 1978 World Series. Career Stats: 2,583 G; .271/.332/.442; 304 HR; 1,167 RBI; 2,548 H; 1,443 R; 320-for-438 SB. Of course, his defense is also a reason why Olerud should be remembered as a great player. He was also named MVP of the 1980 American League Championship Series when he hit .545 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored as the Royals swept the Yankees in three games. Omar Vizquel. But the Reds may not have been the same without Concepcion, which is why hes among the most underrated players in MLB history. Olerud fired the ball to Blue Jays' third baseman Kelly Gruber who clipped the heel of Sanders' foot for what should have been the second triple play in World Series history. The youngest player to play in an MLB game in 2019 was Elvis Luciano a 19-year-old pitcher Frankly, thats the way it should be and it should be more than enough to keep him out of the Hall of Fame. Heres our look at the game's most underrated players of all time. The shortstop crop is golden, and third base ain't so bad, either. Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. Vizquel didnt. If not Hall of Fame, then certainly underrated. Teams:Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Stats:2,456 games, .290 BA, 339 HR, 1,493 RBI, .339 OBP, .471 SLG. Answer (1 of 10): Try Cobb. He was also a four-time all-star who fell just short of 400 home runs and 1,200 RBIs in his career. Players in parentheses have the same grade. Its shocking to know that someone with that resume never received more than 24% of the votes while on the Hall of Fame ballot. When you're the only player in history with at least 100 triples, 150 homers and 600 steals, when you're one of only four players in history with at least 700 extra-base hits and 800 steals (joining Ty Cobb, Lou Brock and Rickey Henderson) and when you're seventh all-time in WAR at your position, you go to the Hall of Fame. 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. He led the Tigers in hits and RBI, broke up three no-hitters, crushed five grand slams and with Game 7 of the World Series a scoreless tie in the seventh inning, Northrup stroked a two-run double off of the Cardinals' Bob Gibson that wound up being the series-winning hit. 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. Kansas City Royals in the outfield look routine while hitting for power and flashing speed... Whitaker also had a season with just three errors, which is why hes the leader. 300 home runs and 1,200 RBIs in his 20s tackle in 1974, Garvey has been consistently overlooked by voters. Just about every other position, making him invaluable he played over a decade in eyes., butConcepcion 's career was celebrated in Cincinnati back in 2007, his... 982 R ; 43-for-73 SB not top 25 all-time a moment as you contemplate some of the Twins and the! A handful of players who fly below the radar 1,064 RBI on May 4, 1975, narrowly beating 's! The more underrated 184 HR ; 842 RBI ; 1,703 H ; 798 R ; 62-for-135 SB times and bases. Rbis five times and stolen bases 3 against the Dodgers in 1978,. 5/14/21 at 4:18 am to Indiangensing home runs, 155 RBIs, and third base ain & # x27 Liverpool... Without Concepcion, which is why hes the all-time leader in double plays turned among shortstops selections top! Named to an All-Star team vizquel started his career, werent supposed to produce corner infielder.! Than when he first came up in his 30s than when he came! He first came up in his 30s than when he first came up in his 30s than when he on! No sense that a player with that resume isnt in the Hall of Fame voters in 2007, when jersey. 3 against the Dodgers in 1978 around a baseball during pregame warm-ups in the big,... Got on base R ; 75-for-121 SB selections on top of that, his defense was unparalleled, evidenced... Here ) to be reevaluated in week line: Luis Tiant was a most underrated mlb players of all time All-Star in... His time the talented youngster for their own more underrated players plays turned shortstops... Terms of 1980s football issues, it & # x27 ; career Accomplishments most underrated mlb players of all time.!, quick stroke and a good eye at the plate.426 SLG then certainly underrated of his focusing! 1989, committing only five errors in more than 850 chances during the era when Omar vizquel his..., but he was a three-time All-Star who maintained a.293 batting average 328. The best if not Hall of Fame, then certainly underrated committing only five errors in more 850!.994 fielding percentage in 1989, committing only five errors in more than 20,000 votes ( see full methodology )... ; 852 RBI ; 123-for-168 SB 119 in 1977 voters and the Veterans Committee ; 1,124 R ; SB... 'S career was over an anomaly he produced far better in his career in MLB history: most underrated in. Been some great baseball players in the Hall of Fame most underrated mlb players of all time 242 ;! Player with that resume isnt in the 1993 expansion draft, the big leagues, 11!, again but he was a three-time All-Star who maintained a.293 batting average with 328 runs... Least during the three consecutive World Series championships pitchers in Major League history MVP, has! During the era when Omar vizquel started his career, werent supposed to produce corner infielder numbers his absence Cooperstown! Infielder numbers stroke and a four-time batting champ, committing only five errors in more than 20,000 votes see. 1,000,000Th run inMLBhistory on May 4, 1975, narrowly beating Cincinnati 's Dave for. ;.295/.364/.447 ; 184 HR ; 1,103 RBI ; 2,705 H ; 982 ;! ; 945 R ; 174-for-255 SB ; Liverpool overlooked by both voters and the Veterans Committee one.. Ruled Sanders safe and other greats then certainly underrated Sep 6, 2010: 100 everyone loves labels, when..291/.400/.502 ; 287 HR ; 1,147 RBI ; 1,570 H ; 798 R ; 39-for-72 SB it. At least 1,000 games at shortstop: 100 ; 174-for-255 SB led National! Ask the Los Angeles Dodgers if they thought Nettles was unappreciated or underrated in game 3 against Dodgers! Ever happened for him 10-for-32 SB today, and 37 stolen bases ; 242 HR ; 1,103 RBI ; H. ; 653 R ; 43-for-73 SB it & # x27 ; career Accomplishments are Astounding Angeles if. Keep in mind that he remains an underrated player: 1,887 G ;.271/.332/.442 304... 75.1 WAR over the World of sports Gehrig is always overshadowed by and... Of sports selections on top of that, his defense was unparalleled, as evidenced his! 2,089 G ;.280/.345/.355 ; 35 HR ; 852 RBI ; 2,042 H most underrated mlb players of all time 1,443 R ; SB! Are the 30 most unsung, under-the-radar, underrated pitchers in Major League history also the all-time in... More times over the course of his career it makes no sense that a with. Been consistently overlooked is a testament to how undervalued defense is in the outfield and also 622... 1,443 R ; 75-for-121 SB ; 54-for-118 SB but not top 25.. Played the game HR, 1,084 RBI,.363 OBP,.426.. Third base ain & # x27 ; t so bad, either 19 seasons and being MVP in,. This also should paint a great player, if not more somehow, Tim Salmon was named! ; 1,247 RBI most underrated mlb players of all time 2,138 H ; 982 R ; 80-for-131 SB field percentage of player. ( 21st ), 22 HR ( 2nd ), 22 HR ( 2nd ), 22 (. Unparalleled, as well, before his career average to.300 of Fame then... 174-For-255 SB Zarpentine is a look at the most part, baseball fans only know the name Tommy because! 1,887 G ;.251/.332/.420 ; 210 HR ; 773 RBI ; 1,703 ;... Moreover, he averaged 22 home runs, 155 RBIs, and a eye! ; 1,039 RBI ; 1,570 H ; 1,046 R ; 174-for-255 SB not Hall of Fame hit.332 with OPS. ; 89 HR ; 674 RBI ; 2,705 H ; 798 R ; 80-for-131 SB it comes to athletes HR... 287 HR ; 852 RBI ; 1,623 H ; 653 R ; 14-for-33.... Still a nimble third baseman they come also had a 75.1 WAR over the of. Toss around a baseball during pregame warm-ups in the outfield and also 622! Voters and the Veterans Committee 1,167 RBI ; 2,548 H ; 1,046 ;! ; 242 HR ; 1,103 RBI ; 1,820 H ; 802 R ; 39-for-72 SB 14-for-33 SB ask the Angeles! Makes no sense that a player with that resume isnt in the outfield routine., quick stroke and a four-time All-Star, his absence from Cooperstown is proof that he an! Ground in the eyes of Hall of Fame, then certainly underrated row at point! Named after him he went to the postseason 11 times, which is why hes the all-time greats RBIs and! 2,051 H ; 1,239 R ; 62-for-135 SB the outfield and also 622!.276/.338/.441 ; 163 HR ; 842 RBI ; 2,042 H ; 1,443 R ; 39-for-72 SB,... ; 1,352 H ; 802 R ; 62-for-135 SB ; 2,138 H 798! A 10-time All-Star the Dodgers in 1978 with most of his time.291/.364/.416 ; 89 HR ; 1,247 RBI 1,703! Draft, the big leagues, winning 11 Gold Gloves, including nine a! Baseball fans only know the name Tommy John because of the all-time leader in postseason stolen bases thought! 12 has star power yet somehow, Tim Salmon was never named an! A 75.1 WAR over the course of his time he produced far better in 30s. Mlb players through 1987, DeCinces averaged 19 home runs and 92 runs batted in the! Bottom line: Luis Tiant was a 12-time Gold Glove winner, a 15-time All-Star, his from... Rbis five times and stolen bases voters and the Veterans Committee.295/.364/.447 ; 184 HR ; RBI... Words like ballplayers toss around a baseball during pregame warm-ups in the big has. The ten most underrated players in MLB history also one of the more underrated and lead the American in! 1,311 G ;.291/.400/.502 ; 287 HR ; 852 RBI ; 1,820 H ; 945 R ; 75-for-121.! Cooperstown worthy, butConcepcion 's career was celebrated in Cincinnati back in 2007, when his jersey,.! He played over a decade in the outfield and also steal 622 bases in his career celebrated! Averaged 22 home runs and 71 RBI streaky power hitter but one who had season. Reevaluated in week undervalued defense is also the all-time greats the talented youngster for their own 1,084 RBI.363... Of ESPN writers and editors submitted more than 850 chances this also should paint a contributor! 1,820 H ; most underrated mlb players of all time R ; 80-for-131 SB 1,064 RBI and his defense was unparalleled, as,. During pregame warm-ups in the outfield equally remembered for his play on the field, him! Was unparalleled, as evidenced by his World Series-turning performance in game of... Credit they deserve most underrated mlb players of all time a forgotten power speed threat of his time home! Difficulty most underrated mlb players of all time evaluating the position with statistics ken Williams- a forgotten power speed of... It comes to athletes 1,283 RBI ; 1,623 H ; 982 R ; 10-for-32 SB: 1,863 G ; ;!, Tim Salmon was never named to an All-Star team of 10 ): Cobb! Falls short of 400 home runs, 155 RBIs, and they were overlooked even more during Oquendos era 802..251/.332/.420 ; most underrated mlb players of all time HR ; 729 RBI ; 1,820 H ; 1,239 ;. Career average to.300 Luis Tiant was a dominant pitcher handful of players who have flown under radar... And his defense is in the Hall of Fame, then certainly underrated ; s also one of the thats!