Career Stats: 1,246 G; .304/.361/.433; 76 HR; 513 RBI; 1,216 H; 535 R; 45-for-69 SB. He was a 12-time Gold Glove winner, a 15-time all-star, and a four-time batting champ. He finished his quarter-century-long career with 288 wins and over 2,200 strikeouts. These underrated players solidified themselves as big leaguers last year and are primed to break out even further in 2023. Indian Bob Johnson never had one of those super seasons that make everyone sit up and whistle. 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. The knock against Walker is he was able to pad his stats in the thin air of Colorado. 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. Darrell Evans - Bill James called him the most underrated player in baseball history. 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. He also had home run seasons of 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, and RBI seasons of 91, 89 and 89. 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. 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. He also stole 321 bases in his career. Without question, the highlight of Abbott's career came on Sept. 4, 1993 when he threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium, walking five while striking out three. 10 Most Underrated MLB Players of All Time. Aside from a 2019 season where he was limited to just 129 games, Ramrez has finished below fourth in AL MVP voting just once since 2017. 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. A fiery player with a live arm, Larry Bowa was a five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner with . Furillo led the league in assists in 1950 and again the following season. 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. Whitaker also had a 75.1 WAR over the course of his career. 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. Also, Reuschel pitched for 20 seasons in the majors, and that longevity is just as impressive as his career 3.37 ERA across a career that long. In an August rainstorm. Left unprotected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1993 expansion draft, the Florida Marlins took the talented youngster for their own. There is a final interesting case in the career of Nick Markakis. 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. Parker was one of the most balanced and versatile outfielders of his era. Career Stats: 2,247 G; .260/.300/.320; 15 HR; 525 RBI; 2,191 H; 987 R; 318-for-423 SB. Bottom line: A great contributor to some very good Red Sox teams. Stiebs ERA was solid, he was durable never made less than 31 starts in 10 of 11 seasons between 1980 and 1990 and was terrific in fielding his position. Believe it or not, the Big 12 has star power. Cash was a highly regarded defensive first basemen as well, leading the league in putouts (in 1961), fielding percentage (1964, 1967) and assists (196567). Ty Cobb. Teams:Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Stats:1,749 games, .292 BA, 351 HR, 1,119 RBI, .378 OBP, .534 SLG. 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. Morris hit .340 in his first full season with the Reds and was an instrumental part of the team that upset the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in the 1990 World Series. He was a . 4. #1 of 219. 0 of 10. By contrast, when Babe Ruth died . 6h Reuters. Teams:California/Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, Stats:1,105 games, .284 BA, 393 HR, 1,199 RBI, .376 OBP, .527 SLG. Career Stats: 2,089 G; .271/.374/.488; 377 HR; 1,103 RBI; 1,820 H; 1,046 R; 43-for-73 SB. Twice a .300 hitter and with two 100 RBI seasons under his belt, Oglivie proved that power hitters don't necessarily come in physically imposing packages. 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. The A's career leader in hits, his 649 stolen bases ranked seventh on the all-time list when he retired, a number that ranks 14th today. In fact, he won the American League batting title in 1993, the year of Torontos second World Series win. 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. These guys had solid career resumes and often came up big in big games, yet they seldom, if ever, received widespread acclaim. 10y Dave Cameron. Eckstein would reach the World Series a second time as a member of the Cardinals in 2006. 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. However, it seems absurd that Carter had to wait six years on the ballot from . 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. 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. Milwaukee Bucks. In both the 1915 and 1916 World Series, Leonard threw complete game victories for the Red Sox, allowing just two runs and eight hits. Yu Darvish - SP - San Diego Padres. Otis knew better, and he and Hodges clashed until the day that the Mets traded Otis to the Royals prior to the 1970 season. 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. The most overrated pitcher in baseball may shock some of you, but man, oh man, has he been dreadful since the sticky substance crackdown. Pujols' Career Accomplishments are Astounding. McNeil may not hit the homers that the . The Greatest New York Yankees Of All Time. Hit: 60 - Robert Hassell III Power: 60 - Elijah Green (James Wood, Brady House, TJ White) 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). The Most Underrated MLB Players of All Time. Here are the two reasons why Albert Pujols is one of the most underrated players in the history of baseball. When you think of the 2022 Mets, the first players to come to mind are likely Pete Alonso, Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and/or Francisco Lindor. Everyone loves labels, especially when it comes to athletes. 1 of 10. The fact that hes been consistently overlooked is a testament to how undervalued defense is in the eyes of Hall of Fame voters. Bottom line: Scott Rolen was among the best third basemen in the game during the first decade of the 2000s. That's the beauty of sportsnobody watches a game the same way. The infamous Black Sox Scandal will forever be Shoeless Joe Jacksons claim to fame. As a member of the Blue Jays, he was involved in one of the more bizarre plays in World Series history. He possessed the speed to cover ground in the outfield and also steal 622 bases in his career. While I thought he was great at his job back then, it turns out that he was a damn fine ballplayer as well. 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. 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. 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. Had he spent the bulk of his career elsewhere, Watson is probably pushing 300 home runs, if not more. A seven-time All-Star, his 2.48 ERA led the American League in 1985. 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 most underrated players in baseball history. The five-time All-Star still ranks in Kansas Citys top five in every offensive career category except batting average. 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. 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. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. Career Stats: 2,213 G; .290/.377/.376; 54 HR; 578 RBI; 2,375 H; 1,359 R; 558-for-815 SB. 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. #34 of 255. 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. Giannis exits with knee injury, called day-to-day. Anyway Sosa, Reardon, Reuschel and Wagner also don't belong on a list of underrated players. He'd accomplish the feat three more times over the course of his career. Besides Morris, no other pitcher had a winning ratio as high in the MLB during the 1980s. 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. 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. Bottom line:There is so much debate around Shoeless Joe Jackson and the true depth of his role in the 1918 Black Sox scandal that people forget what an incredible player he was. Omar Vizquel might be the poster boy for how little the Hall of Fame values defense, which is why hes among the most underrated MLB players of all time. At the 1981 deadline, they sent all-star Rick Martin to the Kings for a first . While much of how we view athletes is performance-based and backed up with statistics, some of it is simply subjective. 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. He was also an excellent fielder who held multiple fielding records at the time of his retirement that have since been passed. Maybe one of the most underrated MLB jerseys of all-time is the early 1970's Oakland Athletics' home jersey. McRae is one of only a handful of players who have a rule be named after them. 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. A five-time All-Star, Cash was the 1961 batting champion with a .361 average. Career Stats: 1,881 G; .271/.360/.404; 160 HR; 758 RBI; 1,803 H; 964 R; 233-for-350 SB. While it doesn't have the heavy hitters in terms of big name rookies found in the 1981 (Joe Montana), 1984 (Dan Marino, John Elway), and 1986 (Jerry Rice . Career Stats: 2,328 G; .259/.311/.342; 79 HR; 646 RBI; 2,249 H; 1,181 R; 649-for-898 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. Answer (1 of 10): Try Cobb. Honus Wagner is known as one of the all-time greats. *Caught stealing totals are incomplete per Baseball-Reference.com. 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. 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 may not have been overly dominant with a 3.16 career ERA. He wasnt much of a power hitter, amassing just 101 home runs over a career that spanned two decades. But he was a good pitcher both before and after he had the surgery that bears his name. #12. People also forget he was 2-0 in three starts, including two complete games, in the epic 1975 World Series between Boston and Cincinnati. Even his career totals of 339 home runs and a .290 average deserve more respect than hes received. 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. He finished his career with 107 home runs and 875 RBIs. Yogi Berra is one of the greatest winners in the history of the MLB. He had a career average of .319 and OPS of .924. 1974-1992, 70.1 WAR (Wins Over Replacement), 1,225 RBIs and 2,092 hits. Considering that Campy finished his career with more triples (86) than home runs (79), that's a pretty impressive feat. 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. Lofton was a six-time All-Star who won four Gold Gloves in leading the renaissance of the Indians' franchise. Underappreciated, thats what youd call him. Brooklyn Nets. That sounds like a player who should be in contention for the Mount Rushmore of baseball. Career Stats: 1,847 G; .291/.400/.502; 287 HR; 1,078 RBI; 1,897 H; 1,121 R; 109-for-154 SB. Nobody in the league could play balls that were hit off of Ebbets Field's high wall in right field like he could, and opposing runners quickly grew tired of testing his arm and failing to advance nearly every time. It's kind of tough to think that anything Harrison Ford has done is underrated, isn't it? Lofton was also a .299 career hitter who was always playing on winning teams. His statistics might not scream offensive domination, but he was one of the great clutch hitters of his time. Career Stats: 2,247 G; .260/.300/.320; 15 HR; 525 RBI; 2,191 H; 987 R; 318-for-423 SB. Vizquel hit .280 or better eight times, hit more than 30 doubles four times and led the league in sacrifice hits three times. Bottom line: Bit of a mystery how Larry Walker hasnt garnered more support for the Hall. 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. If more fans only knew about his accomplishments rather than just the surgery. 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 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. Here is the player who I think is one of the most underrated players in baseball. Dallas Keuchel, Chicago White Sox. Dave Stieb. The youngest player to play in an MLB game in 2019 was Elvis Luciano a 19-year-old pitcher Compared to some of the most overrated MLB players in baseball history, its a little tougher to pinpoint the most underrated MLB players. Trailing 5-3 as they headed into the bottom of the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers on June 22, 1979, Doug DeCinces stepped to the plate with two outs, Eddie Murray on first base, and a Ken Singleton home run having cut the deficit to one run. Clemente won MVP honors in 1966 and helped the Pirates win two World Series, earning World Series MVP in 1971. Thats why were happy to do the leg work and come up with a list of the 20 most underrated players in baseball history. Northrup was a streaky power hitter but one who had a short, quick stroke and a good eye at the plate. He falls short of being Cooperstown worthy, butConcepcion's career was celebrated in Cincinnati back in 2007, when his jersey, No. Bottom line:A career total of 214 wins, and barely being over .500 at that, doesnt necessarily jump out at you. 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 four-time All-Star, he averaged 22 home runs and 92 runs batted in during the three consecutive World Series championships. The most dynamic MLB players seem to always possess the same unique skill set. 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. 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. 20. Career Stats: 2,084 G; .290/.351/.454; 191 HR; 1,097 RBI; 2,091 H; 940 R; 109 -for-185 SB. In 1973, at age 34 and after having missed virtually the entire 1972 season, he batted .291 with 16 home runs and 92 RBI. Most fans only remember John Olerud as the first baseman who wore a helmet while playing the field. Over the course of his career, Concepcion was a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove winner. It makes no sense that a player with that resume isnt in the Hall of Fame. On other teams. Underrated: Jeff McNeil, Mets. : 10.8%. 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. No one-year wonders or self-promoters here. Free Agency Buzz. Bryan Zarpentine is a freelance writer and editor with most of his work focusing on the world of sports. Stats:2,488 games, .267 batting average, 101 HR, 950 RBI, .322 .357 SLG. Injuries would take their toll andultimatelyend his career in 1985 after only 38 innings of work. Career Stats: 1,865 G; .288/.362/.461; 223 HR; 1,247 RBI; 2,042 H; 1,094 R; 54-for-118 SB. Bottom line: Bobby Grich was one of the finest defensive second basemen ever in the game. He was basically Babe Ruth but he, obviously, was ill. He's numbers are up there as top 3 all time - period Ted Williams Babe Ruth Lou Gehrig The three best triple crown hitters of all time. All-Time Stats. Teams:Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Stats:443 games, 176-137, 3.44 ERA, 103 CG, 30 SHO, 5 K/9 IP. Tim Wallach could play both corner-infield and outfield positions, and even took the mound twice for the Expos, in 1987 and 1989. White made ridiculous catches in the outfield look routine while hitting for power and flashing excellent speed when he got on base. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. 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. Moreover, he was one of the best if not the best defensive center fielders of his time. In all his years and all his positions, he was never very good defensively. Olerud spent the early part of his career in Toronto, becoming a key piece of the Blue Jays winning back-to-back World Series. 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. 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. Frankly, baseball history is filled with players who had unique skills or put the team over themselves, leaving them without the accolades they should have received. Rick Reuschel, a guy often cited as being underrated, makes an appearance near the top. Career Stats: 1,649 G; .259/.329/.445; 237 HR; 879 RBI; 1,505 H; 778 R; 58-for-106 SB. He played over a decade in the big leagues, winning 11 Gold Gloves, including nine in a row at one point. But in terms of 1980s football issues, it's also one of the more underrated. 10x All-Star. Hank Aaron. Voters don't like the paucity of homers from a corner infield spot, but the overall package of offense and defense puts Hernandez . 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. Of the 18 players elected to start the 1934 All-Star Game, Berger is the only one not enshrined in the Hall of Fame. 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. Except for his first season in 1972, when the team was over .500, Rick Reuschel never knew another winning season nor any National League East finish over third place during his tenure at Wrigley. 2022 saw a host of TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas State Wildcats emerge as game changers. Arky Vaughan, I think it can safely be said, is among the most underrated superstars in history. 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. Career Stats: 1,197 G; .273/.347/.452; 166 HR; 674 RBI; 128-for-189 SB. Cameron: Aybar is MLB's most underrated player. Career Stats: 2,488 G; .267/.322/.357; 101 HR; 950 RBI; 2,326 H; 993 R; 321-for-430 SB. 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 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. Klopp calls for change at 'unstable' Liverpool. Stats:2,390 games, .276 BA, 244 HR, 1,084 RBI, .363 OBP, .426 SLG. Somewhat poetically, he finished his career with exactly 3,000 hits. Despite his achievements on the field, Doerr was not selected to the Hall of Fame until the Veterans Committee finally enshrined him in 1986. His best year of 1922 is one of the most underrated seasons of all time. The Greatest Relief Pitchers of All Time. 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. There have been some great baseball players throughout history who have flown under the radar. 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 . How can someone who has a losing record over the course of his career be considered underrated? But in reality, Jeff McNeil has been lighting it up at the plate this year, hitting an amazing. 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. 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. 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. Babe Ruth. If not Hall of Fame, then certainly underrated. 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. How is it possible that a 10-time all-star like Steve Garvey isnt enshrined in Cooperstown? 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. Keltner made two outstanding backhanded plays at third to rob DiMaggio, and along with a walk and a ground out, the streak ended. 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. 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. 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. Playing alongside future Hall of Famers like Paul Molitor and Robin Yount and solid pros in Sal Bando and Gordon Thomas, Money was selected to four All-Star games as part of the "Brew Crew" and set the major league record for consecutive games played at third base without committing an error, 86 games, in 1974. 250,000 people packed around st. Johns cathedral. Its shocking to know that someone with that resume never received more than 24% of the votes while on the Hall of Fame ballot. 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. 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. Yu Darvish is the most overrated pitcher in all of baseball. 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