The Most Underrated Baseball Players of All Time
Contents
- The most underrated players in baseball history
- Why these players are underrated
- The players who just missed the cut
- The most underrated player at each position
- The most underrated pitchers in baseball history
- The most underrated hitters in baseball history
- The most underrated fielders in baseball history
- The most underrated managers in baseball history
- The most underrated executives in baseball history
- The most underrated teams in baseball history
These are the most underrated baseball players of all time. You probably don’t know their names, but they had some of the best stats in the game.
The most underrated players in baseball history
There have been some great baseball players throughout history who have flown under the radar. Here are some of the most underrated players in baseball history
Jesse Barfield was a great outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1980s. He won a Gold Glove in 1986 and was a two-time All-Star. He finished his career with 107 home runs and 875 RBIs.
Ozzie Smith was one of the best defensive shortstops of all time. He won 13 Gold Gloves and was a 15-time All-Star. He was also a key member of the St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series teams in 1982 and 1987. He finished his career with 2,460 hits and 1,257 RBIs.
Barry Larkin was one of the best shortstops of his generation. He was a 12-time All-Star and won nine Silver Slugger Awards. He was also the 1995 NL MVP and helped lead the Cincinnati Reds to a World Series title in 1990. He finished his career with 2,340 hits and 1,329 RBIs.
Why these players are underrated
With baseball season in Full Swing it’s time to take a look at some of the most underrated players in the game’s history. While some of these guys may not be household names, they all made significant contributions to the sport. Here are just a few of the most underrated baseball players of all time.
Pete Rose is one of the most accomplished players in baseball history yet he remains largely overshadowed by other all-time greats. Rose was a versatile player who could hit for average and power, and he played with an unmatched intensity. He was also an excellent fielder and baserunner. Although he was involved in some controversies later in his career, there’s no denying that Rose was one of the best to ever play the game
Ozzie Smith is another player who doesn’t always get the credit he deserves. Smith was an elite defensive shortstop who helped change the way that position was played. He wasn’t much of a hitter, but his outstanding glove work more than made up for it. Smith was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and he remains one of the most respected players in baseball history
Willie Mays is often considered one of the greatest players of all time, but some experts believe he doesn’t get enough credit. Mays was an outstanding all-around player who could do it all on the field. He hit for average and power, stole bases, and played excellent defense. Mays is also widely considered to be one of the best outfielders in baseball history Although he’s rightly lauded as one of the game’s all-time greats, some believe Mays doesn’t get enough credit for his tremendous all-around skillset.
The players who just missed the cut
There are a lot of Great players in Major League Baseball history. But there are also a lot of players who were really good, but just didn’t quite make the cut for the Hall of Fame Here are some of the most underrated players in Baseball History
Larry Walker was a great player for the Montreal Expos and the Colorado Rockies He was a five-time All-Star and won three batting titles. He also won a gold glove and an MVP Award But he only spent ten years in baseball, so he doesn’t have the career numbers to merit induction into the Hall of Fame
Todd Helton is another player with great numbers who just falls short of the Hall of Fame He played his entire 17-year career with the Colorado Rockies He was a five-time All-Star and won three Silver Slugger awards. He also has the sixth highest batting average in MLB history (.316). But he doesn’t have the power numbers that many Hall of Famers have.
Alan Trammell was one of the best shortstops of his generation. He played 20 years for the Detroit Tigers and was a six-time All-Star. He won four Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Glove Awards He also led the Tigers to a World Series win in 1984. But he was overshadowed by Cal Ripken Jr. and doesn’t have the Hall of Fame numbers to merit induction.
If you’re looking for someone who was really good, but just didn’t quite make it to Cooperstown, these are some of the most underrated players in baseball history
The most underrated player at each position
A case can be made that every player on this list was the best at his position during his particular era, but for one reason or another, each player was largely overshadowed by another player at the same position.
First Base: Jeff Bagwell
Bagwell was overshadowed by Mark McGwire during the steroid era, but he was actually a better hitter than McGwire. He led the league in OPS four times and won an MVP award in 1994.
Second Base: Lou Whitaker
Whitaker was one of the best second basemen of all time, but he played in the shadow of Ryne Sandberg He was a five-time All-Star and won three Gold Glove Awards
Third Base: Mike Schmidt
Schmidt is widely considered to be the greatest third baseman of all time, but he was overshadowed by George Brett during his prime. Schmidt won 10 Gold Glove Awards and three MVP Awards
Shortstop: Cal Ripken Jr.
Ripken is one of the most decorated players in baseball history but he was often overshadowed by Derek Jeter Ripken won two MVP Awards and 19 Gold Glove Awards
Outfield: Tim Raines
Raines is widely considered to be one of the best leadoff hitters of all time, but he played in the shadow of Rickey Henderson He led the league in stolen bases four times and had a career .385 on-base percentage
The most underrated pitchers in baseball history
The most underrated pitchers in baseball history are the players who never quite got the recognition they deserved. These are the guys who played on bad teams, or didn’t have flashy stats, or were just overshadowed by bigger names. But make no mistake: these pitchers were some of the best to ever take the mound.
Some of the most underrated pitchers in Baseball History include:
-Burt Hooton: Hooton was a workhorse for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1970s, anchoring a staff that included future Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale Hooton won 20 games in 1977 and finished his career with a 3.13 ERA.
--Jim Kaat Kaat had a long and successful career, spending 25 years in the Majors and winning 283 games. He was a two-time All-Star and won 16 Gold Glove Awards. Yet he’s often forgotten when people discuss the great pitchers of his era.
--Luis Tiant Tiant was one of baseball’s most flamboyant characters, with his unorthodox delivery and habit of talking to himself on the mound. He was also one of its most effective pitchers, winning over 200 games and finishing his career with a 3.30 ERA.
If you’re looking for some great baseball history be sure to check out these underrated pitchers!
The most underrated hitters in baseball history
In any given era, there are always a few players who outperform their peers but don’t get the credit they deserve. Here are the most underrated hitters in baseball history
1. Jose Altuve Houston Astros
Altuve is one of the best hitters of his generation, yet he’s often overshadowed by teammate Alex Bregman. In 2017, Altuve won the AL MVP Award and led the Astros to their first World Series title.
2. Tony Gwynn San Diego Padres
Gwynn was one of the greatest pure hitters of all time, winning eight batting titles and finishing with a career .338 average. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007 with 97.6% of the vote, the highest percentage ever for a position player.
3. Wade Boggs Boston Red Sox/Tampa Bay Rays
Boggs was a 12-time All-Star and won five batting titles during his Hall of Fame career. He is one of only four players in history with at least 3,000 hits and a .300 average (.356).
4. Edgar Martinez Seattle Mariners
Martinez is widely regarded as one of the best designated hitter’s in history and helped popularize the role throughout baseball. He was a seven-time All-Star and won two batting titles during his 18-year career. Martinez was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019 with 85.4% of the vote.
The most underrated fielders in baseball history
There have been many great fielders in baseball history but some have been unfairly overshadowed by their more famous counterparts. Here are four of the most underrated fielders in baseball history
1. Maury Wills: A fearsome base-stealer and gifted defensive shortstop, Wills was a key member of the Los Angeles Dodgers team that won the 1965 World Series He is often overshadowed by his contemporary and fellow Hall of Famer, Brooks Robinson
2. Davey Lopes: A four-time Gold Glove winner Lopes was an excellent second baseman for the Dodgers in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a key part of the team that won the 1981 World Series but is often overshadowed by fellow Gold Glove winner Bill Mazeroski
3. Garry Maddox: A center fielder with speed, power and superb defensive skills, Maddox was a mainstay of the Philadelphia Phillies teams that won consecutive pennants in 1976 and 1977. He is often overshadowed by his contemporary and fellow Hall of Famer, Willie Mays.
4. Andres Galarraga A big first baseman with a tremendous power stroke, Galarraga was a feared slugger in the National League for many years. He is often overshadowed by his countryman and fellow Hall of Famer, Vladimir Guerrero
The most underrated managers in baseball history
When it comes to naming the most underrated managers in baseball history a few names come to mind. These are the men who never won a World Series but were great at their jobs nonetheless.
1. Billy Martin
Billy Martin was a fiery manager who had a great understanding of the Game of Baseball He was never able to win a World Series but he did lead the New York Yankees to five American League pennants.
2. Dick Williams
Dick Williams was another manager who never won a World Series but he led the Boston Red Sox to two American League pennants. He was also named Manager of the Year twice.
3. Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella is another manager who had great success without winning a World Series He led the Cincinnati Reds to two World Series appearances, but they lost both times. He was also named Manager of the Year three times.
The most underrated executives in baseball history
Underrated players are often unheralded because of the era in which they played. For example, most people would probably agree that Jackie Robinson was an amazing player, but he is often left out of lists of the greatest players ever because he played in an era when the game was racially segregated.
The same can be said for executives. They don’t usually get the same recognition as players, but there have been some incredibly influential figures in baseball history Here are some of the most underrated executives in Baseball history
Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins was an executive with the Chicago White Sox from 1915 to 1926. He is credited with helping to build one of the most successful teams in baseball history The White Sox won the World Series in 1917 and 1919, and they were one of the dominant teams of the 1920s. Collins is also credited with signing Future Hall of Famers Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Grove
Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey was an executive with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1917 to 1942. He is best known for creating the modern farm system which revolutionized player development in baseball. Rickey is also credited with signing future Hall of Famer Stan Musial
Bill Veeck
Bill Veeck was an executive with several teams, including the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians He is best known for his creative promotions, which helped to increase attendance at games. Veeck is also credited with signing future Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau.
The most underrated teams in baseball history
There are a lot of great baseball players who never get the credit they deserve. Some players prove their worth over time, while others appear to be underrated from the beginning of their careers. Here are some of the most underrated baseball players of all time.
1. Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth is one of the most iconic baseball players of all time, but he was also one of the most underrated. He was regularly overshadowed by his more famous teammates, such as Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle However, Ruth was a great player in his own right, and he deserves more credit than he often gets.
2. Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson is another player who was often overshadowed by his more famous teammates. He was a key member of the Brooklyn Dodgers team that won the World Series in 1955, but he is often remembered for being the first African American player in Major League Baseball rather than for his talents on the field. Nonetheless, Robinson was a great player and deserved to be better appreciated during his career and after his death.
3. Willie Mays
Willie Mays is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, but he is often overlooked in favor of other stars from his era, such as Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron Mays was an incredible all-around player, and he deserves to be remembered as one of the game’s all-time greats.