Most underrated baseball players of all time

[fudd]

Not Kelly Shopach

 

[Randolphkeys]

In my book, he was the second-best leadoff hitter in the history of the game:

Timothy Raines (born September 16, 1959 in Sanford, Florida), nicknamed "Rock", is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for six teams from 1979 to 2002 and was best known for his 13 seasons with the Montreal Expos. Regarded as one of the top leadoff hitters and baserunners in the sport's history, Raines stole at least 70 bases in each of his first six full seasons (1981–1986), leading the National League in stolen bases each season from 1981 to 1984, with a career high of 90 steals in 1983. Raines also led the NL in runs scored twice (1983 and 1987). Raines batted over .300 in five full seasons and over .320 from 1985 to 1987, winning the 1986 NL batting title with a .334 average. He also had six full seasons with an on base percentage above .390.

With 808 steals in his career, Raines has the fourth-highest total in major league history, behind Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock and Ty Cobb. Until 2008, his career stolen base percentage (84.7%) was the highest in MLB history for players with 300 or more attempts and he was successful on 40 consecutive steal attempts between July 1993 and August 1995, setting an American League record at the time (the record was broken by Ichiro Suzuki in May 2007, when he completed 45 consecutive steals).

Among switch hitters, Raines ranks sixth in career hits (2,605), fourth in runs (1,571), walks (1,330) and times on base (3,977), fifth in plate appearances (10,359), seventh in singles (1,892), doubles (430), total bases (3,771) and at bats (8,872), eighth in triples (113) and tenth in extra base hits (713). He holds Expos/Washington Nationals franchise records for career runs (947), steals (635), singles (1,163), triples (82) and walks (793), and was the seventh player whose career began after 1945 to retire with over 1,500 runs and 100 triples. His 1,966 games in left field ranked seventh in major league history when he retired.

 

[PIP]

Most underrated stars IMO were

And the guy I used to go to Dodger stadium to watch when I was 12,13,14 years old...

 

[The Oi]

Of current players:

Joe Mauer is a fantastic hitting catcher and doesn't get nearly the attention he deserves. I also think Vic fits in that category. If he could just stay healthy he'd be one of the best hitters in the game.

Edgar Martinez was a fantastic DH for a long, long time. He hit over 300HR's and scored and batted in over 1,200 runs. He also only K'd over 100 times once in his career, and that was his final year.

And you have to talk about Paul Molitor too for greatest under-rated ballplayers of all time. He played in small markets his entire career but he's one of the best contact hitters of all time. He finished over .300 with over 1,700 runs and 1,300 RBI's with a not too shabby 234 HR's as well. Equally impressive: He only k'd over 80 times three times in his career.

Robin Yount was also a very good player who played in a small market his entire career. He put up pretty similar numbers to Molitor with 1,600+ runs 1,400+ RBI's and 251 HR's and limited his K's in a very similar way. The difference was that Yount also had some pretty good speed and led the league in triples a couple times and had double digit SB's in all but a couple years.

As for pitchers: Glavine and Smoltz spent their careers pitching in Maddux's shadow but were those guys were terrific pitchers. Smoltz hasn't exactly been a slouch as a reliever either.

I also think Roy Halladay doesn't get enough credit for just how good he is.

 

[Ayatolla of Slamola]

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Pedro Martinez.

I don't think people realize just how good he was in his prime. Not to mention he is one of two players to have more strikeouts than baserunners allowed in his career *the other being Randy Johnson.*

 

[PIP]

Pedro Martinez prior to 1998 was underrated..

When he was with the Dodgers he showed flashes of greatness... But, when he was with the Expos, he was like a well kept secret (like Vladimir)

I believe he pitched a 9 inning perfect game in Montreal, but lost it in the 10th inning...

As for Randy Johnson ?? he got a lot of acclaim when he was in Arizona, and was the 1-2 punch with Curt... I think a lot of people forget just how dominant he was in Seattle.. The guy threw a no hitter in 1990 that nobody remembers...

Won 3 games in a world series.
No Hitter
Perfect Game
20K game
two 19K games
18K game
300 wins
2nd all time in K's
5 Cy Young awards
World Series MVP
10 All Star appearances

I have no idea why Randy Johnson is not considered the greatest pitcher of all time ?

 

[THamiltonIsGod]

Matt Stairs is not underrated, he's a career .260 hitter. He's got so many homers cuz he swings for the fences every AB. He's like Adam Dunn...great power, terrible hitter.

My underrated players:

2nd best SS ever!

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/mark_grace_autograph.jpg

I've always thought Grace was underrated...career .303 hitter, perennial gold glover, only made 3 allstar games!

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/albert_belle_autograph.jpg
Belle is underrated mainly because he was such a prick..but still a huge talent that was never really a household name.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Pip: Randy isn't done after this season. The guy is going against 4th or 5th guys in opponents' rotations and CLEANING UP this year.





Is anyone else with me in starting a Montreal Expos Fan Club?

 

[THamiltonIsGod]

Basically any Tribe player is always underrated. No casual fan knew who Manny or Thome was in the late 90s, nor do they know who Vic or Pronk is (or used to be). With the exception of Grady Timberlake..who is more popular with 14 year old girls then he is to baseball fans.

 

[THamiltonIsGod]

"I feel like myself and the city of Cleveland are in the same boat. We're made for each other. A few years ago, everybody had bad thoughts on Albert Belle. I feel that has changed."

-quote from Albert Belle. Him NOT being named '95 AL MVP is a complete joke.

 

[PIP]

Barry Larkin was underrated as well...

I'd like to see Randy keep going, Keys...

I remember when Randy was traded to the Astros in 1998 and people were suggesting it was a risk because he was going into FAgency as a 36 year old, and that could be a little too old for a FA pitcher..:chuckles: --If you at what he's accomplished from that time until now, it's ridiculous...

Here he is warming up in 1998 against the Tribe as a 35 year old.. (last game as a Mariner)

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[THamiltonIsGod]

Randy slaying that bird was the most amazing thing I've seen in all sports, ever.

 

[PIP]

Oh, and while we're at it, the most underrated entrance of all time is Mariano's...

Trevor Hoffman's HELLS BELLS entrance is overrated.... Whereas when Mariano comes out to Enter Sandman, you get chills... (That is of course if you're a Yankees fan :chuckles

Man I miss the old stadium... The new one is nice, but it's not the same...

The last game in Yankee stadium was awesome and when Mariano came out to finish it off the entire place went nuts... Great night..

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[THamiltonIsGod]

I dunno man John Rocker's entrance was pretty intimidating...how would you feel as a hitter seeing this lunatic run a dead sprint to the mound with his veins popping out of his neck?

Too bad he was a bum with the Tribe...I'd rather have him pitching then Kerry right now though.