Post by Sha-Le Unique on Jun 24, 2014 16:05:06 GMT -5
Big thanks again to Chris and his CATO work to help me put this together! With the pitchers already done, let's see who the top 10 hitters have been throughout over first five seasons. Regular season statistics are the main factor here, but any major awards are factored in as well when appropriate.
All statistics are between 1953-1957 and do NOT include this current season.
But of course, we gotta start off with the list of Honorable Mentions:
- Joe Adcock
- Richie Ashburn
- Ernie Banks
- Gus Bell
- Yogi Berra
- Larry Doby
- Carl Furillo
- Jim Gilliam
- Ralph Kiner
- Ted Kluszewski
- Frank Robinson
- Jackie Robinson
- Red Schoendienst
- Roy Sievers
- Frank J. Thomas
- Ted Williams
And now, the top 10!
10. RF Al Kaline
Career Stats: .310/.396/.508, 878 H, 127 2B, 116 HR, 498 RBI, 387 BB, 567 R, 1956 AL MVP, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1956 (.330/.421/.579, 185 H, 35 2B, 10 3B, 28 HR, 120 RBI, 87 BB, 126 R)
Al Kaline's numbers aren't the most sexy, but his remarkable consistency is why he is up here. He has been an All-Star in every season thus far and has an MVP Award under his belt as well. He's the young centerpiece to the Tigers' lineup at just 23 years old right now. He is now on his contract season and is due for a big raise. With time, Kaline should be higher on this list five seasons from now and probably ten seasons from now as well. The numbers should only get better for him with time.
9. 1B Gil Hodges
Career Stats: .310/.410/.532, 863 H, 123 2B, 146 HR, 600 RBI, 482 BB, 535 R, 4x All-Star, 2x NL Gold Glove Award Winner
Best Season: 1955 (.328/.426/.601, 188 H, 29 2B, 38 HR, 134 RBI, 97 BB, 113 R)
Longtime first baseman Gil Hodges has been one of the offensive horses the Dodgers have been able to rely on for years, and although he has been overshadowed by a few particular teammates, he has been as critical as any of them towards all the success the Dodgers have had. He ranks second for career leaders in RBI.
At 33, Hodges is not showing any signs of slowing down, so he could possibly have a few great seasons left in him.
8. LF Gus Zernial
Career Stats: .275/.348/.503, 747 H, 109 2B, 166 HR, 489 RBI, 299 BB, 428 R, 1955 AL MVP, 2x All-Star, 1x AL Gold Glove Award Winner
Best Season: 1955 (.331/.406/.619, 179 H, 29 2B, 42 HR, 134 RBI, 71 BB, 109 R)
Gus Zernial has been one of the most feared AL sluggers since this league began. However, he is more of a one-dimensional hitter than others on this list, which didn't help his ranking be higher than it is. In fact, Zernial would have probably below Hodges if not for all the home runs (he is third among career leaders) and his 1955 AL MVP Award, which he was very deserving of.
At nearly 35, Zernial may only have a couple more good seasons left in him, but he would be better off playing for a winner at this point than a rebuilding team like the A's. But even if he falls off this list five seasons from now, Zernial will always be remembered as one of HOFFBL's first notable sluggers.
7. CF Mickey Mantle
Career Stats: .319/.431/.588, 824 H, 135 2B, 157 HR, 523 RBI, 522 BB, 571 R, 168 SB, 1953 AL MVP, 5x All-Star, 3x AL Gold Glove Award Winner
Best Season: 1953 (.342/.455/.573, 177 H, 23 2B, 9 3B, 26 HR, 101 RBI, 111 BB, 98 R, 27 SB)
It's only appropriate that #7 is ranked #7. Mickey Mantle has been one of the most dominant AL hitters around and has provided very good speed on the bases as well, plus amazing defense in center field to make him a true 5-tool player. He was the first ever AL MVP and the offensive backbone to five AL pennant-winning Yankees team, three of which won the World Series in 1953, 1955 and 1957.
Mantle is only 26, which means that he should certainly rank higher in the future because he should have many great seasons ahead of him. But generally speaking, a player right now as good as Mantle really should be ranked higher, but that's how good some of these other hitters are to be considered above Mantle.
6. 3B Al Rosen
Career Stats: .323/.417/.577, 810 H, 126 2B, 138 HR, 516 RBI, 410 BB, 514 R, 1954 and 1957 AL MVP, 4x All-Star
Best Season: 1954 (.366/.459/.627, 204 H, 40 2B, 14 3B, 26 HR, 115 RBI, 99 BB, 125 R)
Clearly the best AL third baseman thus far, Al Rosen has been one of the most intimidating AL sluggers as well. He has won multiple AL MVP's and is not showing any signs of slowing down at 33 years old. In fact, his homers recently went back up to brilliant, which means that at least a few more great seasons should be expected of him.
Unless Ashes decides to trade him, the Indians will need to make the most of Rosen's career while he is still around to give him a great shot at a championship. He is signed through 1963, so it will be very interesting to see if Rosen continues to produce for that long, or if that contract eventually becomes a burden. Rosen should still be on this list five seasons from now, but maybe not much longer after that.
5. CF Hank Aaron
Career Stats: .336/.383/.569, 975 H, 169 2B, 142 HR, 561 RBI, 227 BB, 572 R, 87 SB, 3x All-Star
Best Season: 1955 (.377/.418/.609, 231 H, 40 2B, 12 3B, 26 HR, 111 RBI, 46 BB, 128 R, 15 SB)
Hank Aaron only at 5? You gotta be kidding me, right? This was tough, but this is where I felt Hank's overall resume fit best in comparison to everyone else. Nonetheless, Aaron has done a lot in this league at just 24 and will now be due for a huge salary raise and I can only imagine Steve will give him every penny he wants. Aaron currently has the third highest career average, is third in hits, fourth in runs scored, fourth in RBI, third in total bases and is among the top 10 in slugging and home runs as well. His .377 average in 1955 is still the single season record.
Aaron's numbers should get even better with time and if anyone is the Braves' franchise player for the future, it's him. I'll be stunned if he doesn't spend his entire career there.
4. LF/RF Stan Musial
Career Stats: .346/.440/.590, 959 H, 236 2B, 125 HR, 535 RBI, 480 BB, 568 R, 5x All-Star, 2x NL Gold Glove Award Winner
Best Season: 1955 (.357/.462/.646, 199 H, 47 2B, 34 HR, 119 RBI, 114 BB, 118 R)
Age is only a number for Stan the Man. Well into his mid-30s, he hasn't missed a beat and is the career leader in batting average, OBP and doubles across the first five seasons. He's also fourth in slugging, fifth in hits, seventh in RBI, sixth in runs scored and fourth in total bases. Musial helped lead the Cardinals to World Series championships in 1954 and 1956 and was the 1956 postseason MVP as well.
At 37, only time will tell how many more good seasons Musial has left in him. At the rate he's at though, don't be surprised if he's still hitting in his 40s. But even then, he should still be among the top 10 all-time hitters for quite some time no matter what.
3. CF Willie Mays
Career Stats: .339/.402/.595, 978 H, 150 2B, 64 3B, 157 HR, 536 RBI, 305 BB, 568 R, 289 SB, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1954 (.352/.409/.645, 207 H, 25 2B, 12 3B, 41 HR, 114 RBI, 54 BB, 123 R, 63 SB)
Willie Mays has certainly been one of, if not the most complete hitter in HOFFBL history thus far. The Giants may have been an inconsistent team, but Mays has been by far the most prominent consistent force for his team. But what puts Mays on this list higher than guys like Rosen, Aaron and Musial is his speed. Not only has Mays been one of the very best hitters throughout the entire league in his career, but he's been one of the most successful base stealers as well.
Mays ranks second among career leaders in batting average, seventh in OBP, third in slugging, second in hits, second in triples, tied for fifth in home runs, sixth in RBI, tied for sixth in runs scored, third in stolen bases and second in total bases. In other words, Mays has done pretty much everything and in most leagues, his numbers would make him the best hitter in the league, but there are two others who have simply put up better offensive numbers.
At 27, Mays has many great seasons ahead of him and is already locked up with the Giants on a long-term deal that will last through 1962 and beyond. There aren't that many more ranks Mays could climb up in the future, but he certainly has a shot at being #2 or even #1 in 5-10 seasons from now.
2. 3B Eddie Mathews
Career Stats: .316/.426/.617, 828 H, 115 2B, 202 HR, 565 RBI, 497 BB, 587 R, 1956 NL MVP Award, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1956 (.332/.434/.630, 175 H, 22 2B, 41 HR, 124 RBI, 93 BB, 112 R)
I nearly put Mays 2nd, but after looking at Mathews' power numbers and amazing OPS, it was a tough call, but I went with Mathews at #2. Mathews has simply been one of the most elite sluggers HOFFBL has ever seen. He had four consecutive seasons of 40+ home runs from 1953-1956 and is coming off a 37-home run season in 1957. He is one of only two NL hitters to ever win an NL MVP Award, which has to mean a lot.
Mathews ranks ninth in career average, third in OBP, second in slugging, second in home runs, third in RBI, fifth in walks, third in runs scored and fifth in total bases.
At 26, Mathews is already signed to a bargain contract through 1961 and should be a Braves lifer for the rest of his career. Like his teammate Hank Aaron, Mathews has a lot of great seasons ahead of him and those two should eventually help the Braves win a long deserving championship at some point.
1. CF Duke Snider
Career Stats: .331/.419/.702, 966 H, 227 2B, 250 HR, 752 RBI, 444 BB, 690 R, 1953-1955 and 1957 NL MVP Awards, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1954 (.341/.439/.741, 204 H, 49 2B, 11 3B, 56 HR, 173 RBI, 105 BB, 155 R)
Is it a really a surprise to see the Duke of Flatbush at #1? Not at all. Duke Snider has been by far the best hitter in HOFFBL history so far. It's possible he may continue to be the best all-time hitter for decades of seasons to come. That's how amazing he has been. 250 home runs in five seasons, 150+ RBI in four of them, 150+ runs scored in two of them, and a .702 slugging percentage in that span? Just wow! Those are jaw dropping numbers there.
Snider's resume for the #1 spot pretty much speaks for itself. He is the career leader in slugging, OPS, XR, home runs, RBI, runs scored and total bases. He is also fourth in batting average, fifth in OBP, fourth in hits and second in doubles. In addition, Snider currently holds single season records in slugging, OPS, XR, home runs, RBI, runs scored, total bases and even games played. In fact, all four of Snider's MVP seasons have taken up the top four spots in single season slugging, OPS, home runs, RBI and total bases.
All in all, Snider is simply from a different planet and everyone besides Jeremy probably wants me to shut up now. So I will. I was done with my analysis anyway.
The next all-time pitcher and hitter ranks should be coming in 1963. Next up: My 1958 draft class recaps for AL and NL teams!
All statistics are between 1953-1957 and do NOT include this current season.
But of course, we gotta start off with the list of Honorable Mentions:
- Joe Adcock
- Richie Ashburn
- Ernie Banks
- Gus Bell
- Yogi Berra
- Larry Doby
- Carl Furillo
- Jim Gilliam
- Ralph Kiner
- Ted Kluszewski
- Frank Robinson
- Jackie Robinson
- Red Schoendienst
- Roy Sievers
- Frank J. Thomas
- Ted Williams
And now, the top 10!
10. RF Al Kaline
Career Stats: .310/.396/.508, 878 H, 127 2B, 116 HR, 498 RBI, 387 BB, 567 R, 1956 AL MVP, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1956 (.330/.421/.579, 185 H, 35 2B, 10 3B, 28 HR, 120 RBI, 87 BB, 126 R)
Al Kaline's numbers aren't the most sexy, but his remarkable consistency is why he is up here. He has been an All-Star in every season thus far and has an MVP Award under his belt as well. He's the young centerpiece to the Tigers' lineup at just 23 years old right now. He is now on his contract season and is due for a big raise. With time, Kaline should be higher on this list five seasons from now and probably ten seasons from now as well. The numbers should only get better for him with time.
9. 1B Gil Hodges
Career Stats: .310/.410/.532, 863 H, 123 2B, 146 HR, 600 RBI, 482 BB, 535 R, 4x All-Star, 2x NL Gold Glove Award Winner
Best Season: 1955 (.328/.426/.601, 188 H, 29 2B, 38 HR, 134 RBI, 97 BB, 113 R)
Longtime first baseman Gil Hodges has been one of the offensive horses the Dodgers have been able to rely on for years, and although he has been overshadowed by a few particular teammates, he has been as critical as any of them towards all the success the Dodgers have had. He ranks second for career leaders in RBI.
At 33, Hodges is not showing any signs of slowing down, so he could possibly have a few great seasons left in him.
8. LF Gus Zernial
Career Stats: .275/.348/.503, 747 H, 109 2B, 166 HR, 489 RBI, 299 BB, 428 R, 1955 AL MVP, 2x All-Star, 1x AL Gold Glove Award Winner
Best Season: 1955 (.331/.406/.619, 179 H, 29 2B, 42 HR, 134 RBI, 71 BB, 109 R)
Gus Zernial has been one of the most feared AL sluggers since this league began. However, he is more of a one-dimensional hitter than others on this list, which didn't help his ranking be higher than it is. In fact, Zernial would have probably below Hodges if not for all the home runs (he is third among career leaders) and his 1955 AL MVP Award, which he was very deserving of.
At nearly 35, Zernial may only have a couple more good seasons left in him, but he would be better off playing for a winner at this point than a rebuilding team like the A's. But even if he falls off this list five seasons from now, Zernial will always be remembered as one of HOFFBL's first notable sluggers.
7. CF Mickey Mantle
Career Stats: .319/.431/.588, 824 H, 135 2B, 157 HR, 523 RBI, 522 BB, 571 R, 168 SB, 1953 AL MVP, 5x All-Star, 3x AL Gold Glove Award Winner
Best Season: 1953 (.342/.455/.573, 177 H, 23 2B, 9 3B, 26 HR, 101 RBI, 111 BB, 98 R, 27 SB)
It's only appropriate that #7 is ranked #7. Mickey Mantle has been one of the most dominant AL hitters around and has provided very good speed on the bases as well, plus amazing defense in center field to make him a true 5-tool player. He was the first ever AL MVP and the offensive backbone to five AL pennant-winning Yankees team, three of which won the World Series in 1953, 1955 and 1957.
Mantle is only 26, which means that he should certainly rank higher in the future because he should have many great seasons ahead of him. But generally speaking, a player right now as good as Mantle really should be ranked higher, but that's how good some of these other hitters are to be considered above Mantle.
6. 3B Al Rosen
Career Stats: .323/.417/.577, 810 H, 126 2B, 138 HR, 516 RBI, 410 BB, 514 R, 1954 and 1957 AL MVP, 4x All-Star
Best Season: 1954 (.366/.459/.627, 204 H, 40 2B, 14 3B, 26 HR, 115 RBI, 99 BB, 125 R)
Clearly the best AL third baseman thus far, Al Rosen has been one of the most intimidating AL sluggers as well. He has won multiple AL MVP's and is not showing any signs of slowing down at 33 years old. In fact, his homers recently went back up to brilliant, which means that at least a few more great seasons should be expected of him.
Unless Ashes decides to trade him, the Indians will need to make the most of Rosen's career while he is still around to give him a great shot at a championship. He is signed through 1963, so it will be very interesting to see if Rosen continues to produce for that long, or if that contract eventually becomes a burden. Rosen should still be on this list five seasons from now, but maybe not much longer after that.
5. CF Hank Aaron
Career Stats: .336/.383/.569, 975 H, 169 2B, 142 HR, 561 RBI, 227 BB, 572 R, 87 SB, 3x All-Star
Best Season: 1955 (.377/.418/.609, 231 H, 40 2B, 12 3B, 26 HR, 111 RBI, 46 BB, 128 R, 15 SB)
Hank Aaron only at 5? You gotta be kidding me, right? This was tough, but this is where I felt Hank's overall resume fit best in comparison to everyone else. Nonetheless, Aaron has done a lot in this league at just 24 and will now be due for a huge salary raise and I can only imagine Steve will give him every penny he wants. Aaron currently has the third highest career average, is third in hits, fourth in runs scored, fourth in RBI, third in total bases and is among the top 10 in slugging and home runs as well. His .377 average in 1955 is still the single season record.
Aaron's numbers should get even better with time and if anyone is the Braves' franchise player for the future, it's him. I'll be stunned if he doesn't spend his entire career there.
4. LF/RF Stan Musial
Career Stats: .346/.440/.590, 959 H, 236 2B, 125 HR, 535 RBI, 480 BB, 568 R, 5x All-Star, 2x NL Gold Glove Award Winner
Best Season: 1955 (.357/.462/.646, 199 H, 47 2B, 34 HR, 119 RBI, 114 BB, 118 R)
Age is only a number for Stan the Man. Well into his mid-30s, he hasn't missed a beat and is the career leader in batting average, OBP and doubles across the first five seasons. He's also fourth in slugging, fifth in hits, seventh in RBI, sixth in runs scored and fourth in total bases. Musial helped lead the Cardinals to World Series championships in 1954 and 1956 and was the 1956 postseason MVP as well.
At 37, only time will tell how many more good seasons Musial has left in him. At the rate he's at though, don't be surprised if he's still hitting in his 40s. But even then, he should still be among the top 10 all-time hitters for quite some time no matter what.
3. CF Willie Mays
Career Stats: .339/.402/.595, 978 H, 150 2B, 64 3B, 157 HR, 536 RBI, 305 BB, 568 R, 289 SB, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1954 (.352/.409/.645, 207 H, 25 2B, 12 3B, 41 HR, 114 RBI, 54 BB, 123 R, 63 SB)
Willie Mays has certainly been one of, if not the most complete hitter in HOFFBL history thus far. The Giants may have been an inconsistent team, but Mays has been by far the most prominent consistent force for his team. But what puts Mays on this list higher than guys like Rosen, Aaron and Musial is his speed. Not only has Mays been one of the very best hitters throughout the entire league in his career, but he's been one of the most successful base stealers as well.
Mays ranks second among career leaders in batting average, seventh in OBP, third in slugging, second in hits, second in triples, tied for fifth in home runs, sixth in RBI, tied for sixth in runs scored, third in stolen bases and second in total bases. In other words, Mays has done pretty much everything and in most leagues, his numbers would make him the best hitter in the league, but there are two others who have simply put up better offensive numbers.
At 27, Mays has many great seasons ahead of him and is already locked up with the Giants on a long-term deal that will last through 1962 and beyond. There aren't that many more ranks Mays could climb up in the future, but he certainly has a shot at being #2 or even #1 in 5-10 seasons from now.
2. 3B Eddie Mathews
Career Stats: .316/.426/.617, 828 H, 115 2B, 202 HR, 565 RBI, 497 BB, 587 R, 1956 NL MVP Award, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1956 (.332/.434/.630, 175 H, 22 2B, 41 HR, 124 RBI, 93 BB, 112 R)
I nearly put Mays 2nd, but after looking at Mathews' power numbers and amazing OPS, it was a tough call, but I went with Mathews at #2. Mathews has simply been one of the most elite sluggers HOFFBL has ever seen. He had four consecutive seasons of 40+ home runs from 1953-1956 and is coming off a 37-home run season in 1957. He is one of only two NL hitters to ever win an NL MVP Award, which has to mean a lot.
Mathews ranks ninth in career average, third in OBP, second in slugging, second in home runs, third in RBI, fifth in walks, third in runs scored and fifth in total bases.
At 26, Mathews is already signed to a bargain contract through 1961 and should be a Braves lifer for the rest of his career. Like his teammate Hank Aaron, Mathews has a lot of great seasons ahead of him and those two should eventually help the Braves win a long deserving championship at some point.
1. CF Duke Snider
Career Stats: .331/.419/.702, 966 H, 227 2B, 250 HR, 752 RBI, 444 BB, 690 R, 1953-1955 and 1957 NL MVP Awards, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1954 (.341/.439/.741, 204 H, 49 2B, 11 3B, 56 HR, 173 RBI, 105 BB, 155 R)
Is it a really a surprise to see the Duke of Flatbush at #1? Not at all. Duke Snider has been by far the best hitter in HOFFBL history so far. It's possible he may continue to be the best all-time hitter for decades of seasons to come. That's how amazing he has been. 250 home runs in five seasons, 150+ RBI in four of them, 150+ runs scored in two of them, and a .702 slugging percentage in that span? Just wow! Those are jaw dropping numbers there.
Snider's resume for the #1 spot pretty much speaks for itself. He is the career leader in slugging, OPS, XR, home runs, RBI, runs scored and total bases. He is also fourth in batting average, fifth in OBP, fourth in hits and second in doubles. In addition, Snider currently holds single season records in slugging, OPS, XR, home runs, RBI, runs scored, total bases and even games played. In fact, all four of Snider's MVP seasons have taken up the top four spots in single season slugging, OPS, home runs, RBI and total bases.
All in all, Snider is simply from a different planet and everyone besides Jeremy probably wants me to shut up now. So I will. I was done with my analysis anyway.
The next all-time pitcher and hitter ranks should be coming in 1963. Next up: My 1958 draft class recaps for AL and NL teams!
