Best Players 1955-1980
BuckHunter68
Posts: 411 ✭✭✭
Figured this would be great place to get some opinions. Looking for guys you liked for some reason. We all know Pete Rose, Cepeda, Yaz...I'm looking for guys that people kinda missed that was a winning player. Watching a LOT of classic games from my childhood and I'm looking at many players differently. I never gave two thoughts about Tim Foli or Mike Squires. They were great players. Squires is one of the best defensive first baseman I ever saw and a nifty LH bat. Foli was tough as nails. Dude played the '79 season with a partially TORN hammy!
"You've gotta be a man to play this game...but you'd better have a lot of little boy in you, too"--Roy Campanella
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Choo Choo Coleman. He could not remember names as a member of the expansion team New York Mets…and would call them by their uniform numbers. And Marvelous Marv Thornberry. Also, Chico Ruiz who would say bench me or trade me!
I'll chime in with Bob Allison.
American League rookie of the year in 1959.
Might have been the best player in the American League in 1963;
Led the league in WAR, OPS, OPS+ and Runs.
Second in SLG and Extra base hits.
Third in HR, OBP and Walks.
Fourth in RBI
Fifth in Total bases
Finished 15th in MVP voting.
Had a better year in 1964 and finished 23rd! Mantle had a big year and Brooks Robinson won his only MVP, but Bob was definitely a top 5 player that year. He was second in OBP, third in OPS, OPS+ and Walks and fourth in SLG.
The next two years he had a broken hand and wrist from being hit by pitches.
Had a great arm and was a great baserunner although the Twins didn't steal many bases in those days.
Made one of the greatest catches in World Series history against the Dodgers in 1965.
Finished his career with a lifetime OPS+ of 127.
Sadly Bob suffered from Ataxia and passed away at the age of 60.
I would consider the following players (in no particular order) to be outstanding and not likely land in the HOF even though that could/should be debatable:
Most of my suggestions are on the earlier side of your time line
Ken Boyer
Smokey Burgess
Mickey Vernon
Rocky Colavito
Norm Cash
Rusty Stab
Frank Howard
Billy Pierce
Jackie Jensen
Reggie Smith
Curt Flood
Vada Pinson
Dick Groat
Camillo Pascual
Sam McDowell
I am stopping at 15 to give others an opportunity as there are many other players that remain that can be added.
Edited to add… For those that collect Baseball cards, I enjoy seeking cards of players listed among several others. I was pleased to find a 1953 Bowman Jensen card recently. That is the type of find that makes collecting fun- at least for me.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I 2nd Vada Pinson
These guys played a little past 1980: Al Oliver and Rusty Staub
buying O-Pee-Chee (OPC) baseball cards
also collecting US & Canadian silver coins
Harold Baines was not good enough to carry Vada Pinsons jock strap.
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
Bill Frehan comes to mind.
also Luis Tiant.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
I'll throw Billy Pierce, Roy Sievers, and Bill Buckner into the mix.
This is exactly what I was going for! Thank you. Great mentions here! Camilo Pascual and Reggie Smith really stand out.
Reggie Smith looked like a superstar at times. His arm is one of the most deadly I ever saw. So freakishly accurate with tremendous carry. Seems Joel Horlen, Juan Pizarro and Gary Peters had something going for the White Sox for awhile.
No HOF caliber stuff, but those guy had a nice run. Jim Maloney was as tough as anyone for a spell as well. I'm curious what injuries may have shortened guys up? I wasn't born until '68. I missed the 60's guys at their best--although I've heard Bob Allison was a beast at his best.
"You've gotta be a man to play this game...but you'd better have a lot of little boy in you, too"--Roy Campanella
As an aside, this board--while well known to those who participate--is an amazing baseball resource that I send friends to. No substitute for fans who really watch these guys beyond the obvious stat lines. Thank you!
"You've gotta be a man to play this game...but you'd better have a lot of little boy in you, too"--Roy Campanella
I would add Dennis Leonard of the Royals. 20 game winner three times, completed 34% of his starts, respectable 3.70 era, and in addition has a high quality……. we’re talking Charlie Gehringer quality signature.
its a shame that arm injuries cut short his career.
Bob Purkey had a nice run from 1958-1962, averaging 17 wins a year.
Absolutely robbed of the Cy Young in 1962.
The Royals were SO good in the late 70s/80s but one guy (Brett) gets all the credit (maybe deservedly). Otis, Leonard, Splittorff, White, McRae, Quisenberry, ...
They just happened to have the bad timing to run into the 70s Yankees juggernaut in the playoffs every year.
Jim Bunning seldom gets mentioned.
From 1957-1967 never missed a start and averaged 17 wins per year with a 3.00 ERA.
How did he not win Cy Young in 1967? Winning % I would guess. BY FAR the best starting pitcher in the NL that year!