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
0
Comments
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!
Bunning did make the HOF.
Adding a few more…
Elston Howard
Bobby Richardson
Willie Horton
Sal Bando
Gene Tenace
Bobby Grich
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Bill Madlock.
Jose Cruz
Cesar Cedeno
John Mayberry
All three had an ops+ of 120 or more.
Cedeno stole over 50 bases 6 years in a row. Mayberry was a power hitter who finished with more walks than strikeouts. Cruz was an excellent all around player.
Al Oliver…
I will also chime in the name of Bake McBride, who was a pretty darn good player in his day, just about a .300 career hitter, ok .299, but really, if you wanted to be that kid in school who was a fan of the COOLEST cat in sports, you would have said "My guy is Bake McBride!"
And the other kids would have been like "Whoa!"
Facts vs Fiction
How much did it sale for is one of the funniest and most ignorant things I've ever heard.
Jerry Koosman also had a good run.
As a Boston homer, Dewey Evans has an argument to be made for the HOF.
look at that young outfield Boston had starting in the mid 70's of Rice, Lynn and Evans. Only Rice made it to the HOF, but he may have been the weakest player of those 3!
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
A Tiger fan so glad to see so many mentioned from those late 60's early 70's teams. Also Darrell Evans for longevity as a good Fielder early and over 400 homers.
Yes! Darrell Evans yet another player who had a much better career than Baines.
I'll add Graig Nettles - close to 2x the WAR of Baines
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)
What may have hurt Darrell Evans was a .248 BA as he played in an era where that stat was regarded very highly. IMHO it still should be but is what it is...
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)
>
>
Should have been AL MVP in 1981 in my opinion.
>
>
>
>
>
>
I know Rice gets ripped a lot here. but he finished in the top 5 in MVP voting six times, winning once.
Lynn should have won in 1979 I think he was hurt a lot. Probably the best all around player of his time....when healthy.
Such an underrated hitter. He just happened to be on some terrible teams and played when their were generational hitters around the league.
Loved the guy.