Best Season by a Bad Player?

[Dodger Green]

I was looking at Adrian Beltre's numbers from 2004, and realized that if he stays on his current career path, it may very well be the biggest fluke season in history. But, at this stage of his career, Beltre's OPS+ is 106, so on the whole he's been an above average hitter in his career. (Yes, I know OPS+ isn't perfect, but its good enough for right now).

It made me wonder who had the best year ever by someone who was a below average hitter for their whole career. Keep in mind I' not asking about best fluke seasons, because that gives people like Camniti, Kevin Mitchell, and others. But these were guys who were good, and had one year that was great. I'm looking for actual bad hitters who had 1 great year. A few I can think of:

Zoilo Versalles in 1965 - His OPS+ that year was only 116, so he wasn't really amazing, but he won the MVP and his career totals are rather...bad.

Willie McGee in 1985 - Doesn't really count, since his career OPS+ is exactly 100 and he was never seen as a terrible hitter, but this a pretty fluky season, and his career numbers would be sun-par without it.

Frankly, that's all I can think of. Any other ideas?

[SABR Matt]

I haven't even bothered to look up Brady Anderson's career OPS+..but 1996 was pretty goofy.

[Dodger Green]

I haven't even bothered to look up Brady Anderson's career OPS+..but 1996 was pretty goofy.

Career - 108
1996 - 157

Doesn't quite qualify.

[SABR Matt]

Dang...LOL

What about Darin Erstad's 242 hit season?

[SABR Matt]

Yep..Career OS+ of 97...fluke season...137.

[RuthMayBond]

Billy Grabarkowitz, Cito Gaston, Ken Harrelson, Jim Hickman, Mark Fidrych, Lady Baldwin, Gene Bearden, Wilcy Moore, Wayne Garland ,Buzz Capra ...

[bassball]

I was looking at Adrian Beltre's numbers from 2004, and realized that if he stays on his current career path, it may very well be the biggest fluke season in history. But, at this stage of his career, Beltre's OPS+ is 106, so on the whole he's been an above average hitter in his career. (Yes, I know OPS+ isn't perfect, but its good enough for right now).

It made me wonder who had the best year ever by someone who was a below average hitter for their whole career. Keep in mind I' not asking about best fluke seasons, because that gives people like Camniti, Kevin Mitchell, and others. But these were guys who were good, and had one year that was great. I'm looking for actual bad hitters who had 1 great year. A few I can think of:

Zoilo Versalles in 1965 - His OPS+ that year was only 116, so he wasn't really amazing, but he won the MVP and his career totals are rather...bad.

Willie McGee in 1985 - Doesn't really count, since his career OPS+ is exactly 100 and he was never seen as a terrible hitter, but this a pretty fluky season, and his career numbers would be sun-par without it.

Frankly, that's all I can think of. Any other ideas?

Beltre is a GREAT player, stop your hating!


best season by a bad player? look at Adam Dunn

[Matthew C.]

Beltre is a GREAT player, stop your hating!


best season by a bad player? look at Adam Dunn

Well, this post was from 2006 before he put up a string of great seasons recently...

But most of the guys mentioned were not bad players. Anderson, McGee, etc. were not bad players. Average to a little above average most of the time.

[Herr28]

Well, this post was from 2006 before he put up a string of great seasons recently...

But most of the guys mentioned were not bad players. Anderson, McGee, etc. were not bad players. Average to a little above average most of the time.

Yeah, there are some others here too, that I don't think were all that bad. Darin Erstad was a pretty decent player who had a MONSTER year, then came down hard the following season. I wouldn't call him a bad player. Certainly not great. Fidrych was hurt, right? How would that make his awesome rookie season a fluke, if he was physically unable to perform at the same level?

I would think a bad player would be just that, and maybe his fluke "good" season would only be good relative to the rest of his career. No expert here, just trying to figure out where the line would be drawn from these average to above average guys and someone like Tom Lawless. His fluke goo season may very well be that 1 HR in the 1987 World Series, and not really a whole season! Yeah, I think he was that bad!

[Ubiquitous]

Versalles put up a 115 OPS+ in his best year as compared to a career OPS+ of 82. Another career 82 OPS+ guy put up a 112 OPS+ in 1921 for Washington. That year third baseman Howie Shanks cracked .300 for the first and only time in his life while also leading the league in triples with 18 and having a career year in doubles and home runs.

In terms of raw OPS the difference between Howie's best year and his career line might just be the largest difference for bad players and their best years. He was a .644 career hitter and he hit .816 in 1921.

In 1979 Rob Wilfong had a .810 OPS good for a 114 OPS+ and for his career he had a .648 OPS good for a 77 OPS+.

In 1980 Miguel Dilone had a 120 OPS+ as compared to a career OPS+ of 82 and somebody gave him an MVP vote that year.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

Zoilo Versalles in 1965 - His OPS+ that year was only 116, so he wasn't really amazing, but he won the MVP and his career totals are rather...bad.

1965 Zoilo Versalles
American League MVP. Gold Glove SS.
Led Position Players in WAR, Offensive WAR, and Defensive WAR!
Led league in runs (126), Total bases (308), Doubles (45), 3B (12), Extra Base Hits (76) and Power-Speed Number. Hit 19 HR from leadoff position. Second in Hits, Sac Flies, SB%. Third in SB (27) and runs created. Grounded into just 7 DP in 728 PA and 666 AB. Participated in 105 defensive double plays.

he actually had a pretty good run from 1961-65