Originally posted by Freakshow
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1. Carl Yastrzemski: 12.2 in 1967 at age 27
2. Ted Williams: 11.8 in 1946 at age 27
3. Rickey Henderson: 10.0 in 1980 at age 21
4. Joe Medwick: 8.9 in 1937 at age 25
5. Ralph Kiner: 8.1 in 1949 at age 26
6. Joe Kelley: 8.0 in 1896 at age 24
7. Ed Delahanty: 7.8 in 1893 at age 25
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Ryan Braun: 7.7 in 2011 at age 27
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8. Al Simmons: 7.6 in 1929 at age 27
9. Heinie Manush: 7.5 in 1928 at age 26
10. Billy Williams: 7.4 in 1965 at age 27
11. Goose Goslin: 7.2 in 1926 at age 25
12. Jim Rice: 7.0 in 1978 at age 25
13. Fred Clarke: 6.6 in 1897 at age 24
14. Jesse Burkett: 6.4 in 1895 at age 26
15. Lou Brock: 5.4 in 1964 at age 25
16. Chick Hafey: 5.0 in 1928 at age 25
17. Willie Stargell: 4.6 in 1966 at age 26
18. Zack Wheat: 4.6 in 1914 at age 26
There are actually only 19 HOFers who played at least 50% of their games in LF. Before I think I had mistaking included Babe Ruth. He was obviously a RFer. Also Monte Irvin didn't first appear in the majors until age 30. So of the 18 players only 7 had a better season than Braun by the age of 27 (39%)
You say that his 2011 season was a fluke but his 2nd best season (2009) his WAR was 5.9. There have been exactly 134 seasons From 1871 to 2011, Younger than 27, Hall Of Fame Members, Played 50% of games at LF. Only 41 of which (31%) were better than Ryan Braun 2nd best season. So his 2nd best season was still better than 69% of HOFers seasons in LF through age 27 and better than Lou Brock, Chick Hafey, Willie Stargell, or Zack Wheat's best season. In fact Ryan Braun's 3rd best season according to WAR (2010) he had 4.7 WAR was still better than Willie Stargell or Zack Wheat's career best WAR through age 27. Stargell & Wheat aren't exactly borderline HOFers either!
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