Roy McMillan

[Cowtipper]

Next in our series of defensively superior, while offensively mediocre, players is Roy McMillan. Though McMillan hit only .243 with 1,639 hits and a 72 OPS+, he posted a 21 dWAR and still managed to be elected to two All-Star games. He won three Gold Gloves, earned MVP votes five times (with his best finish being sixth place) and, later on, garnered some support for the Hall of Fame--he earned votes in three elections, with a high of 2.3% of the vote.

Obviously not an offensive stalwart, McMillan still led the league in games twice and sacrifice hits once. Defensively, he paced the loop in dWAR four times, games at shortstop six times, assists three times, putouts three times, assists at shortstop four times and shortstop fielding percentage five times. He is 17th all-time at games at shortstop and 18th in shortstop putouts.

Statistically, he is similar to Alfredo Griffin, Billy Jurges, Chris Speier, Ozzie Guillen, Don Kessinger, Leo Cardenas, Mike Bordick, Monte Cross, Germany Smith and Freddy Patek.

What do you think about Roy McMillan? Should he be in the Hall of Fame? Did he have Hall of Fame potential?

[BigRon]

I saw McMillan play quite a few times. He was an outstanding defensive SS- great range, terrific ability to go into the hole, then throw guys out. Mediocre hitter, even for a shortstop. Very similar to Belanger, but with a bit more bat.

Bill James has him ranked #53 at SS, and that seems about right to me- he was a good player, but not close to a Hall of Famer.

[dgarza]

McMillan can be called the greatest defensive SS in the National League in the '50s & '60s. He deserved a few GGs. And I have no problem with him being an AS once or twice.

But he was one of the worst offensive SS of all time. Actually, one of the worst long-term offensive position players ever. He ranks 2nd worst in OPS+ and 3rd worst in AVG for all 2000 game players.

[TomBodet]

There should be a defensive Hof, he would be in it along with Ray Mack and Jim Hegan from back then.

[Cowtipper]

Questions:

Roy McMillan > Eddie Miller?
Roy McMillan > Billy Rogell?
Roy McMillan > Don Kessinger?
Roy McMillan > Mark Belanger?

[Fuzzy Bear]

Questions:

Roy McMillan > Eddie Miller?
Roy McMillan > Billy Rogell?
Roy McMillan > Don Kessinger?
Roy McMillan > Mark Belanger?

I rate McMillian ahead of all those guys. Even Kessinger, although that one was close.

[Jackaroo Dave]

Just a quibble more about language than McMillan: He was not a mediocre hitter; he was a dreadful hitter. Joe Tinker, Johnny Logan, Art Fletcher were mediocre hitters--i. e. merely average, with the emphasis on "merely." Mac was just bad.

But . . . he played in the Willie Miranda era, when you could be a shortstop just on glove strength alone, and a lot of people called him the best they had ever seen. I can't recall a contemporary who was as highly praised.