Most underrated players in History

[Double Steal]

Dom DiMaggio played behind Ted Williams, Gehrig played under Ruth's shadow until he moved to the Braves, and currently Rafael Palmeiro has been behind Juan Gonzalez, and A-Rod. There are many others, who is the most under rated?...

Discuss....

Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser. - Sandy Koufax.
http://www.oregonbaseballcampaign.com

[cubbieinexile]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

Barry Bonds is probably the most under rated player in the history of the game, but that is a whole nother discussion.

Following your line of thought I would say Craig Biggio is right up there for most under-rated. I personally think he has been the best second basemen since Ryne Sandberg. But since he plays for Houston and has had sluggers all around him and is not as big of a persona as Alomar he gets forgotten.

I think Goose Gossage in terms of History is under-rated.
Vlad because he plays in Montreal.
Magglio Ordonez is probably under rated by the main stream.
Brian Giles too.
Billy Williams tends to get forgotten in baseball discussions. Because of the presence of Ernie Banks and the on going HOF stuff with Ron Santo.
I think Eddie Mathews gets largely forgotten because of the presence of Hank Aaron, but I think he was just as good.

[Double Steal]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...Biggio

Ya, I'm reading "Bill James - Historical Abstract" and Biggio is listed as number one. Vlad looks like he'll get a chance elsewhere to show himself (read: contraction - draft dispersal), although he has lost a few years in Montreal. Giles may have the same problem, but then that's what MLB wants is better players in small markets, right?

Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser. - Sandy Koufax.
http://www.oregonbaseballcampaign.com

[cubbieinexile]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...Biggio

Bill according to his book believes Darrell Evans is the all time most under rated player ever.

[BASEBALL_TRIVIA_NUT]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-10-02 AT 00:28 AM (EDT)]>Dom DiMaggio played behind Ted Williams, Gehrig played under
>Ruth's shadow until he moved to the Braves, and currently
>Rafael Palmeiro has been behind Juan Gonzalez, and A-Rod.
>There are many others, who is the most under rated?...


BASEBALL_TRIVIA_NUT

` The most under rated ball player today is Roberto
Alomar, a player who can beat you every way it is
possible for you to be beaten, and will literally do
anything necessary to win!

He can hit, hit with power, run, throw, and field -
and he'll use any one or every one of those tools to
beat you or die trying!!!

If it's a clutch situation, he'll deliver a clutch hit;
if a single is needed, he will single; a homer, he'll
hit it; a dazzling catch, he'll make it, and win the game
for you

He is a superstar and is treated like a star! He
is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and deserves induction
on the first ballot - he's that great!

The most under rated super star off all time is
Frank Robinson, a guy who would literally kill to
beat you. Like all super stars, he could hit, hit
with power, run, throw, and field - he was a great
one, a player much greater than his stats show!

The most under rated pitcher I ever saw was
Mike Cuellar during his stint with the Baltimore
Orioles - he often pitched better than Palmer
and McNally and rarely got the recognition he
deserved - he was great for the Birds!

To close, I have to cite 3 other ball players I
thought were vastly under rated during their
careers, Charlie Keller, Tony Oliva, and Vada Pinson.

Enough said!!!

[Double Steal]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...Biggio

Needed to clarify.. not under rated. Biggio was rated the best player current, and Evans?.... awesome.

Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser. - Sandy Koufax.
http://www.oregonbaseballcampaign.com

[cubbieinexile]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...Biggio

Yeah I can barely remember Darrell Evans. So maybe he has a point or then again he could be completely wrong.

[Captain Cold Nose]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

>>Dom DiMaggio played behind Ted Williams, Gehrig played under
>>Ruth's shadow until he moved to the Braves, and currently
>>Rafael Palmeiro has been behind Juan Gonzalez, and A-Rod.
>>There are many others, who is the most under rated?...
>
>
>BASEBALL_TRIVIA_NUT
>
> ` The most under rated ball player today is Roberto
> Alomar, a player who can beat you every way it is
>possible for you to be beaten, and will literally do
>anything necessary to win!
>
> He can hit, hit with power, run, throw, and field -
>and he'll use any one or every one of those tools to
>beat you or die trying!!!
>
> If it's a clutch situation, he'll deliver a clutch
>hit;
>if a single is needed, he will single; a homer, he'll
>hit it; a dazzling catch, he'll make it, and win the game
>for you
>
> He is a superstar and is treated like a star! He
>is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and deserves induction
>on the first ballot - he's that great!
>
> The most under rated super star off all time is
> Frank Robinson, a guy who would literally kill to
> beat you. Like all super stars, he could hit, hit
> with power, run, throw, and field - he was a great
> one, a player much greater than his stats show!
>
> The most under rated pitcher I ever saw was
> Mike Cuellar during his stint with the Baltimore
> Orioles - he often pitched better than Palmer
>and McNally and rarely got the recognition he
>deserved - he was great for the Birds!
>
> To close, I have to cite 3 other ball players I
>thought were vastly under rated during their
>careers, Charlie Keller, Tony Oliva, and Vada Pinson.
>
> Enough said!!!

I wouldn't exactly call Roberto Alomar underrated. I think he is well recognized for his talents. His name is mentioned among the greats and rightfully so. I would say he gets the amount of acclaim he deserves. As for Robby, when I get into conversations about the all time greats, he is forgotten until his name is thrown out there. The response is usually, "Ohhhhhh. Yeahhhhhh." Knowing he manages them makes one want to root for the Expos.

Defensive specialist outfielders tend to get underrated. Joe Rudi comes to mind. Everybody remembers Roger Maris for one thing (ok, everybody who's not a fanatic) but he was a tremendous defensive outfielder. And what if Curt Flood could hit for power? Could you imagine?

[trosmok]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

Curt Flood is remembered for initiating the fight for free agency, and is seriously underated as an all-around player. Gene Tenace didn't have the career numbers, but his World Series performances were a small peek at his enormous talent. Perhaps the most underated player I've seen is Stan Musial; granted he's in the HOF, but when people talk about the all-time greats, he is too often overlooked.

[erictelevision]

Your point about Musial

Exactly my point in the "Underrated Icon" thread!

[researcher]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

Thank you....History has forgotten two "Super Stars" from the last
50 years.............MUSIAL AND SPAHN.............

[JAdams]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

Todd Helton - altitude = Mike Sweeney

[Glen Slater]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

How about Al Oliver? Marty Marion? Mel Harder? Wes Ferrell? Lee May? Jerry Koosman?

There are lots of others.

By the way, I've always thought that the term should be "under-publicized" rather than "under-rated." When a person is "rated", it means that he's being recognized. The whole point is that these players were ignored or not really noticed or over-looked; no one even BOTHERED to "rate" them in the FIRST place; that's why they often go un-noticed!

[The Commissioner]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

Good points. While what you say in many cases like Oliver's is true, in some of their cases they were "rated" to begin with but have unfortunately since been forgotten. I remember when I was younger people saying that before Reese or Rizzuto should get into the Hall, Marty Marion deserves enshrinement. Now you hardly ever hear Marion's name get mentioned alongside either of them, let alone as being considered for the Hall of Fame.

[brihev]

RE: Most Under Rated Players...

I read an article on Palmeiro at www.lifedrivemagazine.com

i know i under-rated him.
he has stats better than some in the HoF.