What player today compares to Willie Stargell?

[leecemark]

--Willie Stargell was in the top 5 in OPS 6 times, leading twice (interestinly enough his MVP season was NOT one of those 6 seasons). Manny Ramirez has been in the top 5 7 times, leading once. Their relationship to the league as hitters is fairly similar. Their lack of defensive and baserunning value is also similar, although for different reasons. Stargell was a smart and hard working player who just lacked the footspeed to be an asset in those departments. Manny has the physical tools, but his head often isn't in the game once he leaves the batters box.

[The Commissioner]

I think that's a huge stretch to make the comparison based on top 5 finishes in any one specific category, especially OPS.

I can however, see how their base-running and fielding, or lack thereof, could be used as a basis for comparison.

[leecemark]

--I didn't make the original comparison. I was just responding to your comment that you thought of Manny as the much better hitter. They
are somewhat different types of hitters (and very different types of men), but the quality of their hitting is similar.
--I'm not sure there are really similar players to Stargell, either current or historical. Most lead footed sluggers don't have Willie's staying power. If Stargell could have run he might have been an inner circle type guy, instead of just a sure fire Hall of Famer. His lack of speed not only reduced his defense and baserunning value, it took a slice off his BA.

[Appling]

--I'm not sure there are really similar players to Stargell, either current or historical. Most lead footed sluggers don't have Willie's staying power. If Stargell could have run he might have been an inner circle type guy, instead of just a sure fire Hall of Famer. His lack of speed not only reduced his defense and baserunning value, it took a slice off his BA.

Harmon Killebrew was something of a right-handed hitting Stargell on the diamond -- lots of power, slow foot speed, and never a trouble maker. But Killebrew didn't quite have the spark or leadership of a Stargell.

"Respected by his teammates, inspiring them on to victory" -- Hard to find that kind of guy.
[inserted by edit: Who is (or was) most similar to Stargell -- not as a player but as an inspiring team leader?]

Some other thoughts: Lou Boudreau? Nellie Fox? (And I still think; maybe Kirby Puckett?)

[Ubiquitous]

If I simply look ratios of avg, OBP, SLg and more then 425 homers and bats from the left side. The closest person in history is Ken Griffey Jr. Who despite the closeness of numbers would never be confused for Willie. If we knoch the points down a bit then we find Willie McCovey, who also using similarity scores happens to me Stargells closest comp.