Best Defensive Outfields

[flash143817]

I was just looking at the current Angels alignment of Peter Bourjos in CF, Mike Trout in LF, and Torii Hunter in RF when I thought of this.

Is this the best defensive outfield to ever play together?

By the numbers, it would be tough to argue. Bourjos' UZR/150 is 31.7, Trout's is 22.4, and Hunter's is 22.8. This places all three of them among overall MLB outfield league leaders this year.

By the eye test, all of them rate as excellent as well. Hunter is a former GG CF playing RF. Trout is a potential GG CF playing LF, and Bourjos is considered by some to be the best defensive OF in the game currently.


What would be some other contenders?

[ian2813]

I've seen Henderson-Murphy-Armas mentioned in one of these discussions before.

The Mariners of the last decade have had some good ones too.

[Dude Paskert]

By reputation, you have Duffy Lewis-Tris Speaker-Harry Hooper for the Bosox and Willie Wilson-Amos Otis-Al Cowens for the Royals to think about. Otis is not much remembered now, but should be famous for keeping Wilson, one of the fastest men in the history of baseball, in LF for several years due to his fine CF play. Cowens was known for having a tremendous arm, not sure if he'd be considered a top flight defender today. The Boston boys are famous as a defensive unit, but their WAR numbers are not very good, for what that's worth.
Coleman-McGee-Van Slyke was a recent good one for St. Louis, with Vince not being an especially polished fielder but blessed with the speed to run down his goofs.

[GiambiJuice]

I believe the Braves actually have the best defensive outfield in Baseball this year with Prado, Bourn, and Heyward. I could be wrong though..

[dominik]

I was just looking at the current Angels alignment of Peter Bourjos in CF, Mike Trout in LF, and Torii Hunter in RF when I thought of this.

Is this the best defensive outfield to ever play together?

By the numbers, it would be tough to argue. Bourjos' UZR/150 is 31.7, Trout's is 22.4, and Hunter's is 22.8. This places all three of them among overall MLB outfield league leaders this year.

By the eye test, all of them rate as excellent as well. Hunter is a former GG CF playing RF. Trout is a potential GG CF playing LF, and Bourjos is considered by some to be the best defensive OF in the game currently.


What would be some other contenders?

does trout have the arm for CF? I heard that he has a weak arm. maybe he would be better suited as a gardener/young bonds type of LFer than trying to press him into CF.

[dgarza]

I've seen Henderson-Murphy-Armas mentioned in one of these discussions before.

I believe that this OF is likely the best.
In 1980, they were not only a great defensive OF, but a good offensive threat as well. Usually there's a weak bat in such a strong defensive bunch, but not in this case. Henderson+Murphy+Armas = 21.0 Total WAR.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

The 1993 Giants had 2 gold glovers LF Barry Bonds and CF Daren Lewis the RF was former gold glove CF Willie McGee
they also had GG at C and 3B

[PVNICK]

The mid - late 70s Red Sox typically had an OF of Yaz, Lynn and Evans.

[dgarza]

1992 Chicago White Sox
Shawn Abner / Lance Johnson / Tim Raines

1959 Cleveland Indians
Rocky Colavito / Minnie Minoso / Jim Piersall

1984 San Diego Padres
Tony Gwynn / Carmelo Martinez / Kevin McReynolds

1956 Milwaukee Braves
Hank Aaron / Bill Bruton / Bobby Thomson

1906 Chicago Cubs
Frank Schulte / Jimmy Sheckard / Jimmy Slagle

1884 Providence Grays
Cliff Carroll / Paul Hines / Paul Radford

1882 Chicago White Stockings
Abner Dalrymple / George Gore / Hugh Nicol

[KHenry14]

I believe that this OF is likely the best.
In 1980, they were not only a great defensive OF, but a good offensive threat as well. Usually there's a weak bat in such a strong defensive bunch, but not in this case. Henderson+Murphy+Armas = 21.0 Total WAR.

Those three guys could really go out and get the ball. Murphy ran down everything in the big Oakland OF, Armas had a cannon of an arm, and Rickey was really good in LF. Obviously Rickey's a HOFer, but the other two were fine players in their own right.

[brett]

The A's of '80-'81 were the best in my view. All three players could play centerfield. Dwayne Murphy was the best defensive outfielder of the 80s in my view. Henderson was a bona-fide gold glove caliber CENTER FIELDER. His arm was a tad weak but he more than made up for it and they got to put him in left anyway. Armas played over 600 games at centerfield and was a truly great right fielder.

[Dude Paskert]

The A's of '80-'81 were the best in my view. All three players could play centerfield. Dwayne Murphy was the best defensive outfielder of the 80s in my view. Henderson was a bona-fide gold glove caliber CENTER FIELDER. His arm was a tad weak but he more than made up for it and they got to put him in left anyway. Armas played over 600 games at centerfield and was a truly great right fielder.

I remember there being a bit of a stink when Rickey went to NY and was moved to center because he said he wasn't going to steal as much, as he expected his legs would be tired from the extra running in CF. Some sportswriters picked up on this and painted Rickey as a selfish and lazy player. He did play a great CF for the Yanks and also stole plenty of bases.

[BigRon]

51-52 Dodgers:
Pafko LF (previously a CFer, and a good one)
Snider CF
Furillo RF

Furillo and Snider were among the best OF throwing combinations ever.

[abolishthedh]

Moderator-- There was a thread from several years back on this very topic. Bill Burgess posted on it with a list of several great outfields from several decades back. Maybe the two threads could be merged.

[Bothrops Atrox]

How about the 2000 Braves with Jones, Jordan, and Sanders? I know Sanders was a very good, but not great fielder, and the other two are all-time defensive OFers both in their primes.