{"id":284,"date":"2008-03-25T06:01:49","date_gmt":"2008-03-25T13:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/03\/25\/the-25-left-fielders-with-the-best-careers\/"},"modified":"2008-03-28T18:06:24","modified_gmt":"2008-03-29T01:06:24","slug":"the-25-left-fielders-with-the-best-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/03\/25\/the-25-left-fielders-with-the-best-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"The 25 Left Fielders With the Best Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are the 25 left fielders who had the best careers during the 20th<\/sup> century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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For a left fielder, a NEWS score of 280 is required to say that he has obvious <\/st1>HOF<\/st1><\/strong> numbers<\/strong>.<\/span> <\/span>There are eighteen left fielders who posted these numbers. <\/span>This is the largest group at any one position (except pitcher, of course). <\/span>Keep in mind that a player may not have obvious <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers but may still be a deserving Hall of Famer for other reasons.<\/o><\/p>\n

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All numbers include the 2007 season.<\/span> <\/span><\/o><\/p>\n

Bold print = Hall of Famer<\/o><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Italic = active player in 2007<\/o><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

CWS = Career Win Shares<\/o><\/span><\/p>\n

CV<\/span> <\/span>= <\/span>Core Value (sum of win shares for 10 best seasons) <\/o><\/p>\n

NEWS = Career Value<\/span> <\/span>= <\/span>CV <\/span>+ <\/span>.25(CWS – CV)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n Years<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.<\/em><\/td>\nBarry Bonds<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n1986-
\n<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n		707<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n427<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n497<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.<\/strong><\/td>\nStan Musial<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1941-1963 <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n604<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		378<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		435<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/strong><\/td>\nTed Williams<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1939-1960<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n555<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n394<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n434<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.<\/td>\nPete Rose<\/font><\/td>\n1963-1986<\/font><\/td>\n547<\/font><\/td>\n307<\/font><\/td>\n367<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.<\/td>\nRickey Henderson<\/font><\/td>\n1979-2003<\/font><\/td>\n535<\/font><\/td>\n308<\/font><\/td>\n365<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.<\/strong><\/td>\nCarl Yastrzemski<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1961-1983<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n488<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n286<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n337<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7.<\/em><\/td>\nGary Sheffield<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n1988-<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n418<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n305<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		333<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.<\/strong><\/td>\nFred Clarke<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1894-1915<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n400<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n273<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n305<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.<\/td>\nTim Raines <\/font><\/td>\n1979-2002<\/font><\/td>\n390<\/font><\/td>\n275<\/font><\/td>\n304<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.<\/strong><\/td>\nBilly Williams <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1959-1976<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n374<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n279<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n303<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11.<\/strong><\/td>\nAl Simmons <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1924-1944<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n375<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n276<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n301<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.<\/em><\/td>\nManny Ramirez <\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		1993-<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n349<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n282<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n299<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13.<\/td>\nSherry Magee <\/font><\/td>\n1904-1919<\/font><\/td>\n354<\/font><\/td>\n272<\/font><\/td>\n293<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.<\/strong><\/td>\nZack Wheat <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1909-1927<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n380<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n264<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n293<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.<\/td>\nJoe Jackson <\/font><\/td>\n1908-1920<\/font><\/td>\n294<\/font><\/td>\n290<\/font><\/td>\n291<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16.<\/strong><\/td>\nWillie Stargell <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1962-1982<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n370<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n263<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n290<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17.<\/strong><\/td>\nGoose Goslin <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1921-1938<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n355<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n263<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n286<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18.<\/strong><\/td>\nLou Brock <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1961-1979<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n348<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n264<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n285<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

It is interesting to note that every right fielder with <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers according to the NEWS Gauge is in the Hall of Fame while only ten of the eighteen left fielders with the numbers have been inducted into the Hall.<\/span> <\/span>Of course, Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield and Manny Ramirez were still active in 2007. <\/span>And Pete Rose and Joe Jackson are banned from the Hall. <\/span><\/o><\/p>\n

<\/o><\/span><\/p>\n

Look at the number of players by era.<\/span> <\/span>Six of these left fielders played the bulk of their careers before 1950, ten played after 1950 and two essentially bridged the half-century <\/span>mark (Stan Musial and Ted Williams). <\/span><\/o><\/p>\n

<\/o><\/span><\/p>\n

The NEWS Gauge suggests that Stan Musial and Ted Williams had careers that put them into a virtual dead heat for second place among the left fielders.<\/span> <\/span>And I think it is fair to say that many followers of the game have some difficulty with the idea that Barry Bonds may be a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153better player\u00e2\u20ac\u009d than Musial or Williams. <\/span>Having seen all three play, I myself have trouble with that concept. <\/span><\/o><\/p>\n

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It is important to point out that the NEWS score simply indicates that Bonds has put some very impressive numbers into the record book during his career.<\/span> <\/span>How much of that achievement is due to the effect of natural talent and how much to chemicals is still being debated. <\/o><\/p>\n

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If Bonds does not make it into the Hall, then I feel that Gary Sheffield will not either.<\/span> <\/span>Despite his impressive numbers, the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153steroid cloud\u00e2\u20ac\u009d hangs over his career as well.<\/o><\/p>\n

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Look at how close the career numbers of Pete Rose and Rickey Henderson are according to the NEWS gauge.<\/span> <\/span>Is this surprising? <\/span>I cannot really decide.<\/o><\/p>\n

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Tim Raines may have a hard time being elected to the Hall despite his great numbers since he was never a marquee player \u00e2\u20ac\u201c just a solid and outstanding performer.<\/span> <\/span>He got only 24% of the vote in the 2008 BBWAA election \u00e2\u20ac\u201c so his chances do not appear to be too strong at present. <\/span>But he has time so we can hope that more of the writers who vote will do their homework.<\/o><\/p>\n

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And what about Sherry Magee \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the real \u00e2\u20ac\u0153forgotten star\u00e2\u20ac\u009d among these players.<\/span> <\/span>How many current fans have ever even heard of the guy? <\/span>He can only be elected by the Veteran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Committee \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and he was not even on the ballot for 2007<\/strong>.<\/o><\/p>\n

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And did you ever think that Fred Clarke was this good a player?<\/span> <\/span>Fred who?<\/o><\/p>\n

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Here are the numbers for the seven other left fielders who had the best careers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19.<\/strong><\/td>\nJoe Medwick<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		312<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		267<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n278<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20.<\/td>\nJimmy Sheckard<\/font><\/td>\n339<\/font><\/td>\n257<\/font><\/td>\n278<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21.<\/td>\nFrank Howard<\/font><\/td>\n297<\/font><\/td>\n260<\/font><\/td>\n270<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22.<\/td>\nMinnie Minoso<\/font><\/td>\n283<\/font><\/td>\n258<\/font><\/td>\n264<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23.<\/td>\nTommy Leach<\/font><\/td>\n328<\/font><\/td>\n246<\/font><\/td>\n267<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24.<\/td>\nJose Cruz<\/font><\/td>\n313<\/font><\/td>\n232<\/font><\/td>\n252<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25.<\/strong><\/td>\nHeinie Manush<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		285<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		236<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n248<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Are some of these players also legitimate Hall of Famers?<\/span> <\/span>That, of course, is a matter of opinion. <\/span>And debating issues like this is what many fans enjoy.<\/o><\/p>\n

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There are two left fielders who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 25.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ralph Kiner<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		242<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		242<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n242<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chick Hafey <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n186<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n176<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n179<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

As you can see, there are a total of four left fielders who are in the Hall of Fame who do not meet the NEWS benchmark of 280 for a left fielder: Joe Medwick, Heinie Manush, Ralph Kiner and Chick Hafey.<\/span> <\/span>Joe Medwick, at 278, came very close. <\/span>And, of course, Ralph Kiner played for only ten seasons but he has many supporters for his place in the Hall. <\/span>But Chick Hafey? <\/span>How on earth did he ever get elected? <\/span><\/o><\/p>\n

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<\/o><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jim Rice got 72% of the vote on the BBWAA 2008 ballot and appears to be on the verge of being elected to the Hall of Fame.<\/span> <\/span>He is in fact the left fielder with the 27th<\/sup> best career according to the NEWS Gauge. <\/span>Luis Gonzalez is just ahead of him and he is tied with Bob Johnson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Luis Gonzalez<\/font><\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		310<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		226<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		247<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bob Johnson<\/font><\/td>\n287<\/font><\/td>\n231<\/font><\/td>\n245<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jim Rice<\/font><\/td>\n282<\/font><\/td>\n233<\/font><\/td>\n245<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Does Jim Rice have <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers?<\/span> <\/span>The NEWS Gauge does not think so. <\/span>And it is important to note that this is not necessarily due to the length of his career. <\/span>Should a left fielder who averaged 23.3 win shares over his ten best seasons be in the Hall? <\/span>(A similar question could be asked of Ralph Kiner.) <\/span>Every left fielder with obvious <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers (above) had a CV of at least 260 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c meaning he averaged better than 26 win shares over his ten best seasons. <\/span>Jim Rice simply does not measure up.<\/o><\/p>\n

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For more information on the NEWS <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> Gauge, see BASEBALL\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S BEST: The TRUE Hall of Famers<\/a> <\/strong>on this site.<\/o><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are the 25 left fielders who had the best careers during the 20th century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prof-hobans-hall-of-fame-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t