{"id":299,"date":"2008-04-01T06:00:02","date_gmt":"2008-04-01T13:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/04\/01\/the-25-center-fielders-with-the-best-careers\/"},"modified":"2008-04-01T08:04:59","modified_gmt":"2008-04-01T15:04:59","slug":"the-25-center-fielders-with-the-best-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/04\/01\/the-25-center-fielders-with-the-best-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"The 25 Center Fielders With the Best Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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


\nFor a center fielder, a NEWS score of 270 is required to say that he has obvious <\/st1>HOF<\/st1><\/strong> numbers<\/strong>. <\/span>There are eleven center fielders who posted these numbers. <\/span>However, as I will explain below, there are two other center fielders who have <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers by virtue of a short but great career<\/strong>. <\/span>This means that there are thirteen center fielders with <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers according to the NEWS Gauge. <\/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.\n<\/p>\n

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

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

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

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

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

NEWS = Career Value <\/span>= <\/span>CV <\/span>+ <\/span>.25(CWS – CV)<\/p>\n

Here are the 13 center fielders with obvious Hall of Fame numbers.<\/p>\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.<\/strong><\/td>\nTy Cobb <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1905-1928
\n<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n		722<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n419<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n495<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.<\/strong><\/td>\nWillie Mays<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1951-1973 <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n642<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		389<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		452<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/strong><\/td>\nTris Speaker <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1907-1928<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n630<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n388<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n449<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.<\/strong><\/td>\nMickey Mantle <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1951-1968<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n565<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n399<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n441<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.<\/strong><\/td>\nJoe DiMaggio <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1936-1951<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n387<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n325<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n341<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.<\/strong><\/td>\nDuke Snider <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1947-1964<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n352<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n289<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n305<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7.<\/em><\/td>\nKen Griffey Jr.<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n1989-<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n383<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n278<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		304<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.<\/td>\nJimmy Wynn <\/font><\/td>\n1963-1977<\/font><\/td>\n305<\/font><\/td>\n269<\/font><\/td>\n278<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.<\/strong><\/td>\nRichie Ashburn<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1948-1962<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n329<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n257<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n275<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.<\/strong><\/td>\nMax Carey<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1910-1929<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n351<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n245<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n272<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11.<\/strong><\/td>\nEarl Averill<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1929-1941<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n280<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n268<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n271<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16.<\/strong><\/td>\nLarry Doby<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1947-1959<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n268<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n257<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n260<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18.<\/strong><\/td>\nKirby Puckett<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1984-1995<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n281<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n247<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n256<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

How is it that Larry Doby and Kirby Puckett (who did not reach the 270 benchmark) are listed as having <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers? <\/span>It is because the NEWS Gauge recognizes that there are a few<\/strong> position players (very few) who had short but exceptional careers. <\/span>Consider this: there are only eleven position players<\/strong> in the 20th<\/sup> century who achieved a NEWS score of 255 in a career of fewer than 1800 games \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and every one of them is in the Hall of Fame. <\/span><\/strong>The NEWS Gauge says they definitely have <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers. <\/span>Doby and Puckett are two of these players. <\/span>Here are the others: Joe DiMaggio, Emer Flick, Earl Averill, Hank Greenberg, Lou Boudreau, Bill Terry, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Cochrane and Bill Dickey.<\/p>\n

Earlier we saw that all of the thirteen right fielders who had obvious <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers are in fact in the Hall of Fame. <\/span>Here we see that eleven of the thirteen center fielders with the numbers are in the Hall. <\/span>And I feel confident in saying that Junior Griffey will be inducted easily when he is eligible. <\/span>So, Jimmy Wynn seems to be the only center fielder with obvious <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers who will not be in the Hall.<\/p>\n

Are you surprised by Jimmy Wynn? <\/span>I know I was. <\/span>But take a look at his CV of 269. <\/span>That means that for his ten best seasons he averaged almost 27 win shares per season. <\/span>That is a very impressive feat.<\/p>\n

Five of these players played the bulk of their games before 1950 and five played completely in the second half of the century. <\/span>The other three; Snider, Ashburn and Doby more or less straddled the half century mark.<\/o><\/p>\n

The top four center fielders (Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, Tris Speaker and Mickey Mantle) are among the top ten position players of all time. <\/span>That is, of course, the most players from one position in the top ten. <\/span>Since I am a life-long Willie Mays fan, I was hoping that he would turn out to be the top center fielder. <\/span>But Ty Cobb\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s numbers speak for themselves. <\/span>(I would still take Willie any day!!)<\/p>\n

Here are the numbers for the twelve other center fielders who had the best careers according to the NEWS Gauge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\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
12.<\/td>\nVada Pinson<\/font><\/td>\n321<\/font><\/td>\n252<\/font><\/td>\n269<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13.<\/td>\nTommy Leach <\/font><\/td>\n328<\/font><\/td>\n246<\/font><\/td>\n267<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.<\/strong><\/td>\nEdd Roush <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n314<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n250<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n266<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.<\/td>\nBernie Williams <\/font><\/td>\n311<\/font><\/td>\n248<\/font><\/td>\n264<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17.<\/em><\/td>\nJim Edmonds <\/font><\/em><\/td>\n283<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n250<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n258<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19.<\/td>\nWillie Davis <\/font><\/td>\n322<\/font><\/td>\n230<\/font><\/td>\n255<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20.<\/td>\nCesar Cedeno<\/font><\/td>\n296<\/font><\/td>\n236<\/font><\/td>\n251<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21.<\/td>\nAmos Otis <\/font><\/td>\n286<\/font><\/td>\n237<\/font><\/td>\n249<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22.<\/td>\nDale Murphy <\/font><\/td>\n294<\/font><\/td>\n228<\/font><\/td>\n245<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23.<\/td>\nAl Oliver <\/font><\/td>\n305<\/font><\/td>\n222<\/font><\/td>\n243<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24.<\/td>\nWally Berger <\/font><\/td>\n241<\/font><\/td>\n240<\/font><\/td>\n240<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25.<\/td>\nFred Lynn <\/font><\/td>\n280<\/font><\/td>\n225<\/font><\/td>\n239<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

I list the next center fielder here only because he is still active and has built a reputation as one of the best defensive center fielders ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Andruw Jones<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		248<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		231<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n235<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Note how close Vada Pinson is to <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers (with a NEWS score of 269). <\/span>And, for some reason, I was surprised to see Bernie Williams come out this high. <\/span>And how many fans have even heard of Tommy Leach or Wally Berger?<\/p>\n

I am sure that there are more than a few fans who think that one or more of these players deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. <\/span>In fact, Dale Murphy is still on the BBWAA ballot. <\/span>But he only got 14% of the vote in 2008 so he does not appear to have a very good chance of being inducted.<\/o><\/p>\n

Of course, Jim Edmonds and Andruw Jones are still playing. <\/span>But I really do not see either of these players making the 270 benchmark.<\/p>\n

Vada Pinson, Curt Flood and Al Oliver were all on the 2007 ballot for the Veteran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Committee. <\/span>They got 19.5%, 17.1% and 17.1% of the vote, respectively, so none of them seems to have any hope of being elected. <\/span>Here are Flood\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Curt Flood<\/font><\/td>\n221<\/font><\/td>\n209<\/font><\/td>\n212<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

There are three center fielders who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make our list of the top 25 center fielders.<\/o><\/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
Hack Wilson <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n224<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n220<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n221<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Earle Combs <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n227<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n217<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n220<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lloyd Waner <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n245<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n207<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n217<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

That means that according to the NEWS HOF Gauge there are a total of four center fielders (these three and Edd Roush) who are in the Hall but who do not appear to have the numbers (a NEWS score of 270). <\/span>Of course, there may be other reasons why they deserve to be there.<\/p>\n

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><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are the 25 center 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-299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prof-hobans-hall-of-fame-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=299"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}