{"id":686,"date":"2008-09-12T15:56:59","date_gmt":"2008-09-12T22:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/12\/the-25-first-basemen-with-the-best-careers\/"},"modified":"2008-09-12T15:56:59","modified_gmt":"2008-09-12T22:56:59","slug":"the-25-first-basemen-with-the-best-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/12\/the-25-first-basemen-with-the-best-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"The 25 First Basemen With the Best Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

For a first baseman, a NEWS score of 280 is required to say that he has obvious <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers<\/strong>.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>There are twelve first basemen who posted these numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>However, as I will explain below, there are two other fist basemen who have <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers by virtue of a short but great career<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>This means that there are fourteen first basemen with <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers according to the NEWS Gauge.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/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<\/o>\n<\/p>\n

All numbers include the 2007 season.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/o><\/p>\n

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

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

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

CV<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>=\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Core Value (sum of win shares for 10 best seasons) <\/o><\/p>\n

NEWS = Career Value<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>=\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>CV\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>+\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>.25(CWS – CV)<\/o><\/p>\n

Here are the 14 First Basemen with obvious Hall of Fame Numbers.<\/span><\/p>\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.<\/strong><\/td>\nLou Gehrig<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1923-1939 <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n489<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n384<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n410<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.<\/strong><\/td>\nJimmie Foxx<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1925-1945 <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n435<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		325<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		353<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/strong><\/td>\nWillie McCovey<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1959-1980<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n408<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n285<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n316<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.<\/td>\nDick Allen<\/font><\/td>\n1963-1977<\/font><\/td>\n342<\/font><\/td>\n304<\/font><\/td>\n314<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.<\/strong><\/td>\nEddie Murray<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1977-1997<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n437<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n273<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n314<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.<\/td>\nJeff Bagwell<\/font><\/td>\n1991-2005<\/font><\/td>\n388<\/font><\/td>\n287<\/font><\/td>\n312<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7.<\/strong><\/td>\nJohnny Mize<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1936-1953<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n339<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n296<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		307<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.<\/strong><\/td>\nHarmon Killebrew<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1954-1975<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n374<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n279<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n303<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.<\/td>\nMark McGwire<\/font><\/td>\n1986-2001<\/font><\/td>\n342<\/font><\/td>\n283<\/font><\/td>\n298<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.<\/td>\nRafael Palmeiro<\/font><\/td>\n1986-2005<\/font><\/td>\n387<\/font><\/td>\n257<\/font><\/td>\n290<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11.<\/td>\nWill Clark<\/font><\/td>\n1986-2000<\/font><\/td>\n331<\/font><\/td>\n269<\/font><\/td>\n285<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.<\/em><\/td>\nJim Thome<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		1991-<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n328<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n267<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n282<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n\u00c2\u00a0<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		\u00c2\u00a0<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n\u00c2\u00a0<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n\u00c2\u00a0<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17.<\/strong><\/td>\nHank Greenberg<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1930-1947<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n267<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n262<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n263<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19.<\/strong><\/td>\nBill Terry<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1923-1936<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n278<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n255<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n261<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

If you consider Frank Thomas to be a first baseman, then he would be on this list.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Since at the end of 2007, he had played more games as the designated hitter (1307) than at first base (971), I consider him to be a DH.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>In fact, Thomas and Paul Molitor are the only two DHs who have <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n Years<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frank Thomas<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		1990-<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		400<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		301<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n326<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

As you can see, twelve of the fourteen first basemen with <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers have a NEWS score of 280 or better while two others (Hank Greenberg and Bill Terry<\/strong>) do not.
\n<\/o><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

How is it that Greenberg and Terry (who did not reach the 280 benchmark) are listed as having <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers?<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>It is because the NEWS Gauge recognizes that there are a few<\/strong> position players (very few) who had short but exceptional careers.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Consider this: there are only eleven position players<\/strong> in the 20th 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<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>The NEWS Gauge says they definitely have <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Greenberg and Terry are two of these players.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Here are the others: Joe DiMaggio, Emer Flick, Earl Averill, Larry Doby, Kirby Puckett, Lou Boudreau, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Cochrane and Bill Dickey.<\/o><\/p>\n

Eight of the fourteen players on the list above are already in the Hall of Fame \u00e2\u20ac\u201c with Lou Gehrig<\/strong> and Jimmie Foxx<\/strong> emerging with the best numbers.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>And Frank Thomas<\/strong> (if considered as a first baseman) has established himself as the best first baseman of the second half of the century.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I think that Frank Thomas and Jeff Bagwell<\/strong> will have no great trouble being elected when eligible.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Dick Allen<\/strong>, of course, is a different story.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>He was on the ballot of the Veteran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Committee for 2007.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Despite having the best numbers of anyone on that list, he got only 13.4% of the vote \u00e2\u20ac\u201c so it does not look like he is ever going to make it.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Allen will continue to be the position player with the best numbers who has been eligible and who is not in the Hall of Fame.<\/strong><\/o><\/p>\n

Mark McGwire<\/strong> and Rafael Palmeiro<\/strong> have both been stained by the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153steroids scandal.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Big Mac was on the BBWAA ballot for the first time in 2007 and got only 23.5% of the vote.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>In 2008, he got the exact same number of votes (rather remarkable).\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Will he ever make it?\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Who knows. \u00c2\u00a0<\/span>And, in my opinion, Palmeiro has no chance unless McGwire is voted in first.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Will Clark<\/st1><\/strong> has been terribly underrated.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>He appeared on the 2006 BBWAA ballot for the first time and got less than 5% of the vote so he will not appear again.<\/o><\/p>\n

Of these fourteen first basemen, only five played during the first half of the century while nine played after 1950.<\/o><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Other First Basemen in the Top 25<\/strong>
\n<\/o><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Here are the eleven other first basemen who round out the top 25 at the position.<\/o><\/span><\/p>\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
13.<\/em><\/td>\nJason Giambi<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		289<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n271<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n276<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.<\/strong><\/td>\nTony Perez<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n349<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n249<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n274<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.<\/strong><\/td>\nOrlando Cepeda<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		310<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n251<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n266<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16.<\/td>\nKeith Hernandez<\/font><\/td>\n311<\/font><\/td>\n248<\/font><\/td>\n264<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18.<\/td>\nFred McGriff<\/font><\/td>\n326<\/font><\/td>\n240<\/font><\/td>\n262<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20.<\/td>\nNorm Cash<\/font><\/td>\n315<\/font><\/td>\n241<\/font><\/td>\n260<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21.<\/em><\/td>\nCarlos Delgado<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		276<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n248<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n255<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22.<\/td>\nJohn Olerud<\/font><\/td>\n301<\/font><\/td>\n239<\/font><\/td>\n255<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23.<\/strong><\/td>\nGeorge Sisler<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		292<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n239<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n252<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24.<\/td>\nDon Mattingly<\/font><\/td>\n263<\/font><\/td>\n241<\/font><\/td>\n247<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25.<\/td>\nMark Grace<\/font><\/td>\n294<\/font><\/td>\n224<\/font><\/td>\n242<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

And here are two first basemen who are in the Hall of Fame but did not make the top 25.<\/o><\/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
Jim Bottomley<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		258<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		214<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n225<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frank Chance<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		237<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		206<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n214<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Note that there are a total of five first basemen who are in the Hall but do not have <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> numbers according to the NEWS Gauge: Tony Perez, Orlando Cepeda, George Sisler, Bottomley and Chance.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Should any of these players really be in the Hall?\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Well, of course, fans will debate questions like this forever.
\n<\/o>\n<\/p>\n

Jason Giambi and Carlos Delgado were still active in 2008.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>It looks as if Giambi will indeed reach the 280 NEWS benchmark before he is through.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>But, of course, he is plagued by \u00e2\u20ac\u0153steroid suspicions\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which may (almost certainly) hurt his chances of ever being elected to the Hall.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>And Delgado (despite a solid 2008 season) appears to be a long shot to reach the 280 mark.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/o><\/p>\n

Besides Mark McGwire (mentioned above), there were three other first basemen on the 2007 BBWAA ballot: Steve Garvey, Don Mattingly and Wally Joyner.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Only Mattingly is among the top 25 above.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Garvey got 21% of the vote, Mattingly got 10% and Joyner got 0 votes \u00e2\u20ac\u201c so none of the three appears to have a chance at election.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Here are the numbers for Garvey and Joyner.<\/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
Steve Garvey<\/font><\/td>\n279<\/font><\/td>\n215<\/font><\/td>\n231<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wally Joyner<\/font><\/td>\n253<\/font><\/td>\n203<\/font><\/td>\n216<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Gil Hodges and Mickey Vernon were two first basemen who were on the 2007 Veteran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Committee ballot for the Hall.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Neither is among our top 25 first basemen (though <\/st1>Vernon<\/st1> just missed).\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Hodges got 61% of the vote and may have a chance \u00e2\u20ac\u201c if the VC ever elects anyone to the Hall.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/st1>Vernon<\/st1> got only 17% and appears to have no chance.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Here are their numbers.<\/o><\/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
Mickey Vernon<\/font><\/td>\n296<\/font><\/td>\n223<\/font><\/td>\n241<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gil Hodges<\/font><\/td>\n263<\/font><\/td>\n221<\/font><\/td>\n232<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\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.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are the 25 first basemen 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-686","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