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Hey, I'm back. So on Friday, we looked at the unluckiest of the pitchers; now, we're on to the hitters. To reiterate the methodology and summarize the table:
Players with between 30 and 50 career WAR and at least four 5-WAR seasons are the ones we want.
...
Some of them were very good; a few of them even made the Hall. They all share one trait, though: They fell short of their potential, because of a late start, a premature exit, injuries, other factors, or some combination of these.
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Also, here's the exact list, in case you were concerned. As was noted in the first edition, you'll observe that some of the players listed there aren't listed here. There are two possible reasons for this: The player is still active, and will probably continue to strengthen their Hall of Fame case (e.g. Robinson Cano, Joe Mauer); or the player accrued his value prior to the 1901 Play Index cutoff (e.g. George Davis, Fred Clarke).
Anyway, on to the table:
| Player | Career WAR | Years | 5-WAR Seasons | HOF? | Career Summary | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernie Williams | 49.5 | 1991-2006 | 6 | No | Williams posted some anodyne 22- to 25-year-old seasons (8.0 combined WAR) before embarking on an eight-year stretch of consistency (41.6 WAR, at least 4 per season) from age 26 to 33 (1995 to 2002). He fell off swiftly, though, as ages 34 to 37 (2003 to 2006) were replacement-level (like, 0.0 WAR exactly), including an LVP 2005 season. | In Williams's case, the constant pressure from fans and the media to perform at a high level upon arriving at the show (not to mention constant trade threats from Steinbrenner) probably made it difficult for him to play well early on. A meniscus tear in early 2003 was the primary impetus for his deterioration. |
| Ralph Kiner | 49.4 | 1946-1955 | 5 | Yes | An unspectacular rookie year (2.8 WAR as a 23-year-old) was blown out of the water by a six-year run of immaculacy: 40.8 WAR as a 24- to 29-year-old (1947-1952). Three decades on this earth were too much for Kiner, however, as 5.9 WAR (1953-1955) foreshadowed his retirement as a 32-year old. | The sage counsel of Hank Greenberg prior to 1947 deserves some credit for Kiner's breakout that year. As for his 1953 decline, continuing back problems will do that to a hitter — particularly one whose success is predicated on power. |
| Larry Doby | 49.4 | 1947-1959 | 4 | Yes | From his first full season (1948, as a 24-year-old) to his ninth (1956, as a 32-year-old), Doby accumulated 47 wins for his team — a pretty formidable sum. His total after that (2.7, as a 33- to 35-year-old) was anything but. | Doby couldn't debut before 1947 because of...uh...something or other. It's not important. Various ailments — some of which were inflicted, Zack Grienke-style, from an in-game-donnybrook — contributed to his waning ability as he aged. |
| Nellie Fox | 49.0 | 1947-1965 | 4 | Yes | Fox's young debut wasn't exactly Harperesque (0.3 WAR from ages 19 to 22 in 1947-1950). The next ten years were pretty solid, though — 5.1 WAR from 1951 to 1960 (ages 23 to 32). After that, there was nothing left (3.6 WAR from 1961 to 1965 as a 33- to 37-year-old). | Fox trained with Yankees HOFer Joe Gordon during the 1950 offseason, which helped with his 1951 improvement. As for the decline, his health appeared to be in order — it seemed to be the natural decay of a player. |
| Jim Fregosi | 48.7 | 1961-1976 | 5 | No | Fregosi qualified every year from 1963 to 1970, and he didn't disappoint: 44.8 WAR over that span, in his age 21 to 28 seasons. Unfortunately, it all fell apart thereafter: 3.6 WAR from 1971 to 1978 (ages 29 to 36). |
|
| Dave Bancroft | 48.5 | 1915-1930 | 4 | Yes | Bancroft's career is somewhat bimodal. His 24- to 26-year-old seasons (1915-1917) were above-average (10.8 WAR); his 27- and 28-year-old seasons (1918 & 1919) were average (3.2 WAR); his 29- to 35-year-old seasons (1920-1926) were a good deal above average (34.3 WAR); and his 36- to 39-year-old seasons (1927-1930) were below average (0.3 WAR). | 1918 and 1919 were shortened by injury, and when Bancroft came back in 1920, he was traded to the Giants, for whom his play improved considerably. |
| Heinie Groh | 48.4 | 1912-1927 | 4 | No | Groh's first two seasons (1912-1913, as a 22- to 23-year-old) were nothing special (2.4 WAR); the seven years that followed it (1914 to 1920, as a 24- to 30-year-old) were pretty special (35.7 WAR). After that (1921 to 1927, ages 31 to 37), it was back to conformity (10.3 WAR). | Groh was the first player ever to use the bottle bat (it was created for him), and it undoubtedly assisted him in his improvement. A holdout for a better contract shortened his 1921 season, and the subsequent trade, coupled with his disgruntled attitude from then on out, hurt his play. |
| Earl Averill | 48.1 | 1929-1941 | 4 | Yes | In his first ten seasons in the league (1929-1938), Averill put up 48 wins above replacement. The only problem? Those were his age 27 to 36 seasons. After that (1939-1941, as a 37- to 39-year-old), there wasn't much left in the tank (0.1 WAR). | Averill played semipro ball for several seasons in his nascent years, never making a name for himself until the Indians purchased his contract in 1929. A back injury in 1937 expedited his crumble. |
| Johnny Evers | 47.8 | 1902-1929 | 4 | Yes | It took Evers a little while to stick (7.1 WAR from 1902 to 1905), but once he did, he was reliable: From 1906 to 1914 (ages 24 to 32), he put up at least 3 WAR in every season except one. The next three years (1915 to 1917, ages 24 to 35) were nothing to write home about (3.3 WAR). Also, for whatever reason, he made one-game cameos in 1922 (age 40) and 1929 (age 47). | Evers had a thin build; this made him more vulnerable to injuries (which curtailed his 1905 and 1915 campaigns). He also had a nervous breakdown in 1911, which cost him most of the season. |
| Bobby Veach | 47.7 | 1912-1925 | 4 | No | As a 24- to 26-year-old (1912-1914), Veach's 4.2 WAR didn't turn any heads. Putting up 40.6 WAR from ages 27 to 34 (1915 to 1922) probably caused some cranium swiveling. Oh, and 2.9 WAR over the next three years (1923-1925, as a 35- to 37-year-old) made them turn right back. | Working his teenage years in a coal mine, Veach didn't have much time to hone his baseballing ability. Moreover, he changed his swing (from a more choked-up style to a freer, smoother approach) after his three-year mediocrity run, which led to the ensuing breakout. |
| Jim Rice | 47.2 | 1974-1989 | 5 | Yes | Rice's first two full seasons (1975 & 1976, ages 22 & 23) gave him a total of 5.2 WAR, which he equaled in 1977 alone. That was the first of a three-year stretch of otherworldly play (19.1 WAR, ages 24 to 26), which gave way to an odd seven-year span. From 1980 to 1986 (ages 27 to 33), he had 5+ WAR twice (in '83 and '86), but didn't top 3 WAR in any other season. His 22.9 WAR for this period overall was adequate, although the -0.1 WAR he accrued over the next three years (1987 to 1989, ages 34 to 36) certainly wasn't. | Hand injuries in 1975 and 1980 hindered Rice for the years that followed them, and an elbow malady in 1987 was the final nail in his coffin. General inconsistency — not attributed to any ailments — also played a role. |
| Devon White | 47.0 | 1985-2001 | 4 | No | White's first four full years in the majors were unpredictable — he ranged from 5.6 WAR in 1987 (age 24) to 1.7 WAR in 1990 (age 27). 1991 to 1993 (ages 28-30) were much more predictable, and in a good way — he crossed the six-win plateau in all three years, totaling 18.7 WAR. Afterward, though, he was never the same — only 13.1 WAR from 1994 to 2001 (ages 31 to 38). | White fought with his manager with the Angels (his team up until 1990), which diminished his play, and earned him a trade to Toronto. 1991 to 1993 were White's first three years north of the border, and his play revamped as a result. |
| Roy White | 46.6 | 1965-1979 | 4 | No | White was like the Bernie Williams of the 1970s. He sucked (-0.1 WAR) for his first three years in the majors (1965-1967, ages 21 to 23), then put up at least three wins per year (47.1 WAR total) for the next ten years (1968-1977, ages 24 to 33), then fell off dramatically (-0.4 WAR in 1978 & 1979, ages 34 and 35), all while playing for the Yankees. | According to White himself, increased pressure (in New York? Never heard that one before...) to perform as older veterans exited caused his early strife. Once they were out of the way, it was smooth sailing. |
| Dale Murphy | 46.3 | 1976-1993 | 6 | No | Murphy posted four nauseating 20- to 23-year-old campaigns (1976-1979, -0.8 WAR), which preceded a meteoric rise (6.5 WAR). He sustained this supremacy over the next seven years; when the dust settled, he had accumulated 42.2 WAR from 1980 to 1987 (ages 24 to 31). That was as good as it would get, though, as he only put up 4.8 WAR over the last six years (1988-1993, ages 32 to 37) of his career. | Murphy was drafted as a catcher and briefly moved to first base before finding a permanent home in the outfield. A few different injuries hung over him for his final years in the league. |
| Thurman Munson | 45.9 | 1969-1979 | 4 | No | After a 97-PA tryout in 1969, Munson qualified for the batting title in every year except his ultimate (which we'll cover later). Over those 10 years (ages 23 to 32), he accrued 45.6 WAR, and gained three wins in every season but his last. | Munson may have been on his way to Cooperstown, but a tragic plane accident took him from this earth during the 1979 season. |
| Frank Chance | 45.8 | 1898-1914 | 4 | Yes | Chance's career path was similar to the home runs of Carlos Lee*. His first five campaigns were abbreviated (1898-1902, ages 21-25), and his WAR over that span (7.2) reflected that. He received ample opportunity to play over the next five years (1903-1907, ages 26-30), and he responded accordingly (29.3 WAR). He was then solid (8.2 WAR) for three years (1908-1910, ages 31-33), then deplorable (1.1 WAR) for four years (1911-1914, ages 34-37). |
Chance was signed as a catcher, and the effort he put in to catching foul tips inflicted numerous injuries upon him. After 1902, he moved to first base, a trip that helped to restore his health. It was short-lived, however, as his propensity for getting beaned (HBP in 2.7% of his trips to the dish, ninth-most all-time among hitters with at least 5000 PAs) undermined his success. |
| Rusty Staub | 45.8 | 1963-1985 | 4 | No | From ages 19 to 21 (1963 to 1965), Staub played down to his competition (1.8 WAR). From ages 22 to 27 (1966 to 1971), he played far above his competition (30.3 WAR). From ages 28 to 41 (1972 to 1985), he again played down to his competition (13.7 WAR). | A hand injury in 1972 dampened his hitting prowess, and his fielding weakened for, essentially, every season of his career (although there doesn't appear to be any injury behind that). |
| Rocky Colavito | 44.7 | 1955-1968 | 4 | No |
Colavito's rookie and sophomore seasons (1955 & 1956, ages 21 & 22) were sufficing (5.9 WAR). Aside from an anomalous, 1.1-WAR 1960, he attained greatness (25.7 WAR) for the next five years (1958-1962, ages 24-28). Then, there was a four-year stretch (1963-1966, ages 29-32) of satisfactory play (12.2 WAR), which preceded two horrendous final season (0.5 WAR in 1967 & 1968, ages 33 & 34). |
Except for a sore shoulder in 1966, Colavito appeared to be blessed with good health for the majority of his career. For lack of a better explanation, random variation seemed to be the culprit in his case. |
| Chuck Knoblauch | 44.5 | 1991-2002 | 4 | No | Knoblauch's first nine seasons in the majors (1991-1991, ages 22-30) weren't always consistent (he put up sub-3 WARs twice), but the end results (44.1) were hard to dispute. Y2K took a toll on him, however, as his WAR in three seasons in the new millennium (2000-2002) was a putrid 0.5. | Steve Sax Syndrome (or "the yips") is often blamed for Knoblauch's sudden deflation, and there doesn't seem to be any other reason — he just stopped playing well. |
| Nomar Garciaparra | 44.2 | 1996-2009 | 6 | NYE | Garciaparra was outstanding when he qualified for the batting title: He did this seven times through his career, and topped six WAR six of those times. Overall, he accumulated 41.2 WAR before turning 30 (1996-2003), but would only be worth three wins over the last six years (2004-2009, ages 30-35) of his career. | Name a body part, and Garciaparra probably hurt it at some point during his career. Hitting the DL on 14 (!) occasions over his time in the bigs, he just didn't have the durability required for enshrinement. |
| Travis Jackson | 44.1 | 1922-1936 | 4 | Yes | Jackson's peak stretched six years (1926-1931, ages 22-27) and consisted of 31.1 WAR. His pre-peak years (1922-1925, 6.9 WAR) and post-peak years (1932-1936, 6.0 WAR) pale in comparison. | A fractured skull and damaged optical nerve held Jackson back for the first few years of his career; illnesses and ailments (mumps, influenza, and appendicitis among them) infected him periodically; and balky knees ended his career prematurely. |
| Steve Finley | 44.0 | 1989-2007 | 4 | No | Honestly, I don't know what to make of Finley's career. He put up five WAR in 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1999, but didn't top four WAR in any other season, and only gathered three WAR three other times (2000, 2002, 2003). He's like the player equivalent of a stars-and-scrubs team (with which I, as an Orioles fan, am quite familiar). | Bell's Palsy, an infection that numbs the victim's neck, hit him after his 1992 season, and a broken hand reduced his 1994 season. Aside from those, his odd career was simply the result of, well, oddness. |
| Chuck Klein | 43.5 | 1928-1944 | 4 | Yes | An outstanding rookie year (2.2 WAR, but in 275 PAs) was the harbinger for greatness: From 1929 to 1933 (his 24- to 28-year-old seasons), Klein accumulated 30.5 WAR. After that, though, he only put up only 10.9 WAR over eleven seasons (1934-1944, ages 29 to 39). | A muscle tear in his leg in 1934 doomed Klein, as the medical care of the day couldn't save him from a career of mediocrity. For what team was he playing when the injury occurred? You'll never guess... |
| Tony Oliva | 43.1 | 1962-1976 | 5 | No | Oliva's rookie year came as a 25-year-old, and he played up to his age (6.8 WAR and the Rookie of the Year). From there, he was an excellent contributor (35.5) for seven years (1965-1971, ages 26-32), before some horrid later years (0.5 WAR from 1972 to 1976 as a 33- to 37-year-old) ended his career on a sour note. | Unfortunately, Oliva's career was destined to fail: He was born with a genetic deformity in his knees that made them more susceptible to injury. His career might have been extended if his genes had been different. |
| Charlie Keller | 43.0 | 1939-1952 | 5 | No | Keller's first five seasons in the majors (1939-1943, ages 22-26) were virtually unrivaled — he gave 30 wins to his team over that span. He missed 1944 and most of 1945, but returned undeterred, with 2.3 WAR in a brief stint in 1945 before 6.1 WAR in 1946. By 1947 (age 30), though, something changed — he only put up 1.9 WAR that year, and 2.5 WAR over the next five years (1948-1952, ages 31-35). | World War II robbed Keller of almost two of his prime years, and a ruptured disc in his back in 1947 finished him off. |
| Dolph Camilli | 42.6 | 1933-1945 | 5 | No | Camilli took a while to get to the majors (he debuted at 26, in 1933), and he didn't exactly hit the ground running once he got there (1.6 WAR from 1933 to 1935, as a 26- to 28-year-old). When he settled in, however, it was something to see: As a 29- to 35-year-old (1936-1942), he accumulated 39.3 WAR. Things got worse when he was in his late thirties (1.7 WAR in his age-36 season, 0.0 WAR in his age-38-season), as one might expect. | Playing for several minor league teams in his early twenties, Camilli impressed with the glove and the bat. For whatever reason, though, he didn't get called up to the show until age 26, and when he did, he took a few years to get acclimated. |
| Don Mattingly | 42.2 | 1982-1995 | 4 | No | Mattingly's first six qualifying seasons (1984-1989, ages 23-28) were nothing short of phenomenal (32.9 WAR), although the six seasons that they predated (1990-1995, ages 29-34) were underwhelming (8.9 WAR). | Flare-ups from back discs ended his 1990 season; after that, he was never the same again. |
| Felipe Alou | 42.1 | 1958-1974 | 5 | No | Alou provided respectable value (6.6) for the first four years (1958-1961, ages 23-26) of his career. Of the next seven years (1962-1968, ages 27-33), two were around this level (2.1 and 0.9 WAR in 1964 and 1967, respectively), while the other five most definitely were not (5+ WAR in 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, and 1968). At age 34 (1969), his production took a nosedive (0.7 WAR), where it would remain (3.0 WAR) for the rest of his career (1970-1974, ages 35-39). | Alou went to college in the Dominican Republic, and hesitated to join the major leagues, only immigrating when his family's indigence forced him to. Once he got here, a paucity of available roster spots limited him in his first few years of play. Knee and elbow maladies hampered him in 1964 and 1967, respectively, and a broken finger in 1969 was the last straw. |
| Wally Berger | 42.0 | 1930-1940 | 4 | No | Berger arrived in the majors at age 24, and was sparkling (35.7 WAR) for his first seven years (1930-1936, ages 24-30). The next four years (1937-1940, ages 31-34) weren't as impressive (6.3 WAR). | Berger played in the minors prior to his 1930 debut, but was hurt in 1928 and 1929, which impacted his production. He was traded in 1937, and his new team used him sparingly; by the time he was given the opportunity to play regularly, his body had declined to the point of no return. |
| Ken Singleton | 41.8 | 1970-1984 | 4 | No | SIngleton's best years were in the 70s (1973-1980, to be exact, from ages 26 to 33), when he topped 4 WAR six times and totaled 35.2 WAR. Before (4.7 WAR, 1970-1972, ages 23 to 25) and after (1.9 WAR, 1981-1984, ages 34 to 37), he was just another crack in the wall. | When he was drafted by the Mets (out of college, which also hurt), Singleton's path to the majors was blocked; after he was traded to the Expos for Staub, he would blossom into the near-HOFer that he's remembered as. |
| Jack Fournier | 41.5 | 1912-1927 | 4 | No | Fournier had some good years in the 1910s; his pinnacle was 5.9 WAR in 1915, as a 25-year-old**. HIs WAR for the decade was 12.4 — nothing noteworthy. In the first six years of the next decade (1920-1925, ages 30-35), he performed at another level (26.4 WAR). Oh, and there were two miserable seasons (2.6 WAR in 1926 & 1927) tacked on at the end. | Following some unsuccessful early campaigns, Fournier worked tirelessly to improve his plate discipline, which led to his 1915 breakout. The subsequent slump is unexplainable, but the results — a Favreesque faux retirement in 1919 — are clear. When he came back in 1920, he picked where he had left off (in 1915, that is). Also, dreadful fielding accompanied him throughout his career. |
| Augie Galan | 40.9 | 1934-1949 | 4 | No | Galan's first qualifying season came in 1935 at the age of 22; that year, he put up 5.1 WAR. He wouldn't put up a three-win season again until 1943, when he accrued 5.4 WAR as a 31-year-old — the first of five straight three-win campaigns (23.9 WAR overall). In between (1936-1942, ages 23-29), his 10.2 WAR was acceptable. |
Many of the platitudes that Galan achieved were the result of, shall we say, mythical intervention. The Luck Dragons helped him attain his first five-win season; after a BABIP of .329 in 1935, he put up a .275 figure for the next seven years. Later, the arousal of the sleeping giant*** gave him the opportunity he needed; while his countrymen fought in WWII, he feasted on the inferior wartime competition. |
| Dave Parker | 40.0 | 1973-1991 | 4 | No |
Two auditions (as a 22- and 23-year-old, in 1973 and 1974) for Parker didn't yield exceptional results (1.3 WAR). The next five years (1975-19179, ages 24-28) were certainly exceptional (31.0 WAR). That was as good as it would get, however; the final dozen years (1980-1991, ages 29-40) of his career were worth only 7.6 WAR. The nadir came in 1987, when he was the worst player in the majors. |
Decaying knees destroyed Parker's fielding and, to a lesser extent, his hitting. Furthermore, he had issues with his weight and with substance abuse (cocaine and such). |
| Albert Belle | 39.8 | 1989-2000 | 4 | No | For four years (1989-1992) in his early 20s (ages 22-25), Belle gathered a measly 4.3 WAR, which he would soon overcome. Over the next six years (1993-1998, ages 26-31), he accumulated 31.5 wins above replacement. From this high pedestal, he fell, to 4.0 WAR in the last two years (1999 & 2000, ages 32 & 33) of his tenure in the majors. | Belle was afflicted with osteoarthritis, which demolished his joints and forced him out of the game after 2000. On the one hand, this was hardly his fault — it's a genetic condition. On the other hand, as an Orioles fan...DAMNIT BELLE HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US |
| Donie Bush | 39.3 | 1908-1923 | 4 | No | Bush's career, at least in the early going, was a volatile one. From 1909 to 1917 (ages 21 to 29), he had four 5-WAR seasons, three 3-WAR seasons, and two 1-WAR seasons (36.7 WAR overall). After this, though, he was consistent in his horribleness (2.1 WAR from 1918 to 1923, ages 30 to 35). | As a player whose success was almost entirely derived from his defense, Bush didn't age well, nor was he stable from year-to-year (like defense as a whole). |
| Eddie Stanky | 39.3 | 1943-1953 | 4 | No | Entering the majors as a 27-year-old in 1943, Stanky took two years to shake off the rust of the minors (2.4 WAR in 1943 and 1944). Once he did, the rewards were plentiful: 35.7 WAR over the next seven years (1945-1951, ages 29-35). As a 36- and 37-year-old (1952 & 1953, respectively), he played like a 36- and 37-year-old (0.8 WAR). | In his early years, Stanky had a hot temper (which earned him the appellation "The Brat") and a poor approach at the plate; once he corralled the former and altered the latter, he was good to go. |
| Hack Wilson | 38.8 | 1923-1934 | 5 | Yes |
Wilson played atrociously (1.9 WAR) for his first three years in the show (1923-1925, ages 23-25); he followed these up with five stupendous seasons (29.9 WAR from ages 26 to 30), then followed those up with four undesirable season (6.9 WAR from ages 31 to 34). |
Alcoholism was the bane of Wilson's existence; his remarkable 1930 season only further incentivized him to drink. When he could get his habit under control, though, he drove most of the league's pitchers to the spirits as well. |
| Bill White | 38.8 | 1956-1969 | 4 | No | For five years in the sixties (1962-1966, ages 28 to 32), White dominated to the tune of 26.4 WAR. Prior to that, he was decent (10.4 WAR from 1956 to 261 as a 22- to 27-year-old); after that, he was a scrub (1.9 WAR from 1967 to 1969 as a 33- to 35-year-old). | White didn't play in 1957 and most of 1958 while enlisted in the army, and, evidently, it took him a while to get the hang of baseball once he returned. |
| Magglio Ordonez | 38.5 | 1997-2011 | 4 | NYE | A disappointing rookie season (0.5 WAR as a 24-year-old in 1998) preceded a five-year span of eminence (22.5 WAR from 1999 to 2003, ages 25 to 29). Although he would reclaim this position once more with a hilariously flukish, 7.3-WAR 2007, he was never that good as a whole (14.3 WAR from 2004 to 2011 as a 30- to 37-year-old). | A knee injury cut Ordonez's 2004 season short, and reduced his ability to the lower level at which it remained for the rest of his career. |
| Johnny Callison | 38.5 | 1958-1973 | 4 | No | Callison was abominable for four years (3.2 WAR from 1958 to 1961, ages 19 to 22); then, he decided to start playing. Topping six WAR in each year, he had the best season of his career from 1962 to 1965 (ages 23 to 26), with an aggregate WAR of 26.3 WAR for that period. This led to modest production (9.0 WAR) for the rest of his career (1966-1973, ages 27-34). | Supposedly, immaturity (he had to be supervised all of the time, or something) was what undid his success. There doesn't appear to be a more satisfying explanation, so I'm going to go with that. |
| Paul Blair | 37.9 | 1964-1980 | 5 | No | Blair's prime stretched from ages 22 to 30 (1966-1974), and it was rife with inconsistency: Of those nine years, five crossed the 5-WAR plateau, and the other four were sub-3. His late 30s weren't as kind to him (-2.0 WAR from 1975 to 1980, as a 31- to 36-year-old). | As is the case for most glove-first players, Blair couldn't maintain his success as he aged, or even from year-to-year in his youth. Oh, and getting hit in the face with a pitch probably made matters worse. |
| Freddy Parent | 35.8 | 1899-1911 | 4 | No |
Parent had only eight plate appearances in 1899 and didn't play in the majors in 1900. By the next season, he was there to stay; he played quite well, accumulating 20.9 WAR over the next four years (1901-1904, ages 25-28). His production fell off after this (15.3 WAR from 1905 to 1911, as a 29- to 35-year-old). |
The causes of Parent's decline are hard to detect. Some baseball historians attribute it to the trade of team leader Patsy Dougherty during the 1904 season. The more likely answer is some sort of hidden injury (though none appear in his bios) or just natural decline. |
*Except for 1905 and 1910, Chance's WAR followed a perfect curve:
[single tear rolls down cheek]
**Actually, historians are unsure of Fournier's age — these are the best estimates (i.e. the ones I got from B-R).
***Yeah, yeah, that quote was misattributed. Whatever.
It's been fun, everyone.
. . .
All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference. All biographical information courtesy of the SABR Baseball Biography Project, the B-R Bullpen, and Rob Neyer's Big Book Of Baseball Lineups.
Ryan Romano writes for Beyond the Box Score, the FanGraphs Community blog, and Camden Chat that one time. Follow him on Twitter at @triple_r_ if you enjoy angry tweets about Maryland sports and live tweeting about Community, Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC. Cool. Coolcoolcool.