75. Willie Stargell
Willie Stargell, who was considered one of the nicest people in baseball during his career and was affectionately known as ‘Pops’ for his leadership, was a leader on and off the field for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
A player who truly loved the game, Stargell was a key part of the Pirates resurgence during the 1970’s. A star almost from the moment that he appeared in Pittsburgh, Stargell made the All-Star Game seven times and won an MVP as part of the 1979 ‘We Are Family’ World Series winning Pirates squad after finishing second twice.
In a career spent entirely with the Pirates, Stargell was one of the premier power hitters of the second dead ball era. A two time home run leader, Stargell finished with 475 home runs and 1,540 RBI. His .282/.360/.529 batting line may seem solid, but he finished with a 147 OPS+, showing how far offense was down during his playing days.
Defensively, Stargell’s best asset was his arm. He led National League left fielders in assists four times, and led in double plays on three different occasions. Stargell is still 31st all time with 96 assists, and is 70th with 12 double plays.
One of those players who meant just as much off the field as he did on it, Willie Stargell was a Hall of Fame talent in the lineup and in the locker room.
Next: An incredible peak