Bobby Abreu, OF, 1996-2014
Career Stats: .291/.395/.475, 2,470 hits, 288 HR, 400 SB
Abreu is likely remembered most by average fans as the winner of the 2005 Home Run Derby at the All Star Game, setting records in the process and starting a big discussion about the damages of the participants in the derby as he fell off dramatically in the second half of 2005, hitting just 6 home runs after the All Star Game after hitting 18 that season before the break.
He was, however, a very productive player for many years with the Phillies before age caught up to him and really take away his ability to play in the outfield, forcing him to a DH role (or to a team that was tolerant of below-average outfield defense). He’s also got very unfortunate timing that likely kept him out of the public eye, leaving Philadelphia in 2006 just before they made a run to two division titles, including winning the World Series in 2008. He left the Yankees after the 2008 season, and the Yankees then proceeded to win the 2009 World Series (interestingly, over the Phillies).
His lack of postseason exposure for the average fan who didn’t get to see his season of 30 home runs and 40 stolen bases in 2004. The crazy part is that in spite of having an average of .301/.406/.497 with 39 doubles, 21 HR, 28 SB over 12 seasons from 1998-2009, yet he never once finished higher than 12th in the MVP voting.
When you look at the analytical numbers, Abreu shows that publicity doesn’t equal skill, though, as he is very close with many of the numbers. His black ink is 5 vs. 27. His gray ink is 88 vs. 144. His Hall of Fame Monitor score was 94 vs. 100. His Hall of Fame Standards score was 54 vs. 50. His JAWS score was 50.7 vs. 58.1 of an average HOF right fielder.