Jul 28, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Hall of Fame player Pedro Martinez throws out the first pitch under the watchful eye of former Boston Red Sox players Tim Wakefield, (left) Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk and Carl Yastrzemsk during his number retirement ceremony before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Here are five of the most underrated Hall of Fame in the history of the MLB to ever be inducted into Cooperstown.
With today being once again the Baseball Hall of Fame ceremonies, let’s take a look at some of the most underrated and underappreciated Hall of Famers to ever be enshrined in Cooperstown.
While there are many more that could have been included like Craig Biggio, and Ed Walsh, these five in particular get left out far too much considering their careers.
There are several reasons why this group is seemingly overlooked in the conversations of greatness. Some of these players missed the headlines during their playing days as others, such a Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, or Willie Mays took the spotlight. While others played in less valued positions such as reliever, limiting the amount of praise sent their way. Or, maybe they just played many, many years ago and have all but been forgotten about.
But, one thing is without doubt, all of these ballplayers deserve just as much credit for their accomplishments and contributions to the game as their hallowed colleagues.
Not to mention, with the cloud that is hovering above the the Hall of Fame induction process that is performance enhancing drugs, these five should be all the more revered. None of them are believed to have ever taken steroids, granted several of them played many years before the availability of steroids and PED’s.
And so, on this Sunday afternoon, without further introduction let’s take a look:
There have only been five players in MLB history to hit over 500 home runs and collect over 3,000 hits- Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez, and Eddie Murray.
Elected into the Hall of Fame in 2003, Steady Eddie often gets left out of the “all-time greats’ conversation. In fact, many casual baseball fans may have never even heard of him. And, it’s not like he played a century ago, as Murray was still in the league as late as 1997.
In his 21 seasons, Murray earned eight All-Star appearances, three Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, the Rookie of the Year, he finished in the top 5 for the MVP Award six times, and was runner-up twice. Not to mention, he holds the all time record for games played and assists at first base.
Murray also ranks 10th in career RBI with 1,917, 12th in hits with 3,255, and had 504 home runs, good for 26th. He is also considered undoubtedly one of the greatest switch-hitters to have ever taken the field.
Eddie Murray was a constant producer on offense over his career for the Orioles, Dodger, Mets, and Indians. I guess that’s why they called him “Steady Eddie”.
Ernie Banks will always be one of the greatest ballplayers to have ever lived. But, because he played during an era with the likes of Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, and the fact he played on a poor Chicago Cubs team, he rarely receives the attention he deserves.
Known as “Mr. Cub”, Banks spent his entire 19 seasons as a member of the Chicago organization. In that time, the first baseman and shortstop would play in 11 All-Star games and be voted MVP twice. He also won the Gold Glove Award and in 1954 was the Rookie of the Year runner-up.
From 1955-1960, Banks would hit over 40 home runs in four consecutive seasons and five out of the six years, topping off at 47 in 1958.
This really has to be considered one of the most impressive accomplishments in baseball history, as no drug was aiding in Banks production that season. In fact, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays never even had a stretch of three seasons with 40 or more homers.
Ernie would go on to hit 512 bombs in his career, good for 23rd all time. He would also add over 1,600 RBI and 2,500 hits to his career totals.
Christy Mathewson is unquestionably one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game. In fact, he is quite possibly the greatest when taking into account the time frame of his career.
Though, it does make him hard to compare to other more “modern day” pitchers, as his career spanned from 1900-1916, when comparing Mathewson to other pitchers in the same era, he is the benchmark others look to.
Big Six, as he was called, was one of the five payers in the first class inducted into the Hall of Fame. The four others were Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and Walter Johnson. Yet, the former New York Giant Mathewson, is likely the least known.
In his 17 seasons, Mathewson collected 373 wins which still ranks 3rd all time. He would post a carer ERA of 2.13, which is 9th best, and had 2,507 strikeouts ranking him 32nd all time.
Very impressive numbers to say the least.
The Baseball Hall of Fame states: “He was the first great pitching star of the modern era, and is still the standard by which greatness is measured.”
Mathewson was also given several other nicknames than just the “Big Six” including: “The Christian Gentleman”, The Gentleman’s Hurler” and of course “Matty”.
Jim Rice is easily one of the most underrated Hall of Famers of all time, in fact, it took him 15 years after he was eligible to even be inducted into the Hall. But, finally in 2009, the inevitable took place and Rice was enshrined along with the other baseball greats.
Nicknamed “Jim Ed” Rice played his entire 16 year career with the Red Sox and will always be endeared to the hearts of Boston’s fan-base.
In 1978, Rice went on to put up some of the best numbers in any one season in the history of baseball en route to the MVP award. In that season he smacked 46 home runs, drove in 139 RBI, and batted a cool .315. Again, this is even more incredible given the fact Rice did this just before the beginning of rampant steroid abuse throughout the MLB.
For his career, Rice was a .298 hitter. He also collected 2,452 hits, 1,451 RBI, and hit 382 home runs. In other words, he was both a constant contact and power threat, who earned eight All-Star appearances to go along with his MVP Award and two silver sluggers. He was also runner-up to the Rookie of the Year Award in 1975.
Next: A relief ace
Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
Bruce Sutter is one of the best relievers to ever play in the MLB. It’s strange he his so little known outside of the cities he played in as he was still in the league as late as 1988.
It’s a shame relievers (albeit not named Mariano Rivera) haven’t historically been given the credit they deserve. The modern day closer that will only pitch in save situations and no more than one inning has not always been the reality. As it was not with Sutter, as he was readily called upon for five-out saves and even two innings or more of work.
In his 12 professional seasons, Bruce played for the Braves, Cardinals, and Cubs.
Sutter led the league in saves four consecutive seasons and five out of six years from 1979 to 1984. He was a six-time All-Star and was one of only a few relievers to ever win the Cy Young Award. Sutter accomplished this feat of winning the Cy Young in 1979 when he compiled 37 saves to go along with his 2.22 ERA. In fact, he only gave up 67 hits in over 101 innings of work that year.
Sutter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 when he was voted for on 400 out of 520 ballots, surpassing the needed 75 percent to be enshrined in Cooperstown.
