JOE ADCOCK – BENCH
Joe Adcock became a Milwaukee Brave in February 1953 in a complicated four-way trade involving half the NL. By the time he moved on to Cleveland in 1963, he left a champion and a solid player on a successful team.
A left fielder with the Cincinnati Reds, Adcock manned first for the Braves. Although he topped 140 games twice in his 10 seasons with Milwaukee, he slugged 239 homers and hit .285. Only an All-Star once, never registered an Adjusted OPS+ under 108. During his decade in Milwaukee, his OPS+ sat at 131 or 31 percent above league average.
His best year came in 1956 as the Braves chased the Brooklyn Dodgers for the pennant. The team fell short, but he slammed 38 homers while driving in 103. Five years later in 1961, Adcock hit 35 homers and 108 RBI.
Adcock never earned a Hall of Fame vote, or will ever be considered a top player in an era chocked full of stars. But, his decade of steady play and ability to hit lands him a spot on the roster. Injuries curtailed his playing time in 1955 and 1957. In both the World Series, he played in only nine of the 14 possible games. Sometimes, the best players are the ones who deliver without grabbing headlines.
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