MLB History: Ten Greatest One Hit Wonders in Baseball
By David Hill
Fred Dunlap (1884): .412/.448/.621, 13 home runs, 185 hits, 256 OPS+
Fred Dunlap had already established himself as a solid second baseman during the early part of the 1880’s. Playing with the Cleveland Blues, he led the National League with 27 doubles as a rookie in 1880, and was an above average hitter with a decent amount of power during his first four seasons.
However, in 1884, when the Union Association formed, he jumped over to the St. Louis Maroons. The highest paid player in the league, Dunlap put up some of the best numbers of anyone in the 19th century. That year, he led the league in all three categories on the batting line, home runs, hits, runs, and posted an OPS+ of 256. That number has only been surpassed by one player in MLB history – Barry Bonds. In fact, the top ten for OPS+ in a single season has Bonds three times, Dunlap, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Ross Barnes, who had three seasons with an OPS+ over 200.
After the Union Association folded following that one year, Dunlap went back to the National League. While he continued to be a solid player, Dunlap never approached those numbers again. In face, Dunlap would never hit .300 again in his career, which lasted until 1891.
Dunlap was more than an offensive force during his playing days. He was nicknamed ‘Sure Shot’ for his strong arm, and contemporary players such as John Ward and Sam Crane called him the best second baseman of the 19th century. Stanley Robinson, a manager and team owner, went so far as to call him the greatest player in the history of the game.
He was certainly a solid player, but Fred Dunlap was never able to replicate his incredible 1884 campaign. It took until the 21st century, and the explosion of Barry Bonds before anyone was able to top his performance that year.