Best right fielders in MLB history No. 8: Paul Waner
Stats: .333/.404/.473, 113 HR, 104 SB, 1,091/376 BB/K, 10,766 PA, 72.8 bWAR
The older of the tremendously-talented Waner brothers, Paul Waner certainly didn’t receive his nickname “Big Poison” because of his overwhelming size, as he stood just 5’8″ and perhaps 150 pounds. He played at East Central University before getting his start in 1926 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
That first season, Waner immediately made an impact, hitting .336/.413/.528 and led the league in triples with 22. He’d step up his game in 1927, winning a batting title, hitting .380/.437/.549, leading the league in hits, triples, total bases, and RBI, winning what would be his only MVP award.
Waner did not have over-the-fence power, but he clubbed the ball on a line, hitting double-digit triples his first 10 seasons in the league as well as leading the league in doubles twice, with three seasons of 50 or more doubles in his career and five seasons of 40 or more doubles. His 62 doubles in 1932 remains the fifth-most in a single season in baseball history.
Over his career, Waner would lead the league in hitting 3 times, hits twice, runs twice, doubles twice, triples twice, and total bases and RBI one time. However, his offense was only part of things as he was known for his graceful routes in the outfield and his strong arm in the outfield (he was originally signed to a pro deal during college as a pitcher, but had a bum arm coming out of college, so he was moved to the outfield).
Incredibly, Waner was nearsighted his whole life and this was not discovered and corrected until 1942, when he was entering his 17th season as a big leaguer. He recorded his 3,000th hit that season, finishing with 3,152 in his career.
He appeared in 8 MVP ballots, winning just one, but finishing in the top 5 three other seasons. He made the first All-Star game in 1933, though he was 7 years into his career at that point, having a few of his best seasons already. He eventually made 4 All-Star games. Waner was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1952.