Best players to never make an MLB All-Star roster: 16. Bill Doran
Stats:
- 1,366 hits
- 84 home runs
- .266 batting average
Playing the exceptionally well defense in the field really should count for something in the major leagues. Sure, at the end of the year, those who made an impact out there are rewarded with the Golden Glove. Or, in some cases, with a pat on the back, but defensive specialists aren’t given their just due often.
Bill Doran was terrific out in the field. On two occasions, he led the NL in fielding percentage. For his career, he checks in at 71st on the all-time list. He wasn’t much of a home run hitter. Only once did Doran put together a season of at least 16. Despite the weak long ball numbers, Doran was amongst the best in the league in OPS for a handful of years.
Still, no matter how many intangibles he brought to the game and regardless of the ridiculous game saving catches he made to pull his team out of a tight jam, Doran could never sniff an All-Star game berth, although his overall game indicated that he should’ve been.