Friday, March 22, 2013

Day 11:White Sox/Marlins


Please see I’m Just Sayin…for what is going on with our posts for the next month or so.

White Sox

Joe Jackson, Frank Thomas, Luke Appling, Eddie Collins

Joe Jackson (1915-1920) All-Star Games: NA "Shoeless Joe" already was a legendary figure with a .375 career average in five seasons with the Cleveland Indians when he was traded to the White Sox at 25 in 1915. He hit .340 in five-plus seasons with the Sox he's still their all-time leader in career average winning two pennants and the 1917 World Series. He was still in his prime, hitting .351 with 96 RBI in 1919, then .381 with 121 RBI and an AL-leading 20 triples in 1920, when he was banned from baseball for his part in the Black Sox scandal. Hit .304 in the 1917 Series and .375 with a record 12 hits in the 1919 series (the one in which he was supposedly throwing).

Frank Thomas (1990-2005) All-Star Games: 5. One of the greatest hitters in baseball history whose standing among the best of his time is only enhanced as a "clean" hitter in the steroid era. Sox' all-time leader in home runs (448), RBIs (1,465), runs scored (1,327), doubles (447), on-base percentage (.427) and slugging percentage (.568). Also ninth in batting average (.307). AL MVP in 1994 and 1995, second in 2000 to steroid-user Jason Giambi and third in 1991 and 1997. In his first 10 full seasons, Thomas averaged .320, 33 HRs, 115 RBIs, a .439 OBP and .604 SLG. Played small but key role in 2005 prior to season-ending injury, with 11 HRs, 21 RBIs in 72 at-bats in 24-9 stretch that increased Sox' lead from 3 1/2 to 10 1/2 games en route to their first World Series title in 88 years. (Saw him play at Clemson while he was with Auburn.)

Luke Appling (1930-50) Hall of Fame: 1964. All-Star Games: 7. The Sox all-time leader in hits (2,749) and second in RBI (1,116) and runs scored (1,319), Old Aches and Pains was one of the best hitting shortstops in baseball history. Nearly 50 years after his final game, he still ranks fourth among shortstops in career hits, second in OBP (.399), seventh in average (.310) and eighth in RBI. Won the AL batting title in 1936, when he hit .388 (still the best ever for a shortstop), had 128 RBI (the most ever for a shortstop at the time) and was runner-up to Lou Gehrig for the MVP award. Also won the batting title in 1943 (.328), and again was MVP runner-up. Hit .300 or better in 13 of his 15 full seasons.

Eddie Collins (1915-26) Hall of Fame: 1939. All-Star Games: NA Though more renowned for his days with the Athletics, when he won four pennants and three World Series from 1910-1914, Collins played more seasons (12) with the Sox, hitting .300 or better 10 times, winning two pennants and one World Series. Second behind Joe Jackson on Sox all-time list in career average (.331). Hit .344 or better five times, with a high of .372 on ill-fated 1920 team. Hit .409 in 1917 World Series, the Sox' last title until 2005. Led AL in stolen bases three times. Still the Sox' all-time leader in stolen bases (368) and sacrifice hits (341).

Honorable Mention:
Harold Baines, Ted Lyons, Luis Aparicio, Paul Konerko, Nellie Fox

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2465195-475/sox-mark-potash-ranks.html

Marlins

Hanley Ramirez, Luis Castillo, Dontrelle Willis, Mike Lowell

Hanley Ramirez, or "Han Ram," originally signed with the Boston Red Sox as a 17-year-old free agent in 2000.  He made his first Major League appearance in 2005, going hitless in two at bats.  He was traded to the Marlins soon following the season. In 2006 Ramirez took home the NL Rookie-of-the-Year award, hitting .292 in 158 games for the Marlins.  He hit 17 home runs and stole 51 bases, knocking in 59. Ramirez has collected three All-Star selections and two Silver Slugger awards.  2009 was his best season yet, finishing second in the NL MVP vote by leading the NL with a .342 average, hitting 24 home runs and 106 RBI. In 850 games for Florida, Ramirez has a career .306 average and 134 home runs with 434 RBI.  He is also second on Florida's All-Time stolen bases list, with 216. 

Luis Castillo signed with Florida as an amateur free agent in 1992 and made his first appearance in 1996, hitting .262 in 41 games. Castillo is the only Marlin to survive both World Series victories.  He won three Gold Gloves at second base and three All-Star invitations.  He also twice led the NL in stolen bases, with 62 in 2000 and with 48 in 2002. In 1,128 games over 10 seasons Castillo collected 281 stolen bases, a Marlins record.  He also hit .293 with 271 RBI.

Dontrelle Willis, or "D-Train," was originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the eighth round of the 2000 amateur draft.  He joined the Marlins system as a minor leaguer via trade before the 2002 season, and joined Florida in 2003, making the All-Star team and winning the NL Rookie-of-the-Year award by posting a 14-6 record and a 3.30 ERA in 27 starts. In 2005 Willis finished second in the year ending NL Cy Young award voting, leading the NL with 22 wins against 10 losses and a 2.63 ERA.  He also led the NL with seven complete games and five shutouts. In total, Willis compiled a 68-54 record in 162 starts over five seasons with the Marlins, and is Florida's career leader in the win column.  He struck out 757 in 1,022.2 innings and posted a 3.78 ERA.

Mike Lowell In Lowell's "official" rookie season, he hit .253 in 97 games with 12 home runs and 47 RBI, establishing himself as the Marlins everyday third baseman. Lowell's numbers improved over the next two seasons, as he hit a combined .277 with 40 home runs and 191 RBI in 286 games at third base. In 2002, Lowell received his first All-Star invitation, hitting .276 in 160 games, slugging 24 home runs and 92 RBI. 2003 saw him again selected to the All-Star team and also win his first Silver Slugger award, belting a career high 32 home runs with 105 RBI and a .276 average. Somehow surviving H. Wayne Huizenga's 2003 post-postseason Exodus, Lowell was selected to his third consecutive All-Star team in 2004, hitting .293 with 27 home runs and 85 RBI for the Marlins in 158 games. Lowell won his first Gold Glove in 2005. In 981 games over seven seasons with the Marlins, Lowell hit 143 home runs with 578 RBI, hitting .272.

Honorable mention:
Josh Johnson, Cliff Floyd, Dan Uggla, Miguel Cabrera

http://www.fishstripes.com/2012/1/18/2716796/all-time-top-50-florida-marlins-using-the-war-statistic

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/926739-florida-marlins-all-time-greatest-players-part-10-of-10

No comments:

Post a Comment