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

Day 10: Tigers/Padres

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

Tigers/Padres

The Detroit Tigers have a lot of good candidates for these four spots. This is what I have settled on:

Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer

Ty Cobb

Although he was recognized as anything but a nice guy, this was a no-brainer. Ty Cobb is not only one of the top players in Tigers history, but one of the greatest players of all-time. Cobb's career numbers speak for themselves: a .367 average (highest ever), 12 batting titles (most ever), 4,189 hits (second all-time), 2,246 runs scored (second all-time), and 892 steals (fourth all-time). Not only that, but he hit .420 with 248 hits and 127 RBIs during his AL MVP season in 1911, recording 47 doubles and 24 triples while scoring 147 runs. No matter what type of person he was, there is simply no question that Cobb belongs in the number one slot on this list.

Al Kaline

Nobody in Tigers history epitomizes that word [longevity] like Al Kaline, who spent 22 years with Detroit from 1953 to 1974. An 18-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, Kaline reached the pinnacle of his profession in 1968 when he led his team to a World Series championship. He batted .297 for his career, amassing 3,007 hits, 399 homers, and 1,583 RBIs. Most importantly, Kaline was known as a great person off the field, winning awards honoring his character and perseverance.

Hank Greenberg

Most lists I've read have had Hank Greenberg higher than this [number 4 on this guys list] and while you have to take into account the fact that his career was cut short due to serving in World War II, I simply can't overlook the overall numbers of the guys ahead of him [Charlie Gehringer.] Still, Greenberg played at least parts of 13 seasons, 12 with Detroit and one with the Pittsburgh Pirates, totaling a .313 batting average and 313 home runs to go along with 1,276 RBIs and a .412 on-base percentage. In addition, he was a two-time World Series champion, a two-time American League MVP, and a five-time All-Star.

Charlie Gehringer

A Tiger lifer, Charlie Gehringer played 19 seasons with Detroit from 1924 to 1942, winning a World Series in 1935 and the AL MVP Award and AL batting title in 1937. He was also a six-time All-Star who accrued a .320 career average and 2,839 hits, also finishing with 184 dingers and 1,427 RBIs. In addition to being a solid hitter, Gehringer was also one of the best-fielding second basemen in MLB history, recording 7,068 assists to go along with 5,369 putouts and 1,444 double plays.

Honorable Mention:

Hal Newhouser, Alan Trammell, Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris, Lou Whitaker

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/five-greatest-detroit-tigers-players-time-180300178--mlb.html

Padres

Tony Gwynn 

There is no doubt that Tony Gwynn is the greatest San Diego Padre in team history. Playing his entire career with the San Diego Padres, Tony won 8 National League Batting Titles and was selected to 15 All-Star Games. He is the Padres All-time leader in hits (3,141), batting average (.348), games played (2440), runs (1383), doubles (543), triples (85), RBI's (1138) and stolen bases (319). Tony Gwynn also won 5 gold glove awards. Tony was inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 2002 (the only player elected unanimously) and the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. His number 19 was also retired by the Padres.

Dave Winfield 

A four time all-star (1977-1980), Dave Winfield led the Padres in home runs each year from 1976-1980 and led the team in RBI's six times (1974-75 and 1977-80) He finished his Padre career with 154 home runs, 626 RBI's, 133 stolen bases and a .284 batting average. He is also a member of the Padres Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. His number 31 is retired by the Padres.

Trevor Hoffman 

Trevor Hoffman is not only the Padres All-Time leader in saves (503 and counting), he is the Major League's All-Time leader in saves and the first pitcher to reach 500 saves. A six time All-Star he also has the lowest ERA in team history at 2.67.

Garry Templeton

Garry Templeton and Ozzie Smith have much alike. Garry began his career in St. Louis, but would go on to be a legendary shortstop for the Padres. Ozzie began his career in San Diego, but would then go on to be a Hall of Famer as a Cardinal. Still, Garry is an all-time great Padre, even if he isn't in the Hall. His leadership and worth ethic made him the best SS as a Padre. Here are his Padre lifetime stats: .252 Average, 43 HR, 427 Runs Batted In. He won a Silver Slugger as a Pad in 1984, and made the All-Star team in 1985.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/803612-san-diego-padres-all-time-25-man-roster