Husky25
Dink & Dunk beat the Greatest Show on Turf.
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2012
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Neither deserve to be in the HOF but Evans would have a better argument. He was a great OFer with one of the best arms ever in MLB but .272, 70 RBI a year isn't HOF numbers although there are worst in it. Baines a much better hitter in his prime but lasted only because he could hit, didn't play in the field all that much late and wasn't at all that good.
It's a sliding scale, but if you froze it here Cal Ripken is at best borderline. If he played outfield, he would be on the outside looking in.
I think outfield defense is historically undervalued and it's harder to distinguish yourself offensively because as an outfielder, you're expected to crush the ball. Ripken was an above average SS, but he could hit better than his contemporaries. The Iron Man perception didn't hurt, but it really should not have helped either. Just my opinion.