The criminally underrated

[Waquoit]

I’d say in baseball Jimmie Foxx who has always stood in the shadows of Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, Mays, DiMaggio, and some of his stats were unfairly scored.

I just read an essay about Mel Ott. I'll put him in that category, the man was a professional hitter.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Its been talked about Ohtani has been called greater then Babe Ruth thats not underrated.

Because he is Babe Ruth.
I am a huge baseball fan but ask a casual sports fan if they know Babe Ruth and then ask if they know Shohei. I think many wouldnt know him (ive actually tested this for fun, because it's astonishing how few do.)
Whether you want to classify that as underrated or not I think is semantics.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I just read an essay about Mel Ott. I'll put him in that category, the man was a professional hitter.

A lot of people don’t know it, but the year Ruth hit 60, Foxx hit 63. That year he was only credited with 58 or 59, the 4 or 5 others he hit were hit during games later called because of rain, and back then the rule was rain out stats were not counted. Maybe I’ll watch “Field of Dreams” tonight, I think Mel Ott was one of the players, and it was Fathers Day last week.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Because he is Babe Ruth.
I am a huge baseball fan but ask a casual sports fan if they know Babe Ruth and then ask if they know Shohei. I think many wouldnt know him (ive actually tested this for fun, because it's astonishing how few do.)
Whether you want to classify that as underrated or not I think is semantics.

Just remember Ruth was one of the greatest pitchers that ever lived, some of his records still stand. Also I think Ohtani is no where close to approaching Ruth, Gehrig or Foxx in lifetime stats, and back then the mound was like 6 inches higher, and the baseball was also not nearly as juiced up as it is now.

 

[ucp990411]

Dennis Rodman. Because of his antics people overlook what a great basketball player he was. Used to tell my players he was my favorite player and they would look at me like I was from outer space just like him.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

One of the reasons Moten was a bit "underrated" - was his freshman season was so good, and he didn't improve signficantly after that.

1991 18ppg, 2 asst, 6 rebounds
1992 18ppg, 3 asst, 5 rebounds
1993 21ppg, 2 asst, 4 rebounds
1994 19ppg, 3 asst, 4 rebounds

it wasnt just the consistency of his stats, it was aesthetically he was one of best Bball players ive ever seen. Did all the little things, kind of Cam Spencer ish in his bball iq and court awareness.

When Lawrence Moten graduated he was the all time big east leading scorer, but is kind of forgotten (more so than say Ohtani, Lance Armstrong, Yogi, Babe and the rest of the famous ppl in this thread lol)

 

[Huskybass]

Bill Russell. I know some will say I’m crazy but guy won nine NBA titles. And is mentioned as an also ran to Michael Jordan and others.

He actually won 11 NBA titles, 2 in College and an Olympic Gold, all in a 15 year span.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

A lot of people don’t know it, but the year Ruth hit 60, Foxx hit 63. That year he was only credited with 58 or 59, the 4 or 5 others he hit were hit during games later called because of rain, and back then the rule was rain out stats were not counted.

I was so wowed by this that I dug deeper to find out if it was really so, and did so without any intention of questioning or correcting you. So please take this as a thank you for your raising the subject of whether Jimmie Foxx 'lost' home runs that would have outdone babe Ruth.

What I learned was quite amazing, and it came from a valuable/fascinating/authoritative source I learned about last month when a friend wondered why a fight that breaks out in a baseball game is sometimes called a "rhubarb."

Double X and His Lost Dingers – Society for American Baseball Research.

 

[David 76]

Yogi is on every single greatest catchers of all time list. He isn't underrated, nevermind criminally underrated. It's true people today may not talk about him but that's the time element more than being underrated, in my opinion.

He holds records because he was a superior player. People treat him like he was a cartoon.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

q

I was so wowed by this that I dug deeper to find out if it was really so, and did so without any intention of questioning or correcting you. So please take this as a thank you for your raising the subject of whether Jimmie Foxx 'lost' home runs that would have outdone babe Ruth.

What I learned was quite amazing, and it came from a valuable/fascinating/authoritative source I learned about last month when a friend wondered why a fight that breaks out in a baseball game is sometimes called a "rhubarb."

Double X and His Lost Dingers – Society for American Baseball Research.

Interesting article but it’s only about completed official games in the record books. It only talks about Foxx being robbed because of netting, high fences, etc. Unless I missed something it says nothing about incomplete games called due to weather, which is what those with excellent memories have claimed and passed down through the years, that in 1932 Foxx hit 4 or 5 bonafied home runs in games that were called due to weather before the game’s completion, and thus were never recorded at all, in the record books.

As to the short fences Ruth also had some advantages as well in the old Yankee Stadium. The right field line was originally only 295 feet, and was later dropped to 290 feet to add another row of seating.

 

[Kolumbo]

A lot of people don’t know it, but the year Ruth hit 60, Foxx hit 63. That year he was only credited with 58 or 59, the 4 or 5 others he hit were hit during games later called because of rain, and back then the rule was rain out stats were not counted. Maybe I’ll watch “Field of Dreams” tonight, I think Mel Ott was one of the players, and it was Fathers Day last week.

I may be out of the loop here. I thought it was always the case that stats were not counted unless a game were a regulation/official game. If the game is not official, it can be postponed and started over again, or resumed later. If started over, the prior incomplete game never happened.

Apparently this only changed in 2020. I had no idea.

"But as part of MLB's health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, all games cut short due to weather before becoming official were resumed at a later date, rather than started over from scratch, during the 2020 campaign."

Regulation Game | Glossary | MLB.com

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

 

[Scoe]

No one mentioned Jim Calhoun talk about criminally underrated. I don’t mean underrated by us or fans of other programs, by the national media he’s underrated. When the GOAT list comes up Roy Williams name comes up as well as Izzo even Boheim comes up in conversation before Calhoun.

When you do bring up JC name, the response is “oh yeah that’s right he should be high on the list”. It’s almost like he’s forgotten on the all time coaching lists.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Lance is only "underrated" in America because it is cycling but the general population in America realize he was the best American cyclist. No one mentions Greg LeMond either but he won Le Tour 3 times. I'll bet if you ask 10 people to name a great American cyclist, all 10 say Lance Armstong.

No one talks about cycling when we discuss great athletes not because they are underrated, but because it's cycling. Most American sports fans today have no idea who Sep Kuss or Neilson Powless are either.

This is spot on. Another factor is like soccer in America since we don't care the sport doesn't attract the greatest athletes and being the best American cyclist ever is significantly easier than being the best in baseball, football, basketball or individual sports such as golf or tennis. And Lance cheated to win, sure it was still hard & everyone else was cheating too, but he cheated ALOT & his cheating was so good that it gave him incredible recovery advantages.

Saying he is underrated is like saying Bernie Madoff is an underrated fund manager b/c for 30yrs people got great returns.

 

[knicksin7]

1991 18ppg, 2 asst, 6 rebounds
1992 18ppg, 3 asst, 5 rebounds
1993 21ppg, 2 asst, 4 rebounds
1994 19ppg, 3 asst, 4 rebounds

it wasnt just the consistency of his stats, it was aesthetically he was one of best Bball players ive ever seen. Did all the little things, kind of Cam Spencer ish in his bball iq and court awareness.

When Lawrence Moten graduated he was the all time big east leading scorer, but is kind of forgotten (more so than say Ohtani, Lance Armstrong, Yogi, Babe and the rest of the famous ppl in this thread lol)

Totally agree. He wasn't flashy or athletic, just smooth. Was great to watch.

 

[knicksin7]

Ichiro- over 3000 hits despite starting his mlb career at 27, starts his career earlier he breaks Pete Rose career hits record.

And a cannon on that dude....

 

[knicksin7]

Its been talked about Ohtani has been called greater then Babe Ruth thats not underrated.

Yes, I know what you mean, I think it's just due to the decline of baseball and the fact he doesn't speak English - means his achievements aren't as appreciated. Imagine if Ohtani was doing what he did in 1995...

 

[Scoe]

High school and college wrestling, UConn should have a Division 1 team.

 

[Scoe]

And a cannon on that dude....

I bet he has a hell of a ninja kick too, he could do it all on a baseball field.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I'm not going to bog myself or others down in more fanciful or literal discussion on the matter, but there's a lot to work with regarding OP's choice of the word "criminally" in thread's title. Was it an accident, a sneaky double entendre, mere rhetoric, or something more mysteriously inspired?

 

[willie99]

Tristen Newton
Cam Spencer

 

[AdamaNation]

Lawrence Moten

So crafty. Look at the consistency of his career stats. High IQ. I hate Cuse too

Took the starting role from Danburys own Anthony Harris to boot and obviously made the most of it. Pull dem socks up.

 

[AidanFan20]

Criminally underrated... I'd say Orenthal J Simpson, because he wasn't convicted.

 

[ucp990411]

Dennis Johnson. Unsung hero of the Celtics. One of my all time favorites

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Going to throw out a weird one: Chase Utley.

During his peak, the book on him was great hitter and poor defender. In hindsight and with more adoption of advanced defensive metrics, it’s become clear that he was one of the elite defenders at second of his generation, just not flashy. That he won zero GGs is one of many examples while the GG is the most overrated award in pro sports.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Going to throw out a weird one: Chase Utley.

During his peak, the book on him was great hitter and poor defender. In hindsight and with more adoption of advanced defensive metrics, it’s become clear that he was one of the elite defenders at second of his generation, just not flashy. That he won zero GGs is one of many examples while the GG is the most overrated award in pro sports.

A very good one. Plus, obviously one of the best bats at that position in the 21st century.