Most underrated player of all-time? Playing today?

Answer 1

I'd have to go with Bobby Bonds as the most underrated of all time. I don't know how he isn't a Hall of Famer when he was 30-30 numerous times? Bobby was a 30 homer a year player who stole 40 bases or so every year. I think he has about 500 steals for his career, but only 300 something homers. How can a player who shares the all time record for 30-30 years (with Barry, who had all his 30-30s before his power surge by the way) be excluded from the Hall?

For the most underrated player playing today, I'd have to go with Craig Biggio. While he's not very good these days, during his prime he was one of the best in baseball, but unrecognized because most of what he was good at wasn't what we judge players by. He was also a catcher early in his career, but moved to second so his knees wouldn't go out and end his career too soon. His fellow Astro, the now retired Jeff Bagwell was also underrated. I don't know how a first baseman can go 40-30 in the Astrodome twice and not be recognized as an all-time great. The problem with those Astros was that the rest of the team wasn't really too good.

Answer 2

I would have to say Josh Gibson. I bet more than half of the people reading this has never even heard of him. He was a ***** League catcher who played for the Pittsburgh Crawfors and the Homestead Gray. He is probably the best baseball player ever to live. The reason I say he is underrated is because no one has ever heard of him and because he isn't even credited with the home run record for a single season or all time. He hit 69 home runs in the 1934. I know that has been broken by Mark Mcguire and Barry Bonds but he was never at any point credited with the record. Also he has hit more home runs than any other player will ever hit. He hit 934 throughout his career. The most underrated today is Frank Thomas. He is a powerhouse and doesn't get even close to as much attention as he should

Answer 3

How about Bert Blyleven? Great pitcher, 287 wins, almost 5000 IP, 3700 K's, but had the bad fortune to play on some of baseball's worst teams. I mean, if Robin Roberts can be in the HOF, why not Bert?

Underrated today? Probably because he's in a small market, Toronto, I think of him as underrated, though most baseball folks thinks he's great: Roy Halladay. 95-48 so far, that's really good.

Answer 4

Roy White, Yankee outfielder of the late 60s and 70s.

Very good defensive player and in the context of the times, was a very underrated hitter. Kind of like Ron Santo in that their biggest years were during the most dominant pitching era.

White was the mainstay of some poor Yankee teams, but was never going to be "the next Mantle". And he finally got a ring, but was almost an afterthought on the star-studded 70's teams.

Answer 5

Jeff Bagwell. He hit over 450 homers while playing most of his career in the Astrodome. Had he played somewhere like Wrigley Field he'd have hit 600 easily. He also played 1st base at a gold glove level despite only winning the award once. And he was the one of the best baserunning 1st basemen ever (over 200 steals). He was rookie of the year and his MVP season in '94 was one of the all time best. He should be a first ballot Hall of Famer but probably won't due to the fact that he didn't play for a high profile team.

Answer 6

All the above entries have picked people that have all been recognized for their abilities. If I were to pick someone, it would be someone like Lonnie Smith or Willie Wilson that played extremely well, could change games with defense, steal bases and played with the big names that got most of the recognition. Someone has to set the table for the power men to get all those RBI's.

As for Eric Chavez being a great 3rd Baseman, I guess that person has never heard of Brooks Robinson or Mike Schmidt. Making 15 to 20 errors a season does not make a great defensive 3rd baseman.

Answer 7

I think, even though he is Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks has to be the most underrated. He was a big homerun hitting shortstop in an era shortstops rarely hit homeruns. Way ahead of his time.

The one playing today who is underappreciated may be Roy Halliday of Toronto. Has been lights out the last ten years when not hurt.

Answer 8

Jimmie Foxx of all-time
3 MVP's
1 Triple Crown
500+ Homeruns
9 Consecutive all-star appearances

As of today, Carlos Zambrano past three seasons
16-8
14-6
16-7
And this is playing for a bad Cubs team. Imagine if he was on a decent team? 20+ wins easily and possibly 2 Cy Youngs.

Answer 9

Grady Sizemore Ryan Friel

Answer 10

All time Bert Blyleven, Tony Oliva. Today. Garret Anderson he has slowed down some of late but he has always been underrated