best player of all-time that didn't reach potential career numbers because injuries,military,or the stadium?

Question

I say Joe DiMaggio yankee stadium cost him over 100 home runs. he miss four years to military service and had major injuries cost him a lot of time at the end of his career.

Answer 1

Good question, but I would have to respectfully disagree and instead claim that Ted Williams' numbers suffered much more due to military service. Consider that Ted hit a career 521 homers between 1939 and 1960 ... not bad. But now consider that he missed all of '43-'45 due to WWII, and almost all of '52 and most of '53 seasons due to service in Korea. If you take the full seasons that Williams played (about 17) and divide by his home run total, you conclude that Ted hit approximately 30 homers per year. Now multiply that 30 by the almost 5 full seasons that he missed, and you get about 150 (!!!) potential home runs missed by Williams! This means had Ted played out his full 22 seasons fully with no interruptions, he could have been good for 670 home runs, putting him in league with Willie Mays, another player whose service in Korea probably cost him 50 or so home runs (meaning had Mays not served, his numbers could have been closer to the neighborhood of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron's, but that's a story for another day).

Answer 2

Tony Conigliaro got beaned in the head in 1967 at age 22. He already had more than 100 HR's and after the beaning he was never able to be the same player as before the injury. How can you say that DiMaggio didn't reach his potential? Thats idiotic.

Answer 3

Williams jumps to mind first -- nearly five full seasons, three of them in his prime (and just after he'd batted .406), plus an injury or two. Oh man, what his final stats could've looked like....

And Mays -- two seasons to the military, and having to play over half his career in Candlestick.

Restore their full careers and make the 'Stick even league-neutral and Bonds might be chasing either one of them even after he leaves Aaron behind. Ah well...

Gehrig, also obvious; would probably have had three good seasons at least.

Strawberry, though most of his problems were of his own making. Gooden as well, though not as huge a dropoff. Either one could have ended up in the Hall had they been clean and sober.

Finally, Bob Feller -- WWII service probably cost him 300+ wins and 3000+ strikeouts. Not that he needed them.

Answer 4

Both Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams.

Answer 5

I think of Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams. But I would pick Ken Griffey Jr. He has had one injury after another and he was amazing until the injuries. The trade didn't help either.

Answer 6

I would say ken griffey jr because in 1999 he had almost 500 home runs an he was only in his 10th or 11th(?) year. If he would have been injury free in cincinatti he probably would have passed hank aaron by now and he would still have a few years in the tank

Answer 7

I am quite surprised no one mentions mantle because of his life style (too much drinking etc..) his body gave out way too early but as far as raw talent at his best he was right up there with the best power, Speed, fielding and had a gun of an arm. The other player is Griffey who was every bit as good as A-Rod before his body betrayed him very similar to Mantle. lastly I would also point out Roberto Clemente whos career was tragically cut short.

Answer 8

This is a more recent one.......but as far as ballparks hurting their numbers.......Richie Sexson comes to mind. He had some amazing numbers ( that included a high number of strikeouts as well ) as an Indian and Brewer. Once he got to Safe Co. his numbers dropped.......Same with Adrian Beltre he isnt even owned in most Fastasy League anymore.

Answer 9

Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams come to mind

Answer 10

I agree with anyone who says Ken Griffey Jr.
You can just tell he was filled with potential, but with his constant injury problems, it blew it for him. Without those injuries, he would've been something ten times greater.