Entertainment > Movies / TV Al's TSM Baseball Column: Week IX Posted by Alan Keiper on May 30, 2004, 20:36

THE SNUBBED

With the All-Star game merely weeks away, the inevitable arguments begin as to who should go to the game, and who should not. I will reserve making my picks until shortly before the event, but a question comes to my mind. Who are the best players never to make an All-Star team? In creating this list, I hold two simple qualifications:

1. The player must have been born no earlier than 1910. This keeps the list down to players who had their primes while the All-Star game was played.

2. Players are judged on their major league accomplishments. I do not want a list of negro league players. These players were excluded for other reasons.

Catcher: Rick Dempsey

Rick Dempsey played 1,766 games over a 24 year career (astounding for a catcher), but never made an All-Star team. Dempsey played part time for the Twins and Yankees for years before the Orioles gave him a full time job at the age of 28. Dempsey rarely posted more than passable offense. His best season came in 1985, when he hit 254/345/406 for the Orioles at the age of 35. Without question, Dempsey's greatest accomplishment was winning the World Series MVP award in 1983. Dempsey hit 385/467/923 as the Orioles defeated the Phillies in five games. Dempsey was extremely well regarded with the glove. Fans might remember Dempsey for his rain delay antics. Dempsey was famous for running out of the dugout in a fat suit and teammate's jersey, sliding around the bases and spraying water.

First Base: Hal Trosky

Before Jim Thome, Trosky was the best first baseman ever to play for the Indians. Trosky failed to make an All-Star team for two reasons: Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx. Despite posting a 343/382/644 line with 42 home runs in 1936, Trosky failed to make the squad. When Gehrig retired in 1939, Hank Greenberg emerged. A chronic migrane condition brought Trosky's days as a serious run rpoducer to an end. Trosky retired with a 302/371/522 line, great numbers even in the big hitting era of the '30s.

Second Base: Bill Doran

Doran played the bulk of his career in the Houston Astrodome, forever a bad place for hitters. Doran posted decent hitting statistics, along with plenty of stolen bases. However, the presence of Ryne Sandberg prevented him from gaining any serious attention.

Shortstop: Greg Gagne

As far as I know, this Gagne is not related to the wrestler. Gagne was a glove-first player, posting a career .302 On Base Percentage. His presence on the list is due to lack of candidates more than any other factor.

Third Base: Richie Hebner

A good hitting third baseman most famous for getting hit by pitches. Hebner finished in the top ten seven times. Hebner faced the misfortune of playing in a great era for third basemen. Ron Santo, Mike Schmidt and Joe Torre overshadowed him during much of his career. Hebner holds the National League record for NLCS appearances, with eight. Hebner is also notable for his offseason job as a grave-digger.

Left Field: Kirk Gibson

Kirk Gibson inspired this list. It seems truly puzzling that a player of Gibson's talents never made an All-Star team. 255 home runs, 284 stolen bases, .352 OBP, .463 Slugging, and an MVP award top Gibson's impressive resume. The only good explanation seems to be rotten luck, as Gibson usually finished behind the likes of Rickey Henderson, Dave Winfield, Darryl Strawberry, and Andre Dawson. Of course, everyone knows about Gibson's famous World Series home run.

Center Field: Garry Maddox

"Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other one-third is covered by Garry Maddox."

The Phillies stand-out center fielder during their glory years from 1976-83. Maddox was simply hurt because most of his value came because of his defense. Cesar Cedeno and Al Oliver usually made the All-Star squad ahead of him. Garry Maddox is also famous for having fought in the Vietnam War.

Right Field: Bobby Abreu

Yeah, I'll catch flack for my Abreu love, but how many players with .400+ OBPs have missed the All-Star game entirely? The National League's over-abundance of outfielders have kept Abreu from the game recently. With Vladimir Guerrero and Gary Sheffield off to the American League, it seems likely Abreu will break the drought this season.

Starting Pitcher: Danny Darwin

Danny Darwin never put a spectacular season together. His best season came at the age of 34, when he went 11-4 for the Houston Astros with a 2.21 ERA. Good numbers, but hardly eye popping. Darwin had an odd career, posting his best records as a relief pitcher. Used in a relief role in 1980 at the age of 24, Darwin posted a 13-4 record for the Texas Rangers. When the Houston Astros placed Darwin in their bullpen in 1989 and 1990, Darwin posted identical 11-4 records both seasons. In 1990, the Astros started Darwin for 17 games, enabling Darwin to pitch enough to qualify for the ERA title. Darwin led the league that year in both ERA and adjusted ERA. Darwin won 171 games in his career.

Relief Pitcher: Gene Garber

One of baseball's preeminent closers in the late 70s and early 80s. Garber collected 218 saves in his career. Oddly enough, Garber was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which was also the birthplace of fellow closer Bruce Sutter. Garber pitched in an era where top closers routinely collected 100+ innings for their teams. Garber pitched his best years for the Atlanta Braves fro, 1978 to 1987. Garber found himself displaced in his role often, as the Braves brought in Rick Camp, Steve Bedrosian, and Sutter as their closers from time to time. Had Garber arrived twenty years later, he would doubtless make an All-Star team. However, baseball's preference toward starters kept him from making the squad.

Manager: Gene Mauch

3,942 games managed. 1,902 games won as a manager. Mauch was one strike away from taking the California Angels to the World Series in 1986. The '82 Angels lost the final game of the ALCS by one run. The '64 Phillies lost 10 straight to blow a 6.5 game lead with twelve to play. Three times, Mauch was so close to a World Series, but he never made it. And thus, he never got to manage an All-Star squad.

RAUL MONDESI

A week after he was cut by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Raul Mondesi signed a deal to play baseball for the Anaheim Angels. The deal is worth $1.75 Million for this season. The Angels apparently plan to play Mondesi in center field. This move has created quite a stir, as Mondesi stated he would not play the remainer of the season. The Pirates' contract called for $1.15 million, plus a $600,000 buyout, so Mondesi earns the same salary regardless.

Obviously the gut reaction is to wonder what kind of precident a move of this type sets. Personally, I do not think it is much of a big deal. The Pirates did not want Raul Mondesi. They got a good look at Craig Wilson (finally), and realized Wilson is their best right fielder. That made Mondesi expendable, and the Pirates jumped at an easy chance to jettison Mondesi and his contract (including next year's buyout). They do not have to pay Mondesi, and they do not make their team appreciably worse. So the Pirates come out ahead on this deal.

Will other players try it? I highly doubt it. For one thing, a player would first need to make himself expendable for a team to cut him. In order to do so, he would need to draw a high salary and/or play poorly. If he draws a high salary, he stands to gain little from the move. If a player plays poorly, he harms his earning potential from the next team. Then the player must deal with the backlash and fallout from the public and his peers. So attempting another manuever of this sort holds little appeal to a player.

Now for the Angels' perspective. The Angels have become the patron saints of thoughtless spending. From giving Darin Erstad a four-year contract, to giving Garret Anderson a four-year contract, and now this. The two reasonably good, healthy players they have are Jose Guillen and Vladimir Guerrero. The corner outfield is a strength for this club. With the corner outfield in decent shape, Mondesi looks to play center. We have precious little information on Mondesi's center fielding talents, but it is not good. Poor range factors. I am not sure if Mondesi can play center, and if he can not, his value to the Angels plummets.

In my view, the Angels have joined the Bill Bavasi revolution. A player's level of talent does not matter, as long as he is a NAME. This leads to brilliant moves like giving Garret Anderson a big contract with Magglio Ordonez set to enter the market. Or trading Carlos Guillen in order to acquire Rich Aurilia and his long lost power. Or playing Darin Erstad at first base because he HAS to hit .355 again. It's in the cosmos! You get the idea. Baseball holds a wealth of statistics, which should be used to analyze transactions and investments. Teams which fail to utilize these resources end up playing these turkeys. And finishing behind the Oakland Athletics yet again.

Send feedback to: [email protected]