View Single Post
  #42  
Old 04-04-2007, 09:30 AM
Archive Archive is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 58,359
Default The All Century Team - A Retrospective

Posted By: Eric Brehm

Brooks Robinson had a lifetime fielding percentage of .971 (264 errors in 9196 chances), the highest all-time for third basemen. He batted .267 and hit 268 home runs in 2896 games. He won 16 gold gloves and had 15 All Star appearances.

Ron Santo's lifetime fielding percentage was .954 (327 errors in 7144 chances). He batted .277 and hit 342 home runs in 2243 games. He won 5 gold gloves and had 9 All Star appearances.

It can certainly be argued that Santo was a better hitter than Robinson, but Robinson was so outstanding defensively (remember those spectacular plays during the 1970 World Series) that he is more highly regarded. In the All Century Team voting Robinson even finished ahead of George Brett, who was one of the best hitters of his era.

Here is a series of articles that compares Santo with other third basemen who are currently in the Hall of Fame:

http://mvn.com/mlb-cubs/2007/01/16/why-ron-santo-belongs-in-the-hall-of-fame-part-1/
http://mvn.com/mlb-cubs/2007/01/17/why-ron-santo-belongs-in-the-hall-of-fame-part-2/
http://mvn.com/mlb-cubs/2007/01/18/why-ron-santo-belongs-in-the-hall-of-fame-part-3/

Santo finished highest among Veterans Committee candidates for the Hall of Fame this year, but fell 5 votes short of making the Hall.

Reply With Quote