[aro13]

Yaz stats were inflated in Fenway for a couple of reasons. Obviously, the park is great for left-handed hitters AND managers in those days were reluctant to pitch left-handers in Fenway (which is not very smart, but whatever) which meant Yaz faced a majority of right-handed pitching. His splits were vastly superior against right-handed pitching and he faced them 75% of the time. Compare that to someone like Reggie Jackson who faced right-handers only 65% of the time.

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB AVG OBP SLG
vs RHP 8973 1459 2684 537 38 374 1413 1499 .299 .398 .492
vs LHP 3015 357 735 109 21 78 431 346 .244 .321 .371

You have to weigh the Fenway Park stats with the fact the era he played in favoured pitchers and reach a conclusion.

Obviously, enough voters ignored the Fenway Park factor and felt he was an obvious Hall of Famer. He compiled over 3000 hits and 400 homeruns in an era when that meant something.

His RC probably commands a high price because he is a HOFer and he played for a popular team. Really, there are very few HOF RC's from the 50's and 60's that do not command a high price.