Quote:
Originally Posted by Vintageclout
True, excellent point with the catcher/1st base issue, BUT you are missing one major point - Mattingly was arguably considered baseball’s BEST player for a 4-5 year period. This certainly needs to be configured into the equation. Regarding Hernandez, he was great, but Mattingly was a far superior hitter during his peak years….not even close. Like Mauer, Hernandez falls way short on his power numbers versus Mattingly.
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The problem with Mattingly was how much he fell off after his injury, and his peak was great, but not so great that he won a bunch of MVPs or black ink before falling off.
Hernandez might not have had the power, but he won a record 11 Gold Gloves at the position, more than the nine Mattingly won.
Accolades, black ink, outstanding peak, great career all matter to me, as does how somebody compares to others at their position in Cooperstown.
All three have MVPs, Hernandez and Mattingly both runners-up, though Hernandez had three top 10 finishes after turning 30, and finished fourth in helping the Mets win that 1986 World Series. I don’t judge too much off of rings, but if postseason success matters, then Hernandez was a key contributor on championship teams for two different organizations.
If you count JAWS, Hernandez is 21st all time among first basemen.
60.3 career WAR | 41.2 7yr-peak WAR | 50.8 JAWS | 4.7 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 24):
65.0 career WAR | 41.8 7yr-peak WAR | 53.4 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162
Meanwhile, Mattingly is 39th all time among first basemen.
42.4 career WAR | 35.7 7yr-peak WAR | 39.1 JAWS | 3.8 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 24):
65.0 career WAR | 41.8 7yr-peak WAR | 53.4 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162
Mauer, meanwhile, may not have been a slugger, but three batting titles and an MVP as a catcher is impressive, as holding a record three batting titles at the position is greatness.