Posted By:
Gilbert MainesWe were talking about Jimmy Collins, aka. the best third baseman in the first 100 years of baseball.
Gosh, they didn't even have gloves for much of that time. Aside from that, it seems that Collins' main claim to fame was his bunt fielding abilities. Admittedly there were lots of bunts in those days, and that capability was important. But that skill comes at a price. And that price is a decrease in the range of the third baseman's fielding. Other than fielding, Collins was not quite a .300 hitter during a period in which there were plenty of them.
Each of us will draw our own conclusions on these marginal HOFers. But it does not matter. What is done, is done. And more are in the wings.