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Posted By: davidcycleback

It's unfair to look at anyone circa 1994 or so through modern steroid numbers eyes-- and today's fans do this, subconsciously if not consciously. Believe it or not, lead off hitters used to not hit 50 home runs in a season, and not so long ago home run titles were often won with fewer than 40 home runs.

During his height (meaning at the time, not today looking back), Puckett was yearly ranked as one of the best outfielders in the game-- both due to his hitting and fielding. That he was well known as a good guy, good teammate, only heightened his status. To me, it seems kind of silly that retroactively people think Albert Belle would be a better addition to team than Kirby Puckett. Those who say that obviously didn't have the locker next to Albert 160 games a year. While I'm not one to judge a player solely by team standings (if you put Albert Pujols on the worst team, they wouldn't win the World Series), I don't think it's pure chance that Puckett was on two World Series Champions (the underpaid Twins to boot!), while Belle was one numerous highly paid teams than never won the World Series.