Best players ever with no black ink

[cgjackson222]

Jim Edmonds has no black ink either.

Of the players we mentioned, here is their gray ink:

Scott Rolen: 27
Lou Whitaker: 31
Ivan Rodriguez: 37
Jim Edmonds: 60
Barry Larkin: 66
Carlos Beltran: 76
Bobby Wallace : 80 (including 5 as a pitcher)
Yogi Berra: 138

So Scott Rolen managed to get into the HOF with no black in and only 27 gray ink. A lot of steroids guys ahead of him. Also shows how impressive Rolen was at defense, as that may have carried him into the HOF. Rolen ranks tied for 25th all-time with another 3rd baseman, Graig Nettles in Total Zone Runs. The only 3rd basemen that rank higher are Brooks Robinson and Buddy Bell.

The only black ink Buddy Bell had was for games played, at bats, and sac flies, and he had only 33 gray ink, to go along with his 66.4 WAR.

I hope Whitaker gets in soon. He deserves it.

[G1911]

Torii Hunter has 0, he’s pretty high up the list of the best to never get even 1 point.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by G1911

Torii Hunter has 0, he’s pretty high up the list of the best to never get even 1 point.

Mike Cameron and Devon White are two other centerfielders with over 45bWAR that also have no black ink.

[packs]

Jorge Posada never led in anything except double players. Probably did lead categories among catchers though.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by packs

Jorge Posada never led in anything except double players. Probably did lead categories among catchers though.

Torii Hunter and Jorge Posada are two other good examples of great players that never had any black ink (Grounding into double plays doesn't count).

David Wright is another one. Wright led League in sac flys twice, but you don't get black ink points for that category.

[howard38]

Originally Posted by packs

Jorge Posada never led in anything except double players. Probably did lead categories among catchers though.

None of the Yankees great or near great catchers, Dickey, Berra, Howard, Munson or Posada registered any black ink.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by howard38

None of the Yankees great or near great catchers, Dickey, Berra, Howard, Munson or Posada registered any black ink.

Wow, that's pretty crazy. That's 5 MVPs between 5 catchers, and another 14 top 10 finishes.

[packs]

He hit more home runs than any other second baseman and won an MVP but Jeff Kent never led the league in anything except sacrifice flies.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by howard38

None of the Yankees great or near great catchers, Dickey, Berra, Howard, Munson or Posada registered any black ink.

Catchers historically have a hard time accumulating much black ink. Carlton Fisk has 1 black ink mark, amazingly for "triples" one year (tied with Joe Rudi).

Gary Carter led the league in RBI's once in a really down year for that stat (tied with Mike Schmidt).

[G1911]

Ray Schalk has no black ink either, very few HOFers in that category but as a defense centered catcher hardly surprising.



More interestingly to me, fellow catcher Rick Ferrell has no black ink AND 0 grey ink (https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...erreri01.shtml). While rightfully counted as an undeserving hall of fame selection, Ferrell was a fine ball player who made 8 all-star games. Is there anyone better who also posts 0 grey ink for a career?