By Louis Addeo-Weiss
Before reading, it is imperative to note that this is a mere thought-experiment with no true direction. Here, I’ll take 6 players (3 pitchers, 3 position players), all whom have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and isolate the most productive prolonged periods of their career, with WAR (Wins Above Replacement) serving as the main denominator here. Another head’s up before we start, this list will not include the likes of Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, and Cy Young as their generated value is far too high for a list such as this.
SS Honus Wagner: 1897-1917, Louisville Colones, Pittsburgh Pirates
At the beginning of the 20th century, Honus Wagner was among the game’s first true stars. Generally touted as the National League’s answer to Ty Cobb, Wagner amassed 130.8 WAR, good enough for 10th all time, across his 21 year career, but we’re zeroing in on the period between 1899-1912. In the span of time, Wagner accumulated 111.4 WAR, averaging out to exactly 8 WAR per season. Had he retired following this period of dominance, Wagner would still place 19th on the all-time list, ahead of the likes of Rickey Henderson (111.2) and Mickey Mantle (110.4). With that in mind, it’s no secret why sabermetric godfather Bill James commonly speaks of Wagner in such affectionate terms.
SP Greg Maddux: 1986-2008, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres
Greg Maddux is arguably the finest pitcher in recent memory. While modern baseball’s fascination lies in pitcher velocity, Maddux personified pitching in its purest sense. For his career, he posted 106.6 WAR, which has him 27th on the all-time list. In the process, he won four consecutive NL Cy Young awards, a World Series, and the same number of gold gloves as Juan Pierre had home runs. But in the case of Maddux, the period I feel to be his best came between 1988-2002. In those fifteen years, Maddux racked up 91.6 WAR, which, had he retired after the ‘02 season, would still have him 42nd on the all-time list, ahead of names like Wade Boggs (91.4), Steve Carlton (90.2), and Gaylord Perry (90), and 13th among pitchers. Point is, Mad Dog is an all-time great.
3B/1B George Brett: 1973-1993, Kansas City Royals
Longtime New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter earned near universal respect throughout his career for his hard-work and hustle. I counter with George Brett. The star of those great Kansas City Royals teams in the late 70s and 80s, Brett is easily the most recognizable and respected player in franchise history. For his career, the hall of fame Brett posted 88.7 wins above replacement, 48th on the all-time list. Had Brett only played between 1975-88, Brett would still rank among the best third basemen in baseball history. Currently sitting at 5th on the all-time list, trailing the likes of Adrian Beltre (95.6), the aforementioned Boggs (91.4), Eddie Matthews (96.6), and Mike Schmidt (106.8), Brett in that 14-year period was worth 80.9 WAR. Put this in the context of history, and Brett still lands 61st on the all-time list, ahead of the likes of Jeff Bagwell (79.9), Brooks Robinson (78.4), Joe DiMaggio (78.1). In the context of third basemen, Brett and Chipper Jones would flip-flop between 5th and 6th.
SP Warren Spahn: 1942, 1946-65, Boston/Milwaukee Braves, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants
Warren Spahn is one pitcher who is routinely ignored when the conversation of the greatest hurlers of all-time arises. For starters (no pun intended), his 99.7 WAR, this according to baseball-reference, has him as the 32nd greatest player in the sport’s history, and 10th all-time among pitchers. On top of that, he had what many would deem the complete career, as he won 363 games (the most for any left-handed pitcher), a Cy Young and World Series (1957), three ERA-titles, as well as leading the NL in strikeouts for four consecutive years from 1949-52 (three of those years led all of baseball). For the sake of this piece though, we’ll isolate the period between 1947-59, where Spahn amassed 75.4 WAR, averaging out to 5.8 per season. The mark would put Spahn in a three-way tie with Old Ross Hadburn and Bill Dahlen for 74th on the all-time list, while still surpassing the likes of Reggie Jackson (74) and Johnny Bench (75.2) and Luke Appling (74.5), all of whom are in the hall of fame.
1B/3B/OF Albert Pujols: 2001-present, St. Louis Cardinals, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
While the Albert Pujols we’ve seen in Los Angeles (111 OPS+) drastically differs from the historically great start to his career in St. Louis (170 OPS+), once it’s all said and done, Pujols will go down as one of the game’s greatest offensive players. From 2001-10, his first decade is considered by many to be the best start to a career in baseball history. In that span of time, Pujols’ 81.4 WAR was far-and-away the best in all of baseball, and he posted a triple-slash of .331/.426/.624 with a 172 OPS+. Were Pujols to pull a Ralph Kiner and retire following the 2010 season, his .624 slugging would place him 4th all-time, ahead of the likes of Jimmie Foxx (.609), Manny Ramirez (.585), and Willie Mays (.558). His WAR during that time would put him ahead of fellow hall of famers Rod Carew (81.3), Nolan Ryan (81.2), Tom Glavine (80.7), and Bagwell (79.9), and 59th all-time.
SP Bob Gibson, 1959-1975, St. Louis Cardinals
In lieu of recent news announcing Gibson’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, it is only fitting that he be the final mention here. Regardless of that, other than Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan, there may have never been another pitcher as intimidating as Gibson. His career 89.1 WAR ranks 17th all-time among pitchers, and his 1968 season, highlighted by a microscopic 1.12 ERA and 13 shutouts, is considered among the greatest seasons ever by a pitcher. Gibson, who played in parts of 17 seasons, saw his best run of pitching come between 1964-72, where, in the process, 2 NL Cy Young Awards, 2 World Series, an MVP, and 9 gold gloves. That nine-year stretch saw Gibby amass 63.4 WAR, tied with another Robert, the ‘Heater from Van Meter,’ hall of famer Bob Feller, and higher than his National League contemporary Juan Marichal (62.9), Hal Newhouser (62.5), and Dennis Eckersley (62). All-time, Gibson would fall from 47th all-time to sub-150, slightly below the likes of CC Sabathia (63.7) and Dave Winfield (64.3).
