The previous ten is here.
161. Wee Willie Keeler 1892-10 RF Orioles/Superbas/Highlanders
59.15
.335/.389/.451
OPS+ 126
PA=9600
MVPQ=none
161. Wee Willie Keeler 1892-10 RF Orioles/Superbas/Highlanders
59.15
.335/.389/.451
OPS+ 126
PA=9600
MVPQ=none
162. Jake Beckley 1B 1888-07 Pirates/Reds
58.95
.292/.349/.490
OPS+ 125
PA=10,500
MVPQ=none
163. Vladimir Guerrero RF 1996- Expos/Angels
58.8
.314/.377/.548
OPS+140
PA=9050
MVPQ=none
164. Bobby Doerr 2B 1937-51 Red Sox
58.55
.279/.344/.483
OPS+115
PA=8000
MVPQ=none
165. John Olerud 1B 1989-05 Blue Jays/Mariners
58.5
.296/.399/.471
OPS+ 128
PA=9050
MVPQ=1993, 1998
166. Joe Gordon 2B Yankees 1938-50 Yankees
58.45
.269/.346/.513
OPS+120
PA=6500
MVPQ=1942
167. Ducky Medwick 1932-48 LF Cardinals
58.25
.315/.358/.555
OPS+134
PA=8100
MVPQ=1936, 1937
168. Jim Bunning RHP 1955-71 Tigers/Phillies
58.25
ERA+114
229-176
IP=3750
MVPQ=1965, 1966, 1967
169. Richie Ashburn CF 1948-62 Phillies
57.9
.318/.405/.405
OPS+ 111
PA=9700
MVPQ=1958
170. Joe Jackson LF 1908-20 Indians/White Sox
57.85
.343/.410/.592
OPS+169
PA=5700
MVPQ=1911, 1912
In this section, we have Bunning, the first player of the 40 on the list so far with 3 MVPQ seasons; Jackson/Medwick/Olerud join the group who have two. Jackson adds to that the best bat we've seen so far, a 169 OPS+ and my favorite pet adjusted slash, a 3/4/5 (joining Berkman and Flick in that group). Jackson also has fewer than 6000 plate appearances, the fewest on the board so far - making him the best per game player on the list to date. No Elite seasons (10 wins above replacement) in this group, Rusie/Giambi are still the only members of that club.
So, where do we stand a fifth of the way through the list?
C King Kelly
-clearly the best catcher with his .500 career adjusted slugging percentage
1B Hank Greenberg
Jason Giambi
-no change at first base; Olerud had two MVPQ seasons, but runs smack into Giambi having a better top end, a better overall bat, and almost as much value in a thousand fewer plate appearances. They both sit behind Greenberg, as he had a better bat than both and a couple thousand fewer plate appearances than Giambi.
2B Joe Gordon
-putting Gordon in direct comparison with Doerr gets the former on the team; Gordon had a better top end, a better bat (.513 career adjusted slugging from second base) and almost identical career value in 1500 fewer plate appearances.
No one at either short or third is in this conversation yet.
LF Ducky Medwick
-2 MVPQ seasons and a career adjusted slugging of .555.
RF Joe Jackson
RF Elmer Flick
-Jackson's the best player in this first 40. He's got 2 MVPQ seasons, a career slashline of 3/4/5, and accumulated his value in fewer than 6000 plate appearances. Flick's also got a 3/4/5 slash but loses to Jackson on every count.
RHP Amos Rusie
Dazzy Vance
Jim Bunning
Bret Saberhagen
Bunning's the first guy with 3 MVPQ seasons, but his adjusted career ERA isn't special, so that's where I'll slot him.
