Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Not short on status
By Jeff Merron Page 2
Even though Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein came up a little, um, short
in the Cards' 12-inning 2-1 win over the Pirates Tuesday (he went
0-for-6), he's still an inspiration to plenty of vertically challenged
folks (such as this scribe). Wearing his spikes, he's all of 5-foot-7 –
officially. And unfortunately, he's not good enough to make baseball's all-short team.
Here's how we figured it: We went post-World War II – too many
great Wee Willie's in baseball's early days, back when nutritional
supplements were in short supply. We started with what we like to call
the "Eckstein line," looking for good players listed at 5-foot-7 or less,
and, in cases where they couldn't be found, going up an inch at a
time until we found a good player. Fittingly, the tallest man on the team is our first baseman.
1B: Steve Garvey (5-foot-10)
One day a great biography will be written about Steve Garvey. During
19 big-league seasons with the Dodgers and Padres on the Left Coast,
he won an NL MVP award (in 1974), played in 10 All-Star games and
won four Gold Gloves. He also came through when everyone was
watching (two All-Star MVPs), when it counted (two NLCS MVPs), when it
was good (the 1981 Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award) and when
it was saintly (the 1984 Lou Gehrig Award).
Career stats: 272 HR, 1308 RBI, .294 average, .775 OPS.
Garvey's backup: ESPN's own John Kruk, former Phillies first baseman, also 5-foot-10.
Joe Morgan was the National League MVP in 1975 and '76.
2B: Joe Morgan (5-foot-7)
A two-time NL MVP and 10-time All Star, Morgan led
the NL in on-base percentage four times (in a five-year span between
1972 and 1976). The Hall of Famer played more than 2,500 games during
his 22-year career – all but 24 at the second sack.
Career stats: 268 HR, 1133 RBI, .427 slugging
percentage, .819 OPS, 689 stolen bases.
Morgan's backup: The 5-8 Giant, Ray Durham, a two-time All-Star.
SS: Phil Rizzuto (5-foot-6)
The Scooter's one of the least-deserving Hall of Famers, but he could
play. In a 13-year Yankee career interrupted after his soph season by
a three-year military stint, he won the 1950 MVP award, was a
five-time All-Star, and could bunt and swipe bases with the best of
'em. A great fielder who was one of the best at turning the double
play, he also played in nine World Series for the Bombers, and came away with
the Big Ring seven times.
Career stats: .273 batting average, .351 OBP, 31
homers, 563 RBI, 149 stolen bases.
Rizzuto's backup: Freddie Patek. Only 5-foot-5, Patek, a sentimental favorite
of Bill James, managed to hit for no power (41 dingers in a 14-year
career) and struck out more often than he walked. But still, he played on three division winners with the Royals and became the first shortsop ever to hit three homers in a game when he slugged
three out of Fenway on June 20, 1980.
3B: George Kell (5-foot-9)
Kell, who played for five teams during his 15-year career (1943-1957),
was a 10-time All-Star who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.
Kell hit .300-plus eight straight seasons and led the AL in batting in
1949 with a .343 average. Ironically, he also holds the AL record for
single-game batting futility, set when he went 0-for-10 in a 24-inning
game against the Tigers in 1945. Kell was also a great fielder, often
leading the AL in fielding percentage, assists and double plays.
Career stats: .306 batting average, 78 HR, .812 OPS, 721 RBI.
Kell's backup: Terry Pendleton. In a 15-year career, mostly with the
Cardinals and Braves, the 5-foot-9 Pendleton hit 140 homers, drove in 946,
batted .270, won an MVP award, and played in five World Series (never for the winning side).
OF: Kirby Puckett (5-foot-8)
Another HOF mini-mite, Puckett made the All-Star team 10 consecutive
years (1986-1995), won six Gold Gloves, and led the Twins to two
World Series wins, in 1987 and 1991.
Career stats: 207 HR, 1,085 RBI, .318 average, .477 SLG, .837 OPS.
OF: Tim Raines (5-foot-8)
Rock Raines ended his 23-year major-league career fifth on the
all-time stolen base list, with 808. He was thrown out only 146 times,
an extraordinary 84 percent success rate, the best for players who've
stolen 300 plus. (Compare to Rickey Henderson at 80 percent and Lou Brock
at 75 percent.) Raines, who played 12 seasons with the
Expos before bouncing around to five other teams, was a seven-time All-Star, led the NL in hitting in 1986 and twice led the league in runs scored.
Also this: Bill James, in his "New Historical Baseball Abstract," ranks
Raines No. 8 on the all-time best left fielder list, ahead of Willie
Stargell, Minnie Minoso and Billy Williams. Both Stargell and
Williams are Hall of Famers. Tim Raines should be one, too.
Career stats: 170 HR, 980 RBI, .294 average, .425 SLG, .810 OPS.
OF: Don Buford (5-foot-8)
Buford's a huge step down from Puckett and Raines, but he was a good
ballplayer who split his 10 seasons between the White Sox and O's.
Buford, a second and third baseman early in his career, didn't move
to the outfield until he played for the O's, between 1968 and 1972. He
made the 1971 All-Star team, was among the top eight in OBP between
1968 and 1971, and was the leadoff man for one of the
greatest teams in history.
In 4,533 at bats, Buford hit into only 33 double plays, making him the
toughest to double up in major-league history.
Career stats: 93 HR, 418 RBI, .362 OBP, .741 OPS.
Backups: Luis Polonia (5-foot-8), Albie Pearson (5-foot-5), Vic Davalillo (5-foot-7)
C: Yogi Berra (5-foot-8)
Who else? The best catcher in major-league history is far and away the
best short backstop, too.
Career stats: 358 HR, 1430 RBI, .285 average, .482 SLG, .830 OPS
Backup: Smoky Burgess. Hit 126 homers and drove in 673 runs and was a six-time All-Star. One of the greatest pinch-hitters in history.
Starting pitcher: Harvey Haddix (5-foot-9)
Haddix became a baseball immortal on May 26, 1959, when he pitched 12
perfect innings but ended up losing in the 13th. On normal days, he
was usually very good, often excellent. Haddix was a three-time
All-Star, won three Gold Gloves and had superb control. In the 1960
World Series, pitching for the Pirates, he won two games against the
Yankees in one of the most thrilling upsets in the history of the Fall
Classic.
Career stats: 136-113, 3.63 ERA, 1575 Ks in 2235 IP.
Starting pitcher: Bobby Shantz (5-foot-6)
Shantz could've been a great one. In 1951 and 1952, pitching for the
Athletics, he won 42 games and lost only 17, and was named MVP in
1952. He was only 26 at the time. Late in the season, batting against
Walt Masterson of the Red Sox, he was hit by a pitch and broke his
wrist. His arm was never the same again; most notably, he lost his
awesome curve.
Still, he was good enough to remain a decent spot starter and
reliever. He also won eight Gold Gloves.
Career stats: 119-99, 3.38 ERA, 48 saves.
Relief pitcher: Roy Face (5-foot-8)
Face pitched in 848 games during his 16-year career, all but 27 in relief. He spent most of his career with the Pirates, leading the league in saves three times and finishing
second three times more. Face was a three-time All-Star who went a
remarkable 18-1 in 1959 – with all 18 wins coming in relief. His
winning percentage and number of relief wins that year remain
single-season records.
Career stats: 104-95 (96 wins in relief); 193 saves, 3.48 ERA.
