In reference to the other thread lets start by saying anyone who plays in the majors is a very talented baseball player. They're just in over their heads at the top. Here's the criteria for worst hitter. He has to have five years in the majors. I'll serve first:
Ray Oyler Tigers 5 seasons .175 lifetime .135 in over 200 ab's one season.
Posts: 1632 | Location: Mid-Atlantic | Registered: October 29, 2007
Bill Bergen, catcher, played 11 seasons from 1901 to 1911 including stints with the Dodgers (8 years) and the Cincinati Reds (3 years).
In over 3,000 at bats over his career, his batting average was .170
He still ranks 9th on the all-time list for catchers with 1,400+ assists and had a fielding % one year of .989 which was a long standing record for catchers.
This is back in the days when hitting from the catcher position was "gravy". Defense ruled who played. He was never a full-time player, just the backup catcher which makes the career assists number even more outstanding.
Over-all, an outstanding player who just didn't "hit", chosen by "Total Baseball" as the 5th best catcher of all time.
Posts: 1313 | Location: NC | Registered: January 18, 2003
obtw: Al Pepper wrote a book called "Mendosa's Heroes" which picked out 50 of the worst hitters of all times and gave insight into their careers. Good read if you have a chance to catch it.
and yes, Bob Uecker made the list and the book.
Posts: 1313 | Location: NC | Registered: January 18, 2003
Doesn't qualify but: (lowest single season batting average)
Corky Miller, 2004 CIN, .026 - 1 hit in 39 at bats That is bad timing for a slump.
And how about this stat for an all time great player: (lowest batting average for a player with 3000 hits)
Cal Ripken Jr. - 3,184 career base hits in a 21 season career (1981-2001) with a .276 lifetime batting average, the lowest of any current member of the 3,000 Hit Club.
Posts: 108 | Location: Florida | Registered: December 08, 2006
How about this - Hall of Famer, hit home run in first major league at bat and then never hit another one in a 21 year career. Life time BA .088.
" There's nothing cooler than a guy who does what we dream of doing, and then enjoys it as much as we dream we would enjoy it. " -- Scott Ostler on Tim Lincecum
Posts: 968 | Location: Monterey, California | Registered: May 28, 2004
Yeah but he also won a few games on the bump! There are still a few pitchers that would love to trade hitting stats with Wilhelm. How about this guy? .029 with over 200 AB!
"There are two kinds of people in this game: those who are humble and those who are about to be." Clint Hurdle
Posts: 1658 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: January 22, 2006
