It's easier to have this conversation about football players, since the stats are not as cut-and-dry. Some players on here are not highly rated at all (Rizzuto?). And I'm not sure Reggie or Nolan Ryan should be on the list - is anyone is unaware of their weaknesses? But I like the bits about Jeter, natch.
If you want to talk overrated, I think Ozzie Smith has to be in the conversation. Unless you think 28 HRs in 19 years is good...but at least he hit over .300 once. Once.
Shots fired!
Link: https://sportscroll.com/major-league-baseballs-25-most-overrated-players/20/
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...I guess that depends on where someone would rate him. If you view him as the greatest strikeout artist ever and one of the most intimidating pitchers of all-time, then no, you're not overrating him. He led the majors in K's 11 times, struck out 300 batters 6 times, struck out 200 batters 12 times, and played an astounding 27 seasons. He holds the career records for K's and Hits/9 and is in the top 15 ever for total wins.
He was a great pitcher and a clear Hall-of-Famer. Saying that much isn't overrating him. Now, putting him up there with Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Greg Maddux, Bob Gibson, Walter Johnson, Cy Young? Yes, THEN you are overrating him.
Jackson was terrible in the field but he did deliver at the plate in the playoffs.
Darryl Strawberry was the most overrated player I ever saw play. He was obnoxious on the field as well as off the field.
The best player I have ever seen live was Roberto Clemente. He was my baseball idol. I saw many games at Old Forbes Field and at Three Rivers Stadium
He never, ever disappointed. His tragic and far too early death was difficult to understand back then; to this day I still think of his exploits on the field in vivid detail.
To me when someone talks of a sports hero, I think immediately of Roberto.
I saw Mickey Mantle play but he was quite a bit over the hill and struck out and popped up then was taken out of the line-up for
the remainder of that game. I may have seen him in a few other games at Yankee Stadium but I just don't remember him.
He hit home runs when they were needed though as evidenced in his World Series performance against Baltimore . Mickey Mantle was my favorite player of all time and the way I would break it down was if you judged greatness for a four year period you would pick Mickey Mantle, if for a six or eight year period Willie Mays and for explosive performance in an impossible ball park, Roberto Clemente. Mickey Mantle was the most pitched around player though and for that I give Mickey a ton of credit for coming though like he so often did.