re: Most underrated MLB players of all time

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Garvey is a Hall of Very Good player, but his advanced stats aren't up to the HoF.

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So is Jeter.

But its what he did when it counted. And Garvey excelled in the playoffs...and is a fixture. Iron Man...can't write baseball history without him. Holds numerous records. frick WAR.

Advanced stats were not used to induct Harold Baines. He got 6.1% vote on his initial ballot and he's in the HOF.

Garvey was applauded as the best in the game at his position when he played like Jeter got from the NY media.

Bench says he was overrated by fawning praise? Hello Jeter. But nobody has a problem with him.

Its absurd that Garvey isn't in. Huge star, Iron Man, gold gloves, 10 All-Star starts, etc.

He'll if we just used WAR, Lou Brock wouldn't be in the HOF. His WAR ranking is putrid.

Maz is in the the HOF and he hit .260 for his career.

When you make that many outs, it really wrecks your overall value, and Steve Garvey played the least valuable defensive position where he was “worth” -11.6 WAR over his career.

Garvey: 19 seasons, 2332 games, 294/329/446 (775 OPS, 117 OPS+). 272 HR.

Let’s take a look at the top players with <=117OPS+ ranked by WAR. (Stats are relative to Garvey’s).

Cal Ripken Jr. (112, 95.9 WAR). Shortstop, +669 games, +159 HR, +.011 OBP, +.001 SLG, +47.3 dWAR
Adrian Beltre (116. 95.6). 3B, +601 games, +205 HR, +.010 OBP, +.034 SLG, +40.9 dWAR.
Brooks Robinson (104, 78.4). 3B, +564 games, -4 HR, -.007 OBP, +50.7 dWAR
Robin Yount (115, 77.3) SS/CF, +524 games, -21 HR, +.013 OBP, +18.4 dWAR
Ozzie Smith (87, 76.9) SS, +241 games, +46.8 dWAR.
See the pattern?

More demanding defensive positions, outstanding defense, and played somewhere between 200–600 more games.

Garvey is #117 on the list.

But...Bench?

For 1st baseman Garvey is Top 5 on the list for WAR rankings.

For his position, he's one of the best that ever played. WAR and all.