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Old 08-26-2004, 02:35 PM
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Default 20th Century Baseball

Posted By: Albie O'Hanian

Bill James wrote about McGwire in 1991 when asking this question: "Is he a good player, even hitting .235?"
The answer:
"This guy is a great player hitting .230. He'd be a good player hitting .210. Even hitting .230, he still brings you:
1) Gold Glove defense at first base
2) A hundred walks a year, for a .370 on-base percentage
3) More power than any other current major league player. He is the only major league player who averaged two bases per hit throughout his major league career."

He finished his career with a .394 on-base percentage. He ended up averaging over two bases per hit throughout his major league career.
Also, although he finished with 583 homeruns - how many homers did he lose playing the first 11 1/2 seasons of his career in Oakland. That was not a good hitter's park for him and it is very likely he would have finished with over 600 homeruns hitting in virtually every other park.

Mcgwire might be a one-dimensional offensive player but he will hardly be bringing down the standards of the Hall.

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