Most underated multiple times batting champs?

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

It does seem Gwyyn gets a lot more love, even though if I was drafting a team today and I could have either of them for the careers they put up I take Boggs. I've also always wondered why the Red Sox delayed his development so long. Two full seasons at AA and Two more full seasons at AAA even though he produced right away at each level. Accounts for his relatively late start at age 24.

The Red Sox weren't exactly run by geniuses in those days, sadly.

He was blocked by Carney Lansford at 3B, but still...he was clearly ready for the big leagues earlier than he was promoted there, as you suggested.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

The Red Sox weren't exactly run by geniuses in those days, sadly.

He was blocked by Carney Lansford at 3B, but still...he was clearly ready for the big leagues earlier than he was promoted there, as you suggested.

Lansford actually comes super close to making the list missing out on a second title to Puckett by .003

[packs]

Larry Walker. I know he's a HOFer now, but it wasn't ever a foregone conclusion. He won 3 batting titles and while the Colorado discount will always be there, he didn't win 3 batting titles hitting home runs.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by packs

Larry Walker. I know he's a HOFer now, but it wasn't ever a foregone conclusion. He won 3 batting titles and while the Colorado discount will always be there, he didn't win 3 batting titles hitting home runs.

Colorado improves averages too though as they made the outfield huge in order to combat the home runs so there's a lot more square footage for balls to fall in. Not hating on Walker, but even his splits show a marked difference. Here are his three Batting Title seasons plus 1997 where he was close.

YR Home Away
1997 .384 .346
1998 .419 .302
1999 .382 .374
2001 .406 .293

So one batting title year was close, the other two are over .100 apart, and the near miss is a fairly standard home road split.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

The Red Sox weren't exactly run by geniuses in those days, sadly.

He was blocked by Carney Lansford at 3B, but still...he was clearly ready for the big leagues earlier than he was promoted there, as you suggested.

I'd argue they weren't run by geniuses for a long time. Yawkey refusing to integrate until the bitter end prevented them from winning a couple of titles in the 50's and 60's for sure.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I agree with Boggs. I think his personality had a lot to do with the relative lack of love for him. People were always emphasizing his faults. As I used to say during his prime, he's the worst .350 hitter ever.

Madlock, meh.

[G1911]

Edit: I’m an idiot, my guy didn’t win the 2 I thought he had.

[Touch'EmAll]

Tony Oliva - led league in Batting Avg. 3 times

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

Tony Oliva - led league in Batting Avg. 3 times

I know it took him forever to get in, but hard to call a HOF'er underrated.

[packs]

Still think Larry’s underrated though. Home runs come mind first but I’d be surprised if the majority of people know he won 3 titles. That’s a marker for being underrated right?