The Top Five Hitters Over the Past 20 Years

Someone recently asked who I thought have been the top 5 hitters over the past 20 years. I thought, wow, that's a good question. 20 years encompasses basically when this era began: all rotations were 5 man, complete games were rare, 1 inning relief specialists became increasingly more common and ball parks got smaller. We will ignore the steroid guys because except for Bonds, none would make the list anyway, and there is no way Bonds wasn't as dirty as can be imagined.

Here we go concentrating purely on hitting ability:

*averages based on per 162 games.

1. Albert Pujols - Only 8 years, but seriously the guy has been fantastic every year and has had an unprecedented first 8 years: .334/.424/.623. Averaging 45 doubles, 42 homers, 91 walks a year. His worst year consisted of a line of .314/.394/.561, 34 HRs, more walks than strikeouts. Career almost 10 RC/27. Best hitter since Ted Williams.

2. Frank Thomas - 1991-1997 was a better stretch than even Pujols has put together. Frank has gotten hurt by the fact he was mostly a DH, and that his career year was 1994 when he might have won the triple crown had the season played out. OPS+ during those years: 180, 174, 177, 211, 179, 178, and 181. Wow 174 for the low! Only 3 of Albert's years have been better than that. Maybe I should rethink my Frank in the HOF thoughts, but then I remember that other than his bat he contributed absolutely nothing.

3. Manny - .314/.410/.592 career line, an average of 41 hrs, 93 walks. He was absolutely robbed for the MVP in 1999 when he somehow managed to finish T-3rd. WTF??? He always gets punished for having good teammates which makes at least a little more sense than punishing someone like Pujols for having bad teammates.

4. Chipper Jones - Also one of the most unappreciated. The best switch hitter since the Mick, he has been a hitting machine since he came up with a line of .310/.407/.548. What hurts him is his inability to stay healthy, this is his 5th straight year with a significant amount of time missed. If he can keep it together for a few more years, he should end up with 3000 hits, 550 homers, and a lifetime average over .300.

5. Alex Rodriguez - Sure he's an A hole, but he can sure hit. Line of .306/.389/.579, and likely will break a whole bunch of records: HR, RBI, R, and a very slim chance at H.

Most underrated:
1. Mike Piazza - .308/.377/.545 for a catcher! And there was a 6 or 7 year stretch where he hit like .330 with 30-40 homer power. Imagine what he might have done as a 1st baseman without the wear and tear of catching.

2. Jones

3. Jim Thome - Should never have left the CLE where he absolutely raked every year: lowest OPS of 132 during those years, 30 HRs, 100 walks every year he was healthy. Career year in 2002 - .304/.445/.677 when he somehow managed to finish 7th in the MVP voting despite out producing 6 of the guys in front of him.

4. Edgar Martinez - Yeah, he was a DH, but a career line of .312/.418/.515, and from 1995-2002 he was as good as anyone on my list. OPS+ of 185, 166, 165, 158, 152, 157, 160. And he had the decency to walk away when he was done

5. Brian Giles - Talk about underrated, 4 absolutely amazing years with Pit. Career line of .294/.404/.510. A little lacking on BA and HRs but he makes up for it with a lot of walks and a lot of doubles.

Most overrated:
1. Ichiro - basically just a singles hitter. Not much in the way of power or walks. Career OPS just .808. Somehow won MVP in 2001??? Great fielder/baserunner, but not hitter.

2. Alfonso Soriano - basically just power, not much in the way of average or on base, and a lot of Ks.

3. Ken Griffey Jr. - Don't get me wrong, KGJ was great, but he "only" hit .300 in 8 of his 20 seasons, only has a lifetime .288 AVG and .373 OBP and even when he was healthy wasn't much once he left Seattle. Never had 100 walks, never had 200 hits, never hit over .330, never OBPed over .410, never OPS+ed over 175. His career highs aren't as good as Albert's averages.

4. Tony Gwynn - considered one of the best hitters ever by some, but he was really just a singles hitter. If he had the same numbers except 500 less singles and 500 more walks, would he even be in the HOF? No, he'd be named Tim Raines, and really what's the difference between a single and a walk?

5. Craig Biggio - Had some great years, but really hurt himself by hanging on too long and has a very pedestrian line of .281/.363/.433 for his career. He really does not belong in the HOF.